M7CL tricks part 2

Today’s trick for the M7CL is not quite as involved as last week’s, but I think it is very powerful for efficient workflow.

Everyone has their own ideas for how best to lay out the 12 user defined keys on the console.  Up until a few months ago, my norm was for keys 1-8 to be direct sends on faders buttons for mix busses 1-8, with keys 9-12 reserved for a couple mute groups, talkback, and a scene advance button.  However, I discovered an option for user keys that I used to utilize on the PM1D and never realized existed on the M7CL:  page bookmarks.

The touchscreen on the console is a blessing and a curse to me.  There are some parts of operating the software that lend themselves quite well to a touchscreen but sometimes I miss having more direct access buttons to things such as the EQ & dynamics sections, as well as FX processors that reside on the Rack page.  Assigning a user defined key as a page bookmark is REALLY handy because it allows me to bring back some of that fast access I want to menus or screens I’m getting to all the time so I can remove a touchscreen key press and instead get somewhere quicker with muscle memory and button feel.

I’ve started setting up my user defined keys so the first row of 4 are set up as page bookmarks that get me in 1 button press to the EQ detail, Dynamics detail, and my VOX Verb & VOX Delay.  It’s a simple thing but it feels like it speeds up my workflow around the desk because now I can select a channel, press my EQ shortcut button, and then start dialing away at that channel’s sound.  Same for dynamics.  I’m constantly going to my verbs to dial them in exactly how I want them to sound.  Without this shortcut, getting to that edit screen is at least a 2 step process and might be 3 depending on what screen I’m coming from.  Now 1 press of the shortcut brings it up and another brings me back where I was previously.

Check it out.  You might find page bookmark shortcuts does the same for your workflow.