Re: [jokosher-devel] [PATCH] InstrumentViewer volume slider patch (SVN Rev. 1519) (Jeff Ratliff)

[Laszlo Pandy <laszlok2 gmail com>]

Tom Halligan wrote:
> ....
>
> Maybe the easiest solution would be to use a small, horizontal VUWidget 
> rather than the current volume slider? Although this doesn't solve the 
> space issue - it would at least be more intuitive as a volume control, 
> and also doubles up as a level monitor. The mute functionality could be 
> incorporated into this, so then we'd just have three buttons to deal with.

See this bug from a *really long* time ago:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/jokosher/+bug/70351

And the screenshot accompanying it:
http://www.kryogenix.org/random/jokosher-vumeter.gif


> Another option, although a lot more work than the above, would be to 
> implement a rotating 'dial' widget (like those used in FruityLoops, for 
> example). This would look out of place with Jokosher, though - and I 
> don't think many people honestly like these things anyway, so probably 
> best to avoid it.

This is explicitly prohibited by the Jokosher way, as originally defined 
by Jono when he wrote about the stupidity and unusability of audio 
editors which try to be familiar by copying the mixer desk controls. 
They fail miserably because mixing desks were not meant for mouse 
manipulation.

The prime example of this is the rotating dial because it is really easy 
 to control with your fingers when you have grasp and tactile feedback, 
but it is absolutely impossible to use when a mouse pointer.

> I do think a sliding control is still the best option, but I guess to 
> some, the horizontal slider would remind them of a pan control. However, 
> the slider's 'groove' (Or whatever you want to call it) does become 
> shaded to the left of the slider handle, which does suggest some kind of 
> 'increase' as we move towards the right, rather than just a left vs 
> right balance. Perhaps if we could make it more obvious that it was a 
> volume control somehow - although I don't think the confusion between 
> volume and pan would be anything serious, even for people used to such a 
> thing. A fixed, vertical slider could be the easiest way around the 
> space issue, although this obviously means something else would have to 
> be compromised.
>
> Tom
>
>     From: "Jeff Ratliff" <jefrat gmail com <mailto:jefrat gmail com>>
>     To: jokosher-devel-list gnome org <mailto:jokosher-devel-list gnome org>
>     Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:33:07 -0400
>     Subject: Re: [jokosher-devel] [PATCH] InstrumentViewer volume slider
>     patch (SVN Rev. 1519)
>     Sorry, don't think I sent this to the list:
>
>     The volume slider in this position makes the think of a pan control,
>     not a volume control. This comes from my experience with physical
>     sound boards though, and a novice may not have this problem.
>
>     You could do a volume icon that pops up a volume slider, a la
>     rhythmbox and others. If you were really clever, you could find a way
>     to integrate it with the mute button and take up no additional space.
>     This is less discoverable though, and would really rely on a good
>     descriptive icon, or a little mini popup arrow thingy (excuse my
>     advanced technical jargon). :)
>
>
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