I often find myself struggling with Studio One's separate tool selection bars.
This is a request to rethink the tool selection process, not a request with concrete solutions.
First issue:
Currently we have two tool selection bars. One for the arranger and one for the editor.
They work independently from each other, but both partially share the same key commands (KC).
Both separate tool bars react depending on where your mouse pointer hovers, regardless of the current focus.
This often leads to confusion when switching tools in the editing process.
Below is an example where I repeatedly switch between tool 1 and 2 while hovering my mouse from the arrangement to the editor, without click to focus.
Notice how the tool bars are switched depending on my mouse hovering position.
In the process of recording and editing, I'm not always aware where my mouse pointer resides.
So let's say I record a part with the editor open, my mouse pointer resides in the arranger. When the recording is finished I want to mute a few notes, so I press 5 on my keyboard. But because my mouse resides in the arrangement part, I select the Paint tool in the arranger, instead of the Mute tool in the MIDI editor.
Second issue:
A second issue I struggle with is the order of the independent tool bars.
The current tool order for the Arrangement window is:
1. Arrow
2. Range
3. Split
4. Erase
5. Paint
6. Mute
7. Bend
8. Listen
The current tool order for the Midi Editor is:
1. Arrow
2. Split
3. Paint
4. Erase
5. Mute
6. Listen
As you can see, only the Arrow (1) & Erase (4) tool share the same position (and KC).
While Split (3 & 2), Paint (5 & 3), Mute (6 & 5), Listen (8 & 6) could share the same positions too, since those are consistent tools.
Leaving Range & Bend as unique tools for the Arrangement window.
Because simple range proceedings can easily be accessed by the CTRL modifier when the arrow tool is selected, I'm inclined to request to (re)move it, to obtain consistency between at least the first six tools (and KC's) on both tool bars.
Like for instance this:
1. Arrow
2. Split
3. Paint
4. Erase
5. Mute
6. Listen
And for the Arrangement additionally:
7. Range
8. Bend
With this request, I just wonder if the tool bars can't be implemented smarter, more intuitive?
Maybe a single dynamic tool bar solution with a consistent tool order between different editors.
Or, like others suggested in different feature requests, a smarter tool.
Mockup of consistent tool order (random) for the first six items.
