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  #1  
Old 06-07-2023, 10:46 AM
ZEUSS ZEUSS is offline
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Default Kensington bluetooth trackball

Ever since updating my mac trashcan to Monterey, Its taking much longer for my machine to find my Kensington bluetooth trackball. I have the latest Kensington works software installed. Any ideas? I have done the 4 button at once reset usually and it helps.
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  #2  
Old 06-09-2023, 07:12 AM
glasswing glasswing is offline
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Default Re: Kensington bluetooth trackball

I have to switch my Kensington bluetooth off and on to get my Mac Studio Ultra to see it. And it can go to sleep if it sits too long - so I have to switch on and off again. Not sure who owns this problem - Kensington or Apple.
Let me know if you learn anything. It's the one annoyance with my wonderful Mac Studio Ultra
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  #3  
Old 06-09-2023, 08:36 AM
its2loud its2loud is offline
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Default Re: Kensington bluetooth trackball

Have you tried just tapping the lower left trackball button to wake it up? Scrolling the well doesn't wake it up. I have the same trackball and I'm not experiencing these issue.

M1 Mac Mini
Monterey 12.6
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  #4  
Old 06-09-2023, 11:23 AM
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gthm gthm is offline
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Default Re: Kensington bluetooth trackball

Wired always, I'd recommend.

Bluetooth is supposed to be off when using Pro Tools anyway.
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  #5  
Old 06-09-2023, 12:50 PM
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nednednerb nednednerb is offline
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Default Re: Kensington bluetooth trackball

I have no issues using Bluetooth all the time, PT always works for me regarding never needing to turn Bluetooth, or WiFi etc, off to get it to work.

In fact, turning Bluetooth off will not help to troubleshoot getting a Bluetooth trackball to work, except as a "refresh." If PT is stable, and the connection is losing on the trackball, there is something perhaps to keep it from "sleeping" on the system side but maybe PT is just fine.

Maybe it's by design, and they are power saving?

However, I totally recognize that wired is more stable, and I also recognize that when troubleshooting, turning off such wireless peripherals is a solid step. I think the wired 4 button Kensington was discontinued at some point. I still use one. I would recommend it if possible. It works great wired.

But if your setup is stable, and you use Bluetooth, enough said. That second part doesn't mean the setup is stable and unstable, just that as tested there may be no troubling issues with that config.

Test the config, but perhaps it doesn't need to be strictly limited to barebones accessories. Standard troubleshooting says to unplug EVERYTHING you aren't using. Secondary displays, too. Maybe in a studio, that makes sense. Be laboratory grade, right? But at my work at home studio? I have stuff plugged in I'm not using in PT.

It can be just fine. I have to config sometimes. No problem.
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>> me: nednednerB //
||main gig: editing audio voiceovers & testing software | 2nd gig: music software tutoring | hobby: electronic music //
||software: Sonoma 14.2 | PT Studio 2023.12 | Ableton Live 11 | iZotope RX, Ozone, Neutron | Arturia Pigments | Auto-Tune | Dubler2 //
||system: iMac (Retina 5K, 27", 2020) 10-Core-i9 | 128GB-DDR4 | 5700-XT-16GB | OWC Thunderbolt Hub and Thunderbolt 3 Dock //
||devices: RME Babyface Pro FS | Focusrite Clarett 2Pre | some AT mics | SM58 | Ableton Push 2 | Sennheiser HD 600 HP // Onkyo TX-8220 SR
||automation: SoundFlow | Stream Deck+ | Keyboard Maestro | SteerMouse | MacOS Shortcuts //
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  #6  
Old 06-09-2023, 01:48 PM
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Eric Lambert Eric Lambert is offline
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Default Re: Kensington bluetooth trackball

Quote:
Originally Posted by gthm View Post
Wired always, I'd recommend.

Bluetooth is supposed to be off when using Pro Tools anyway.
I hadn't heard that in quite a long time and wonder if it's still an accurate recommendation today. I've kept BT on and in-use for a few years without any kind of issues.
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  #7  
Old 06-09-2023, 02:09 PM
dominicperry dominicperry is online now
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Default Re: Kensington bluetooth trackball

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric Lambert View Post
I hadn't heard that in quite a long time and wonder if it's still an accurate recommendation today. I've kept BT on and in-use for a few years without any kind of issues.
Keeping BT off is another antiquated nonsense recommendation, along with turning WiFi off (how are you meant to use cloud iLok or cloud collaboration) and turning indexing off (except when you need to have indexing on). See also "use HFS filing systems" and "use external session disks".

The real problem seems to be than anything shaped like a Mac Mini (i.e. Mini and Studio) have BT problems. I'm assuming it's something to do with the shape of the case and the position of the BT antenna.

Dominic
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  #8  
Old 06-10-2023, 01:15 AM
::F-L-E-X::'s Avatar
::F-L-E-X:: ::F-L-E-X:: is offline
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Default Re: Kensington bluetooth trackball

I have the (wired) Kensington Slimblade trackball, (still available)… but gave up on KensingtonWorks/TrackballWorks ages ago - due to well documented security vulnerabilities, but also because they removed a lot of functionality from previous versions.

I opted for Steermouse : https://plentycom.jp/en/steermouse/ Free 30 day trial / ($20).

Way more functionality, (regular updates) & works well with Kensington trackballs. (Working well for me on Monterey).

It might not solve your Bluetooth issues… but worth a shot?
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Last edited by ::F-L-E-X::; 06-10-2023 at 01:40 AM. Reason: Added 30 day trial
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  #9  
Old 06-10-2023, 10:52 AM
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nednednerb nednednerb is offline
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Default Re: Kensington bluetooth trackball

+ + + on SteerMouse.. I definitely use it and value it.

If you try the 30 day free trial and it helped the issue, the other features are great too.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk
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>> me: nednednerB //
||main gig: editing audio voiceovers & testing software | 2nd gig: music software tutoring | hobby: electronic music //
||software: Sonoma 14.2 | PT Studio 2023.12 | Ableton Live 11 | iZotope RX, Ozone, Neutron | Arturia Pigments | Auto-Tune | Dubler2 //
||system: iMac (Retina 5K, 27", 2020) 10-Core-i9 | 128GB-DDR4 | 5700-XT-16GB | OWC Thunderbolt Hub and Thunderbolt 3 Dock //
||devices: RME Babyface Pro FS | Focusrite Clarett 2Pre | some AT mics | SM58 | Ableton Push 2 | Sennheiser HD 600 HP // Onkyo TX-8220 SR
||automation: SoundFlow | Stream Deck+ | Keyboard Maestro | SteerMouse | MacOS Shortcuts //
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