Any ideas for my DAW?

[sockofgold]

My honest suggestion: if you are serious about this, hire someone to make you an awesome GUI. The visual polish is one of the big things that almost always sets smaller devs apart from larger ones, and whether you want to admit it or not, having a great GUI is a HUGE deal in audio applications.

It doesn't even have to be complex and 3D. Live's GUI is a good example--it's not fancy at all, but it looks great and is very unique.

[gafferuk]

My honest suggestion: if you are serious about this, hire someone to make you an awesome GUI. The visual polish is one of the big things that almost always sets smaller devs apart from larger ones, and whether you want to admit it or not, having a great GUI is a HUGE deal in audio applications.

It doesn't even have to be complex and 3D. Live's GUI is a good example--it's not fancy at all, but it looks great and is very unique.

Im happy with the GUI I have created, not finished, but I think it looks good.

Your statment makes me laugh. "having a great GUI is a HUGE deal in audio applications."

Im totaly fed up with peoples great looking synths and effects but which have poor sounds.

It's not about the looks it's about the sounds they produce.

Great looking synths may help sell. But who are you selling too?

Im capable of adding extra graphics, but that would only slow the application down.

[sockofgold]

Im happy with the GUI I have created, not finished, but I think it looks good.

Your statment makes me laugh. "having a great GUI is a HUGE deal in audio applications."

Im totaly fed up with peoples great looking synths and effects but which have poor sounds.

It's not about the looks it's about the sounds they produce.

Great looking synths may help sell. But who are you selling too?

Im capable of adding extra graphics, but that would only slow the application down.

Ok then. Good luck with that.

[gafferuk]

Im happy with the GUI I have created, not finished, but I think it looks good.

Your statment makes me laugh. "having a great GUI is a HUGE deal in audio applications."

Im totaly fed up with peoples great looking synths and effects but which have poor sounds.

It's not about the looks it's about the sounds they produce.

Great looking synths may help sell. But who are you selling too?

Im capable of adding extra graphics, but that would only slow the application down.

Ok then. Good luck with that.

What don't you like, im intersted in your views.

I quite like the idea of background transparancy, bands can show there bands logo or your favourate pet.

[PurpleCatfishBettie]

Maybe make the wires a bit less 'curved.' As it is, if there are a lot of wires, they might become difficult to suss out.

I really don't know; one way or the other; but that's kind of what struck me when i first saw the wiring graphic.

Overall, it looks cool.

[LawrenceF]

More screenshots? A YouTube of the Alpha? Something?

[sockofgold]

What don't you like, im intersted in your views.

I quite like the idea of background transparancy, bands can show there bands logo or your favourate pet.

Do you really want to know, or are you just going to mock what I say again? Because my first post didn't say anything mean or out of line, yet you said my comments "made you laugh." I was genuinely trying to help. You better to learn to take some feedback, because if you start releasing the program publicly, people will say MUCH harsher things about your product, no matter how good it is.

I never even said I don't like the GUI. I was merely stating that a beautiful, well-polished GUI is typically the main difference between what people consider "professional" and what people consider "indie" or "amateur" or whatever... I completely agree that it SHOULD be 100% about the sound, but it's simply not, for a variety of reasons. Put is this way: is N-Track studio any good? Who knows??? Not many people, because most people take one look at that pile of vomit and realize that we could never stomach using it, no matter how good it was.

-When you stare at a program for hours and hours on end, it needs to be something that isn't going to fatigue your eyes. I'm not a graphic designer, but I imagine that's the reason (for better or worse) than pretty much every program has a gray GUI. It's very easy on the eyes.

-People get boners for a nice GUI, and are more willing to shell out money for something pretty. Like it or not, you might make a lot of sales based on solely on a nice GUI. I know you don't want to resort to that, but development money is development money.

There is nothing inherently wrong with your current GUI, it just doesn't scream 'wow.' I know you're still developing, and I was not insinuating that it should be a top immediate priority, but if you want to be taken seriously, you'll need to update it at some point. What hits me immediately is the "curvy" look of the media clips, and the Synth Edit-looking controls. The whole thing is just not easy on the eyes, unlike most of the big names in audio production (Logic, Pro Tools, Cubase, Sonar, Studio One, etc. have invested a LOT of money in GUI design, and it shows.)

I'm not saying this to be mean, either. It's just that a lot of indie developers often seem to want to refuse to believe that a good GUI is really really important, but it absolutely is.

[Mattox]

Whilst it will be crucial to get a decent GUI down the road I think it looks fine for now; it's more important to get functionality right and to make sure there are no show stopping bugs than it is to make it look pretty.

Just don't make it look like Ableton and I'll be happy, I can't stand its GUI.

[Ogg Vorbis]

I am with mr goldysocks. The UI looks like it was, well...no offense, but designed by a code head trying to be a designer.

Having made that remark, I am actually excited to learn more about this tool. I have Live Intro for making sketches and sewing initial ideas together. It sucks hell. I can only get a few scenes going before the limit is hit. I don't want to have to upgrade to fullblown Live.

So your software might just be the ticket for me.

PLEASE tell me this thing runs on a mac.

[gckilla]

I think what's ridiculous is the statement "if you are serious about this". Just think about that statement. He put in the work didn't he? He's soliciting opinion's isn't he? I think it's extremely rude to question if he's serious or not based on his gui.

Similiarly, the other comment " code-head trying to be a designer". That's also ridiculous. What's the fundamental difference between a coder and a designer if he's one-man operation.

Granted that the OP hasn't put any audio examples or a working demo to judge and the screen shots are all that's available to go by, the fact remains that on KVR more often then not, it's GUI's first, sound and functionality second.

[codec_spurt]

I think what's ridiculous is the statement "if you are serious about this". Just think about that statement. He put in the work didn't he? He's soliciting opinion's isn't he? I think it's extremely rude to question if he's serious or not based on his gui.

Similiarly, the other comment " code-head trying to be a designer". That's also ridiculous. What's the fundamental difference between a coder and a designer if he's one-man operation.

Granted that the OP hasn't put any audio examples or a working demo to judge and the screen shots are all that's available to go by, the fact remains that on KVR more often then not, it's GUI's first, sound and functionality second.

First paragraph:
I don't think sockofgold meant it that way. You have way over-reacted imho.
Let the OP takes offense. He does it easily enough. If sockofgold had been
a 'smartarse' fair enough - he was just giving constructive criticism. He was
not questioning his seriousness based on his GUI, he was giving advice of
what he thought might be done better. Which leads onto paragraph 2 nicely...


Second paragraph:
Yeah, it looks like a "code-head trying to be a designer". It's like that
brilliant songwriter and singer you know, but no..he wants to 'produce'
the f***ing thing too Probably even thinks he can play lead guitar.
A fair and valid statement put far better than I ever could....


Third paragraph:
Audio examples? Working demo? This is a wind-up right?
Oh, sign me up for beta-testing. PM me. Can't wait.
How many programmers do Ableton have? And this is one 'code-head' against
the world. Please make me eat my words. Feed me humble pie. Yeah, show
me the Alpha......
Considering how quickly the OP took such umbrage, I would be surprised
if this turns out to be an Ableton Killer. Coding takes a certain temperament
and attitude. Hubris. Yes. Humility, also.

Feel free to feed me my tongue back through my teeth

Looking forward to this one.

PM me for beta testing. I have a variety of 3d objects in .dxf, .obj etc
format - Cinema 4D, Wings, Terragen....
Also very interested in the Laser stuff. Studied them at Uni and worked
with various programs for manipulating them.......

You only need to ask

[gckilla]

I was following you all the way 'till the second paragraph. You win by taking off at a tangent and then proving my point by then end. I'm out.

[bunnywrench]

Too bad it doesn't work on OS X. The video/3D stuff is what makes this intriguing. I have to agree that the GUI is awful but as long as it doesn't get in the way of functionality I don't care that much. But it's true that awful GUIs do get in the way of software sales for those who do care about that.

[swivel]

I think the GUI looks very good, crisp fonts, good spacing etc... and the wires look nice. Miles ahead of earlier versions of Usine or Cubase for example. I wouldn't spend any more time on the looks at this point, it's what the app can do conceptually that counts.

[NAS]

What a place "Meh meh, it doesn't look shiny"
Let him get a version out ffs
The features he has mentioned seem pretty inspiring to me
Looking forward to trying it

NAS