linuxaudio.org

On Wed, 2011-03-02 at 22:49 +0000, Fons Adriaensen wrote:

quoted text
> On Wed, Mar 02, 2011 at 04:58:39PM -0500, David Robillard wrote:

>

> > > Another example is a visual EQ as the one found in Jamin, where you both see the

> > > live spectrum and can adjust frequency bands level.

> >

> > Yawn. Personally I've always considered my ears better judges of audio

> > than pixellated waveforms on a screen.

>

> Here (for once) we do agree :-) There's probably no worse way

> to show what a compressor is doing than showing the input and

> output waveforms. A simple bargraph showing the current gain

> - or better, the gain range over a short period - will do fine.

>

> I've been demoing high end mixers (Digico) to experienced sound

> engineers for some time. These mixers can show a graphical

> representation of the EQ etc. The first thing these potential

> customers ask is if those displays can be disabled - they just

> don't want them.

>

> Good UI design for audio apps means something entirely different:

>

> - Something you can look at for extended periods. This means color

>   schemes that don't strain your eyes, the right amount of detail,

>   and nothing that becomes distracting by moving or flashing all

>   the time without providing essential information.

>

> - A layout that is logical to someone who understands what an app

>   or plugin is doing. A clear distinction between things you set

>   up once and forget and those that you may want to adjust more

>   frequently.

>

> - A presentation that allows you to check if things are what you

>   expect they are at a glance, and even without being aware of it.

>

> - The ability to find anything you'd need routinely without going

>   through menus, dialogs, or having to move or resize windows.

>   If you have to modify the display significantly in order to find

>   some control or action, it should be possible to return to the

>   previous one with just a single action.

>

> - Showing correct and useful information rather than eye candy.

Bang on. /This/ is the kind of UI stuff that actually matters.
If you gave someone actually interested in making music or doing pro

audio (or...) a choice between:
1) A gorgeous, fancy, skinned, 3D, high performance UI with

visualization and all the rest - that is awful be these criteria
2) A UI that is superb by these criteria - and is made out of the most

basic plain widgets imaginable
Their choice is not odd.
-dr
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