Handy Controller for Most Video Editing Programs
Pros:
Easy to setup and use. Intelligently detects focused program. Nice, solid feel.
Cons:
A bit pricey. Lose old habits to get the best of it!
The Bottom Line:
Makes video editing an absolute breeze.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
I have had the Shuttle Pro 2 now for around six months. It was bought as a gift (after I'd asked for one!), so I don't know how much was paid, but I believe it was around AU$150.
Basically, it is a USB-device that lays flat on your desk. At the top end are 9 silver control buttons, then there is the ubiquitous jog/shuttle wheel, which is flanked by two black buttons - one on either side.
Underneath the wheel are four more silver buttons. The unit is very aesthetically (and ergonomically) pleasing. The bit where one's palm would rest is VERY flat and in use feels almost flush to one's desktop. Overall, the unit feels quite solid - even heavy - which is good.
I don't know if it is my desk, or the device, but one of the two isn't perfectly flat. A couple of self-adhesive foam rubber feet fixed this, and now it feels stable and rock-steady on my desk.
It comes with software that allows you to program each of the buttons and shuttle/jog wheel.
The software is actually quite smart, and can detect the application which has 'focus' in Windows terms (i.e., the program currently selected). Therefore, if you are running your video editing software, then switch, to say, a music program, the ShuttlePro will follow suit and automatically work with the current application. This is actually quite cool.
The top nine buttons have removed fascias with replaceable button decals. Indeed, a sheet of standard decals is provided for you to set these buttons up any way you wish. My only concern here is that one day I'll lose the little plastic button covers, but right now that concern seems unnecessary. Just me being paranoid.
The jog/shuttle behaves like any other such device. The centre (jog) wheel is essentially an alpha-wheel. It is made of metal (aluminium?) with three 'finger-tip' indents and is actually quite pleasing to use. Turning the wheel, one can feel a very slight yet perceptible 'click'. It is possible to rotate this wheel very quickly and precisely.
The outer wheel (the shuttle) is spring-loaded, turning about 90 degrees in each direction, returning to centre when released. There a seven programmable 'zones' in each direction, allowing you to create a very flexible setup.
Let's say that, in your video edit program, pressing the left-arrow key advanced a frame backwards. You can set that for each zone, the left key is pressed, but for an increasingly faster number of presses as you move through the zones. This gives you fine control over the speed at which you can 'shuttle' through your movie, then fine tune in with the jog wheel.
The software provided is actually very easy and intuitive to use. The setting-up of the shuttle wheel may take a little extra planning, but the software comes ready with profiles for a hundred or so popular programs from vendors like Adobe, Cakewalk, Pinnacle, Avid, MediaStudio, Sony, Sonic Foundry etc etc.
If your program isn't listed, you can take the profile from any program, copy it, and use it as the basis for your own profile.
In use, I find the jog-shuttle wheel to be most handy. Although I have the other programmable buttons set up for my software, old habits die hard and I still instinctively hit the keyboard (or even the mouse) to use features in my ShuttlePro. That's not a bad reflection on the device, but more my inability to accept change(!).
I use my ShuttlePro 2 with Pinnacle Liquid Edition 6, Magix Music Maker, FXHome EffectsLab Pro
