FR theme: Interface

[AllenPOPO]

it would be cool for all you guys who have ideas for organization schemes to post them in a graphical manner here in the thread, imo that can be an easy way to compare schemes and people could even vote on them or something to that extent



just an idea that popped into my head just now

[kirtap910]

Actually I think, the UI is not as bad as it sounded in my last post just some entries above.
I wrote it immediatly after reading Jens's first post and remembering that I had the same problems with quickly finding glue and split (in the last beta they were even in 2 different main-menues - as it even is still in XT 1.4) and those both render actions ('to new track...' + 'to wav...') + some other small things.

To be more constructive here is what I actually really do miss (based on 25.May beta):

Sequencer comp:

Right-click-menu when over a part:
Split here
Split at position marker
Glue
Cut
Copy
Paste
Color...
Save as...

Part-menu on top:
Split (at position marker)
Glue
Color...
Delete

I can't see why Split and Glue made it into the Sequencer-menu. Maybe it's because you can select many parts in many tracks to split (and glue) them, but then the same would also apply for 'quantize' (if I didn't miss something). Therefore I really think they should go to the Part-menu.

Maybe there could also be some other - not part related - functions be available in the context menu shown for parts (as also the undo/redo is not necessarily part related). E.g. under a submenu 'More'. We could have here 'Render to new track' etc.
If this sub-menu could be configured by the user, wow that would be cool...

Program combobox:
As Jens mentioned for the Mixer comp:
Add, Delete and Rename for programs should generally by available again via right-click on the program combobox.

Sequencer menu on top:
Also I really would like to see 'Render to wav' in the Sequencer-menu instead of in the File-menu (well I know it's a file that will be written, but actually it's stuff from the sequencer that will go to this file...)

Mixer comp:
See what Jens had to complain here.

That's it!
So in effect, it's not too much what's missing for me, but maybe more to come at a later point...

Me too I'm also not quite sure if I like this context-sensitive main-menu at the top, but right now I'm just to tired to think of any better solutions...

Ahhh, one more thing:
Please, please: Display of shortcuts in the menu's would be soooo nice...

Cheers,
Patrik

[soma]

A little thing: 'next' functions like 'next dock' or 'next program' should wrap around from last to first when you get to the end of a list.
And "Y" "N" and esc keys for yes no and cancel.

I'm really glad stuff like copy and paste and mouse highlighting are functional in the new dialogs. And mouse wheel support has been much better in XT2! Thanks for listening to some of our old requests about the small things. They really do matter.

[original flipper]

HI

Manual?

I haven't a clue what V2 is capable of really - I use it in a very basic way (and in this department it is 100% faster to get my ideas down than anything else).

Unless your REALLY dedicated to searching out the new features that are appearing weekly, you will likewise miss the party.

No doubt a year down the line when V2 comes out of beta a manual may be put in place - but right now I just use it as I always did.

Unfortunately I have come to a standstill on all my projects due to no multi-core support!

(hopefully that will come soon-ish!)

Flipper.

[gamble]

there some things which evolved to numerous things concerning the gui from the last time I can remember (one of the first betas) discussing it with jens.

for example: minimizing a track isn't indicated in the track menu at the top or in the context menu. there should be something like a checkbox as seen for other options. or it should change to maximize when a track is minimized.
maybe you could erase some top menus like track and part. most people are used to use the right click and the objectbar is quite intuitive right now. of course it depends on what features will be added but maybe this is a good start for some house cleaning. some space is given away by the top menues, for example in the mixer where you easily and intuitive perform all actions in the mixer via buttons or using the context menu.
I also dislike the lacking distinction of global (file, window) and contextual menu items (options, program, etc) in the top menu.
I almost tend to state that there is no menu needed. global stuff could be stuffed somewhere else. at least on a widescreen monitor you have plenty horizontal room

ahhh, and I almost forgot something for the inline editor: I'd like to have that piano roll style background pattern always no matter of which part is selected. looks odd to me when seeing all those vertical lines and when a part is selected it'll change to the "normal" piano roll view

ps: sorry, my english isn't the best today

[Former Pharaoh]

My suggestions here may have some requests already made by other XT users so consider this a bump for those specifc requests

I was one of the many who requested a static browser
and I do feel it works better than a free floating
one. However, With the exception of samples, audio pool
clips, and presets, here are a few suggestions
that can help with workflow by eliminating the need
to use the browser. The main benefit to this
is less scrolling which, as you all know, improves workflow.

I have also listed a few suggestions for general
ease of use especially when it comes to new users
who aren't familiar with the GUI.
NOTE: Best to right click and save the image below to get a better view



1: For plugs with multiple outs, have arrows to
select a specific mixer channel for a specific output.

2: use this section to name the mixer channel

3. Right clicking on an insert or send within
a mixer channel opens a VST fx menu (use setup page
for folder).

Note: when hovering over an insert/send area, a
popup mentions "Insert"/"Sends" respectively.
Have this also mention that "right mouse click"
opens fx menu.

4: Left mouse click to view a pull down menu of all
tracks so one can "jump" to a track. To rename
a track use right mouse button. In fact, include
all menu items that are featured when one right
clicks on a track.

You will also notice the "move" arrows are
removed. Use Drag and Drop to edit order of tracks
and mouse drag to move parts/clips.

5: self explanatory. Hours/minutes/sec/mili sec
plus punch in/out recording with option to loop

6: select any track's ouput here. VST instruments
are listed ala EXT 1.4's right mouse click (use setup
page for folder).

Sidenote: In regards to 4 & 6, you will notice that
these features can eliminate a great deal of
scrolling found both within the browser to load
VSTinstrmnts and scrolling vertically when one has a
plethora of tracks.
Literally, the idea here is to have it so one can
stay within the object bar to edit and setup any track.
What would be "extra nice" is if one has a MIDI or
Audio editor open, and jumps tracks via the Object bar,
the editor follows suit.

7: Press the "K" button to set any parameter to
a qwerty key. Press the "M" button to set any param
to a MIDI CC. Just a quick shortcut as opposed to
going to File/setup/actions.

And speaking of setup, one can have quick access
by pressing the "setup button" which is adjacent to
the color selection utility.

To the right of number 7 illustration is a
another suggestion to have menu items quickly
accessible with "shortcut" buttons.

8: Project Folder: All project folders avaialable
within the setups page can have projects that are
saved to those folders selected within
the <new project> menu as opposed to just being
able to recall songs that only have been loaded.



And to help out a bit working within the browser. I feel tabs would be nice. Tabs allow you to view specific files within the browser.
So within the setups page, you can set Tab 1 to view Samples, Tab 2 to view presets, Tab 3 to view the Audi pool etc. etc.

[M1]

I think the mixer button is still needed, as you can undock the mixer. And if you do, then the button will still be needed to bring it up.

Brent

+1 i like the mixer button, but think there should be a sequencer button beside it. i'm pretty sure i know why it's not there but that would be cool.

[original flipper]

HI

Vertical zoom in BOTH the piano-roll and main sequencing area.

Not major workflow stuff: but in certain cases makes life a little more pleasent!

I really miss this one!

Flipper.

[jens]

+1 for the piano-roll

-1 for the sequencing area - that's what the resizable in-line editors are for!

[soma]

Have I already asked to allow us to "Fold" the keyboard up to maximize the space with only keys that have notes programed in that clip.

I did? Oh ok.

[DWb]

Ahhh, one more thing:
Please, please: Display of shortcuts in the menu's would be soooo nice...

+lots

I can't think of anything that would improve people's workflow so much for so little effort than having something that essentially says 'there was a quicker and easier way of doing that that you can use next time' when they do stuff.

A (disableable) status bar would be great too, for a) letting you know what new gui elements (or old gui elements if you're a new user) are for in a more precise way than the occasionally cryptic ideograms and b) letting you know if there's a shortcut for it.

[Former Pharaoh]

Ah! *THERE'S* the original image i posted. I was wondering where i posted that thing.

I just want to brag on how it was *I* who originally came up with all the brilliant ideas before all you cats.


Be quiet Jens.....

[consoul]

- File menu -> "Save as new version" option, increasing the last number in the filename, or adding "01" if there is none.
- When "Saving as..", the current project/file name should already be in the line, better without ".xt", which should be added after clicking OK.

[gamble]

- File menu -> "Save as new version" option, increasing the last number in the filename, or adding "01" if there is none.

why not saving different revisions of a song within the file like office systems do. in preferences you could enter a number of undos which is then saved with the project file. in this case it's up to you whether you want to save disk space or be sure about undoing stuff. or one could set some sort of recovery point with a certain number of recovery points in total (eg 3). you could then switch between different states of your project.
however, from my experience I hardly use one of the "old" files when I thought that I should save the song to a new file ...

[soma]

- File menu -> "Save as new version" option, increasing the last number in the filename, or adding "01" if there is none.

why not saving different revisions of a song within the file like office systems do. in preferences you could enter a number of undos which is then saved with the project file. in this case it's up to you whether you want to save disk space or be sure about undoing stuff. or one could set some sort of recovery point with a certain number of recovery points in total (eg 3). you could then switch between different states of your project.
however, from my experience I hardly use one of the "old" files when I thought that I should save the song to a new file ...

Great Idea! There are even programs that take this a step further and can restore broken songs by appling undo's to the file (Live does this IIRC).