[sdiy] What do you like in a synth control surface?

[Nathanael King]

> I agree with Gordon's comment about modular synths. The flexibility is great, but the wires get in the way as soon as you've got more than one row of modules. If it's Eurorack, the problems are identical, but you also need pixie fingers to tweak anything. Even at the single-module level, some Eurorack modules have the worst examples of interface design I'v ever seen. Mostly where the controls appear to have been randomly scattered across the front panel (because we're cool and don't like to be stuck in the grid, man) and are labelled with meaningless esoteric nonsense like "Humdinger", "Frolick" or whatever. Gack! Give me a clear layout of function and tell me what it does so I don't have to decode the panel using the manual!

Couldn't agree more with the vague labelling comment. I've decided
it's a marketing ploy to obscure functions so generic users buy
"magic" products. Otherwise, there's no good reason to hide a function
behind a totally made up word.

I will agree with the basic sentiment for a fondness for DSI panel
layouts. Another good example is Olivier's first boxes. I like being
able to rotate through subsets of potentiometer controls so commonly
grouped functions are able to be manipulated. In an ideal world, it
would be nice if grouped subsets were selected by push button, and
then pot functions could be set per patch with a limited control
surface (4, 8, 12, etc). Exactly the way a midi control surface
works....

Nate