[LAU] User interfaces for Audio

[Len Ovens]

On Sun, 1 May 2016, Lorenzo Sutton wrote:

> Otherwise just parameters for me lets me really concentrate on the (sometimes 
> subtle) *audio* differences in tweaking parameters... But again I'm probably 
> a bit of a corner case user.. :)

While I generally agree (physical boards have run with only knobs for a 
long time), The on the spot auto generated control layout for some effects 
makes things difficult to use. The one thing a GUI adds is to place the 
controls in a logical order. Any complex eq in generic controls makes the 
user stop their thoughts to figure out which control it is that they want 
to tweak. Takes the mind totally away from what they are doing. All of the 
switches grouped, all of the same filter grouped... so high and low pass, 
high shelf and then low shelf, then the parametrics in the middle. Open 
the GUI and things are ordered from input to output for overall gain and 
then from low to high frequency. A graph reminds you how it was set in the 
first place and also helps you to choose the right control to tweak 
(should I bring band 3 down or band 2 up... Oh right I am already using 
band 2 better bring band 3 down).

Oh, and speaking of physical boards, a lot of them have GUIs for the 
channel strip built in EQ, noisegates, compressors, etc. Rack mounting 
ears and logos don't add much, but a nice layout sure does. It may be true 
that a plugin author could order the controls so that the generic gui 
orders them a little nicer... but I think it would still split it into 
columns in the most confusing place (in the middle of a group controls for 
one band in an eq for example). A well done GUI makes one work faster, 
make fewer mistakes, and allows the ears to be used more fully as the hand 
does not require as much attention.

--
Len Ovens
www.ovenwerks.net