Question

Summary

tl;dr: Studio One under-utilises the middle click and the right click. Most notably, middle button panning is badly needed.

Hi all, this is a very simple but also very important workflow enhancement request. At the moment middle-click shows the tool picker, here's the tool picker:

The problem is the middle button doesn't do anything else. With the right button we see the same problem: it shows the context menu and, again, doesn't do anything else. Studio One could pack much more functionality into these mouse buttons by detecting if the mouse has/hasn't moved after the the click happens.

Improvement suggestions

In the clips area of Arrange View, the notes area of the Piano Roll and the waveform area of the Audio Editor:

• Middle-click + swipe: Pan view. The user presses the middle button, then moves the mouse while holding the middle button down to pan the view left/right/up/down, then releases the middle button to stop panning. This is how it works in Bitwig, FL Studio, Cubase (I think) and actually loads of graphic design and CAD software.
• Middle-click (mouse doesn't move): Open tool picker. Note: The tool picker is shown only after releasing middle button and only if the mouse hasn't moved. If the mouse moves before the  button is released, then Studio One is smart and understands that the movement is intentional and the user intends to pan the view (previous point above), so the tool picker is not shown in this case.
• Right-click + swipe: Delete clips. FL Studio works like this, and it makes editing extremely fast.
• Right-click (mouse doesn't move): Show context menu. The user presses the right button, then moves the mouse while holding the right button down over clips/notes to delete them, then releases the right button to stop deleting.
• Left-click: Select stuff, etc—the way it works at the moment is fine.

On the ruler:

• Middle-click + horizontal swipe: Pan view left/right.
• Middle-click + vertical swipe: Ignored. This gives the user a way to pan the view just horizontally without having to worry about messing up the zoom level.
• Middle-click (mouse doesn't move): Alternate/toggle between full view (zooms out horizontally just enough to show the entire arrangement) and the previous zoom level.
• Right-click: Shows context menu (current behavior, no need to change unless you want the swipe to do something else).

We can see that the left click is already "smart" on the ruler, the way it works at the moment, so it makes sense that its siblings the middle and right click get the same smart treatment:

• Left-click + swipe: Combined zoom & pan view.
• Left-click (mouse doesn't move): Move playback cursor to click position.

I understand keeping the mouse perfectly still while clicking the button can be difficult, especially after a double espresso, so by "mouse doesn't move" we could really mean "mouse doesn't move more than a predefined number of pixels". For example, if the mouse doesn't move more than, say, 3 pixels in any direction between the time the button is pressed and released, then Studio One would understand that "the mouse didn't move". Conversely, if the mouse did move more than 3 pixels, then Studio One would intelligently interpret this as "the mouse movement was too big to be an accident, therefore we'll treat that as a swipe".

On any other panel that features a scrolling view (e.g. Mixer, Browser, Track/Event inspector):

• Middle Click + Swipe: Pan view.

Modifiers

Combine the middle click with modifiers. For example, in the clips area of Arrange View, Ctrl + Left-click + Swipe could be used for combined horizontal zoom and pan a-la Ableton. Basically explore and exploit the possibilities.

One more thing...

Just one more small but very important detail: Once the tool picker is visible, if you middle-click outside the tool picker it doesn't go away! Strangely enough, the left button can be used both to pick tools and to close the picker by clicking outside, while the middle button can only be used to pick tools, which is inconsistent. When the picker is opened by accident, users will intuitively try to middle-click outside the picker to close it. This is an intuitive gesture commonly used in mobile apps, where you close a menu by tapping outside.

Sorry for the long and boring post........ if anything isn't clear ask me any questions in the comments below. Thanks everyone for reading and please vote this FR if you like it.

Answer 1

Thank you for the feature request. 

If anyone else agrees or disagrees, then please vote it up, or down. 

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Please click on one or the other. 

Answer 2

This ain't gathering much support... seriously, the MMB is completely under-utilised in S1. Need to be able to pan in the various editors by grab-and-drag. Many graphic design applications work this way, FL Studio works this way. It enables accurate navigation and positioning. It would be a huge workflow improvement.

Answer 3

Please support!

Answer 4

I am brand new to StudioOne coming from Cubase. One of the first things I notices is a break in producitivity by having to use Scrollbars or Shift-/Ctrl-Shift Mousewheel to pan in the editing windows. I got so used to using the Middle Mouse button for panning that I constantly open up the tool picker.

Using the Middle Mouse for panning is really common nowadays, be it the web browser or professional art programs like Photoshop or Affinity's tools. Would be great to have in StudioOne as well. Especially saving quite some mouse miles.

Thanks, Stefan

Answer 5

Middle button to pan is very common in graphic design and 3D modelling software, it significantly enhances the user experience and increases productivity.

Answer 6

You've got a vote from me. As a prior Cubase user, it's the only deal breaker.

There's already a toolbox kinda thing if you right click anyway. Why have this function twice with both middle and right click?

Answer 7

Don't wait for the votes, just do it if the idea has only advantages.

Answer 8

Pity this didn't make it into the 4.5 update.

Answer 9

www.magicprefs.com for MAC OSX Users.
It's Free and its EVERYTHING your looking for.

The mouse in studio one should be full custom much like magicprefs allows you to do.

PRESONUS take some pointers. 
They are able to do everything everyone has asked to do with magic mouse in one small background applicaiton... and its free.

Answer 10

Middle-click + scroll on wheel: vertical zoom in/out on ruler.

I agree with:

• Middle-click + vertical swipe on ruler is ignored. (So this does not move the view at all)
• Middle-click + horizontal swipe on ruler pans left/right. (The view is only moved horizontally by this and there is movement vertically, as described above)

It could be confusing or difficult to implement the part about moving or not moving (to open the tool picker) while holding the middle button. I think just the option to turn on or off the tool picker or the option to freely assign it would be helpful. You can already change tools with a right click or going up to the controls at the top or even the keyboard shortcuts, we don't need a fourth way, we could use the mouse wheel button to scroll horizontally and also to zoom in while holding and physically scrolling on the wheel itself.

I say all this on my request too: https://answers.presonus.com/44095/horizontal-scroll-zoom-option-with-just-press-hold-mouse-wheel

Answer 11

@jeremiahmcgowan Some interesting thoughts there, and you are probably right. I personally dislike that middle click took picker. It would be much better to move the two-dimensional took picker to the top of the right-click menu, similar to Bitwig. The ultimate solution is not a better picker but smarter tools that don't need constant switching.

Answer 12

+100 for Modified behaviour of the Middle Mouse Button to allow pan and smooth zoom actions.

You haven't done it yet? Seriously?

Answer 13

As a long time FL Studio User who switched to S1 2 month ago, this is still a huge issue for me and the only thing I keep missing.

At least an option to disable the zoom (and just keep the panning) on click & drag on the timeline would be a good start for me. I always accidentally zoom in / out if I just want to pan, which is extremly annoying to me.

Answer 14

Studio One would be my to-go choice if it had this (mmb panning) and expresssion maps.
Already using other DAW, so I can't afford the full price but rent-to-own is too good...

Answer 15

Would be nice to have a Scroll Horizontally and or Vertically under Cursor, like in Reaper's software. This way you don't have to press any key down or switch any macro page. Just point and zoom.  Also, What about an "Ignore scroll wheel over faders."

Answer 16

you can middle drag to navigate in fl studio, ableton, reaper and not in studio one

and after trying these daws it's really pain to navigate in studio one

Answer 17

Have to support this with an immense yes. This is a major deal breaker for me and that's why i'm using Cubase more and more when it comes to writing music.

Answer 18

This is much needed, voted!

I would like to add my input to the request. 

As it is written it could be interpreted like the old web browser scrolling type of deal. I would like the scroll function to work like grabbing the canvas does in most other software. E.g. Cubase, Reaper, FL Studio, BitWig and most photo editing and 3D editing software. 

Specifically, Middle-click and drag drags the page, keeping the page fixed with the mouse cursor.

And it would be nice to have an option in the settings whether the user wishes to have the middle-click menu and/or scroll behavior, as I personally use keyboard shortcuts and never open the middle-click menu.

Answer 19

To further clarify: Studio One currently seems to restrict scrolling to one axis at a time, this feature needs to be unrestricted. The middle mouse dragging needs to move the screen effortlessly across both x and y axes simultaneously with absolute coordinates in relation to the mouse cursor.

Answer 20

Requested multiple times in different places—Presonus, are you listening?

• https://answers.presonus.com/8785/smarter-right-click-and-middle-click (my original FR, 83 votes)
• https://answers.presonus.com/41862/drag-pages-using-middle-mouse-button
• https://answers.presonus.com/54905/it-possible-navigate-with-the-middle-mouse-wheel-button-now
• https://answers.presonus.com/48043/grab-hand-middle-click-key-command-to-drag-arrange-page
• https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=323710
• https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=473561
• https://www.reddit.com/r/StudioOne/comments/hix96k/middle_mouse_drag_to_pan_around_anyone_wish_this/

Answer 21

How has this been requested for 5 years and not implemented yet?!?

Answer 22

@stevenpalomino Because, IMO, Presonus has got to the point where their software is popular enough that they don't need to beg for customers. Instead, now it's us customers begging them for features. In the beginning they were very eager to listen and please, but now their focus seems have steered in the direction of developing features that look impressive on marketing material but are, in practice, poorly implemented, half-baked or missing critical functionality.

I stopped holing my breath for a number of highly requested features a long time ago, and I absolutely stopped buying upgrades and I'm currently using a different DAW. The arranger track, for example, is close to useless. It's as if the goal was not to release a decent arrangement tool, but rather something that they could put the words "arrange" and "track" to so that management could tick the box and slap it on marketing material. Once management are content that the feature has been delivered, the feature is forgotten.

Answer 23

Just a side note: I've found that a small app called Smooze https://smooze.co/ provides some useful (close to the ones mentioned above) functionality to the MMB within Studio one. Once installed it turns a MMB click into a grabber tool which gives up/down and sLeft/Right panning in the arrange and also the Console. Not free Hand movement as in smooth smooth diagonal motion but still useful. Strangely holding down a command key on the mac whilst MMB dragging actual zooms Horizontally as well as Vertically. This is an awesome, if inexplicable bonus. Unfortunately the sensitivity is a little too high and I am as yet unable to work out whether that is customisable at all.

Answer 24

Please add this!!!

Answer 25

Hey everyone.. since I see this has been requested for years I'm leaving my solution here. This app allows you to use the MMB to scroll.

Answer 26

@stevenpalomino Smart Scroll is only available for Mac. I was really hoping this feature would be added in the next update, but Studio One 5.2 has already landed. Disappointing.

Answer 27

5 years and waiting. Wow.. must be really hard for Presonus to implement..

Over a hundred votes as well... I guess requests will need 200 or more before Presonus pays attention.

Answer 28

Showing my support for this. Especially for the middle mouse panning features. 2021 please PreSonus 

Answer 29

YES PLEASE.. Get it together on this request.. LOL.  Such a workflow killer.  Come On Devs.  let's make this happen.  Studio 5.3 or 5.4  This is such a common navigation method so it should definitely be implemented because that's how most users use a middle mouse button.

Answer 30

This is really needed... How do pro's pan around the views? Are they all using those fancy Apple Magic Mouses? What about Windows? Please, PreSonus, give us this option! This is the one thing holding me back. Seems like pedantic, but I'm really fighting with S1 every time I use it. It is so good, but please let me stop fighting the UX..!

Answer 31

@basdupr I agree, as a Windows user some times I feel like a second-class citizen. Plus, if I was using MacOS, then I would be using Logic, not Studio One, because it gets things right and is a lot cheaper. Studio One gets many things right, but many features still feel half-baked and it seems the focus is always on new big features rather than finishing off existing ones.

Answer 32

Bump! I really need this. I've got arthritis on my right wrist and this behaviour could make things so much easier on the wrist, specially paired with an Evoluent mouse. Please devs, consider this.

Answer 33

Version 6.0 is out, and still nothing on the subject. Real pity and shame. The feature is crying to be implemented!

Answer 34

guys, In search of a solution I found out that nothing helps but this programme:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/mwaccelerator/

It at least lets you scroll faster in studio one...

Answer 35

Ist it possible to use macros? You can do many different commands at once.

The tool picker is very important and opening up this way is a very needed workflow point.

I have no clue if this changes would change any feeling of it, but now as example all the smart tools are too much if the zooming level is too low. As example the automations where the curve tool gets in conflict with the bezier point tool.

Answer 36

S1 6.1 just released, still nothing. This is the first thing I check every time, and the reason why I stopped using S1 at v4.5.

Answer 37

BUMP!! Come on, Presonus

Answer 38

Update 6.5 today and still no. Sucks. So many other daw have this and its my biggest grip with studio one. The one thing stopping me from pulling the trigger on upgrading to Pro (and maybe no inversion on the chord track, But im getting Scaler 2 to remedy that).

There is a 3rd party app for windows, that makes it work for the, studioone plus, but:

1. It's slower in the editing windows than the arranger.

2. if you have dual monitors and the mouse slips onto one, it would force you to make an extra click to stop it.

Really hope they can implement this.

Answer 39

Since Bitwig studio and Presonus implemented the .daw format to be able to export and import project across these 2 DAWs, I really consider switching from bitwig to Studio One.
Studio One is far more impressive to mix and master. But there's this zoom and pan problem: once you get used to it like in this young DAW Bitwig, you can't go back to the old ways to navigate through.

So, Presonus, soon 200 votes, can you consider to implement this 2023's basic feature? I just gave you 1700€ to buy a StudioLive 32R and I would be glad to add 300 for the pro version of Studio One but not until this middle click feature hasn't be implemented... How many other users in our case? You open the demo version, you notice you need Ctrl and Shift and mouse wheel and you immediately give up on working on this DAW...

Answer 40

Im gonna be honest and express my dissappoinment that such a simple and important feature has not been added for 5-7 years.

I downloaded studio one and spents so much time this month watching tutorials and downloading plusins etc. All that to realize the one of the most important navigation tools is completely absent. even after several years of requests.

If studio one doesn't have a solution I am canceling the subscription and moving back to Logic Pro or Cubase.

Smh another company that ignores its customer base and only focuses on catching new leads...

Answer 41

Bruh how has this not been implemented yet?...
This is a deal breaker for me tbh. Anyone reccomend a good DAW that has this feature?

Answer 42

6.6 is out and... nothing. Like there is no issue of bad navigation. Presonus, 8 years no reaction, why?

Answer 43

http://answers.presonus.com/?qa=blob&qa_blobid=3835449609714736841

http://answers.presonus.com/?qa=blob&qa_blobid=17706028025613949518

I'm using X-mouse Button Control. 

Only people who arrive at this page will know that this app is available. People who are using Studio one for the first time do not know this, so the Middle Click button remains unavailable.

As you'll notice when you use it, you have to jump into the air when you move the mouse back. I want horizontal movement using Middle Button to be supported natively.

Answer 44

I'm actually regretting buying S1 due to this. Moving around the timeline is amongst my very most common actions, and even with the zoom to part / overview shortcuts and shift to scroll it's so much less ergonomic.

This functionality is so common in so many different kinds of apps (video editing / image editing), Presonus landed on a dreadful approach here.

Answer 45

+1 I'd love to see this implemented. It's a must have