Waveform control via trackpad

Questions
1
  • Device model: Macbook Pro 2021 M1 Silicon
  • Version of operating system: MacOS Sequoia 15.5
  • Version of djay: 5.3.2

When preparing tracks using just the computer (no controller) I’d like to be able to easily move the waveform, and I assumed that multi-touch would allow me to do this.

However I find using multi-touch really laborious due to it’s very low sensitivity. My Macbook has quite a large trackpad, and yet I can only move the waveform one beat at a time.

Is there a way to increase multi-touch sensitivity? Is multi-touch not the intended way to move the waveform without a controller?

2

As a workaround, you can use hotkeys to skip backward or forward by one bar. I believe these shortcuts are the same on both Windows and Mac OS. Pressing 3 or 4 moves the waveform on deck 1, while 7 and 8 control the waveform on deck 2.

3

@t3ks1st0, thanks for the response. Yes, I have various beat jump intervals mapped to keyboard shortcuts, but I personally find that approach quite awkward compared to what I would expect from trackpad scrolling.

Normally waveform scrolling with a trackpad is fast, smooth and very accurate (Ableton is a good example). Instead, DJay Pro’s multi-touch scrolling is very slow, jittery, and randomly switches directions. I honestly don’t find it usable, and made me wonder how people typically navigate their waveform in computer-only mode (no controller).

Do you experience this problem? How do you navigate your waveform in computer-only mode?

4

I agree, the multi-touch trackpad can be slippery and un-stable. While it is generically usable, it is wonky enough on waveforms that I avoid anything multi-touch while performing. Though I do not turn it off completely, since it is occasionally needed/useful.

With the Mixtour Pro, I use the laptop [3][4] and [7][8] keys to beat-jump. For Cues, I beat-jump around the waveform while the music is playing, setting/deleting cues on-the-fly). It’s an ok workflow, and can be very efficient (once the muscle memory kicks in); but it would be nice to accurately set the waveform (like with a jog-wheel). FYI - on the Mixtour Pro, holding down a CUE button will snap it to the waveform grid.

Two other options:

  • mapping keys to"nudge" the waveform, but personally, I find that much button-pushing to be less efficient than the method above.
  • use a mouse, which I bring, but it is an extra hassle, so I never bother connecting it.

Notes:
Wonder if Algoriddim could add a mode to restrict the x-y movement of the trackpad. So it only reacts to the vertical (y) axis. For example, something like SHIFT+Trackpad would only give you vertical movement on the waveform and faders - that would be pretty useful.

6

Thanks for the feedback @zalzebub, @Michael_Wisniewski and @t3ks1st0. I’ve shared this with the dev team to see if it’s possible to make some improvements here with multi-touch trackpad and waveform scrubbing. I’ll report back when I have more info.

1 Like
8

Hi again @zalzebub, here is some more info from the dev team:

  • Overview waveform: when using two fingers on the trackpad, the entire width of the trackpad is mapped to the width of the overview waveform, so you can quickly scrub through the entire song
  • Detail waveform: two fingers on the trackpad allows scratching the song e.g. to find the precise location of a beat to set a cue point or grid marker. Additionally you can scroll through the song using circular movements on the trackpad with two fingers.

Regarding the feature being “slippery” and “wonky” it would be helpful if you could share a short video of this behavior. Thanks!

9

Hi @Slak_Jaw, this was very helpful.

Based on your explanation, I see now that by swiping left/right with two fingers I was fighting the scratch controls. Clearly this was not the intended way to navigate the waveform.

The circular motions you describe with two fingers results in much smoother scrolling of the waveform.

But even better than that, it seems that swiping two fingers directly up/down anywhere on the trackpad will also scroll the waveform, with even greater control. Strange I never thought to try something so obvious, I guess because I always have my waveforms oriented horizontally.

Anyways, I consider this resolved. It may not be as sensitive as waveform scrubbing in Ableton, but swiping up/down is not wonky or jittery. It’s very close to scrolling with the jog-wheels and perfectly fine for my purposes.

Thanks again!

10

You’re welcome @zalzebub. Happy to help!