Key Of Grey

June 8th, 2009 – Now that I’m getting back into Logic, I’ve been trying to speed up my workflow by learning keyboard commands. Like all complex software, the plethora of available options in Logic makes putting all the functionality on the same screen impossible. But placing the options in drop down menus, means more clicks for the person trying to get things done.

Knowing key commands in ProTools not only saves you time, but has the side effect of making you look like an expert. Don’t underestimate that power with clients. Sometimes though, there are a lot of short cuts to remember. For those times, you need a keyboard overlay.

ProTools and Avid users have been using specialized keyboards and overlays for years, but I have never seen one for Logic. This is not to say that they didn’t exist before, but they certainly aren’t as ubiquitous as those for the Avid line.

I stumbled across a nice Logic overlay by a company called KB Covers. Their cover is designed for the USB ultra-thin keyboard and, aside from transforming the keyboard to black, also contains 130 default shortcuts printed on it. The covers are made of ultra-thin silicon and look like they cover the whole keyboard like a sleeve.

Having used silicon keyboard covers before, I’ve found them to be pretty intrusive. The keys require more pressure to use, and totally changes the tactile experience. That being said, I’ve only used cheap ones. This overlay comes in at $39.95 US. Have any of you used this overlay before? I’d like to get one, but I’m afraid that, because it’s a cover and not an overlay, I’ll hate the action on my keyboard and will end up taking it off.

Logic Pro/Express Keyboard Cover for Apple Ultra-Thin Keyboard