Poll V11 #1: Are you OK about removing options to set the editor type?

[MeldaProduction]

Maintaining specific layouts for knobs, sliders and buttons is quite a challenge, so one way to make our job easier and provide more standardized workflow would be to remove this option and the GUI would then be based on a combination of knobs and buttons. Sliders probably wouldn't be used much, since they are used differently, so it could slower the user experience. In most cases it seems that using knobs & buttons combination (already used in latest plugins) provides higher GUI clarity while still minimizing size. And according to our statistics only about 11% of customers are using sliders.

[Michael L]

The poll question and the choices don't match. By removing the option to set editor type, you also remove:
- the slider option,
- the all-button option, and
- the all-knob option.

I use only buttons because 1) I find your knob layout to be inefficient, and 2) a consistent 'visual language' is easier to read.

The general concept of 'more clarity and less size' is good, but I am curious how Melda would interpret that idea. Perhaps you can show some plugin designs to show which parameters will be standardized as knobs, and which will be standardized as buttons.

[Tagirijus]

Seems like I am one of the 11%, hehe. But I am also the one, who will survive, if it's for the greater good.

Good point from Michael: a screenshot to demonstrate the advantage would be nice indeed.

[jmg8]

The poll question and the choices don't match. By removing the option to set editor type, you also remove:
- the slider option,
- the all-button option, and
- the all-knob option.

I use only buttons because 1) I find your knob layout to be inefficient, and 2) a consistent 'visual language' is easier to read.

The general concept of 'more clarity and less size' is good, but I am curious how Melda would interpret that idea. Perhaps you can show some plugin designs to show which parameters will be standardized as knobs, and which will be standardized as buttons.

Open up any new plugins like MTurboComp/Reverb and look at the edit windows. Select knobs in the options.
This is how it will look, you will see a combination of knobs and buttons.
Buttons only have one size, where knobs have two. This is the reason why there should be more clarity as the large knobs will be more important.

[DarkStar]

A couple of definitions may help:

Tracker (also known a slider) is an alternative to knob control. However the tracker is typically quite small, easy to use and capable of quite high precision and in most cases provides an immediate text or similar representation of the value that you are editing.

• Click and drag using the left mouse button HORIZONTALLY to change the value.
  A single click changes the value.

Value button is an alternative to the tracker and its main advantage is that it is very small. In some cases the button simply serves as a clickable item and a menu is shown when clicked. However the mouse wheel and other controls still do work.

• Click and drag using the left mouse button VERTICALLY to change the value.

They have these operations in common:

• Right mouse button selects the default value.
  Mouse wheel, arrow keys and vertical drag using middle mouse button or using left mouse button while holding Ctrl modifies the value more precisely.
  Home key configures the minimal possible value, conversely End key sets the maximal one.
  Esc or Backspace keys restore the original value when either one is pressed during dragging.
  Shift + left mouse button or double-click lets you edit the value as text. You can use the virtual keyboard or type on your computer keyboard. In some cases this shows a menu with all possible values instead.
  Alt + press then release measures the time between the press and the release and applies it as a time/frequency tap. Usable only for certain values of course.

Some time ago I did prefer sliders (trackers) and many of the Styles had Value buttons that did not use the Highlight colour. But that can be changed in the Structured Style Editor.

[wildcafe]

Maybe I missunderstood something. But which type of buttons are used in "Futuristic" style?
These are the ones I love. I thought these are sliders, so I polled, that I can't live without sliders. But if the ones used in "Futuristic" are buttons, I'm fine...

[MeldaProduction]

Every style has all of them - click Settings and there you can choose your prefered editor mode.

[dmbaer]

Good point from Michael: a screenshot to demonstrate the advantage would be nice indeed.

+1. I'm not certain I fully understand what's being asked here and a picture or three would probably clarify to the benefit of all.

[masitito]

I'll surviver without the style setting though I'm using buttons.

If I get it right after the style switcher is gone, I have to live with knobs. The reason why I have chosen buttons is because both sliders and knobs make the usually crowded plugin UI even harder to understand. IMHO knobs need some whitespace around them. So they big buttons are fine in "easy mode" but should IMO have a less distracting design otherwise (this may only be a problem in specific designs).

Masi

[mljung]

Good point from Michael: a screenshot to demonstrate the advantage would be nice indeed.

+1. I'm not certain I fully understand what's being asked here and a picture or three would probably clarify to the benefit of all.

I think so too...

[DarkStar]

My thought was that all elements that currently can be Sliders (Trackers) will be changed to Knobs (or Buttons in a few cases).

In these screenshots (Sliders, Knobs and Buttons respectively, using the Ozone style) the elements that change are 9 for each Band, Phase (which changes to a Button), 4 for the wave shape and 3 global ones (above the meters). So, if I am correct, with the proposal the only appearance would be the middle one (Knobs).

>>> http://i.imgur.com/jCzcgPr.png

Personally, I would like to keep Buttons view too, not least because it is considerably smaller (~88%).

[dmbaer]

Personally, I would like to keep Buttons view too, not least because it is considerably smaller (~88%).

+1. Some of the MWhatever full-edit screens are already pretty expansive. I'm all for keeping the size down, and I don't see any benefit in the middle screen over the bottom one in the examples DarkStar posted.

[goldglob]

Having all Buttons keeps size down...that's good sometimes.
Knobs (which give a combination of knobs and buttons) are good for three reasons in my most humble opinion:
1/ It makes the interface look more interesting.
2/ Clarifies the differentiation between groups of controls. Eg, in MReverb edit screen; Size, Width, Diffusion and Reverb Time are logically grouped as knobs and seem to be more 'go to' than the buttons in the color panel. By comparison, the all buttons option gives the feeling of 'where do I start?'..all parameters seem to have the same weight.
3/ Most people simply like knobs..it's an aesthetic thing, and something to do with hardware nostalgia.

[Kr3eM]

Personally, I would like to keep Buttons view too, not least because it is considerably smaller (~88%).

+1. Some of the MWhatever full-edit screens are already pretty expansive. I'm all for keeping the size down, and I don't see any benefit in the middle screen over the bottom one in the examples DarkStar posted.

+1 ...I find knobs to be fine in "easy mode" but in edit mode they are a pain. The argument that some parameters are more important than others and by such should have a bigger visual impact doesn't hold up IMHO, at least not in edit mode.

You could argue however that some parameters are more frequently used which may be what people mean when the say "important", still this doesn't hold up either IMHO.

I can agree that big knobs for 'important' parameters would be a help of navigation when you are new to the plugin, but after a relative short usage you will have memorized where the frequently used parameters are and thereby big knobs and other waste of space GUI elements just become a problem.

I think the "easy mode" solution is brilliant, this can have any combinations of knobs, buttons, cats in customes and what not, but I would really hate to see the edit mode turning into a more easy mode adapted setup that will cost space. It's an edit mode, it's not that hard to memorize where the parameters are, and there are not any parameters that are more important than others in edit mode. The most important parameter is the one which you need to tweak at any given time to get the result you are striving for.

Also I have to point out that the real issue with good defined parameters and the navigation of a GUI is basicly not a matter of the size of the knobs- First of all it's a question of clarity in form and more specific a question about the integration between colors. This is IMO the real issue when talking about the Melda GUIs.

The usage of gradient and bad color combinations makes it poorly defined, muddy and lack a clear contrast which makes it a strain to navigate. To solve this with bigger knobs or to seperate parameters with more space is a basicly just a simple distraction from the real problem.

Personaly I love my Melda plugins, they are in fact brilliant in almost all aspects, but the GUI's are a complete mess. I use Satyatunes SkyBlue skin just because it give a clear view of things, and this skin is a reason I use Sliders on some of the plugins since it actually works better with some of the plugins, also the SkyBlue skins slider mode differs from the usual look.

( I have changed the blue text to a warm organge/yellow which makes it even more pleasing to the eye, and also less cold )

So, yes I would not be happy to see my sliders removed but I would really dislike not be able have the button mode... I serioulsy hate knobs unless its in the easy mode view.

Allthough I most of all would love to see the GUI issue dealt with from a proper perspective once and for all...

.

[_al_]

I use sliders, but as long as we always have the option to type specific values, i will survive