Re: Knob styles (was: AU host properties)
Re: Knob styles (was: AU host properties)
- Subject: Re: Knob styles (was: AU host properties)
- From: Marc Poirier <email@hidden>
- Date: Thu, 22 May 2003 23:09:30 +0200 (CEST)
>
Our knobs use a linear motion that is hOffset-vOffset. So up and/or
>
right turns the knob clockwise; down and/or right turns the knob
>
counter-clockwise. This seems to work out pretty well since almost
>
anything you do (except strict rotational motion) works as you might
>
expect.
Interesting idea...
>
BTW, IMHO, the point of the knobs on the screen is *not* to simulate
>
physical knobs that cannot be controlled physically. It is for the same
>
reason knobs are used on audio gear instead of strictly faders
>
(conservation of space with the ability to get a sense of the control
>
value with a glance).
I definitely realize that lesser space usage is the practical reason for
using them. But I still have a lot of trouble believing that the decision
to use "knobs" on software interfaces isn't to a large extent an attempt,
whether concious or not, to simulate music hardware. It's not like we
haven't had other types of software continuous controls for years now,
and ones which take up little space, but still give a clear indication of
how to use them (like click-draggable number displays with little arrows
or triangles indicating the drag directions, etc.). You pretty much never
see these software "knob" controls anywhere except in music software. I
doubt that the notion even occurs to any interface designers aside from
those working on music software; no one in their right mind would think of
them as a decent control interface, except when coming from a
hardware-world viewpoint where they are all over the place...
Anyway, I know that I hate the buggers more than most folks, but I guess
I'm just trying to prompt a bit more clear reflection and perspective on
them, hopefully so that music software interfaces might improve just a
smidgen (it's really pretty sad scene here in general, so far as
interface design goes, the knobs thing being only one of my many
peaves)...
Marc
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