[Just Talk] Re: [linux-audio-user] Why we need graphic designers

Frank Barknecht fbar at footils.org
Thu Jan 23 07:54:00 EST 2003


Hi,
Mike Rawes schrieb:
> Module wiring: The biggest improvement is to implement sub-patches [yes,
> I know there are plans for this in SSM :] - that way you can hide a lot
> of detail in a single module.

Definetly. IMO subpatches in a modular synth are as important as "Undo" in
a text editor. They not only can hide things, they make modular and object
oriented development with lots of re-use possible. In this regard it also
is crucial, that subpatches accept arguments like functions in most
programming languages (C, Python,...). 

> For example, a four oscillator synth with a filter, lfo and a couple of
> EGs makes for a lot of modules, especially if you include math modules to
> scale stuff. All of these could be wrapped up in a single patch with half
> a dozen open inputs/outputs. 
> 
> At the GUI end of things - most modular synths seem to assume one-gui-per
> module, which again makes up for a lot of screen space used. In the
> four-osc synth example above, there'd be a lot of redundant knobs/sliders
> for ports that are actually driven by connections.

The newer versions of Pd (>0.35) have this nice invention of "graph on
parent" subpatches. This means, that GUI elements (sliders, knobs...) in
subpatches - but no cords - are shown in the surrounding, parent patch,
like a see-through patch.  With this, one can build one-gui-per-module
GUIs, but it isn't enforced.  Or, what I did in my sequencer abstractions
for Pd, one can build pure-GUI objects that don't actually have a lot of
module action inside.
(screenshots at http://footils.org/cgi-bin/cms/?show_article=14 and
http://footils.org/cgi-bin/cms/?show_article=13)

ciao
-- 
Frank Barknecht



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