Trackball

[Heabow]

I have no experience with these but I wanna try as using a mouse during hours is not comfortable at all, at least for me. I saw some in 30-40€ range by Logitec or Kensington non-wireless. I guess they're not 'super awesome' but unless someone here tells me that's pure shit, I'd tend to buy one. What do I have to now before buying one? I mean there's certainly something recommanded or not to use with pro tools on a mac.

 

[JeffTD]

I don't like the thumb-based or smaller ball-based ones - I think the standard is the Kensington Expert Mouse Pro for a reason. I personally prefer the Slimblade but some prefer the scrolling of the EMP; I use both on a regular basis and prefer the lower profile to dedicated scrolling ring.

 

[pipaguapique]

happy Expert Mouse user here. 110% recommended. you'll love it for pro tools too! the scroll wheel is amazing to do horizontal scrolling plus, the two extra buttons at the top, you can program them to do whatever you like. (i have them set to change the grid from slip to grid)

And i never care about wireless really. its not important to me.

 

[B36arin]

We have a Kensington Trackball(looks similar to the Expert Mouse) in the System 5-MC at the studio and I swear by it. I don't ever use a regular mouse anymore except when I'm playing FPS games.

 

[~BURNY~]

I have an Orbit but I don't use it because I feel lost without the scroll wheel button. Otherwise it would be perfect.

 

[FIXXXER]

any logitech gaming mouse FTW!

 

[Heabow]

Thanks for your help guys Will check that out!

 

[colonel_claypoo]

I have a Kensington SlimBlade. Pretty good trackball mouse, can't complain.

 

[Heabow]

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-K72337US-Orbit-Trackball-Scroll/dp/B002OOWB3O/ref=pd_sim_e_2"]This one[/ame] looks pretty nice for the price. The other ones in the same prices don't have scroll ring.

 

[dissident]

I prefer the ball-under-your-thumb philosophy because i find the dragging more natural. I own a Logitech m570, I really love it

 

[mickrich]

Kensington slimblade here.
Had the expert mouse before but the slim blade has much smoother action.
I use 3 monitors (2x22 and a 32) because I do a lot of film and tv mixes and can have playback on the 32 and still have arrange and mix windows open.
A mouse is a pain when using this setup because you constantly run out of space and have to lift and drag further.
Also for drum editing I used to get a sore wrist from a mouse.
I have the top left button as spacebar keystroke (play/stop) and top right button as number pad 3 (record) so I can control transport and punches without using the keyboard.

 

[joelplagues]

I have the expert mouse by kensington but also keep a mouse as well. I love using it and do the majority of things on it but the main reason I have both is stopping RSI. Switching for different things or when I feel a bit tight in the hand is awesome.

I honestly love it but some things are simpler on a mouse(photo editing in lightroom is one job I personally need a mouse for)

Also, I used an old version of the orbit(looked similar to the one without scroll ring) and ABSOLUTELY HATED IT. Had to use it live on a Digidesign Venue console and I quick smart dealt with encoders and buttons that day. really awkward using a standard mouse size with trackball in the middle. Apparently everyone who worked for that P.A company loved it though so it could work for you but that's my 2 cents.

 

[Heabow]

@Mickrich: if I'm not wrong the Slimblade does not have scroll ring. Must be a bit tricky?

 

[JeffTD]

I have the top left button as spacebar keystroke (play/stop) and top right button as number pad 3 (record) so I can control transport and punches without using the keyboard.

Holy shit, now I wish I had more buttons to use.

I've got the following:
BL - click
TL - middle click
BR - right click
TR - key cmd to bring up the quantize panel in Cubase
Top2 - cmd+w (close window)
Bottom2 - key cmd to group/ungroup the tracks in folders for editing.

I wish I could fit the play/stop and record controls on so I could track one-handed and be obnoxious with the other.

 

[mickrich]

@Mickrich: if I'm not wrong the Slimblade does not have scroll ring. Must be a bit tricky?

It doesn't have a scroll ring but......
You twist the ball the scroll. Hold shift to scroll horizontally
Much more comfortable than the twisty scroll ring on the expert.
I initially got the slim blade to leave in my bag for when I am doing sessions where I teach but ended up preferring it so the slim blade is in my studio and the expert is in my bag.

 

[mickrich]

I see Jeff is making full use of "chording" the buttons.
The slim blade doesn't support this but I don't really miss it.
When I used the expert I had top 2 as delete and the bottom 2 to show desktop (expose on mac)

 

[mickrich]

Another plus for the slim blade is that there is a hole through it.
When you take the ball out you can see straight through the chassis so it doesn't gather gunk like the expert.
I used to have to regularly clean the expert's "crater" with compressed air.

 

[Sloan]

i have a kensington expert, but i didn't get the wrist rest with it so i never fucking use due to lack of comfort.

 

[JeffTD]

I see Jeff is making full use of "chording" the buttons.
The slim blade doesn't support this but I don't really miss it.
When I used the expert I had top 2 as delete and the bottom 2 to show desktop (expose on mac)

It does! You need Trackball Works, not the software that shipped with it originally.

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

I prefer the ball-under-your-thumb philosophy because i find the dragging more natural. I own a Logitech m570, I really love it

Same. I'm good with it.