Thoughts about Zebra2 GUI...

[Urs]

I think the Unempty Dark Horse skin just needs to be updated for 2.5.

Only minor controls are missing... it's otherwise fully operational, not?

[aMUSEd]

Sorry Howard but I'm not keen on it - colours are too drab and not enough contrast - I'd find it tiring to work with. Also it doesn't have its own identity any more - too much taken from ACE. Zebra should stand out on its own. This feels eclectic and conceptually/visually messy. I like the current default skin very much (tbh never really liked the Unempty skin either - too much going on - not very unified)

[fmr]

Sorry Howard but I'm not keen on it - colours are too drab and not enough contrast - I'd find it tiring to work with. Also it doesn't have its own identity any more - too much taken from ACE. Zebra should stand out on its own. This feels eclectic and conceptually/visually messy. I like the current default skin very much (tbh never really liked the Unempty skin either - too much going on - not very unified)

That's why we should always have options Someones wonder is someone elses tragedy. I would love to have this in Zebra... go figure.

[filulilu]

Also it doesn't have its own identity any more - too much taken from ACE. Zebra should stand out on its own.

The thing is that Zebra's visual identity comes mainly from its layout and not from the particular shape of its knobs and buttons. Howard's skin is definitely Zebra.

[BASSDRIVE]

I think all around that Zebra is one ugly looking synth. Though my opinion probably has more so to do with it's modular environment, as I'm just not use to that approach of synthesis. This ACE style UI does look pretty sharp though, better than the original IMO. Very pleasing on the eye.

[pheeleep]

I like this skin a lot (both the original and color versions).

Zebra is on my list

[Sendy]

Does the colour scheme influence our perception of the sound?
When I think of the sound of Zebra, then the word 'dark' pops up. That is very odd, because I can make crystalline bells that shimmers with light.

Synth1 - with it's yellow colour scheme - has a 'yellow' sound to my ears.
And it is not only about VST's: Klaus Schulzes record Audentity (check it out!) has a yellow cover and - surprise - a 'yellow' sound.

Native Instruments FM8 - pardon me for mentioning a product from another company - has a
'white' and 'light' sound, but my Yamaha TG77 (hardware FM-synth with a black front panel) has a slightly 'darker' sound, even though there should not be much difference between them.
When FM8 was coded, did the GUI influence the way the sound engine was designed? Or did the sound of the FM8 influence the GUI-designers, so that they chose a white GUI?
Or was there a grand master plan that stated that this VST should be 'transparent/white/light'?

So...Has Zebra really a 'dark' sound and FM8 really a 'white' sound?
I simply do not know.
I could make a blind test and let my family describe the sounds, but would I - unconsciously - make the Zebra-sounds 'darker' and the FM8-sounds 'whiter'?

What do other thinks?

There is a psychology of colour to a degree, yes. Taste perception trends differ in tests where different coloured dyes are used in food, and people on the whole put more money in red donation boxes than any other colour.

I've never got the impression of different synths sounding like different colours, though. Generally all good synths produce a range of tone colours, and this mild synaesthasea (sp?) changes based on my mood, etc., so one time I might feel a certain sound was purpley, and the next time it might be a blackish sound.

For sure, in a blind test, I think nobody would be able to tell you the colour of a synths GUI by hearing it's sounds! I do think there may well some hypothetical 'ideal synth colour scheme' that puts the average person in a creative mood and engages them more than the others, though.

[Donner]

There is a psychology of colour to a degree, yes. Taste perception trends differ in tests where different coloured dyes are used in food, and people on the whole put more money in red donation boxes than any other colour.

Yes, colour certainly has an impact on our perception and our feelings - painters, among others, has been aware of this for many centuries.
My impression of the discussion in this thread is that the GUI is important to most of us.

Personally, I really like the original GUI of Zebra 2.5, but I absolutely welcome new designs.

[EvilDragon]

So, Howard, when are you gonna dig into making that skin a reality?

[bailees7irish]

i love it!

[pdxindy]

There is a psychology of colour to a degree, yes. Taste perception trends differ in tests where different coloured dyes are used in food, and people on the whole put more money in red donation boxes than any other colour.

Yes, colour certainly has an impact on our perception and our feelings - painters, among others, has been aware of this for many centuries.
My impression of the discussion in this thread is that the GUI is important to most of us.

Personally, I really like the original GUI of Zebra 2.5, but I absolutely welcome new designs.

I disagree that color has any impact... but I'm feeling too blue to talk about it...

[Donner]

I disagree that color has any impact... but I'm feeling too blue to talk about it...

[EvilDragon]

So, Howard, when are you gonna dig into making that skin a reality?

Yeah.

[Sendy]

I tend to like white guis. When you see something white-ish with knobs on, you think "I'm doing science!"

[VitaminD]

I think the graphics are pretty nice.. not perfect.. but good enough.

Something more important UI related is I wish the UI was slightly more wide and slightly less tall.. that way when I scale larger, I can keep it on the screen.. since most screens these days are wide 16:9 or 16:10, I think it makes more sense.