Time for an overhaul of the UI?

dj superflat · Post by **dj superflat** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:44 pm

i think people are being "defensive" on this point b/c they want to ensure ableton doesn't change/ruin one of their favorites aspects of live. there are any number of other topics on which people will harshly criticize live, by comparison to other apps or just b/c it doesn't have features folk want. perhaps we misread the original post, but it didn't sound like the poster just wanted tweaks that might improve, but instead some sort of overhaul.

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:45 pm

mercyplease wrote:interesting no one mentioned pro tools for its simplistic two screen. its been around a decade before live. go on comapare live to pro tools and then tell me which one is the most simple to use combined with functionality. Were talking guis here not how much it costs so the comparison should be made.

Well. The one app is a functional app for real-time use. The other is one for sit on your-arse-time use.
The GUI should reflect that at the very least.

I dunno really. I like the current GUI. But there is room for improvement....

mercyplease · Post by **mercyplease** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:46 pm

Taiis wrote: maybe it could be even tastier and more euro-ish.

most in the uk are sick to death of euroness and the attempt to destoy our countries identity piece by piece by jealous eurocrats. No offence mate and nothing personal.

We like you lot a lot but we just dont want to learn Belgique. We llke to sit in your cafes and share in your culture, but not adopt it. Didnt mean to get political

mercyplease · Post by **mercyplease** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:57 pm

hoffman2k wrote:
mercyplease wrote:interesting no one mentioned pro tools for its simplistic two screen. its been around a decade before live. go on comapare live to pro tools and then tell me which one is the most simple to use combined with functionality. Were talking guis here not how much it costs so the comparison should be made.
Well. The one app is a functional app for real-time use. The other is one for sit on your-arse-time use.
The GUI should reflect that at the very least.

I dunno really. I like the current GUI. But there is room for improvement....

you are attempting to pitch live as a one horse cart and thats not the case thats marketing as live is as much as daw as any other software out there. Not everyone is using live as a performance instrument. I dont have a problem with the interface either but I wont sit here and say its perfection and in no need of improvement. Can I also point out again that this topic has been based around flashy photo style interfaces when it should have been based around how the interface works in conjuction with the features and is there any room for improvement.

deva · Post by **deva** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:57 pm

unklmic wrote:Thank you Taiis. That's what I was getting at. A bit of modernisation which would add to the experience.

You said overhaul in your intial post. The current UI is one of my favorites and I would not like an overhaul to it. Some improvements, sure, but that is not what you said. You said overhaul, mentioned raised buttons and made all people who like a simple, sensible UI nervous.

unklmic wrote:All the black sections in the plug - ins, for eg the EQ4, what about having some visual feedback as to what the effect is doing. Wouldn't it be great seeing the eq curve, and how your settings effect it?

This is a feature improvement, not a GUI improvement

rbmonosylabik · Post by **rbmonosylabik** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:01 pm

mercyplease wrote:interesting no one mentioned pro tools for its simplistic two screen. its been around a decade before live. go on comapare live to pro tools and then tell me which one is the most simple to use combined with functionality. Were talking guis here not how much it costs so the comparison should be made.

rbmonosylabik wrote:I'll quit music the day I'm working with Live and ask myself "is that a button?"

that happens A LOT in ProTools, and so I think it's GUI sucks but that's just me.

Poster · Post by **Poster** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:02 pm

the Gaugear synth from the Reaktor library really blew my mind when I first saw and used it..
Not particulary for it's looks (although I like it)
but more for the approach and attitude towards the conception of the interface..

It really raises questions as;
- what is an interface?
- what can still be acceptable as an interface?
- how far can we push it?
- and can these new definitions lead to a far more human and intuitive way of interacting?

For instance, in this example;
do you need 4 (real world) dials or sliders that are then to be subtitled as A D S R ?
or can those letters BE the actual slider?

I'am not saying that all apps should look like this,
(hell no; this example is a bit too esoteric at times)
but there can be a lesson learned here..

For me this example really shows that in a virtual enviroment,
there's no need for reproducing our real life world textures..
Waste of time to invest in..
Computers make it possible to let us interact on totally different levels than in our real life enviroment..
That should always be a starting point when designing applications..

bstalz · Post by **bstalz** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:14 pm

I have a strong hunch that the interface is as it is for a couple reasons:

1. This is primarily music production software - the art should be happening in the ears. If the GUI will, in any way limit, an aural artist, then that bit of the GUI is unnecessary and should NOT be there. If there is an alteration to the GUI that will improve capabilities for musik makers, then suggest it. I don't think you're dealing with an arrogant company, a sound, implementable idea will likely make the list. Bottom line: most people on this board and at Ableton HQ seem to want their CPU working on sounds first and graphical response second.

2. Development across platforms and technologies is easier when sticking to lowest common denomination. Primitive shapes can usually be put together faster and easier than bitmaps (especially those 3D knobs with 128 graphics to show the dial turn) - they also can be translated across platforms & technology very easily. This leaves more time for racks, new FX, new instruments, crossfading, and every other more important wishlist feature.

If you feel inadequate when people look over your shoulder while working on music, add one of these...

Instant cool factor *end sarcasm*

tomperson · Post by **tomperson** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:34 pm

What can I say that hasn't been said on this very same thread?

Live's UI is fantastic. It can use some improvements (remember not long ago we didn't have left mouse button action!!!), but i definitely don't want it to become a "MS OFFICE WORD" of audio. I cannot stand looking at other DAWs GUIs now. Most of them make me sick out of tons of buttons and such.

The simple, lowest common denominator, intuitive approach of live is awesome. Keep it THAT way.

Poster · Post by **Poster** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:44 pm

mercyplease wrote:
Taiis wrote: maybe it could be even tastier and more euro-ish.
most in the uk are sick to death of euroness and the attempt to destoy our countries identity piece by piece by jealous eurocrats. No offence mate and nothing personal.
We like you lot a lot but we just dont want to learn Belgique. We llke to sit in your cafes and share in your culture, but not adopt it. Didnt mean to get political

no need to get rude here..
noboby is forcing the UK to let their culture being 'destroyed', (actually the UK has a leading position in 'destroying' other cultures if you know what I mean

)
it all lays in the people who want their culture to be changed..
In fact they change it themselfs, by adopting..

And on that note I think UK culture is more likely to be 'destroyed' by US culture than EU culture anyway..

Didn't mean to get political either..

dj superflat · Post by **dj superflat** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:49 pm

gaugear rocks.

Angstrom · Post by **Angstrom** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:03 pm

Just for Robert

Poster · Post by **Poster** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:12 pm

Angstrom wrote:Just for Robert

this must be the cast of the nightmare I had last week..

add some dropshadows for the cable's and live 7 is a fact. ..

Poster · Post by **Poster** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:17 pm

will Live look like this when you find it on a fleamarket in 2056?

"..first owner.. abused but still in good working order.. only used in a strictly smokers studio.. still have the original cables and manual.."

Danny Futuro · Post by **Danny Futuro** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:23 pm

haha, I guess I overlooked all this zooming business.

doh.