Most pleasant GUI - Your choice?

[koolkeys]

Koolkeys, is that you?

[pdxindy]

it's a retina monitor, not low res.

i would have the mixer and inspector at least open at all times.. was too much for me. The bit at the top with the warp tool i wouldn't usually have open, and the browser only when necessary

Did you have DPI scaling on? Because I have a 1080p laptop and I just recreated your screenshot(using the normal track height as you do, the mixer expanded to the same height, etc.), and it isn't that crowded. Sure, it is a bit busy with all those things open, but there is more space than what your screenshot shows.

Unless that layout is set up to look that way, that S1 gui is one of the more confusing I've seen. Too many buttons, parameters, etc all over the place and it is not clear at a glance what is for what.

I've only had Bitwig for a couple months, but it is growing on me. I mean, I liked it from the start, but it takes a while using something to know if it is going to go up or down in terms of eye strain over time, ease of seeing what is going on etc. By comparison to that S1 gui, Bitwig is clean, clear and obvious.

[koolkeys]

it's a retina monitor, not low res.

i would have the mixer and inspector at least open at all times.. was too much for me. The bit at the top with the warp tool i wouldn't usually have open, and the browser only when necessary

Did you have DPI scaling on? Because I have a 1080p laptop and I just recreated your screenshot(using the normal track height as you do, the mixer expanded to the same height, etc.), and it isn't that crowded. Sure, it is a bit busy with all those things open, but there is more space than what your screenshot shows.

Unless that layout is set up to look that way, that S1 gui is one of the more confusing I've seen. Too many buttons, parameters, etc all over the place and it is not clear at a glance what is for what.

Well, the interface doesn't have all that stuff open by default. And my guess is that most users won't. S1 has a lot of different panels for various purposes, but so do most hosts. And if you open a dozen of them at once, it will look busy.

Also, see my post about the DPI scaling above. Things are not that crowded on my screen, and I think it is because I have disabled DPI scaling in S1 and in Windows. His screenshot is most definitely using some sort of resolution scaling, either in Studio One or in the OS.

I don't expect that everyone will like the S1 V3 interface. I personally do, but others will disagree. I'm only pointing out that his screenshot was an extreme case.

I've only had Bitwig for a couple months, but it is growing on me. I mean, I liked it from the start, but it takes a while using something to know if it is going to go up or down in terms of eye strain over time, ease of seeing what is going on etc. By comparison to that S1 gui, Bitwig is clean, clear and obvious.

Agreed. I think the Bitwig interface is top notch, and possibly one of, if not THE best ones out there. Very well done. It's a different beast, of course, and doesn't have the depth of options that S1 has yet(nor is it intended to be like S1). So hopefully they keep it clean and slick as things are added. But as it stands, I think the Bitwig GUI is beautiful.

Brent

[ObsoleteAcc99]

[DELETED]

[Vintage73]

Theo, he's not saying you're doing something wrong, but the fact is that your screen shot look to be exactly the same as my screen (colors aside), and my resolution is 1080. If you have your Retina at full resolution, something is happening to the S1 interface.

I plan on getting a UHD monitor, and I expect things to look quite different in S1 when I do.

That's all he's saying.

[Vintage73]

I'm guessing you have "Enable High DPI Mode" checked. Uncheck it if it is.

[pdxindy]

I've only had Bitwig for a couple months, but it is growing on me. I mean, I liked it from the start, but it takes a while using something to know if it is going to go up or down in terms of eye strain over time, ease of seeing what is going on etc. By comparison to that S1 gui, Bitwig is clean, clear and obvious.

Agreed. I think the Bitwig interface is top notch, and possibly one of, if not THE best ones out there. Very well done. It's a different beast, of course, and doesn't have the depth of options that S1 has yet(nor is it intended to be like S1). So hopefully they keep it clean and slick as things are added. But as it stands, I think the Bitwig GUI is beautiful.

Brent

Yeah, I hope they keep it clean. I also feel resistant to the relentless push from users for more more more features. Easy, simple and clean is one of the best features of all!

So far they are doing a good job of it as they add stuff, though the new pop-up browser could be a bit simpler... I often prefer the dev's to make choices, not give me as the user tons of options. Even if in a few cases they are not my favorite choices, I will adjust just fine.

There is one small thing I would like. I wish there were a little preferences hue slider that affected everywhere there was orange. I like the orange, but it would be fun to switch it up sometimes. A pale green would be fun... total eye candy request

[Vintage73]

Sorry, I know people are sick of looking at S1v3, but here's a screen shot of mine, and I'm on 1080. Surely Retina can do better than this:

[EnGee]

IMO, the contrast is a very important factor when staying a long time staring at the tracks and channels. For the DAWs I have them installed. The winner is Cubase. Bitwig comes next with Live behind it. Reaper and S1 are tiring for my eyes. Although Reaper has better colours than S1 IMO, but still the dot is very small to notice and I tried to disable the tracks colours (which I know in the options/appearance/media but the tint colours options are grayed out!).

Here are the snapshots I took:

[EnGee]

The other two:

[.jon]

IMO, the contrast is a very important factor when staying a long time staring at the tracks and channels.

Even though the default theme is a design disaster, and half of the UI isn't skinnable, the main view can be tweaked to a very competent level. Props to Janne83 for the skin.

[EnGee]

IMO, the contrast is a very important factor when staying a long time staring at the tracks and channels.

Even though the default theme is a design disaster, and half of the UI isn't skinnable, the main view can be tweaked to a very competent level. Props to Janne83 for the skin.

Glad you found what you like. But for me, it is still not great (somehow similar to S1). Don't know! Maybe it is just a matter of different tastes, that's all!

I have spent hours with Bitwig tonight, and still feel very well and I can continue for more hours working with it. Usually I feel fatigue if I spend that much time with S1 or Reaper. Maybe it is different with every preson, but for me the most pleasant GUI is when I can stare at it and work with it for many hours. It might not be a fancy one, but sure it must be comfortable to my eyes. So, Cubase and Bitwig takes my votes

[pdxindy]

Sorry, I know people are sick of looking at S1v3, but here's a screen shot of mine, and I'm on 1080. Surely Retina can do better than this:

Never really looked at Studio One much... but that looks like a confusing GUI to me. no contrast in the track area. But more importantly, the whole thing looks disjointed. Too many icons and menus scattered all over the place. It manages to look kinda busy/chaotic, but there's all sorts of wasted space.

[.jon]

Glad you found what you like. But for me, it is still not great (somehow similar to S1). Don't know! Maybe it is just a matter of different tastes, that's all!

I have spent hours with Bitwig tonight, and still feel very well and I can continue for more hours working with it. Usually I feel fatigue if I spend that much time with S1 or Reaper. Maybe it is different with every preson, but for me the most pleasant GUI is when I can stare at it and work with it for many hours. It might not be a fancy one, but sure it must be comfortable to my eyes. So, Cubase and Bitwig takes my votes

I perfectly understand, it's not a fine tuned professional DAW (and not just GUI-wise), but point remains that you can actually adjust things like contrast, if you are willing to spend some time on it. If money is not an issue, of course the other DAWs don't need all that tweaking.

[Vintage73]

Sorry, I know people are sick of looking at S1v3, but here's a screen shot of mine, and I'm on 1080. Surely Retina can do better than this:

Never really looked at Studio One much... but that looks like a confusing GUI to me. no contrast in the track area. But more importantly, the whole thing looks disjointed. Too many icons and menus scattered all over the place. It manages to look kinda busy/chaotic, but there's all sorts of wasted space.

Yeah, that wasn't the best view to show usability and aesthetics. I had a few more things open than usual.

This is more the way I'd generally work (again, 1080 screen):

S1v3-1080-2.gif