[LAD] User eXperience in Linux Audio

[Len Ovens]

> On Wed, Apr 22, 2015 at 6:05 AM, Louigi Verona <louigi.verona at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>       Linux Audio packages are plagued by reasons that are relevant to the
>       developer, but which should be irrelevant to the user.
>       I don't care if dev thinks knobs are a bad idea, I want a knob and
>       not a text field, because it is easier to use on stage.
>       I don't care if dev has a technical reason to have a text field
>       instead of a knob. I need a knob, because it is easier to use on
>       stage.

Years ago, I had a sequencer program that had no knobs. It had only text 
fields. However, holding the mouse button down and moving the mouse up or 
down (maybe side to side as well) adjusted the value with no text input 
required. The mouse pointer may end up way off the value it was adjusting 
but that was fine. While it was possible to make knob pictures with the 
graphics lib at that time (Atari ST actually) the monitor resolution was 
low and the author was trying to put (probably too) many controls on the 
screen).

A knob is ok if it works similar. Knobs that insist that I touch the knob 
pointer and move that in a tiny arch to adjust and where the pointer flips 
from one end to the other if I make the wrong move are not easier to move 
on stage... A knob picture is fine, it shows the user "this is a 
continuously variable control" while using a lot less screen realestate 
than a slider would. A knob that looks like a knob but works like a slider 
is what is needed. Being able to change value by moving the knob (or 
trying to) up and down or left and right is much more usable than trying 
to move the mouse in tiny circles. I would suggest being able to adjust 
using both up/down and left/right so that controls can be close to screen 
edge and still work.

As I said above, a text field can work the same way and give a more 
acurate value indication... though a knob position may be enough gives a 
quick visual relative idea that may be more useful.

--
Len Ovens
www.ovenwerks.net