Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

More on module user interfaces

I want a non-embarassing, non-text-based, zero-twiddly-button user 
interface that does what I expect, when I expect it.

From a library of images on a palette, I want to drag and drop 
little pictures representing my kit onto a canvas into a 
configuration approximating what I sit behind every day. I don't 
want them to be photorealistic, or to be able to resize them, change 
colours, spin them, or any other damn thing. I just want them to 
look reasonably representative, and to place them on a canvas so I 
recognise what I'm dealing with. I want to have as many pads as I 
like, name them anything I like, put them anywhere I please. I want 
to save those canvases of pads as "kits" - as many as I like, called 
whatever I want.

When I have a "kit", I want to be able to select one of those pads 
(with a touch screen that's rugged enough to stand me using the bead 
of a drumstick) and change the things I'm interested in. The hole on 
the back it's attached to. Its name. Its sounds. Its behaviour when 
hit. All the things I can change, I want to have a sensible name so 
I understand it when I see it, and even then I want online help that 
explains what "triggers" are and why I should give a flying crap 
about "rejection". I only want to see complicated technical jargon 
like MIDI note numbers when I ask to.

When I'm dealing in configuration of module settings, rather than 
pads (volumes, output channels, and the like) I want to have a 
picture of the module to deal with, just like I have a picture of 
the kit. If I'm connecting pads to output channels, I want to drag a 
little wire from the pad to the output channel on the module 
graphic, not scroll through menus of stupid options.

When I'm done, I don't want to have press "Save" eight times while 
standing on my head to make sure the bloody thing doesn't get lost 
when I change kits or power off the module. If I select another pad, 
I want it to assume I'm done, save the previous pad and open the new 
one for modification. I want it to save the kit continually. And I 
want multiple levels of undo and redo.

When I play the kit, I want what I hit to be indicated on the 
graphic.

And as for recording and playing songs - well. I could go on for 
hours. Why is it so BLOODY HARD?