[sdiy] Control Interfaces </Wakeman>

[phillip m gallo]

My preferences for rotary controls, i recognize, is  personal, no doubt
based upon historical experience.

I also recognize static or limited real-time programming controls are quite
different from instrumental dynamism that enhances the "play-ability" of an
instrument.  Synthesizers pay back "big time"  when coupled to idiomatic
methods for articulation.  Breath, bite, or other pressure sensing, or
gestural controls,  allows a form of expression that demonstrate the level
of instrumentality available from a synthesizer.  The suitability of each of
these methods respond to and express personal taste and proclivities.

The problem VA GUI designers have is very real and understandable.  The
compression of a myriad of parameters into a single screen format, does
result in the requirement for careful planning and design.  Perhaps someone
whose experience is based only upon the VA methodology would not feel as
burdened operating this form of interface.  Comparing the flexibility and
speed of mouse programming to, say, "preparing" an acoustic piano does
underscore the conceptual suitability (as an alternative anyway) of console
(key/mouse) programming techniques.

Touch surface techniques referenced would seem to be an alternative, but i
think instrumental technique often favors controls that are "blind" so that
the players "technique" is not visually distracted.  Eye's closed playing is
typical not an exocentric technique.

Since I, personally, find it tedious to "mouse" parameters, i use external
control surfaces to alleviate this frustration.  As noted a typical control
surface either "pages" controls in banks or must provide the plethora of
controls that i, again personally, have intellectual/visual problems dealing
with.

regards,
p

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