acesynth UI vs zebra

[xybre]

By the way, is there any contest/survey or something where can I get a Zebra?

You could get ZebraCM, it comes with a issue of Computer Music (as well as a ton of other great freebies), you can have it delivered to any where in the world, you only need to buy a single issue. Patches you make in ZebraCM can be loaded into the full Zebra also, so if/when you pick up the official thing you get to keep the patches you created.

[rectus_dominus]

9 pounds? Maybe.. Call me a scrimpy, but I'm fully on student loans
So, sorry for directing the thread OT...

[xalama qo]

Hi Urs,

I was just checking out the ACE Burpland pic that was posted in another Zebra thread. I know this is all subjective, but seeing as it's the first time i've seen the entire ACE GUI i jotted down some thoughts which you may choose to implement or ignore as you see fit...

here goes...

Menu buttons:
* the save and undo/redo buttons should be the same size as the 'synth' and 'patch' buttons
* I'd prefer the next/previous preset arrows to be next to each other for less mouse movement between the two (same goes for Zebra)

LCD displays:
* the LCD displays shouldn't have drop shadows as they're usually mounted slightly below or flush with the surface of the synth panel. They look right on the dark background, but not on the lighter background areas. Gives the impression that they're buttons.
* i'd prefer less shine on the LCD screens, more like the preset-name screen (Burpland), as the shine can obscure the text in the LCD display (a la VAZ 2010)

Knobs and faders:
* the knobs look like they're floating on the light background areas. Perhaps a slightly darker, less feathered shadow would help to anchor them.
I also feel that the knob shadows are too long overall.
* I'd prefer typical Juno-style fader caps rather than Novation Remote-style flat square caps. Just doesn't say synth to me.

Patch cables and sockets:
* the light gray patch cable sockets look like the hole should be darker, not the same colour as the background...(or is this just an optical illusion?)
* I'd prefer if the patch cables were thinner, more like the size of the socket holes.(they look a tad clunky...same goes for Bazille)

Text and legending:
VCO 1 waveform LCD is too short for Saw/Pulse to fit on it, perhaps abbreviate it to Saw/Pls?

and that's my extremely picky list. These changes would bump the GUI from a bloody good to a bloody perfect in my book.

YMMV! All respect to Urs!

[Urs]

and that's my extremely picky list.

Indeed. I leave these details to folks who wish to create skins for it :-p

On a side note, the screenshot wasn't from the finished version, I still have to replace some alphanumeric menus with icons. And some stuff isn't done at all, such as the undo/redo buttons.

The menus btw. *are* buttons

Cheers,

Urs

[xalama qo]

hehe! yup, occupational hazard, every visual detail counts! Forgot it was going to be skinnable... And of course, what really matters is how it sounds, and there's no doubt that'll be superb!

[Howard]

here goes...

At last there's someone here who might be more "picky" than me about these things! I also mentioned e.g. that the socket centres should be darker

All in all, ACE looks great and is a pleasure to work with.

[xalama qo]

All in all, ACE looks great...

indubitably!

[arp_laszlo]

This looks & sounds outstanding! I've been down with simple synths lately and Ace sounds perfect. Excellent pricing too, especially with the option of upgrading to Berlin later.

[zerocrossing]

I didn't want to pollute the ZPC thread but when I saw the acesynth link I wanted to make a quick comment:

Personally, between

http://www.acesynth.com/

and

http://www.u-he.com/img/Z25Shot.jpg

I VASTLY prefer the look you're using for the acesynth knobs. I realize they probably take a little more room, but I've never really been down with the thinnng/widening look used in zebra, in my opinion it creates quite a bit of visual clutter that always takes my brain a few seconds to absorb. The acesynth ones look clean, consistent and professional. Nice, nice work!

thanks,
eic

I couldn't agree with you more. We've had a really long history of "knobs control electronic things" so why not piggyback on that and use it to your advantage? Similarly, maybe the red octagon isn't the best shape for a stop sign, but changing it only confuses and creates a learning curve.