Re: AU interface consistency
Re: AU interface consistency
- Subject: Re: AU interface consistency
- From: Urs Heckmann <email@hidden>
- Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2002 14:15:56 +0200
I'll have to disagree in turn :) The above will hold only under two
assumptions:
1) the user in question has previously used the vintage synth in
question
2) the user in question was comfortable with the UI of the vintage
synth
<snipped for bandwidth>
Hi,
first of all, the "vintage style" addresses synths with a knob for each
parameter - a situation that has ceased with digital gear (DX7...)
which has most oftenly been subject to criticism. Stepping through
subsequent menues displayed by poor displays is what we got rid of in
computer screen resolution. - No need to copy that.
These vintage control panels have usually been layed out according to
well thought-through design guidelines. Hence they were (and still are)
easy to use. So why not cite them?
In the domain of (graphical/industrial) design, we basically talk about
two phases of perception: At first contact we experience ease of use
from conventions, tidyness, aethetics. Later, when we got used to the
interface, we talk about more operational aspects, emerging from
long-term experience: How fast can I access parameters? Are there
obstacles that could be avoided by better "second view" design?
It is superficial to assume that a user interface that is self
explanatory and can be learned quickly is more ergonomic than a user
interface that offers specialized means of access, addressing its
unique context of use.
Following common guidelines, a user interface sports different controls
with identical look and feel that are supported by text labels. -
Having text labels surely makes it ergonomic at first glance.
Later, you will want to use it "blind". Then it would be better to have
other means than text, i.e. icons or a color scheme to make the
controls recognizable.
From what we've learned from VST, I'd say that custom looks are no big
problem for usability. Yet to say, many features of audio plugins
couldn't simply be accessed by standard controls at all.
I don't want to extend this topic infinitely, so I'd better just say:
Some of my plugins (including those I port to Mac from my PC friends)
wouldn't work with standard controls and those that do, would be less
usable if I hadn't given them specialized controls. My customers are
happy with that and I want them to be happy with the AU versions.
Furthermore, OS X is not <= 9, so we'll surely see some more advanced
user interface items based on the capabilities of Quartz rendering.
No-one can prevent us from doing so anymore, since CoreAudio offers the
chance to do so ;-))
Cheers,
;) urs
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