About closing the Note Editor

[muzycian]

Some people have mentioned that it's not yet clear how to close the Note Editor, and return to the Composer.

The current options are:

-> Press return or escape
-> Right-click (osx: control-click) and choose "Close Editor"
-> Click the close button of the window

What would be an intuitive way for you to close the Note Editor, and return to the Composer?

NB: In earlier versions you could also double-click the background of the Note Editor to return to the Composer.

But now such double-click is used for changing the mouse tool.

Is this better? Which function do you prefer?

[erik257]

Jo, I would suggest assigning a computer keyboard button to toggle between the composer and editor. It would be much faster then clicking with the mouse.

[pljones]

Ctrl-W is a common Windows shortcut for Close Window. Or perhaps Escape would be okay.

I don't like the idea of using the main form [X] window close button to close what is, in effect, a sub-window of the application. It means "close the application" to me.

Maybe you could have a row of buttons along the top... "Composer" "Note editor" "Event editor"..? (Hmm, I've seen that somewhere before...)

[> DiGiT <]

whats wrong with the idea of having a row of buttons visible from all screens to move between different parts of the program?

[fycfung]

I personally found the "buttons at the top" method of navigating through Computer Muzys somewhat confusing, since it kind of implied that the various buttons were "parallel", but really I didn't feel like they were in my mind. I remember the most frustrating part of starting Computer Muzys was clicking somewhere to try and get a piano roll or something where I could enter notes and just getting "No part selected" and no indication of how to select a part.

That said, the real question in my mind is whether the one should consider the note editor to be a "subordinate" window to the main window. I personally think of it as such, since in my mind the "main" window is where the parts are all kept, and when I double-click on one, it "blows up" to the front, and then I should be able to "put it back". So it makes sense to me that there ought to be a "close part" button somewhere on the surface of the note editor (clearly "subordinate" to the play controls, the player selector, etc., and associated with the note editor itself) that will close it and take me back to the "main" window.

If this interpretation of the window paradigm is not in line with what was intended, that would be interesting to know as well.
Best wishes,
Francis

[muzycian]

I personally found the "buttons at the top" method of navigating through Computer Muzys somewhat confusing, since it kind of implied that the various buttons were "parallel", but really I didn't feel like they were in my mind. I remember the most frustrating part of starting Computer Muzys was clicking somewhere to try and get a piano roll or something where I could enter notes and just getting "No part selected" and no indication of how to select a part.

Yes, i agree with this remark.

Another disadvantage of using a common button bar is that there only would be 2 buttons now: Composer and Sequence Editor.

A full horizontal lane for only 2 buttons could be a waste of screen space.

That said, the real question in my mind is whether the one should consider the note editor to be a "subordinate" window to the main window. I personally think of it as such, since in my mind the "main" window is where the parts are all kept, and when I double-click on one, it "blows up" to the front, and then I should be able to "put it back". So it makes sense to me that there ought to be a "close part" button somewhere on the surface of the note editor (clearly "subordinate" to the play controls, the player selector, etc., and associated with the note editor itself) that will close it and take me back to the "main" window.

Yes, this may be the best solution.

The only "but" here is: If the Sequence Editor has such "Close" button (e.g. above the piano keyboard), then the Audio Lab should have a similar button.

But where to put it in the Audio Lab? It should be around the same place...

[Trapaki]

Insted of buttons bars and closing command it would be better to assign a key to switch views. For example by clicking TAB. It might work for selected clips in arrange view.

best,
Piotr

[muzycian]

The only "but" here is: If the Sequence Editor has such "Close" button (e.g. above the piano keyboard), then the Audio Lab should have a similar button.

But where to put it in the Audio Lab? It should be around the same place...

Idea: Give the Audio Lab a level display at the left side, indicating the -6dB, -12dB etc... levels. Then above that level display can be the "Close" button.

Like in this mockup http://www.mutools.com/temp/audiolab-mo ... 060328.png

[muzycian]

Insted of buttons bars and closing command it would be better to assign a key to switch views. For example by clicking TAB. It might work for selected clips in arrange view.

Using the TAB key sounds like a good idea too!

TAB in composer: open editor (sequence editor or audio lab)
TAB in sequence editor or audio lab: return to composer

Sounds good to me. This key would be on top of the other ways to switch between the editors.

Other opinions?

[erik257]

I think as I wrote above to have key assigned on your keyboard to toggle between composer and editor would be the best solution. You could double it with placing a button on the panel. It is the way Live adopted to switch between their two modes, and it works tread.

[muzycian]

From beta 5 on, the TAB key toggles between Composer and Editor for the selected part

[erik257]

Good move me thinks.

[Trapaki]

Lovely!