should i invest into a control for pt???

[KemikAL]

i am looking to find a way to get away from using my mouse while mixing in pt.
however being that i am still a student and school doesnt allow me time to work, my $$$flow is tight.
i was looking at the tascam us-428 .
i noticed it has automation and integrates perfectly with pt,dp3,and logic which are the 3 progs i am working on right now..should i invest into that?
i hear a lot of guys are using some sort of pen&tablet. what the hell is thaT???
ISNT THAT WHAT GRAPHICS DESIGNERS USE???
is it user friendly?comfortable???
i hear it integrates nicely with a trackball mouse that has alot of buttons...
how would i use those extra buttons in pt aside from the normal mouse functions???
any input would be greatly appreciated...
i have the $$$ for the trackball right now.......
thank folks!!! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[batj]

why do you want to spend money you don't have to buy something you don't need?
I know this is the way we are educated, but why?

Apart of that, yes, a tablet is fine, if you like that. And no, it is not for graphic guys only.
I put one on every computer I use. For me, works great. Try it. Cheap, these days.

The Tascam is probably fine for the price, but everything I tried which is not flying faders is unusable IMHO. Do you REALLY need to move more than one fader at a time? Take your time to answer that question, for yourself. You don't have to prove anything to anybody. Just make the things sound good.

[KemikAL]

i hear you..its not really a necessity i just want a little more convenience...what are the exact names of those tablets??????how would i search for one..?

[lynxxx]

Why do you need a controller when you can automate all the faders in PT or lock them all together? I went thru this too (a diehard analog person) but believe me you don't need it. On a Kensington trackball-Expert Mouse Pro is what I use,(Turbo Mouse is the same but no internet buttons or scrolling-Turbo Mouse Pro same as mine but wireless) you have 4 programable buttons.I use lower left for 1 Click/Select. Lower right for Double Click, upper left for Lock, upper right for Record. You can also program "chords"-2 buttons pressed at the same time for a function. I use lower left/lower right to change between Edit Window and Mix Window. You can set them how you want.I've always used trackballs-to me, the mouse is upside down. They are just great for movin' the faders!- as well as all the other stuff. Fingertip control in one position, no moving a mouse on a pad. A must have IMHO.

[Severe]

kemikAL,

Have you seen this recent post?
It may help.

http://duc.digidesign.com/cgi-bin/ub...;f=24;t=012335

[Kickin.da.speaker]

Why do you want to spend money you don't have to buy something you don't need?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Isn't that how America works? [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[beardeddubster]

KemiKAL---try wacom.com, --one maker of graphics tablets. i am sure there are others too. The tablet I have (intuos A6) works fine with of PT LE. By the way, how do you rate the full sail pro tools book?

[beardeddubster]

...if you weigh up the amount of time you spend mixing vs amount of time spent editiing, you may see more sense in a graphics tablet/trackball (never tried a trackball) than a ocntrol surface. On the other hand, if you do prefer analogue style mixing, and find a cheap s/h motormix, then that might be a way to go. i do like mine for fader moves/easy mutes+solos/plug in tweaks. I have heard it is possible to use motormix with DP. there is a template for logic 4 too. I haven't tried either of these though

[batj]

I use the Graphire tablet from Wacom.
Not expensive at all.

[batj]

quote:
<*Why do you want to spend money you don't have to buy something you don't need?

Isn't that how America works? >

Oh sorry Kickin.da.speaker, I didn't know, I don't live in america...