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Eurorack Knob Idea

(mitxela.com)
312 points po | 3 comments | 25 Apr 25 13:19 UTC | HN request time: 0.845s | source
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m_kos ◴[25 Apr 25 16:51 UTC] No.43795870[source]▶
1. I find Tim's work always so impressive and humbling. Compared to software, hardware projects seem infinitely more complex.

2. Speaking of knobs, I am writing a toy software synth for smartphones. Are there any design guidelines for mobile UI for audio? Knobs are hard to use and sliders take up a lot of space with only a little more precision. I experimented with curved sliders (inverted parabola or sine), but they are confusing since height doesn't really encode anything and the curvature is there only to make the slider longer. I didn't find any design systems focused on audio components.

replies(1): >>43796011 #
ecolonsmak ◴[25 Apr 25 17:01 UTC] No.43796011[source]▶
Knobs shouldn't be hard to use - hold down the knob that needs the adjustment and then drag in either of two directions to set the value. Maybe have a pop-up over the knob that displays the value as it's in use.
replies(2): >>43796369 #>>43796648 #
recursive ◴[25 Apr 25 17:31 UTC] No.43796369[source]▶
Loopy Pro has a cool convention that I haven't seen elsewhere for this. Drag up or down to change the knob value. While doing that, drag left or right to zoom in. That makes the up/down movement more precise.
replies(1): >>43797152 #
m_kos ◴[25 Apr 25 18:41 UTC] No.43797152[source]▶
I will look into it! Is this for mobile or desktop? I would like to see how they introduce this interaction pattern and what feedback they provide as you interact with the knob.
replies(1): >>43797172 #
recursive ◴[25 Apr 25 18:42 UTC] No.43797172[source]▶
It's an ios app. IMO it's really good. I own exactly one apple product, and it's an iPad that only runs Loopy Pro.

Here's a section from the manual that loosely explains the concept[1]:

> Adjust a slider or dial’s value by dragging up and down, or left and right for horizontal sliders. For finer control, move your finger away from the dial.

[1]: https://loopypro.com/manual/#sliders-and-dials

replies(1): >>43797650 #
1. m_kos ◴[25 Apr 25 19:25 UTC] No.43797650[source]▶
Thanks! This link is really great!

My only Apple product is also an iPad, and I mostly use it to make music with Auxy Studio:)

Do you use any fun apps on Android? Currently, my favorite apps are Digitron and Nanoloop. (No affiliation, but Digitron's upgrade was gifted to me.)

replies(1): >>43798244 #
2. recursive ◴[25 Apr 25 20:34 UTC] No.43798244[source]▶
The only other music or audio app I use with any regularity is Reaper on Windows. I tend to do more performance-oriented stuff, and I try to keep everything outside the computer as much as practical. I don't use any software synths. I like the constraints and UX of dialing patches into my one keyboard/drum machine. I record some, but mainly I like to play in real time and not fiddle with VSTs and plugins.
replies(1): >>43799623 #
3. m_kos ◴[25 Apr 25 23:57 UTC] No.43799623[source]▶
Makes sense. Hardware is not something within my reach, currently, so I stick with software. I'm sure hardware can be a lot more fun.