Lengthy effects menu

[Keatah]

Something needs to be done with the effects menu. There's got to be a better way than having to scroll through a hundred different choices to get to the last item.

[kozikowski]

Agreed. The desired target is the ability to generate a "favorite" effects list and assign them to hot keys.

The other logical, and easier to program choice is an effects hierarchy. This was tried once -- to pitchforks and flaming torches.

Effects > Repair > Legacy > Nyquist > Noise Reduction.

Try going down that pile fifteen times to get Noise Reduction just right. I'm too close to retirement.

So yes, I understand something of this nature is under development.

Koz

[Keatah]

Perhaps just having multiple columns would suffice. Or built-in hotkeys for your favorites? Or a top-ten list? Just anything different from the scrolling. If the "EFFECT" pulldown is moved to the left, then there could be room for 3 or 4 columns.

I agree that "Effects > Repair > Legacy > Nyquist > Noise Reduction." is also ridiculous. Rabbit holing isn't the way to go here.

[Gale Andrews]

Just to reiterate a couple of points already made to you by e-mail.

Your vote will be added to bring back an effects categories feature. I doubt it will satisfy everyone unless it was completely customisable (drag an effect into any category, including your own named category or a Favourites folder).

There are already good workarounds using the keyboard (including effects shortcuts from Audacity 2.0.1 onwards):
http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Navigating_Effects .

What Audacity lacks yet is effects shortcuts that operate an effect at particular parameters of an effect.


Gale

[waxcylinder]

Your vote will be added to bring back an effects categories feature. I doubt it will satisfy everyone unless it was completely customisable (drag an effect into any category, including your own named category or a Favourites folder).

IIRC that is what the Proposal in the Wiki relating to this suggests: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Propo ... ganisation
I also seem to remember a discussion re. allowing a configurable preference to allow the user to choose between the "classic" linear long-list menu or a tiered menu.

There are already good workarounds using the keyboard (including effects shortcuts from Audacity 2.0.1 onwards)

And now that these keyboard shortcuts are available, I'm guessing that the earlier fiery objections to a tiered menu structure for effects will dissipate. (I for one will wthdraw my earlier objections.

What Audacity lacks yet is effects shortcuts that operate an effect at particular parameters of an effect.

Personally I do not find the lack of this a handicap (though I do understand taht folk who want to use effects in "chains" are likely to want/need this).

But yes I do agree with Keatah that the list is far too long to easily navigate - I have been using it that way lately to test some of Steve's new Nyqist effects (which lengthen the menu even more of course).

WC

[steve]

There are already good workarounds using the keyboard (including effects shortcuts from Audacity 2.0.1 onwards):

• Keyboard shortcuts may fail if Nyquist workbench is used (bug 516).
• Typing the first letter of the effect name does not work on Linux (Windows only?)
• On Linux, "Page Up/Down" sort of works, but it is rather peculiar as it appears to jump according to a particular number of effects that does not correspond to the number of effects in an effect group.

Keyboard shortcuts are useful, but not a solution as many users will have more effects than keys on their keyboard.

But yes I do agree with Keatah that the list is far too long to easily navigate

The problem becomes a great deal worse if the LADSPA plug-in pack is installed - the number of effects then grows to about 100 items.
Users that have other music software installed can have several hundred items in the Effect menu.

I agree that this issue warrants some urgency/priority.
(I have already voted in favour of addressing this issue).

[Gale Andrews]

I also seem to remember a discussion re. allowing a configurable preference to allow the user to choose between the "classic" linear long-list menu or a tiered menu.

Yes, that is the specific minimum required to bring it back.

But note that there is no way under the previous implementation to categorise VST plug-ins, of which indeed some users will have hundreds. They will be left in a long list as "unsorted". A partial solution for that could be to implement the sort of grouping "Plug-ins 1-10", "Plug-ins 11-20"... used for "under-the-divider" effects on Linux. But I think that is a real half-way house. Some people will want a VST compressor in a "Compressor" category. Others will want VST plug-ins together (in a "VST" category).

Keyboard access is quite good on Mac when you get used to it. ALT does not access the application menu as it does on Windows and Linux, you need CTRL + F2. Then the seek depends on quickly typing the first letters of the required root menu, then down arrow to open that menu, then typing the first letters of the required effect. So to open Equalization, simply:

Code: Select all

EF
DOWN
EQ

Page Up / Down seems to be just to top or bottom of the menu.



Gale

[waxcylinder]

... ALT does not access the application menu as it does on Windows and Linux ...

Well I never knew that - thanks for that tip Gale

[DJ Kytrooper]

Here's a cool idea... just have a drag-and-drop style list, much like used in more sophisticated (not in quality, just how it looks and how its presented) software. i.e. a list of effects, your fav is at the bottom, click and hold with the mouse and just drag it up the list until the point where you want it. I understand though that this is easier said than done... but it would still be nice...

[Gale Andrews]

have a drag-and-drop style list

That may well be an essential part of the solution, but unlikely to be sufficient on its own if you installed a pack of several hundred plug-ins.


Gale