World Tech

Spot|DSE wrote on 10/15/2003, 10:56 PM
Just got my World Tech keyboard for Vegas. Shortcuts that I'd forgotten are there, are shown clearly, plus a few 'bonus' shortcuts programmed in there. http://www.worldtechdevices.com/vegas.html
I got mine from Safe Harbor, but I think VideoGuys sell them too. At 96.00 or so, it's well worth the cost, if nothing else, it's a Vegas-oriented keyboard. Feels solid, great replacement for my standard keyboard. I wanted one not only for the Vegas shortcuts that I use in all my editing sessions, I also wanted it because it looks like "Vegas" in our editing rooms.
Biggest thing I like is how it's springy under the fingers, feeling solid. Granted, I replaced a 25.00 keyboard with it, but the difference for me is pretty significant. I edited a session all day today with it, and found that my fingers didn't feel as tight as they usually do.
I'm not using the wrist rest with it, but I don't use rests. I just keep the keyboard higher, so it's nice that the rest is removable. The booklet that comes with it is Vegas-specific, and it's color coded for the shortcuts as well as being burned into each key, what the key does. It's not stickers like some of the keyboards I've seen have.
The color coding is set up so it's:
Purple for Playback/recording
Dark Pink for Editing
Yellow for View menu/view tools
Dark blue for Navigation/time selection
Not only is the icon for the shortcut burned into the key, but it also contains the same icons seen in much of the toolbar or function.
USB, cable could be a little longer, but overall, can't complain about any of it. I find it a strong valuable add to my Vegas system. We bought two, both are black, but the website shows a white model. I haven't seen thewhite model in person, just in the black that I got.
Summarized; Looks and feels great, and speaks Vegas shortcuts all over it.

Comments

rmack350 wrote on 10/15/2003, 11:41 PM
Wow. Sounds great.

How are the dark keys with the lights down low?

I'm tempted but just about to close on a house in Oakland. This is not the time to spend money on anything but drapes and new locks. Ah well.

(time passes...)

Just took a look. It looks a lot like my MS Internet keyboard (which is my favorite of the three I use). I actually like the palm rest. Hmmm...for a hundred bucks I'd replace the whiney HD in my laptop BUT I could sure use help remembering keyboard shortcuts...

Not a good time to get that spending jones...

Rob

Spot|DSE wrote on 10/16/2003, 12:52 AM
Not too dark at all. This was one of my primary concerns too, as our rooms are entirely indirect lighting. There are 5 keys on the whole keyboard that are a little dark in the dark, and they have BRIGHT white for letters on them so they are still clearly visible.
H, :, Enter, Shift, CTRL are the only black keys that aren't really 'stand out' and as I mention, they have bright white burned into them. I don't know how long they'll stand the test of time. Primary motivator for one of the rooms is that the space bar has a small hole worn in it from thumbs hitting too hard for too long. So, a VEgas keyboard replaced it today,.
Jay Gladwell wrote on 10/16/2003, 9:04 AM
I received notification yesterday that mine was on the way.

After getting caught up in the keyboard sticker fiasco, this little gem is considered heaven sent. I know several have said that it is too expensive for them. I can understand that if there are no funds coming in for the work being done, i.e., those editing home videos, etc..

I'm really excited about the time I expect to save. This [keyboard] has been a long time coming!
BrianStanding wrote on 10/16/2003, 10:55 AM
I just wish it were PS/2 instead of USB. I'm using a KVM switch to switch between my edit workstation and my internet computer, and it only works with PS/2 connectors.

Plus, I'm trying to minimize my use of USB to reduce overhead on the system.
filmy wrote on 10/16/2003, 11:03 AM
I seem to remember looking at this and seeing the F3 and F9 keys weren't marked - or was that another VV keyboard?
SonyDennis wrote on 10/16/2003, 3:33 PM
F3/F9 are not marked because they (like F16-F23 for shuttle) are "backdoor" keys for the ShuttlePRO. You'd typically want to use Alt Left/Right Arrow for moving the cursor, or NumPad 1/3 for trimming by frame. The magic of F3/F9 is that they do one or the other, based on whether you are in edge edit mode (also, they adjust play speed when playing). The reason they are not in the F13-F24 range is beause the Griffin PowerMate did not have access to that range.
///d@
Randy Brown wrote on 10/16/2003, 4:16 PM
BStanding, they make USB to Serial adaptors. Not sure where to get them but my KVM switch came with one (sorry but I'm using it).
Randy
BrianStanding wrote on 10/16/2003, 4:37 PM
Good to know.... may look into this.... (although I think my next $100 is going toward a DVD printer..)

Thanks.
Vulcan wrote on 10/16/2003, 4:41 PM
Can anyone tell if I can use two keyboards on the same computer without a reboot? The reason I'm asking is that the keyboard layout is US and I live in Sweden (a very different setup). I don't mind using a US layout for video editing but it´s not an option for tasks where I need to write in my native language. It's very easy to shift the "software" layout of the keyboard from Sw <-> US. My Swedish keyboard is connected to the keyboard input and if I could use the Vegas "hardware" keyboard without rebooting it would be very easy to shift and use the appropriate keyboard depending on what I do.

Hans
wcoxe1 wrote on 10/16/2003, 7:13 PM
Check out what are called KVM switches. I believe I saw a setup using two keyboards, some time ago. Not positive. Anyone out there doing this. It would really help this guy.
filmy wrote on 10/16/2003, 7:56 PM
I have a US keyboard and a swedish wife - we just use the built in keyboard switch that switches the keyboard input from US to SV and back. As long as you know where the keys are it isn't that hard. You need to set up "Text services and Input languages". If you have Windows XP here is what you do:

1. In Control Panel, double–click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then double–click Regional and Language Options.
2. Click the Languages tab, and then click Details.
3. In the list of installed services, click Add, and then select the input language you want to add, as well as the keyboard layout/Input Method Editor (IME).
4. In the Default input languages area, select the language you prefer to use when you start your computer.
5. Click Language Bar, and select your preferences, such as displaying the Language bar on the desktop, and then click OK.

Also check out thses links:

http://www.microsoft.com/globaldev/reference/keyboards.aspx

http://www.microsoft.com/globaldev/tools/msklc.mspx (Anyone who wants to create their own keyboard layout from scratch should check this out)

Spot|DSE wrote on 10/17/2003, 1:32 AM
Actually, since it's a USB board, you don't need to do a reboot, you can run 2 at the same time. This is part of the literature that comes with the keyboard, and I thought Worldtech was wrong in saying 2 boards could run at once. Turns out I was wrong.
Vulcan wrote on 10/17/2003, 3:19 AM
Thanks, I'll give it a try then.

Hans
StormMarc wrote on 10/17/2003, 3:34 AM
I have a Premiere keyboard (never seem to find much use for it these days :) but I get comments all the time about how cool it looks. I Imagine the Vegas one looks great. My only beef with these keyboards is that I become dependent on looking at the pictures to remember where the shortcuts are instead of memorizing the keys. If I left my Premiere board I'd be lost whereas Vegas I know the keys on any board I use.

Marc
taliesin wrote on 10/17/2003, 12:23 PM
I really like to see any kind of solutions which help to improve editing workflow. I - personally - let me build a self-made keyboard which I use combined with the Contour ShuttlePro. I really love that combo. Some pics of it here:

My Vegas "Control Center"

Marco
StormMarc wrote on 10/17/2003, 1:08 PM
Wow... that's pretty cool. I noticed a next clip button, does that jump you to the next clip on the timeline? What's the regualr shortcut for that? Is that for the trim mode?

Thanks,

Marc
taliesin wrote on 10/17/2003, 1:58 PM
Hi Marc,

no "last Clip"/"next Clip" is not meant for trimming. I do the trimming using the Contour Shuttle.

There is a bigger button between "last Clip" and "next Clip" calling "Clip aktiv". This one selects both video and audio event at the actual cursor position (of selected track), "next Clip" and "last Clip" selects next and last of it (always both video and audio event). I use it for deleting grouped clips. This way I don't need to touch the mouse to have a certain clip - video and audio - selected.

There is no shortcut for this functions. I use another method to enhance that keyboard facilities: a macro-software ("MacroExpress"). So I abused both grouping and trimming functions to have that "Clip aktiv", "next Clip", "last Clip". You don't realize what functions are taken to have that result, there are no red marked boundaries when "Clip aktiv", "next Clip", "last Clip" were chosen.
Scripting might be another solution to do that job, but I'm not keen in scripting so I used the macro software instead.

Marco