[linux-audio-dev] Knobs / widget design

[Dave Robillard]

On Wed, 2004-06-09 at 21:03, Tim Hockin wrote:
> On Wed, Jun 09, 2004 at 08:39:36PM -0400, Dave Robillard wrote:
> > > How about velocity sensitive knobs like OhmForce plugs use.  Uggh.
> 
> > I think radial adjustment is the clearest, most obvious way for a knob
> > to move.. it is a knob after all.  A newbie sitting down at the machine
> > isn't going to try to drag it vertically, they're going to try to "turn"
> 
> Actually, I think vertical is most obvious, based on my watching people.
> Radial is confusing to people.  Popping up a little vertical meter also
> helps indicate that the control moves up and down.
> 
> > Of course, this is leaving out linear coarse adjustment, but can we
> > really come up with a way of having all of them?  Yet another hotkey :/ 
> 
> A global option is the only way to make everyone happy.
> 
> > I really do think radial should be the left-button default though, it's
> > just what a knob visually suggest it should do.  If linear should be the
> > default, the widget itself should be a fader IMHO.  Think of the poor
> > newbs! :)
> 
> Watch the poor newbs!  I'd accept the results of a real usability test.
> Get 25 people who have no music software experience or very little, and
> give them a set of tasks with two UIs.  Ask for results, and watch the
> confusion.  I'd live with it (though I'll hack in linear control on my own
> box, if I lose the bet :)
> 
> Tim

If it's determined that linear is indeed better I think the knob should
change into something that makes it clear that up/down linear movement
is what's required then.

Grabbing a knob and moving the mouse up and down just isn't intuitive,
and smashes the hardware metaphor to tiny little bits.

-DR-