At the risk of sounding even whinier than usual, this is why I want some sort of VST Expression.
What -I- is some gizmo that sits next to my keyboard with some combination of levers/switches that I can set up for 'Stac', 'Sfz', etc... REGARDLESS of what VSTi I'm triggering. And -somehow-, using MIDI, usb, steam power or 'space magic!', the gizmo sends the proper 'command' to whatever MIDI track I have in focus in my DAW.
I don't want to have to remember that C#1 is stac for violins... and C#6 for CB... when using VSL and then F#1 for EW flutes. I just want a UNIVERSAL STACCATO BUTTON. I take a day (and a fifth of gin) and program the device like a garage door opener, write labels on each button and then I'm -done-.
In short, I think keyswitches should be disconnected from MIDI notes altogether so they can be 'transmitted' in some way that is universal and, above all, requires no memorisation of any kind. I thought Steinberg was -really- onto something with VST Expression and I'm sad that nobody else seems to have gotten on the bandwagon.
And while I'm ranting... I'm partially disabled. I have crap eyesight and mousing is tough as well. It always annoys me that most software, that is designed for 'creatives' is so poorly set up for disabled people. I can't imagine even a genius like Stevie Wonder using -any- of this software.... or even a web browser... without an assistant. I'm constantly griping because things like taking my eyes off the screen or switching from the mouse back to the keyboard back to the mouse a billion times a day SUCKS. I would MUCH rather go back to MS-DOS or Unix where there was a key command for -everything-. See... a blind guy or even a lot of people with hand problems can do perfectly fine touch typing. It's the MOUSE... which seems so 'creative friendly' which blows.
My point is that, music software, which should be one thing that disabled people can use to do really cool things, is -much- harder to use than say, BORING PRACTICAL programs like Word and Excel. Which seems kinda backwards to me.
In America there are standards for GUIs (Section 508) which software devs are -supposed- to work towards... every key has an accelerator, every screen object can be used with a screen reader, etc... Ya know which company is 1,000 miles ahead in compliance on this leftie-progressive ideal? Apple? Nope. Google. Hell no. Microsoft. Boring, outdated Microsoft.
I'm not sure disabled stuff is even on the radar for euro-software devs of -any- kind, which puzzles me considering how much more 'progressive' the EU is on so many issues. But I've groused at Steinberg (and now VSL) for -years- to make their products easier to use... at the very least to comply with the Windows UI guidelines (accelerators, default buttons for every window etc.) And that -really- puzzles me because, even before I was hurt, I worked MUCH faster when the UI had these kinds of refinements... I think everyone else would find it easier too.
OK, I'm done. I promise not to rant on this for a -long- time. But this seemingly 'minor' stuff is -maddening- for some of us.
---JC