Yes, I agree, this is a problem. You can assign a couple of F keys to Link and Unlink in key commands…but it only works if the Mixer is in focus.
You’d think because Linking and Unlinking was available as a key command that it shouldn’t matter what window is in focus when multiple tracks are selected and the key commands are invoked. But it does.
But to me, that’s the minor problem with linking. The major shortcoming of the linking interface is link group assignment/identification.
Once you’ve linked some channels, there is actually no way to tell what channels are linked…unless you happen to select one of the channels in the linked group. And because you can have multiple sets of links…it gets worse. Select one unlinked fader in mix consisting of 30-40 faders and you either have to blindly click til you find a linked group (assuming you’ve forgotten…for any number of reasons) or go through the hassle of color coding linked channels.
What the feature really needs is a simple 2 digit numerical entry interface available on the Project Window, Mixer and maybe the Inspector for good measure. This doesn’t have to take up a ton of real estate…A small box for a max of two digits that opens a pull down with a limit of 99 choices (would you really need more than 99 linked groups?).
If implemeted, you could directly assign links from 2-3 places without having to pre-select anything and actually see what channels are linked together as a group without guessing. And all without limiting what window has to be in focus in order to assign faders to a link group.
Seems simple enough.