What's wrong with our web site? Just want to hear from you, feel free to criticize :)

[kv331]

Now that we're getting ready for the release it's time to improve our "image"

I know we have to improve the web site, it looks awful right now:

http://www.synthmaster.com

So I wanted to ask the KVR community, time to criticize so that we can improve it! Just tell us what's wrong with the web site or what would you want to see there?

Thanks!

Bulent

[burkek]

One thing that jumps out at me is that it is not entirely accessible to people with disabilities. A quick (cursory) check is to question whether you can get to every link on your page just by using the keyboard <TAB> key. On your site, one can't. It gets hung up in your MP3 player. A quick way around that is to implement a tab order.

Also make sure all graphical menu items have <ALT> text associated with them.

And finally, use percentages or 'em' for font size (instead of pixels or points). The font you use is not resizable by the browser's text size control and therefore may be hard to see by those with visual disabilities unless they dispense with your style sheet and substitute their own.

KEv

[BERFAB]

I don't think it's so awful. The only thing that jumps out at me is the Header image that you use. It's a great logo, but judging from the new GUI you have for the latest version of your flagship product, it doesn't match. So use elements from the new UI to frame your site.

[zerocrossing]

Well, you've redundant headlines. I'd lose the "Introducing" headline and make sure the top of the image was aligned with "Latest News." Also, I'd increase the font size and use a bold weight for "SynthMaster 2.5 BETA Coming Up for Windows/MacOSX in VST/VSTi/AU formats!" so it fits without creating the orphan "for" that can happen when you justify text like that.

The top banner is a little awkward as well. I'd make the title bigger and move it to the left so that it feels more balanced with the echo logo element on the right.

Mostly it's pretty good though. Is 2.5 actually out? I hadn't heard...

[audington]

I'd stop the MP3 demos from playing automatically. Whenever I hear a website making a sound I didn't tell it to, my first reaction is to close the tab.

I would ask for TONS of well organised short MP3 preset demos. That way, those looking for a trance synth can just listen to the relevant demos, those looking for pads can just listen to those demos, etc.

I would also ask for a video tour of the synth and its features. The one on Camel Audio's site for Alchemy is fantastic.

Everything else about your website is nice!

[kvr@barder.net]

There are two answers to your question.

1. Does the website look nice.
2. Does it promote your product.

Just to give you a few thoughts on the second - what is your value proposition?

I am a customer who wants to buy a soft synth. Having found your site, why should I chose your product? What am I looking for? How will your product fulfill my needs? What are its benefits? What does it sound like? Customer testimonials.

I would suggest that you work out written answers to these questions and then design the web layout around them. If you don't clearly and simply latch onto and respond to a customer's needs very quickly in a website, they will go elsewhere.

Hope this helps.

[Aloysius]

Haven't read the Thread.

(1)

The music plays as soon as I navigate to your Website.

(2)

Downloads

File Download

Thank you for downloading 'synthmaster25alphawindows.zip'

When I check my e-mails I see:

You have filled out your e-mail address to receive our email newsletter.You must visit the URL listed below to confirm your subscription. http://www.ymlp94.com/confirm.php?id=gu ... 74713aa510

Click on the link again and:

Welcome to our newsletter!

The thing I was already signed up to.

(3) I never go to your Website unless I'm making a download. There is nothing interesting happening there.

[rectus_dominus]

http://vemberaudio.se/surge.php

I think it's a good example of a clean informal site for one product. Everything Synthmaster related should be on one neat page.

-Short list of important features, going into details
-List of all other features
SM2 has tons of these

-Audio demo, what doesnt start as soon as you load the page
-Press reviews
-User testimonials
-Available demo links
-Recent update, and the changelog

I don't know, but if you really want a really decent page, you'll have to invest in it.
But, you can already have the design prepared.

Cheers

[kv331]

I don't know, but if you really want a really decent page, you'll have to invest in it.
But, you can already have the design prepared.

Cheers

I know, and that's why we have this thread. I will invest in it definitely

[kv331]

Is 2.5 actually out? I hadn't heard...

We're almost there! Waiting for some GUI fixes and preset edits and then we're BETA

[GeorgeZ]

The 20 different fonts on the left hand side is BLOODY annoying and distracting....

[vata44]

The download ALWAYS fails when trying to get the Alpha builds. I can download from anywhere else but your site... Ugh. hehe...

[kv331]

The download ALWAYS fails when trying to get the Alpha builds. I can download from anywhere else but your site... Ugh. hehe...

Will fix it tonight!

Thanks,

Bulent

[MA-Simon]

A few things you could improve:

-> Make the edges of the images a little bit rounded so they fit the overal feeling of your website.

-> Make the links colour (currently standart blue), the colour of your headers blue-green.

-> more spacing between the list tabs

[D N A]

1. Auto playing mp3 demos - it really sucks. Quite often (mostly ?), during web surfing I'm watching TV or listening to mp3 music, podcasts.

Site which plays automatically some audio is automatically blacklisted by me. If someone wants to hear some examples he'll bother to hit that tiny play button for sure

2. Fonts - font style, spacing, positioning which means messing with CSS

If I were you I would just visit

http://themeforest.net

pick template I like, buy it (it's cheap, usually 15-20 $ and there are many "clean" designs) and use it's CSS to tweak existing website.