Hi all,

im a long time user and have just spent some time with the new version (2019.7). I use dual monitors and need to see the desktop while using avid (like 2018). If the new way forces us to completely cover the desktop, how do people switch back and forth between avid and desktop, and other applications?

thanks.

What are you having trouble with exactly? Is it because you want a finder window open to import SFX or soemthing? Just curious. That's something I'll miss when I make the switch.

The new version forces you to cover the entire screen with what is called a 'bin container'. I kind of new super bin they've designed with loads of new features. But the workspaces currently default to 'full screen' and there doesn't seem to be a way around it. So if you're used to seeing icons on the desktop 'behind' avid, forget it.

Unless you opt for 'floating bins', but again - workspaces don't remember that.

It's frustrating. But so far - people have said they just hide Avid if they want to see desktop level. but for me, that's one extra step that I never needed to do before.

Hey James,

I assume that the new UI (in full screen and non-floating mode) and seeing the desktop at the same time kind of exclude each other. At least for now. Just a guess based on my understanding of how the docking thing works at the moment.

In theory a combination of floating windows (with desktop behind) and a not-fullscreen-non-floating window (on one or partially both screens) should be possible. It works on my single widescreen setup. But neither can I say anything about a dual screen setup nor did I (dare ;)) test how reliable such a combination would be when it comes to saving/recalling workspaces.

But since you asked what other people do to see the desktop: I use - and have been using before MC2019.x - the MacOS hot corner function a lot for that. It's one of the first things I set up on any Mac. Desktop is assigned to one of the corners and it's just a swift mouse movement to get there - and back. If you haven't yet, maybe worth a try?

There are a couple of solutions for this. First of all, the host panels (dock containers) are resizable. You should be able to grab the edge of the panel and drag it in. This is what I use on the Windows version to get to my desktop. It should work the same for the Mac.

Second, if you want to float all of the windows on the secondary monitor, you can disable the host panel. Go the the menu and select Windows->Host Panels. The primary monitor is not selectable, but any secondary monitors are. Uncheck the secondary monitor, and the host panel will not be displayed.

Yes I drag it in to reveal the desktop. (I'm on a Mac).

I'll try this. But the problem I'm trying to solve is how to use floating panels in conjuction with workspaces.

Great idea. I'll look into this. Thanks.

DStone is correct.

Like you, I like to be able to see my desktop on the second monitor, so I disabled that monitor's host panel, and have floating Composer, Timeline, and (in color correction mode only) Color Correction windows.

Nope. This doesn't work for me.

Workspaces STILL resets the bin container to fill the window, no matter if the window is 'host panel' enabled or not.

What's more, i need the desktop icons to be displayed on the monitor that contains the bin containers, NOT the timeline / source record monitors. When I deselect host panels secondary monitor, it only effects the timeline monitor.

My main problem is keeping the bin container as floating when using workspaces. I'd love to be able to take advantage of the workspaces functionality, but because it keeps resetting the bin containter to full screen NON-floating, it's useless to me.

Why not simply map a button to 'Show Desktop' in the Mission Control preferences. I have F13 to do this. Surely you can be persuaded to push one button?

I can absolutely do this. But I'm still unable to utilise workspaces. I think workspaces are a great idea, but it's unfair that we have to choose between floating bins and workspaces.

I learned Avid on a Mac but as a long-time PC user also, this is NOT new for us. It has always been like this on the Windows side. A full screen app would take the entire screen(s).

Being OS ambidextrous, the trick is really using the Dock and keyboard shortcuts as much as possible.

Command-Tab works really well.

Yes but the problem is previously, your master 'bin' (now - bin container) didn't have to fill the entire screen.

MC2019 forces you to fill your entire screen with 1 bin container, even if bins you open have only one clip. I think it's unnecessary for a bin containing just one clip (for example) to fill the entire height of the bin container.

Thus - I use floating bins.

But I repeat, what many people don't seem to understand here, workspaces keep resetting the floating bin to fill the entire window.

I'm sure there are plenty of people who don't like bin containers as they are. But we don't have a choice if we want to use workspaces.

However - I hear you all. I can definitely use other means to access my desktop. I'm just more unhappy with bin containers as a way of forcing all the bins into one group. As messy as it can look, there's something really easy about floating bins. But they ALL need to be floating. Even the bin container.

Have you created a new Avud user? Perhaps there's some corruption there that is causing workspace swaps to reset the host panel configuration.

What version of MC were you using again? 2019.7?

Out of curiosity, did you see the same issues with 2019.6?

Yep. New user settings.

Using 2019.7. But I haven't used 2019.6 at all. Only just switched over. I'm actually still using 2018 for now, but keen to get this fixed if possible.

I tried switching monitors and host panels but it made no difference. Switching workspaces forces the bin container to fill the screen.

Thanks.