2019/08/08

[ Creator: Daisuke Niwa ] Intuitive Parameter Adjustment

【 This Creator 】
Daisuke Niwa | Motion Designer

Daisuke Niwa is a video creator who has produced opening visuals for corporate conventions, fashion show visuals, and many other works.

【 Daily Work 】
ー What kind of creative work do you usually do?

I’m a motion designer specializing in dynamic motion graphics using Adobe After Effects and Maxon Cinema 4D.
I also work as a videographer and photographer, making use of highly mobile mirrorless cameras. In the bridal industry, I’ve produced over 1,000 end-roll wedding films, handling both shooting and editing. Since this year, I’ve also been active as a lecturer at video seminars.

Youtube: motion design
Tumblr: every cg
Vimeo: motion design
Instagram: terje28 | daisuke NIWA
Twitter: terje28 | daisuke28
Facebook: Daisuke Niwa

【 About Orbital2 】
ー Have you been using left-hand devices for creative work?

Yes, I’ve tried several left-hand devices in the past.
At first, I bought one for video editing because the shuttle operation looked convenient. But eventually, it lost software support and I stopped using it.

I also tried a crowdfunded device from China, but its support was terrible from the beginning. It didn’t work at all, unlike what was advertised.

Another attempt was assigning MIDI functions on a DTM device for Lightroom color grading, but since it wasn’t a dedicated tool, it was inconvenient and I gave up on it as well.

ー What was your first impression when you used Orbital2?

I had been curious about Orbital2 since the crowdfunding stage. When I finally tried the actual product at VGT, I immediately thought, “This works!” and purchased it on the spot.
What I like most is that it works with any software that supports keyboard shortcuts.

ー Which function of Orbital2 has been the most useful for you?

I assign “Parameter Adjustment” to the Orbital Engine. With mouse control in After Effects or Premiere Pro, precise number input can be tedious. But with Orbital2, I can intuitively turn the dial to adjust values. It feels like a perfect fit for my workflow.

ー Do you have recommended settings or tips for using Orbital2?

When using it in Premiere Pro, I assign shortcuts for selecting good takes to the Flat Ring. This helps me edit more efficiently.

The Flat Ring allows eight settings, but since neighboring buttons sometimes caused misfires, I left the 45-degree position blank.

Here’s how I arranged my shortcuts:
Front buttons: “Add Edit,” “Move Selection Up,” “Ripple Delete.”
Rear buttons: “Undo,” “Switch Profile,” “Add Marker.”

Premiere Pro profile examples: Orbital Engine settings (left) and Flat Ring settings (right).
【 Final Message 】
ー Any message for people who have never used a left-hand device?

Orbital2 is a highly expandable device. Depending on how you use it, it can be far more efficient and intuitive than just a keyboard and mouse. Its customization options are wide, and the more you use it, the more you’ll become hooked.

▼ Daisuke Niwa’s Original Profile
We’re sharing Daisuke Niwa’s custom profile for Adobe Premiere Pro (Windows version).
Windows：here
※Please note: Profiles are only distributed when provided directly by creators. Some may not be available depending on your OS or keyboard layout.

This translation has been performed using ChatGPT.

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