If I plug a wireless mouse with a USB dongle into my Element, can I use that? Or do I need a wired USB mouse?
Also, could I use a PS/2 mouse?
I would not suggest to do not use a wireless input device on a Lighting Desk for many reasons.
Interference on top of the list.
battery could be a problem too.
Any way you want, you can plug a wireless mouse but it depends on what kind of system it's based.
If it's a bluethoot mouse I believe the drivers are not loaded in ION/EOS so it would not work. If the mouse have it's own base station connected to the console with a USB cable it will probably work. Remember tough, interferences and battery.
I've got a wireless mouse plugged into my Ion and it seems to work fine. Can't imagine why it wouldn't work with the Element.
The PS/2 mouse might work if you use an PS/2 to USB adaptor, but that's just a guess.
Charles R. KaiserTechnical Director - Newmarket Theatre
"I'm not a brain scientist, or a rocket surgeon."
Any USB mouse (wireless or not) will work fine as long as it doesn't require additional drivers.
The majority of wireless mice that use their own USB dongle are fine, but Bluetooth mice are not as Bluetooth drivers are not included.
There's no real reason why a wireless mouse would be bad, as Element only really uses the mouse for programming, not timing-critical things like playback.If it takes the mouse a moment to 'wake up', it just slows your programming down a tad rather than causing you to miss the beat. That could be annoying, but it may well outweigh the annoyance of a dangling cable.
But do make sure you have spare batteries, as that is very annoying. (My home wireless mouse is great, but I had to steal the batteries from the TV remote when they ran out the first time.)
Keep on trying till you run out of cake.