MuLab & MUX UI Looks

[sl23]

love the new knobs wish they looked like that +1

Maybe just for the default devices?! Front panel knobs should be left as they are, don't touch 'em!!!

[dakkra]

Kind of a toss up. They feel similar to M4 knobs but coloring/theming them, i think, would be more difficult than the current round knobs?

I like both round and "analog-like" styles so either work for me. Just giving my thoughts on how it would be implemented in the current LaF system.

Dakkra

[MuTools]

I think the coloring of the tracks/racks in Mulab makes it looks cheap

Coloring tracks/racks is a user choice, in fact it's not dependent on the theme.
Also note that Studio One v3 added such coloring too for it really helps in visual organizing.

[MuTools]

love the new knobs wish they looked like that +1

Maybe just for the default devices?! Front panel knobs should be left as they are, don't touch 'em!!!

Those knobs were just an example picture from the net to discuss a technical rotating/shadowing aspect. They're not intended as a replacement for the current knobs.

[MuTools]

Lighting effects that extreme need to be applied carefully as, if not done consistently throughout the UI, they just look wrong - that would require every aspect of the UI that could possible be expected to have depth to allow the same level of control. If that's desirable, then yes, it's going to be a lot of art work. However, that's a steep price if the majority of skins are not going to go to that level.

I was just pointing to a technical aspect of simple rotating a bitmap. But i agree with you design-wise. And indeed it would end up integrating something like knobman in MuLab/MUX. Not the plan. Conclusion: Technically, lets stick to knobs rendered to a picture strip, as it is now. Wrt the looks: If someone comes up with a better looking knob than the one used now, i'll be happy to use it. Important note: If you intend to design a new knob, first email me for detailed tech info.

[Grizzellda]

That's not the plan. At the contrary, i'll try to avoid it. I've been there already with the first versions of MuLab, and believe me it has serious drawbacks, especially when also using bitmap pictures. If the theme system becomes too complex it may even become counter productive. And if i understand the opinions in this topic well, we don't need a similar level of themability as in Reaper to achieve a nice pro UI. It's more about finetuning certain balances, polishing details, and the fonts. Correct me if i'm taking wrong conclusions.

Heh heh...Well, I don't think I'm going to try to correct a software developer on his own forum about his own program!

But here's a couple of things -

It's all about what is practical, in reality, right? A balance of what you can/are willing to do, and what users want. I agree that MuLab does not "need a similar level of themability as in Reaper to achieve a nice pro UI." Just thought it would be super cool, that's all.

I mentioned REAPER because currently it is the benchmark, the shining example, of how a DAW can be user customized. But I think it has been built from the ground up for that.

Sure, I hear what you are saying alright, and kinda expected as much...the work involved, becoming counter productive, etcetera. To be honest, I'm excited that you seem to be serious about improving the font system. If so, thank you for that!!!

Hey, did you check out how those other sequencers handle plug-in management? I think that's basically standard now...

What do you mean?

We were talking about this before - better ways to sort plug-ins in various folders. SONAR has had this for quite a while now and Cubase does too. I meant that if it isn't a standard feature in a DAW it should be, it is important and I hope you can improve this.

[chuckwood]

Thanks a lot for your detailed post. Taken several notes, even about things i'm not explicitly replying about.

Thanks for listening, I really appreciate your response to feedback.

From the current M6.5 dark skins, which color do you prefer most? This is also a question to other users. You can switch color themes via MuLab menu -> Edit Colors -> Presets -> Load Preset.

Actually, upon cycling though the looks presets, I think it may be the feathering around the edges of some of the top panel that bothers me more than the colour. Or the roundness, or the font.

Could you post a mockup of your preferred rack looks.

Sure. With the rack, I think it is the 3d look to the right side of the rack slots. The left of the slot is a nice simple grey area and somehow the right side just sticks out to me. Your layout is already nice. I'm still trying to figure out if it is anything more than that but I don't have any graphic design skills, just a general feeling for what needs work.
The first 2 rows on the racks have been adjusted with 2 different simplifications on colour and border. The last 2 are unchanged from the original. Splitting hairs really with this example.

rack tweak1.png

Your new splash screen looks much better, I wouldn't feel the need to try anything else now.

See http://www.g200kg.com/en/software/knobman.html

Yes! Thank you, exactly what I was hoping for. I'm going to have some fun with this.
Here's a quick button test, not stolen from anywhere, ahem, lets call it Mapleton Drive:

mapleton drive.jpg

Here's one that won't attract lawyers, not bad for a start, needs a lot more tweaking:

demo knob test1.jpg

(By the way, I'm definitely not posting these to suggest they replace the existing ones, I really like the original knobs, just having a little fun.)


On a side note, not important but I've also tried looking for the slider icon to replace with something else (just the actual moving head part) but I can't seem to find it in the graphics folder, does it have a name?

[MuTools]

We were talking about this before - better ways to sort plug-ins in various folders.

I've split this into a separate topic. Lets pls keep this one purely about the looks.

[MuTools]

From the current M6.5 dark skins, which color do you prefer most? This is also a question to other users. You can switch color themes via MuLab menu -> Edit Colors -> Presets -> Load Preset.

Actually, upon cycling though the looks presets, I think it may be the feathering around the edges of some of the top panel that bothers me more than the colour. Or the roundness, or the font.

Lets see what can be done with the extra parameters i've planned to add.

Could you post a mockup of your preferred rack looks.

Sure. With the rack, I think it is the 3d look to the right side of the rack slots. The left of the slot is a nice simple grey area and somehow the right side just sticks out to me.

I see what you mean and have taken note.

Your new splash screen looks much better, I wouldn't feel the need to try anything else now.

Thanks.

See http://www.g200kg.com/en/software/knobman.html

Yes! Thank you, exactly what I was hoping for. I'm going to have some fun with this.
Here's a quick button test, not stolen from anywhere, ahem, lets call it Mapleton Drive:

Nice

By the way, I'm definitely not posting these to suggest they replace the existing ones, I really like the original knobs, just having a little fun.

Interesting fun

To anyone interested in designing new MU knobs:
Note that a MU knob's source picture needs to be grayscale except for the pixels that must be recolored to the target color (which may be theme or front panel dependent), these should be in shades of red. The redish pixels will be replaced by the target color. Example: Lets say the target color is pure green, then a pure red pixel will become pure green, and half grey-red pixel will become half grey-green. See the original knob.png as an example.
Another thing: Eventhough the current knob.png uses a 32 pixels size, note that this may/will be changed to a 64 or even 128 pixels size. Not decided on that yet, but please take it into account.
Last but not least: A full knob picture strip is recommended to have 65 states going from value 0% = 225° to position 100% = 315°.
Feel free to share possible new knob designs in this topic. Or would it be better to make a separate sticky topic for new knob designs? Posting a new knob is best done by posting a single position (easy to look at) but also separately linking the full knob strip so it can be tried out for real.

On a side note, not important but I've also tried looking for the slider icon to replace with something else (just the actual moving head part) but I can't seem to find it in the graphics folder, does it have a name?

There is no picture file for it, it's drawn by (vectorial) code.

[chuckwood]

Cool, thanks for the extra technical info.

Even though the current knob.png uses a 32 pixels size, note that this may/will be changed to a 64 or even 128 pixels size. Not decided on that yet, but please take it into account.

Is SVG even a possible future option?

Feel free to share possible new knob designs in this topic. Or would it be better to make a separate sticky topic for new knob designs?

Good idea. Perhaps a separate thread might be better so it can keep going after M7 is out and also won't clutter this one.

[MuTools]

Is SVG even a possible future option?

Not planned on short term. So not to count on it for M7.

Perhaps a separate thread might be better so it can keep going after M7 is out and also won't clutter this one.

Agreed. I propose that new topic is created when the first real knob design arrives, otherwise it would be an empty topic and that looks odd. Ok?

[chuckwood]

Agreed. I propose that new topic is created when the first real knob design arrives, otherwise it would be an empty topic and that looks odd. Ok?

Great, I'll send some over to you tomorrow through email/pm then

[xbitz]

personally I like the metallic (neon) type designs, for ex. the Reaktor's one

[heks]

Not sure if this is already built in, but if not could we have a way of saving user skin preferences and sharing them. It sounds like its going to be user preferences rather than full skinning, but some people are better than others, I'm crap at what colours, edges, knobs etc goes with what.

[mgiambro]

I also believe one of the main things that may put people off could be one of mulab's strengths, it's minimalistic interface. The emptiness makes you wonder how to use it! But get used to its different ways and it's far better.

+

I think MuLab could benefit (grabbing more attention) if the interface (in its minimalist way?) could reveal more of the "ways" and "tools" available for its modular tridimensional workflow at first glance.

I understand that maybe MuLab looks a bit too simple. A light UI feel and ease on the eye are important design goals, but atoh it may not be too simple indeed. Already did rebalance that in the recent updates but will continue the challenge of showing enough but not too much.

For me, the lack of clutter is a BIG plus. I like accessing stuff via the menu. If I need to get to it quickly, I'll create a keyboard shortcut. Different types of musicians will use different features. The last thing I want in a daw is icons on the gui pointing to features I don't use. Cakewalk (while I'm not suggesting you use them as a guide) realised this at Sonar 8.5. I think if someone gets to the point where they want to demo, they won't need all the features displayed as icons. If the daw has the feature, they'll find it. While I think that lazy MusicRadar review makes one or two valid points, I don't agree with them about 'over-reliance on menus'. Just my take ..