Apple Magic Trackpad: How is it with Ableton Live?

[alexjholland]

Hey, I have an iMac i7 with the bluetooth keyboard and magic mouse.

I like the look of the Magic Trackpad and it has stellar Amazon reviews, but how does it get on with Ableton Live?

Thanks

[vicz]

As you'd expect its great especially the 'three-finger-drag' for knob-tweaking

[skatr2]

Since my MBP is my primary computer, I picked one of these up for when I use it on a bigger screen at home. Works just like the one on any macbook. Worth getting.

[Rave]

Fab, use it all the time. Reduces RSI too

[Burn's]

Magic trackpad is just perfect !
If you're used to have a laptop, that great, and after a few time, to me it's like a control surface !
So easy to automate many parameters in a little few time....
I really love my trackpad (on iMac...)

[alexjholland]

Right, this, combined with perfect 4/5-star reviews on Amazon cements it - def. picking one up.

The only question is whether I'll retain Magic Mouse for a few precision tasks, or if it can go in a box!

[skatr2]

I haven't touched a mouse since I picked mine up.

[xzusa8ky]

I like it........

[oblique strategies]

Has anyone moved from a trackball to the magic trackpad?

I'm currently using a Kensington Expert Mouse (bad name for a trackball...), which has multiple buttons, scroll ring, etc. It is highly functional, but it does make loud mechanical clicking noises which I'd like to move away from.

[skatr2]

It essentially is no different than any laptop track pad. Its similar sized to the one on macbooks and retains the same functionality (multitouch swipes and gestures). You do however need a mac to have these features. If you get one on a windows PC, you can pair it but only get the basic mouse function. Aside from ergonomics, its not worth it from this perspective.

[alexjholland]

Got one a week ago! My Magic Mouse is now in a drawer.

Definitely a learning curve, even if you're used to trackpads. At first I found it was less accurate than a mouse, but with practise I've found it's pretty similar.

More importantly, the gestures add a massive chunk of extra bonus points. Mice just look archaic to me now.

[Tympanic]

There is this to be recommended.
One can map gestures to specific functions in Ableton.
Like Detail view on/off; Inputs on/off; Browser on/off and so on.
Great Tool!

cheers

[Khazul]

Yes - use trackpad, but mostly not on its own - have a magic mouse as well - its handy in live once you get used to using it for gestures etc.

TBH I havnt found any pointer control option on a mac as good (precise and quick) as a high quality mouse on a PC. Magic mouse is good when its havnt a good day, but often bluetooth drops out - same with a logitech notebook mouse as well.

Good thing with the trackpad is at least it always seems to be responsive and current apple trackpads are alot nicer to use than other laptop trackpads.

[oblique strategies]

Magic mouse is good when its havnt a good day, but often bluetooth drops out - same with a logitech notebook mouse as well.

Good thing with the trackpad is at least it always seems to be responsive

Is the bluetooth connection for the trackpad more stable than for the magic mouse?

Unstable bluetooth connection between Apple products drove me nuts about a year ago, & I ended up going with a wired keyboard.

[Khazul]

^ - yes - trackpad is loads better than magic mouse - similar to the keyboard if thats any help...