Protools Keyboard, silicone keyboard skin, Stickers

[DoWhitt]

Hi, There is actually 2 parts to this question.

I need a new keyboard for Mac.... and just purchased Pro Tools 12.

1. Is there an advantage to getting the numeric keyboard? Are there more shortcuts available than just on the magic keyboard for example?

2. There are protools keyboards available from logickeyboard.com. and editorskeys.com, for example, as well as from avid. Will a regular keyboard with a silicone shortcut skin work just as well,? Do the skins make it a pain to use or are they fine? How about the stickers?


Anything else I should consider?

Thanks,

[cwsand]

Originally Posted by DoWhitt

1. Is there an advantage to getting the numeric keyboard? Are there more shortcuts available than just on the magic keyboard for example?

Hi, yes the numeric keys are used for additional shortcuts, transport control, record enable etc.

Originally Posted by DoWhitt

2. There are protools keyboards available from logickeyboard.com. and editorskeys.com, for example, as well as from avid. Will a regular keyboard with a silicone shortcut skin work just as well,?

I've never used a "ProTools" keyboard on my personal DAWs, or even an official Apple one. A good Logitech works fine.

Originally Posted by DoWhitt

Do the skins make it a pain to use or are they fine? How about the stickers?

I haven't used the skins with ProTools but I think personally I'd find them annoying. I used to have the stickers but found I really didn't ever look at them.

Originally Posted by DoWhitt

Anything else I should consider?

Find a keyboard that's comfortable and learn the shortcuts. I would recommend one with the numeric keyboard. If the skin or stickers work for you then go for it!

[john1192]

i have the KB covers Pro Tools and Logic Skins .. since i use more than one DAW it helps .. i also have the original PRo Tools Keyboard (USB 1.1) the older big key version .. i once had the stickers on a keyboard .. there are only a few key commands that i need to look at but it is nice to have the commands there ..

in order of preference .. i got used to the skins as it works for me .. and they are washable !!

1) numeric keyboard
2) skins
3) sitckers

[feliponk]

I have the KB keyboard cover for years and I use it only when dealing with ProTools, then I removed it and use the regular mac keyboard. Also I like the fact is washable.
When I need to deal just with the laptop keyboard, I miss the numeric keypad a lot, so much taht actually I add a USB numeric keypad sometimes.
Cheers!

[KV626]

I have the backlit PT keyboard from EditorKeys on its way. I love using the keyboard because sometimes I hit the wrong key even if I know my shortcuts well. I also like to work in the dark or with minimum light, so that's why I wanted the blacklit keyboard. And it kinda looks cool.

My current PT keyboard will then be up for sale I guess cause I doubt I'll ever use it again (I have a couple of Apple Aluminium keyboards as well).

Maybe I'll order a skin for Logic cause I don't know the shortcuts and always mix them up with Pro Tools... As I use both DAWs, mostly PT, having a PT keyboard and a Logic skin would be the perfect combination for me. However I can't say I'm a fan of skins, they rarely sit well on the keyboard (don't expect to fit as good as what you see on the ads...) and (to me) the feel is not very pleasing. But they're much cheaper than a keyboard so there's that.