The arranger track has a lot of potential but the current workflow is too slow and convoluted in my opinion. So I have a couple of suggestions:
- Create a new edit arrangement mode activated via a dedicated button on the track itself. In this mode, editing blocks also affects all data located within each block:
- Moving blocks swaps their position with other blocks along with all data located within them (a global shuffle mode).
- Changing the length of a block moves all data located after it in the session (similar to global ripple mode in WaveLab).
- Copy/pasting blocks via key command or alt-dragging copies all data within the blocks and moves all data located after by the length of the block (similar to global copy).
- Duplicating a block also duplicates all data and moves all data located after it by the length of the block.
- Adding a new block moves all data located after it by the length of the block (similar to insert silence).
- Deleting a block deletes all data within the block and moves all data located after it to the beginning of the block (similar to cut time).
I realize that the fact that arranger blocks can overlap and be nested within each other complicates things but I’m sure the smart people at Steinberg can find a solution.
- Add “create blocks from position markers on active marker track” and/or “automatically create blocks and mirror position markers on active marker track” functions to speed up the creation and editing of blocks so they mirror position markers. With the second function activated, the arranger blocks become an exact replica of the marker track which would prevent overlapping blocks.
These changes would make arranging much faster and intuitive by not having to create and edit blocks manually, or use the arranger editor and global time functions to change the arrangement.