sjkartchner wrote:There is no question but that computer operating systems are still quite complex and largely unintuitive from a user's standpoint. The iOS (Apple iPads, iPhones, etc.) and Android environments have done a much better job of showing us what ease of use should look like. And yet as noted, those concepts have not translated well to the desktop/laptop operating system environments, and especially for more complex tasks. So as much as I appreciate and use my iOS devices, I simply could not do without the capabilities of my Windows or OSX machines for the more involved computing tasks I regularly do.
However, stepping outside the box a bit, it is not too difficult to imagine a front end interface to Hauptwerk (and other audio-centric programs) that would be much more visually and touch-screen oriented, and thus far more intuitive for many of us. For instance, think for a moment what a visual and touch screen interface could look like for routing audio connections by drawing or dragging connection lines between boxes representing various collections of interfaces, speakers, channels, ranks, divisions, etc. that in turn were created by dragging and dropping visual representations of those constituent parts. Or making voicing adjustments on a graphical interface.
The possibilities for improving ease of use are virtually (no pun intended) limitless, constrained only by time, resources, economic realities and computing power. Unfortunately, designing a new user interface paradigm for a limited market may simply not be practical, at least not with the development tools currently available. So, while we can wish for much greater ease of use, the current operating systems environment does not lend itself particularly well to such a vision, and certainly not while retaining the flexibility and power we have come to enjoy and expect from programs like Hauptwerk.
Hello Stan,
What you suggest sounds a lot like the Dante Controller interface for routing Audio over Ethernet signals. The Dante Controller has the routing matrix on screen with Transmitters across the top and Receivers down the left hand side and you touch the screen at the point where the two cross and they become connected.
Running the Dante ASIO audio module application creates Transmitters and Receivers and the Dante compatible hardware used also appears as Transmitters and Receivers. These are matched up through the Dante Controller.
You might want to explore http://www.audinate.com for some examples. Some of these audio installations are huge but controlled through a simple graphical interface.
Best regards,
Thomas
Dante Level 2 Tech
Yes, Hauptwerk is easy to use once you learn what to do.