Craig Anderton
Well-known member
Probably most of you know this, but hey, I'm a little slow sometimes.
The Channel Overview seemed to trade off a lot of UI space for a marginally easier way to edit effects compared to opening multiple windows. (Sonar users will see a similarity to the Pro Channel.) Ovreall, the Channel Overview seemed more like a bother, given that I've already integrated the Micro View and Channel Editor into my workflow.
But here's where I find the Channel Overview useful with my dual-monitor system. Because the Channel Overview is detachable, with sessions that have tons of tracks I can use the Narrow Mixer view on my main monitor and park the Channel Overview in the second, smaller monitor. This allows doing most of my work in the full Arrange view (with the Inspector and Browser open) yet still have easy access to individual Channel effects plug-ins, and the option to write plug-in automation, via the Channel Overview. Click on a Channel in the Arrange View, and the Channel Overview switches to it automatically.
The main limitation is the parameters are a "greatest hits" collection for Fender and PreSonus plug-ins, with predetermined controls. The Pro EQ doesn't even have any controls; you instead manipulate nodes on the frequency-response graph. However, with third-party effects, you can use add/remove parameter options (e.g., like automation) to add or remove parameters you want to edit. In no case can you have more than one page of parameters.
The Channel Overview's goal is to make selected effects parameters available. So, the Channel Overview isn't quite like having a "sidebar" control surface for plug-ins. But it does take us one step closer.
The Channel Overview seemed to trade off a lot of UI space for a marginally easier way to edit effects compared to opening multiple windows. (Sonar users will see a similarity to the Pro Channel.) Ovreall, the Channel Overview seemed more like a bother, given that I've already integrated the Micro View and Channel Editor into my workflow.
But here's where I find the Channel Overview useful with my dual-monitor system. Because the Channel Overview is detachable, with sessions that have tons of tracks I can use the Narrow Mixer view on my main monitor and park the Channel Overview in the second, smaller monitor. This allows doing most of my work in the full Arrange view (with the Inspector and Browser open) yet still have easy access to individual Channel effects plug-ins, and the option to write plug-in automation, via the Channel Overview. Click on a Channel in the Arrange View, and the Channel Overview switches to it automatically.
The main limitation is the parameters are a "greatest hits" collection for Fender and PreSonus plug-ins, with predetermined controls. The Pro EQ doesn't even have any controls; you instead manipulate nodes on the frequency-response graph. However, with third-party effects, you can use add/remove parameter options (e.g., like automation) to add or remove parameters you want to edit. In no case can you have more than one page of parameters.
The Channel Overview's goal is to make selected effects parameters available. So, the Channel Overview isn't quite like having a "sidebar" control surface for plug-ins. But it does take us one step closer.
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