Hive2 skin - proof of concept

[Stefken]

hive2-reorder.jpg

(Rightclick image to see it at 100%)


I'm thinking about making a new skin for Hive2.

Main differences with the current skin would be :
* resolving mirroring issues (see concept demonstration image above)
* Own look & feel with dark backgrounds and blue highlights
* some local optimisations

Would people be interested in a paid skin like that?
Some people have asked me to do a Hive2 skin but I'd like to inquire whether there is a market for it first. And what the requirements are.

Mirroring

Several controls in Hive2 are mirrored and that has quite some people confused.
In this skin, these confusions between left and right side of the synth are resolved.
The Sub oscillator is always to the right of the main oscillator, MOD env is always to the right of the AMP env, the filter controls are ordered in the same way left and right.
(see pîcture above for a concept demonstration)

Dark skin

Some people also asked for a darker skin, so that's what it will be.
Somewhat along the lines of my Avenger skin probably.

Optimisations

Some things can still be optimised imo (e.g. on the bottom section).

Feels free to pitch in extra ideas/requirements.

[BONES]

It looks the same to me and I had Hive open just a few minutes ago. I like the mirroring, it makes more sense to me.

[Stefken]

It looks the same to me.

Obviously, this is the Hive UI and look and feel that I restructured to demonstrate the non-mirroring.
(That's the only thing that is visually changed in this printscreen : hence proof of concept).

As noted in the text, it will have a different look and feel.

[Teksonik]

I might be interested in purchasing the skin depending on the final look of course. Just having the Amp and Mod Envs in the same order is an improvement.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

I did this take on Hive 2 for my own use. The filter Cutoff and Resonance got moved closer to the Hexagon to add importance and the Mod envelope is to the left of the Amp envelope. I like some of your layout tweaks to the Osc2/Filt2 sections, but for the love of all that is good, please put the mod envelopes first (left) then the amp envelopes (right) like in hardware synths.

I'm happy enough with it that it's now my default skin. Regarding purchasing a skin: I'd buy a skin if it were a dramatic reworking with new elements. If it were mostly just the default Hive2 with a different layout, I can probably do that on my own. So if you're talking about taking your basic layout and doing all new graphics, then I'm a maybe. If you're talking about taking the default U-he skin and reorganizing it then selling it, then I'm a hard no on a purchase.

[Teksonik]

No, please put the Amp on the Left where it was in Hive 1. I don't care one bit how it is in hardware. It makes sense Osc>Filter>Amp Env> Mod (Filter) Env. It does not make sense Osc>Filter>Mod (Filter) Env> Amp Env.

Of course the best flow would be Osc>Amp Env>Filter> Mod (Filter) Env but that would require a total reorganization.

Does it really matter which way they are ? No of course not but after programming a few hundred patches in Hive 1, I still find myself adjusting Osc 2's Mod Env thinking it's the Amp Env because it was on the left while programming all those patches in Hive 1. Habits are formed.

Will I get used to it eventually ? Of course but the idea is not to make people learn a new workflow for old features. New features of course require new workflow........

[Stefken]

I'm with Teksonik on this one. Do not force people to change habits (unless it's super duper better; does not apply).
The days of extrapolationg from hardware are past. This is a softsynth and I am used that ENV1 is prewired to the amp in softsynths.

[layzer]

looks a little faded and lacking contrast IMHO.
but then, so does the original.
H1 on the other hand, looks fresh.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

This post will sound more disagreeable and grumpy than I intend to, but just trying to back up my point of view with logic. I realize it's just one opinion and others are also valid however flawed they may be.

No, please put the Amp on the Left where it was in Hive 1.

I never liked it in Hive 1 either, though I was late on that train and only used it for a few months between 1.2 and 2.0. So for me, it's not about "what I'm used to from Hive 1.0," it's about "where does my hand go to modify the amp envelope?" The answer is, "always right." Why? Because after years of using different hardware and software synths/controllers, that's what's been ingrained into my head.

Why do they all work that way? Just cause? Maybe one manufacturer picked that approach and everyone else stole it? Or maybe there's a good reason. Hmmm....wonder what it could be....

It makes sense Osc>Filter>Amp Env> Mod (Filter) Env. It does not make sense Osc>Filter>Mod (Filter) Env> Amp Env.

Signal flow! That's the ticket! Except, what you say doesn't make sense, actually does and what you say does, actually doesn't.

The Amp Envelope is the final piece of that signal flow. Most modulation done via the Mod Envelope happens before the Amp Envelope (*sure, in Hive you can rig up the Mod Env to modulate effects and thats technically post-amp, but that's only due to the matrix capabilities). If we take a stroll through the Hive factory presets, we'll find that most times, the Mod Envelopes are being used to modulate filters in the vast majority of patches. Therefore, the Amp Envelope should logically be last. In a left to right world, last means on the right-hand side. In a top to bottom world, last means on the bottom.

Look at just about any synth with two banks of ADSRs: one for the filter and another for the amp. They will have the filter ADSR on the left, and amp ADSR on the right. When they're in a top to bottom flow, it's the filter envelope on top and amp envelope on the bottom. But just about any time you're dealing with two envelopes, it's almost always amp envelope at the end. Generally not first. Whether you're talking Roland (Jupiter-8/6 to the System-8), Oberheim (OB-8/X/Xa), Sequential (Prophets), etc., the amp envelope is either the one on the right in a left to right flow, or the one on the bottom in a top to bottom flow.

Therefore, if you ignore Hive 1, there's only one logical place for those amp envelopes to go in relation to the mod envelopes for each layer: on the right. Why? Because it more accurately represents the actual signal flow.

[Teksonik]

Because after years of using different hardware and software synths/controllers, that's what's been ingrained into my head......Why do they all work that way?

We must be using different synths because they aren't "all that way" in my VSTi folder. I have owned and used many hardware synths and then I grew up. Not interested in going backwards....

Amp Left, Mod Right worked just fine in Hive 1 for how many years and how many thousands of patches ? It was only changed for esthetic reasons rather than function since someone thought Book Matched looked cool.

Anyway our votes just cancel each other out. You want Mod Env on the Left I want it on the right. Let's see what the final skin looks like. But it appears the person working on this new skin agrees with me so.....good luck.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Because after years of using different hardware and software synths/controllers, that's what's been ingrained into my head......Why do they all work that way?

We must be using different synths because they aren't "all that way" in my VSTi folder. I have owned and used many hardware synths and then I grew up. Not interested in going backwards....

Amp Left, Mod Right worked just fine in Hive 1 for how many years and how many thousands of patches ? It was only changed for esthetic reasons rather than function since someone thought Book Matched looked cool.

Anyway our votes just cancel each other out. You want Mod Env on the Left I want it on the right. Let's see what the final skin looks like. But it appears the person working on this new skin agrees with me so.....good luck.

It's alright. I've got my own modified skin anyway and could always mod someone else's if needed.

[THE INTRANCER]

During my own redesign of both Hive and Hive 2, I did many experimental tests in how I could transform the layout of the upper part of the GUI such as the Filter / OSC1 / OSC2 / SUB buttons. I can say that it's very difficult to retain any sort of symmetrical balance because there is very little room for maneuver. Whilst there might be a technical reason why something is designed the way it is, there can also be a natural conflict in how the brain interprets that when the eye is drawn to a central point. If Hive allowed the user to change the dimensions then it might be easier.

The change in the layout is pretty minor and that of which I think most people's brains will be able to re-adapt. Saying that though, Hive 2 is more complex in addition to have less screen estate to work with for redesign purposes.

[jtnyc]

Did this skin every get made? I like the idea of the darker version similar to your Avenger skin.

[EvilDragon]

Oops wrong thread

[psynical]

If you all want a better Hive2 skin, plugmon's is the best.

https://plugmon.jp/product/eclipse/