Analogue-sequencer

Hi Robert,

I'll get the excuses in first ;-) ...
I'm conscious that the rapid growth of features in P3 has somewhat
compromised the usability for a new user.
But I'm happy to add anything that'll make life easier as long as it doesn't
involve knocking something else off.

> 3.a. I would like to *see* where I am. Top level mode? Play
> list edit mode? Pattern edit mode?
> Did I miss
> anything? Any visible clue?

Once upon a time, in play mode 'Play' always appeared in the top right of
the display, and 'Edit' in edit mode.
These were dropped to fit more useful information in.
One possibility I had thought of was using single characters to indicate the
mode - possibly in reversed video so they don't need to be separated by a
space. Maybe P for play, E for edit, and L for playlist edit.

> or that a new set of three LEDs would be
> added that simply indicate the current mode.

Hardware changes are to be avoided if at all possible.

> Suggestion: I wouldn't mind a bigger LCD to have this info
> constantly shown, along with the current edit page number.
> Can the sources be patched to support a bigger LCD screen?

It doesn't even really need patching. The display memory layout is the same
- I would just need to set the cursor position higher.
But I haven't seen any 20x2 PLED displays yet. Plus I don't want to piss
existing users off by forcing them into a display upgrade.

> 3.b. I never know what I have to do , or *can* do when
> editing a parameter.  Some parameters require the Data knob
> to be tweaked, while others use buttons 1 and 2 to
> increment/decrement a value, while yet another set requires
> you to press one of the 16 step buttons (while pressing one
> of the param buttons).

Generally speaking, you use +/- softkeys for a setting with a small number
of options, the step keys for a setting with a range of 1 to 16, and the
data knob for settings with a range greater than 16.
Some sort of visual reminder shouldn't be too hard tho'.

> 3.c. Some parameters don't give their current value, I
> think. ;) For instance, the last pattern step to be set
> with the Edit Last parameter doesn't show the current
> value? Correct? I'm not sure here.

It's supposed to. That's a long forgotten 'thing to do'.
I'll get there eventually ;-)

> 4. The Data and Tempo knobs should be labeled on the case.
>  I keep using the wrong buttons and wild tempo changes. ;)

That was an oversight on my part when the particular case you're using was
made :-(

> 5. The Data and Tempo knobs should be moved to some other
> place on the panel. I still think my last suggestion would
> work fine (i.e. placing 2 or 3 knobs between the keypad and
> LCD).

I mocked that up in paintshop, and didn't like the look of it.
Personally I never have a problem with them where they are.
I reckon some people have lazy wrists.
My old piano teacher would have given you a right earful ;-)
As pointed out elsewhere, on a DIY P3 you can put them where you like.
I'll give their location some more thought before the next run of
ready-builts.

> Am I correct that I can't see which track I'm
> editing when entering playlist mode?

Yes. I'm not sure there's anywhere it can go.
I'll review the layout of the display and see if there's space.

> Suggestion: Maybe explain a bit more in the manual about
> this mode.

Maybe ;-)

Cheers,
Colin f



________________________________________________
Message sent using UebiMiau 2.7.2