Bug reports & end-user support for Akai's MPC Software 'controllers' including the new MPC Studio 2, the MPC Touch, MPC Renaissance & original MPC Studio and MPC StudioB lack.

What Hardware Zooming Method would you prefer?

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User avatar
By DJ Hellfire Sat Mar 02, 2013 3:50 pm
While I'm happy we finally have zoom from the hardware, the method chosen to execute it feels extremely awkward and unnatural when done with one hand. The Data Wheel get's in the way of your middle and index fingers, so you have to fold those two fingers back into a fist. If not, those two fingers move the data wheel unintentionally. Not to mention pressing the cursor with your pinky finger just feels weird.

So I've thought of a way to maximize hardware control by zooming using the Q-Links. Other guys have thought of another way to zoom from the hardware using the F Keys. So please vote on what method you prefer.

_________________________________________________________________

1. Q-Link Method
MPC Ren:
Sample Edit:
1. Q4 turned right zooms in on sample
2. Q4 turned left zooms out on sample
3. Q8 turned right scrolls right on the sample
4. Q8 turned left scrolls left on sample

Sequencer:
1. Shift + Q4 turned right zooms in on piano roll
2. Shift + Q4 turned left zooms out on piano roll
3. Shift + Q8 turned right increases piano roll height
4. Shift + Q8 turned left decreases piano roll height


MPC Studio:
Sample Edit and Sequencer are both shift functions:
1. Shift + Q1 turned right zooms in on sample (zooms in on piano roll in sequencer)
2. Shift + Q1 turned left zooms out on sample (zooms out on piano roll in sequencer)
3. Shift + Q2 turned right scrolls right on the sample (increases piano roll height in sequencer)
4. Shift + Q2 turned left scrolls left on sample (decreases piano roll height in sequencer)


On both MPC Ren + MPC Studio:
Shit+Cursor L/R should nudge selected notes and Shift+Cursor U/D should transpose them

This method maintains consistency between both Sample Editor and Sequencer as well as between both Ren and Studio, and maximizes use of the current gen Q-Link technology! Not to mention it's much more ergonomically comfortable.

Also, the Q-Link GUI in the software can have labels for these functions like it does other sampler/sequencer functions (Start x 1000, Threshold, etc). Also, whenever in the Main Mode or Step Sequencer Mode, holding the shift button will display the zoom/scroll function labels on the Q-Link GUI. Releasing the shift button will revert the Q-Link labels back to their default Pad Parameters view!

Image Image

In the sequencer (Main Mode and Step Sequencer Mode), the Q-Link GUI would display as shown below when holding SHIFT:

Image





2. Legacy MPC Method
1. Transport buttons for zooming as seen in the JJ OS.
2. But also the Fine Edit Screen as seen in the MPC 1000, 2000, 2000XL, 2500, 5000, and JJOS to zoom in/out to make fine edits. You simply move the cursor over the Sample/Slice start or end parameter and press [Window]. Then the Fine Edit screen is displayed which shows both ends of the waveform. This is perfect for creating loops. The F keys are used for zooming in/out.





3. Akai Method
Sample Edit:
1. Shift + Cursor right zooms in on sample.
2. Shift + Cursor left zooms out on sample.

Sequencer
1. Shift + Cursor right zooms in on piano roll.
2. Shift + Cursor left zooms out on piano roll.
3. Shift + Cursor up increases piano roll height.
4. Shift + Cursor down decreases piano roll height!



:smoker:
Last edited by DJ Hellfire on Mon Mar 04, 2013 3:21 am, edited 10 times in total.
By e9000k Sat Mar 02, 2013 4:02 pm
I really think Akai needs to handout some limited editions to show appreciation to some dudes putting in crazy work FOR akai and the userbase, Hellfire is one of em.
By foge1 Sat Mar 02, 2013 4:38 pm
I would like auto zoom.
The q links are touch sensitive.
Soooooo.....

If I touch start x1 waveform automatically zooms right in.
If I touch start x10 waveform zooms in less far
If I touch start x100 waveform automatically zooms out further etc.
If I touch start x1000 zoom set right out

The four levels could be user configurable for added user configurability.
Then one qlink could be dedicated to +- the zoom just in case u need to change it.

That would be my personal choice. I don't see why I need to set the zoom if I am touching controls that are already divided up by resolution anyway.

G
User avatar
By DJ Hellfire Sat Mar 02, 2013 4:46 pm
foge1 wrote:I would like auto zoom.
The q links are touch sensitive.
Soooooo.....

If I touch start x1 waveform automatically zooms right in.
If I touch start x10 waveform zooms in less far
If I touch start x100 waveform automatically zooms out further etc.
If I touch start x1000 zoom set right out

The four levels could be user configurable for added user configurability.
Then one qlink could be dedicated to +- the zoom just in case u need to change it.

That would be my personal choice. I don't see why I need to set the zoom if I am touching controls that are already divided up by resolution anyway.

G


This is actually a cool idea too! Only issue I see with it is your hand accidentally touching a Q-Link while turning another. Could work if you're careful, but could be disastrous if you have sausage fingers! :lol:
By foge1 Sat Mar 02, 2013 5:02 pm
Yeah true
Could add a wait function so that it only changes if a control is touched for say half a sec
But yeah could easily suck if it was too sensitive
G
User avatar
By DaizM Sat Mar 02, 2013 5:49 pm
I definitely have come to not like the zoom implementation either... I actually don't care for the use of the shift btn for a lot of things on the Ren the more I use it mainly due to the placement of the shift btn. I wish the button was placed elsewhere..I'm left handed, for me it would feel more natural if it were on the left side of the hardware since most of the functions requiring it are on the right and I could easily use two hands quickly, but it is where it is...

The Q link zoom method is a great idea and I have a hard time finding anything wrong with it technically, but as I sit here in front of my REn emulating the motion, the use of the transport button feels more satisfying to me for some reason. Maybe due to the familiarity of using buttons versus the Q links, i don't know what it is. The Q links would definitely be faster depending on the resolution at which it would zoom (by the way, how would that be determined ?) .

Touching the q links for zoom is an even better idea, but when considering the potential for accidental strikes its a hard one to get around because adding pause basically eliminates its efficiency. In that one second I could have already zoomed with QL 4 and been done. If they can figure out a way to get around accidental hits without introducing delay, then that would be my choice, but for now between the two the QL4 Zoom seems to be the most realistically doable and efficient method in my opinion...now if they could just get the zoom reflected on the hardware screen!!!

My ultimate choice would be another field on the hardware screen (and I suppose in the software somewhere), 'Zoom' if you will, and I could just cursor left or right to set the level of precision (like the MV..probably easier there because you could only navigate vertically in the comparable screen, so left/right was possible to edit values. would be hard to implement on Ren because there is 4 way navigation on the edit screen) I want and use the Data Dial to set it where I want.. That would feel the most natural to me....maybe not the faster in terms of pure speed, but would fit into the way I move around the hardware better...

Hmmm...I'm voting for the Q links, but as I think about it I wouldn't be mad at this (i view everything from hdwr only perspective):
1. new 'Zoom' field on screen
2. cursor to it
3. use data dial to dial in zoom (from 0% all the way out to 100% all the way in incr. of 10, use +/- to incre by 1)

Felt great emulating it, but QL4 method definitely would be faster...
User avatar
By QuickStrike Sat Mar 02, 2013 9:18 pm
foge1 wrote:I would like auto zoom.
The q links are touch sensitive.
Soooooo.....

If I touch start x1 waveform automatically zooms right in.
If I touch start x10 waveform zooms in less far
If I touch start x100 waveform automatically zooms out further etc.
If I touch start x1000 zoom set right out

The four levels could be user configurable for added user configurability.
Then one qlink could be dedicated to +- the zoom just in case u need to change it.

That would be my personal choice. I don't see why I need to set the zoom if I am touching controls that are already divided up by resolution anyway.

G



:mrgreen: Perfect just what I was trying to say, but with the added function of Q links + shift. this would be for double the speed amount especially the x1000 for long samples. I would think this is compatible for both the ren and studio. :nod:
By Danny Sat Mar 02, 2013 9:57 pm
i tell you whats a completely useless button and that's tap tempo total waste of space
why not put that to some use
no finger gymnastics with this shift + nonsense either
and the zoom slider on the software could be a bit bigger or just change to click + -
if i really have to use a mouse make it easy and obvious

i support any improvement :nod:
User avatar
By Rokgod Sun Mar 03, 2013 2:49 am
Pads wrote:Since software is involved, I personally like using the mouse scroll wheel for zoom.. They should implement this.


Not everyone uses a mouse, not everyones mouse has a wheel either. I use a trackpad so any function I have to click around with a mouse is a pain in the ass. I'm sure mac users feel me on this one. We need more control from the hardware. Why assign the mouse to anything when you have a huge piece of hardware in front of you with tons of controls, knobs, dials, buttons.