better workflow with spaces

[shamburglar]

It occurred to me the other day that maybe some people who are clamoring for a full fledged AU of Numerology may not be using an optimal workflow on their computer. Lately I've been running multiple slaved rewire apps to Ableton and having a decent time of it.

If you don't use Spaces I highly recommend it. This is especially useful if you only have one monitor.

Most importantly map the spaces button to a button on your mouse. I've mapped the spaces button to the "browser back" button on my mouse, this makes switching screens/apps very fluid and fast. So In a given session I might have Ableton, Renoise, Numerology and Noatikl all in separate spaces and set to full screen.

Also with spaces, you can actually set a default space for each app, so when you load it up, it loads to its default space. You can also increase the amount of available spaces from the default 4, I have mine set to 9... but I rarely use more than 5.

I could see how it would be frustrating if you're constantly task switching or trying to find the right window,(or a window has gotten hidden behind) but with using Spaces everything is one easy click away, plus it looks kind of cool when the screen zooms out and then zooms back in. Just a thought... sometimes you know a feature is there but never bother using it, Spaces has become an important part of my studio workflow... esp... when using multiple rewire apps in full screen mode...

[Per Boysen]

Thank you for the heads-up! I've not gone into Spaces yet (!) but have it on my to-check-out list. I use Exposé all the time though in a similar way. This comes from an old habit of using Logic that offers this screenset functionality; you map your different screen layouts to number pad keys and just jump around to view your musical processing from different angles.

[shamburglar]

you map your different screen layouts to number pad keys and just jump around to view your musical processing from different angles.

Yeah I love that... Renoise has this function where its really easy to assign different workspaces to the F keys... its fantastic... wish ableton had something like that... Num too... but I'm waiting on more interesting features for Num :D

Also one other thing about Spaces that is not immediately apparent and really helpful... when zoomed into spaces view, you can actually drag an app from one space to another.

[Per Boysen]

wish ableton had something like that...

Ableton almost has it if you assign a key or MIDI event to tracks (or clips). There is a preference in Live you can set to hid plug-in windows when switching track/clip and if you keep many plug-in windows open the effect will be somewhat "spaces-like" as you swap between tracks/clips.

[shamburglar]

cool... I'll have to check that out... thanks

[xherv]

That is really handy, thanks for the tip!