However, my research led me to the open-source Lightroom control software - MIDI2LR and then on to this general purpose MIDI controller - Arturia BeatStep controller
A few days and $100 later, I have this very functional and quite useful enhancement for Lightroom. Physical knobs for all my most-used controls and dedicated buttons for common commands.
It takes a bit of fiddling to set it up, but if you're at all technically inclined, it should be no trouble.
MIDI controller set up as Lightroom control keyboard
I had looked at that, but as you say, not cheap. It looks cool, but to get a useful number of controls, you end up with something rather large/ungainly.
Ian.Dobinson wrote:
But 1 question
What happens when you move onto the next image ? Does that image take on the settings of the sliders and knobs?
Great question.
When you switch to another image, nothing changes. But if you move one of the knobs, the associated value starts where it was for the previous image (i.e. If sharpness was set to 60, the next time you move the sharpness knob, on whatever image, it starts moving from 60).
Sounds bad, but in practice I don't really mind it.
The solution is to get a controller with motorized sliders. Then when you switch images, the sliders actually move to match the current settings of the image. They are rather more expensive, but I'm keeping my eye out for one. (the Behringer BCF-2000 seems to be well liked.)
Ok thanks for that . The motorised option sounds kind of cool if it zeros all the sliders for you (or moves them to the images current values)
But yeah I could see that the non motorised way shouldn't be a huge issue if nothing alters in the LR settings unless you move a slider . I guess I was worried that the values would be different to start with (which it sounds like they would t. Be)
IE you've moved a slider to 3/4 up and then the next image the slider on the LR screen is in the middle but the physical slider doesn't match .
I think I may have to pick up a cheap unit and give it a go .
Also this thread made me have a look at some options . I wondered if an iPad could be used as a virtual midi mixing deck that could control LR
There probably are options but I found a neat looking LR control screen to the iPad call CTRL+
Looks like it only deals with the library screen at the moment so is more for sorting and rating .
May be worth a play though
Can logic be incorporated to zero out the knob settings when an image is changed, or can a reset button be added? I think this would mean the variable controls would be digital inputs and not simple pots.
Ho1972 wrote:
Can logic be incorporated to zero out the knob settings when an image is changed, or can a reset button be added? I think this would mean the variable controls would be digital inputs and not simple pots.
I was thinking similar . but if its a non motorised board your slider and the values in LR wouldnt match .
so if you selected +2 on exposure and then moved to another image and LR zero'd your slider would be at +2 but that would now be zero .
teh way the OP described it would be that if you moved the expossure slider again your LR value would jump to +2 .
I guess if you had a motorised board all your values would carry over but hitting the RESET button on screen would zero all the sliders . maybe a button on the baord could be assigned to reset ?
There was a question about what happens when you move to the next image with the sliders and knobs all moved all over. It just doesn't do anything until the knob or slider hits the current setting. So if you move to an unedited image and have an exposure slider all the way down, it won't become active until you bring it back to the center. If you move to an edited image with the exposure all the way down, you'd need to move the slider all the way down before you can adjust the exposure with it.
Found an inexpensive used Behringer BCF2000 controller, which features motorized controllers (under $200, a bit beat up).
This really makes the experience of using it with Lightroom -much- more seamless. As I switch from one image to another, the sliders and knobs automatically move to the current settings for the new image. It's very slick.
Just as a quick note . Ive just found an iPad called LRPAD . thought id give it a go for the £4.49 it cost . its a tad laggy so fine control would be a bit more difficult . but actually its quite passable . wouldn't stop me wanting that Motorised board though
I wouldn't mind a single freewheel control knob and the app functionality where I could tab between sliders using the up and down arrows then with a twist of the knob would move the slider similar to how it can be done with the scroll wheel on a mouse. Which is easily done in Aperture and Final Cut Pro X by highlighting the numerical value of the slider ... not do much in Lightroom.
While both of the devices the OP has shown here are ok ... I think for quick and timely adjustments, all those individual knobs and sliders just confuse the issue when in Lightroom we work one slider at a time.
One device control, tab through the adjustments. Nothing to zero out, turning the dial moves the slider from it's current position as directed.
MikeEvangelist wrote:
Found an inexpensive used Behringer BCF2000 controller, which features motorized controllers (under $200, a bit beat up).
This really makes the experience of using it with Lightroom -much- more seamless. As I switch from one image to another, the sliders and knobs automatically move to the current settings for the new image. It's very slick.
butchM wrote:
I wouldn't mind a single freewheel control knob and the app functionality where I could tab between sliders using the up and down arrows then with a twist of the knob would move the slider similar to how it can be done with the scroll wheel on a mouse. Which is easily done in Aperture and Final Cut Pro X by highlighting the numerical value of the slider ... not do much in Lightroom.
While both of the devices the OP has shown here are ok ... I think for quick and timely adjustments, all those individual knobs and sliders just confuse the issue when in Lightroom we work one slider at a time.
One device control, tab through the adjustments. Nothing to zero out, turning the dial moves the slider from it's current position as directed....Show more →
thats sort of how i would hope the touch bar on the new MacBook pros should work (not that i'll own one in the near future) maybe a single slider and a bunch of buttons next to it to choose what one is active .
now if they could do that and then give us a keyboard refresh so it could use it on the iMac i think it would be good.
Ian.Dobinson wrote:
thats sort of how i would hope the touch bar on the new MacBook pros should work (not that i'll own one in the near future) maybe a single slider and a bunch of buttons next to it to choose what one is active .
now if they could do that and then give us a keyboard refresh so it could use it on the iMac i think it would be good.
or maybe someone could hack that surface dial
Yeah, but a single dial could be more acceptable to both platforms (even though I have never owned, nor do I have any plans on buying a Windows unit) and wouldn't require a touch device at all. In fact, except for spot removal, adjustment brush, etc. ... dealing with the sliders really don't need a touch screen when processing large numbers of images.
Heck, If Adobe could just open up the sliders to scroll wheel adjustments, that would go a long way in being much more efficient.
butchM wrote:
I wouldn't mind a single freewheel control knob and the app functionality where I could tab between sliders using the up and down arrows then with a twist of the knob would move the slider similar to how it can be done with the scroll wheel on a mouse. Which is easily done in Aperture and Final Cut Pro X by highlighting the numerical value of the slider ... not do much in Lightroom.
The Griffin PowerMate knob might do what you want. I know you can select the numerical value next to a slider and increment it using the arrow keys on the keyboard, so I imaging this know could be made to do that same thing.
