Does anyone use a trackball instead of a mouse and would anyone share their experiences?
I'm thinking about trying it as it might make the workflow a bit easier as you wouldn't be moving the mouse back and forth all the time.
I don't really have the confidence to order a trackball.

 

The only time I tried a trackball, I didn't like it at all. But I'm open to trying again and adapting if someone recommends a model that changed their life... I'd like to end up liking it!

 

I ditched the mouse years ago. It was giving me carpal tunnel (CTS) pretty bad. I went with a Kensignton trackball. LOVE IT! I was picking up and moving my mouse all over the place. Didn't realize how much noise, time and effort I was using on a mouse until I ditched it. These trackballs are also great because you can assign macros to buttons or multi buttons to make your workflow even faster while riding in comfort.

 

I had carpal tunnel syndrome issues/pain and a sore shoulder. Ordered the Logitech Marble Mouse and the issues went away. Still use itto thisday (after more than a decade of use). It's worn, but great!

 

track ball is awesome i use a Logitech Ergo M575 it is so much nicer than a old school mouse. fully programable i can highly recommend it.
it does take some getting use to at first but youll soon wonder how you lived without it i did at least

 

There good but I couldn't use just a trackball. Got to have a mouse plugged in as well.

A mouse is quicker and easier for clicking buttons but the trackball has the acuracy for moving knobs on screen.

 

It can help if you make big projects and find yourself constantly scrolling around. Not moving the mouse all the time, is the premise of the Apple Magic Mouse, and it does not improve the workflow in any way worth mentioning it. Maybe a little.

If you want a actual workflow help, get a Logitech MX Master mouse. You can connect it to use more than one computer at a time, if you happen to use more than one at a time. It has a bunch of assignable buttons and you can make macros. It has a thumb scroll wheel that is perfect for scrolling horizontally in your DAW. And it has a endless vertical scroll wheel you can go from the top of a 100 channel project to the bottom in the flick of a finger.

I have been stuck using a trackball before, and do not like them at all. But I happened to watch a Cradle ad recently and noticed Jaycen Joshua uses one. I can see that could be a workflow tool, if you happen to have 80 channels of nothing but vocals for comping. Maybe I will try one again.

Somebody gave me a Mac trackpad, and I have it sitting on one of my synths on the other side of the room where I can use it to push play and record in the DAW. Otherwise it is very close to useless too, and I would never recommend anyone buy one.

 

Last edited: Oct 12, 2024

Been using a Logitech trackball on my home computer for around five years and I'm never going back to a regular mouse.

 

Thank you guys for your fast answers
I also have carpal tunnel syndrome, I don't have it all the time but it comes and goes...very bad

I think I will try a Kensington Slimblade

 

Most professional studios use trackballs, and all the mixing consoles I've worked with use trackballs (Neve Capricorn, Neve Libra) sometimes due to lack of space but mainly to prevent RSI and other syndromes associated with using a regular mouse.

They are 1,000x better than a standard mouse. They take a few weeks to get used to, but once you have them down, you'll never return to a standard mouse.

 

I had carpal tunnel developing at a job a long time ago, but it was in both hands from typing engineering part numbers. They contain lots of special symbols so it's not just straight up ten-key. Ergonomic mouse helped a little, but what what helped infinitely more was switching to a split keyboard. Now that is a serious adjustment to get used to.

 

i use a " Logitech - Lift Bluetooth " because because of wrist and elbow pain.

Logitech Lift Vertical Bluetooth Mouse Review

This also helps a lot - I have been using it for 1 year and also do arm exercises every day.

BONTEC Ergonomic Armrest Support Wrist Rest for Desk Armrest Pad Rotating Wrist Support (Black), Extender & Adjustable, Aluminium
https://bontec.co.uk/products/bonte...r-desk-armrest-pad-rotating-wrist-rest-holder

 

I prefer a touchpad, rather than a mouse or a trackball. A touchpad allows you to use just 1 finger tip to move the cursor where he needs to be, and the thumb to click - its quite easy if you have the dexterity. Touchpads can be purchased with keyboards attached or as stand alone units, which can work concurrently - meaning I can have a touchpad keyboard attached to my computer and a standalone touchpad together.

Why would you want to do this? well I have a touchpad velcro'd to my Arturia keyboard for mousing about when needed without having to take my hand off the midi keyboard to use the touchpad on the laptop.

I was getting carpal tunnel when using a logitech trackball, it just wasn't ergonomic for my arm and hand, gave it up for a touchpad and thats all I've used for 20 years. your mileage may vary.

 

I use a Wacom pen tablet instead of a mouse. Huuuuuuge difference in time and effort. Also as others said about trackballs, you can assign macros etc

 

been using a trackball for years. love it

 

You really have to try one for a few days, to know if its a fit for you. Personally i have tried 'em most of them and kinda hate them, but i do respect the people who use them. I use a very light, fast Logitech mouse set on 3200 dpi and two QHD displays for my main system. I can move my cursor from left screen left top corner to right screen bottom right corner with just a slight movement without having even to move my hand from where it sits. For me, mouse work is about having to move as little as possible as i spend too many hours on comps and even slow mice annoy the fk out of me hehe. With every trackball i tried, i caught myself "fighting" moving the ball, even at the highest dpi setting. A time waster for me. But hey Eric Persing (Spectrasonics) is keen on trackball mice. And from what i see many other peeps here so, good for you mates!
Cheers
EDIT: And while like a normal person you understand why other peeps use trackball mice you always have the odd person to disagree with what. What i like to use? Or me being clumsy with trackballs... Dunno really hahaha.

 

Last edited: Oct 12, 2024

just a tip for those with carpal tunnel.
i periodically get wrist 'tendinitis', usually on the back-of-hand aspect...
but its not really inflammation of tendon, and would say +90% of tendon pain cases are caused by a relevant muscle-belly knot.
in case of wrist problems, cause will be found in forearm muscles, maybe as high up forearm, towards elbow.
get yourself a muscle roller/hard ball, and give yourself some hell when you find the culprit knot.
it cures my pain in a few days, everytime without fail.
same goes for tennis elbow/knee-cap pains/plantar fasciitis, and all those other myofascial conditions.
get rolling and make yoself cry... but it works, certainly for me.

 

Last edited: Oct 12, 2024

Like others have said, I also had terrible carpal tunnel and tendonitis from too much mousing around. I switched to trackballs....I have several Logitech M570's.
They not only solved my hand problems but they have greatly enhanced my work flow. I'll never go back to mousing around.

 

What is characteristic are so-called trigger points (noticeable and pain-sensitive muscle hardening), which mark the point of greatest pain sensitivity of the affected muscle. However, the pain can also extend to neighboring muscle areas. In addition, there is often limited mobility and pain when stretching affected and neighboring structures.

The cause can be excessive strain on a muscle group or chronic incorrect strain. The symptoms are also exacerbated by little or even no movement. This symptom complex is an imbalance in the functional chains of the muscles and fascia. This leads to an imbalance in muscle tone, adhesions and tension, which can then spread throughout the body. Ultimately, changes in statics can lead to blockages in various sections of the spine with restrictions in movement and functionality; adhesions of underlying structures such as connective tissue or fascia are also possible. In addition to local pain, pain can also develop in other parts of the body that at first glance do not seem to be related and are referred to as “referred pain”. Symptoms of this referred pain are often headaches, shoulder girdle tension and back pain.

 

I've been using a Kensington Expert Mouse or Trackball Pro pro or whatnot as my preferred input for 20 years.

I'm faster with it, works better for audio work I've found then for video or photo, at least with those I've spoken to about it....

but if you walk into a scoring stage or big movie production studio etc, with rows of protools rigs and whatnot, everyone of those operators is going to be using the same thing I mentioned... at least in 99% of my anecdotal experience... it's been a year or 2, so maybe it's changed... but.... I don't know... I personally prefer it myself.