Hi,
I'm trying to switch from geist to mdrummer for the beat creation but the user experience really bugs me. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but there are established UX patterns out there which geist, sd3, and others follow that are really easy to grasp and work with. So is there any intention to redesign it? I like the features, the speed, the possibility to customize the color scheme, and i think it deserves a better UI, don't you? Maybe we can collect some ideas and pass to the developers.
I have experience in UX design, so i can gladly get involved. Because user experience & the workflow is very very important in the creative process. Cluttered interfaces lack of adoption of established patterns can only make life harder for the musician.
Just to name a few, lack of undo doesn't help. Also losing the path in sampler mode when switching to synth or multisampler is frustrating. Logically should be only one Sampler mode, with added sample paths besides root.
Mdrummer user experience (UI & workflow)
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MeldaProduction MeldaProduction https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=176122 - KVRAF
- 14019 posts since 15 Mar, 2008 from Czech republic
Hi Lerian,
you know, comparing MDrummer to Geist and such is a bit problematic, it's like 100x more versatile and with that come limitations. For instance, the mentioned Undo is really really hard to do, when there's thousands of possible operations the software can do. The undo is there, but it only registers some of the major operations, like generating/loading a drumset etc.
I didn't even understand your complaint about switching MSampler to another plugin and back. It's like wanting a DAW to remember when you remove a plugin, so that if you add it back in the future it will recover the original settings
. It's certainly possible, but it's a brutal waste of rather limited resources.
you know, comparing MDrummer to Geist and such is a bit problematic, it's like 100x more versatile and with that come limitations. For instance, the mentioned Undo is really really hard to do, when there's thousands of possible operations the software can do. The undo is there, but it only registers some of the major operations, like generating/loading a drumset etc.
I didn't even understand your complaint about switching MSampler to another plugin and back. It's like wanting a DAW to remember when you remove a plugin, so that if you add it back in the future it will recover the original settings
. It's certainly possible, but it's a brutal waste of rather limited resources.-
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 97 posts since 15 Oct, 2004
Hi, and thank you for the reply. I will explain my issues better, it seems i haven't been too clear about it.
1. I'm not comparing it to Geist, i'm only wishing the User Interface would be more like Geist. And i mean the flow - from choosing a sample to editing the pattern is much simpler. The order in which the user interacts with mdrummer components to achieve the desired result is a bit too complicated that it could be. I can explain in detail, or even better - i can draw a sketch interface if you are interested and post it here or e-mail to you.
2. I understand about the complexity, but i think the undo should also work on step sequencer. Actually there is where i missed it.
3. Its not switching mdrummer to another plugin, its switching the tab from sampler mode to synth mode. Lets say im browsing for a sample in my samples folder, don't find anything ok, then switch to synth, cant do something i like, and then come back to the sampler tab. When i come back, i have to browse again to the samples folder because i'm pointed to the root path again. Its about remembering the path i was browsing.
I hope i was clear enough, I'm working as a UX professional and musician by hobby, and i believe have an eye for these things. Its a shame that there are so many plugins which are really impressive in terms of function and coding but lacks in user experience adding unnecessary friction in the workflow.
Best wishes,
Lerian
1. I'm not comparing it to Geist, i'm only wishing the User Interface would be more like Geist. And i mean the flow - from choosing a sample to editing the pattern is much simpler. The order in which the user interacts with mdrummer components to achieve the desired result is a bit too complicated that it could be. I can explain in detail, or even better - i can draw a sketch interface if you are interested and post it here or e-mail to you.
2. I understand about the complexity, but i think the undo should also work on step sequencer. Actually there is where i missed it.
3. Its not switching mdrummer to another plugin, its switching the tab from sampler mode to synth mode. Lets say im browsing for a sample in my samples folder, don't find anything ok, then switch to synth, cant do something i like, and then come back to the sampler tab. When i come back, i have to browse again to the samples folder because i'm pointed to the root path again. Its about remembering the path i was browsing.
I hope i was clear enough, I'm working as a UX professional and musician by hobby, and i believe have an eye for these things. Its a shame that there are so many plugins which are really impressive in terms of function and coding but lacks in user experience adding unnecessary friction in the workflow.
Best wishes,
Lerian
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- Banned
- 20 posts since 7 Mar, 2015
Oh Boy!
Another person complaining about graphics UI
A "UI" expert
I am so damn thrilled that a guy who doesn't have a career or vast knowledge in music, sound design, etc .. is an expert on how to use plugins
Yes, Liberalism is a mental illness
Another person complaining about graphics UI
A "UI" expert
I am so damn thrilled that a guy who doesn't have a career or vast knowledge in music, sound design, etc .. is an expert on how to use plugins
Yes, Liberalism is a mental illness
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 97 posts since 15 Oct, 2004
djmani, having a career in music is irrelevant to current matter.
UX is not just pretty buttons. It means research and decisions on hierarchy, established patterns, grouping, and everything that translates in user flows. Putting the buttons in the right places, making it clear for the user what affects what, when, and making the interface as easy to understand as possible so it will become very easy to play with. Playing means inspiration and results.
UX is like a joke: if you need to explain it, then its not that good. A good UX means happier/more inspired users and more sales.
UX is not just pretty buttons. It means research and decisions on hierarchy, established patterns, grouping, and everything that translates in user flows. Putting the buttons in the right places, making it clear for the user what affects what, when, and making the interface as easy to understand as possible so it will become very easy to play with. Playing means inspiration and results.
UX is like a joke: if you need to explain it, then its not that good. A good UX means happier/more inspired users and more sales.
It seems you never lived in communism, and don't understand the traumas that it does to generations. User feedback is important and leads to better products/systems. Dictatorship is the mental illness, tbh.djmani wrote: Yes, Liberalism is a mental illness
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MeldaProduction MeldaProduction https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=176122
- KVRAF
- 14019 posts since 15 Mar, 2008 from Czech republic
I think here we may have more like an "idea" problem. As an UX expert yourself you know that everything out there is being simplified. The simplicity is the main basis for making things "easy to use". But this often collides with the workflow itself - it may be easy to start working with it, but then when you start doing something advanced you'd "click yourself to death", so to speak . It may also be a matter of opinion - you are used to Geist, I get it, but it's a very different software, in fact it is a very different kind of software. And as a UX expert you also know that people like what they are used to. But then there's me, who find Geist impossible to use and understand. And now who's right? Things like switching between the samples & synths can be discussed, these are specific features (this time it is a no though, sorry, it would take way too much resources for it to be worth it, and I'm sure if you stick with MDrummer you'll find better ways to deal with situations like this) , but overall redesign is out of question I'm afraid.
. It may also be a matter of opinion - you are used to Geist, I get it, but it's a very different software, in fact it is a very different kind of software. And as a UX expert you also know that people like what they are used to. But then there's me, who find Geist impossible to use and understand. And now who's right? Things like switching between the samples & synths can be discussed, these are specific features (this time it is a no though, sorry, it would take way too much resources for it to be worth it, and I'm sure if you stick with MDrummer you'll find better ways to deal with situations like this) , but overall redesign is out of question I'm afraid.-
- KVRAF
- 3645 posts since 3 Nov, 2015
Maybe, just maybe, this is why MDrummer feels like having a lot of creative opportunities as compared to a traditional sequenced drum machine: because its creator is a drummer.
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- Banned
- 20 posts since 7 Mar, 2015
Lerian wrote:djmani, having a career in music is irrelevant to current matter.
UX is not just pretty buttons. It means research and decisions on hierarchy, established patterns, grouping, and everything that translates in user flows. Putting the buttons in the right places, making it clear for the user what affects what, when, and making the interface as easy to understand as possible so it will become very easy to play with. Playing means inspiration and results.
UX is like a joke: if you need to explain it, then its not that good. A good UX means happier/more inspired users and more sales.
It seems you never lived in communism, and don't understand the traumas that it does to generations. User feedback is important and leads to better products/systems. Dictatorship is the mental illness, tbh.djmani wrote: Yes, Liberalism is a mental illness
1st lie to your friends but don't lie to me, you are NOT a UX expert
Liberalism =Communism/Socialism and it has infected the whole world.
instant gratification, lack of knowledge, lack of common Sense+ logic has infected the world
user feedback is good, when the user has vast knowledge of the subject at hand.
too many internet warriors like Chandler guitar and others do not know their ass from their elbow.
and this is why programs are being called apps and dumbed down. so the low iq person feels included.
90% of software and web designers have their heads far up their asses.
Oh Yes, the UI/UX working out so good with Windows.
windows 2000 was a perfect os, even XP was good. All Microsoft had to do was tweak it for future... and still a million times better speed, stability,ui than all versions after. but nope they have to make it simple and stupid.
Raw Socks ? nope
Registry Ownership? nope (the real registry)
slower performance than win2000? of course
bloated? of course
pretty stupid metro/one? of course
dumbed down/spying? of course
UI/UX has been shit on most software since mid 2000s
I really believe 80-95% of vst developers are cut/copy paste add pretty graphics and claim best analog reproduction even.
your argument is a FAILURE.
IF Microsoft f**ked up windows UI. a good working and decently efficient (win2000 ui) for a garbage metro/one core.
everyone follows design..of shitty ui
