Foxmeister
Roadie
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I'm not entirely convinced of this...(still not at @James Freeman level of obsession though)
Skeumorphism anyone?
- Thread starter metropolis_4
- Start date
You can make the Helix UI look realistic, would that make it skeumorphic? I think it's important to make the distinction.
Definitions aside, to me knobs makes sense because every piece of gear I've ever used had them. Flat designs are easier to read.
The fact we use knobs for everything in the end takes precedent in uncontrollable unconscious ways, we just like to pretend that can't be the case. We like to think we are purely logical, that just isn't the case.
Try asking if the same people who voted for sliders would want them in their real amps. That would be fun.
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Shit yeahhhhh sucka!
James Freeman
Rock Star
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Skeuomorphism is not one thing but a whole spectrum that ranges from very realistic to 'recognizable'.
If you further drop form 'recognizable' to a flat or shaded design it's no longer skeuomorphic but just a UI design choice as DI said.
Once it's just a UI design choice what's the point of keeping skeuomorphic resemblance at all if other options are more convenient to operate.
Personally I really like very realistic skeuomorphism, but in a hardware modeler considering all the limitations and many hundreds of models, how are you going to pull that off without compromise?
If you further drop form 'recognizable' to a flat or shaded design it's no longer skeuomorphic but just a UI design choice as DI said.
Once it's just a UI design choice what's the point of keeping skeuomorphic resemblance at all if other options are more convenient to operate.
Personally I really like very realistic skeuomorphism, but in a hardware modeler considering all the limitations and many hundreds of models, how are you going to pull that off without compromise?
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the-trooper
Shredder
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Are you saying a flat design can't be recognizable? I don't think that's correct.
TSJMajesty
Rock Star
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All's I know, is I'd like to simply hover the mouse over the control, then roll the scroll wheel to change its value. NOT click and drag. That is so cumbersome, and probably why I rarely even use the Axe Editor, and when I do, it's used together with the unit itself.
And if this is already possible, I'm going to feel really stupid.
Edit: Oh Sh!t. I never even thought to try that.
And if this is already possible, I'm going to feel really stupid.
Edit: Oh Sh!t. I never even thought to try that.
James Freeman
Rock Star
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No, I'm saying there is a point where keeping a recognizable UI design at all becomes a compromise for a much better control solution.
Foxmeister
Roadie
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That's just an assertion without evidence and ultimately an appeal to emotion.
That's an irrelevance because it is an entirely different question.
Ask pretty much anyone what they would rather play through - a model of Dumble, or an actual Dumble - it wouldn't be "fun" because the answer is obvious.
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to the sliders vs knobs question - just opinions, which are entirely subjective!
How is it better when you actually use knobs to control the faders on Helix?
Foxmeister
Roadie
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Is that close to Blueberry Hill?
James Freeman
Rock Star
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Here's how I see it:
Both knobs and sliders are the most basic form of indicators where you can see both the graphical scale and the numerical value, and both can be packed tightly on screen and conserve space.
So it comes down to how quickly the user can operate each.
IN MY OPINION: Sliders are easier to operate with a mouse because you can click on the exact position on the slider, but that's about the only advantage they have over circular knobs that I can think of, so not a big deal of difference.
edit:
I do have to say though, that knobs are easier to look at than a list of sliders, so that's that.
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You are confusing making a mistake because of bias due to emotional reasons with acknowledging the fact emotion is real and must be factored in. The mistake is to think there's no emotion involved.
Not entirely, no. The controls on a real amp are still an UI.
Foxmeister
Roadie
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Not at all.
You strongly implied that everyone feels as you do - that simply isn't true.
I don't *pretend* to prefer sliders over virtual knobs - I genuinely do!
the-trooper
Shredder
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Foxmeister
Roadie
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They don't all work that way....
You could make an argument that sliders are better on a touch scree, maybe, but that would take me as far as you went and say it's not that big of a deal. I think this slight advantage isn't worth removing every ounce of familiarity.
I don't see you fighting for actual sliders to control the virtual sliders on Helix.
If they did, would that change your mind? So I guess you don't genuinely prefer sliders, do you?
the-trooper
Shredder
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No, they don't. Many don't have the option to turn on speed sensitivity either (which is another thing some users love and others hate).
There are even some, on older plugins, that only work when dragging the mouse up / down, which is just crazy.
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Yes. If Helix sliders looked like, say, faders on a large format mixing console or an EMT 250 Reverb, that would make that particular design element skeuomorphic. To make the entire home screen skeuomorphic, however, all the effects would have to appear like some sort of real pedal and all the amps like heads or combos. Bonus points if you make the virtual cables twist and bend when you reorder stuff. Oooo, and put some stuff in what looks like a virtual flight case with a dented corner!
IMNSHO, it looks cheap—no better than so many of the sub-$5.00 iOS amp sims out there. POD Go's home screen blocks are somewhere in between skeuomorphic and flat, because that product's target customer (people just starting out with modeling) generally appreciates the familiar, as opposed to professional gigging rock stars and world class studio engineers who are sophisticated enough to appreciate speed and consistency in design language.
