Topic: New track layout

@Zynewave wrote:

Following the discussion on the last pages of this topic, I have started redesigning the layout of the track headers in the arrangement editor. See screenshot below.

But still with the “Reverse” layout where a vsti is a sub folder of an effect? 😕

@Zynewave wrote:

But still with the “Reverse” layout where a vsti is a sub folder of an effect?

The basic rule for the hierarchic engine: All MIDI, automation and audio signals flow from the bottom branches of the hierarchy tree up to the master track. No exceptions. Given that a synth needs to feed its output to effect plugins, the synth must be placed at a lower hierarchy level (subfolder to the effect). You can argue that you want the complete hierarchy swapped upside down, to get a top down visual presentation of the signal flow, but if you argue that the synth should be placed on a parent track to the effect, you have not understood the hierarchic signal flow.

And you did not understand the meaning of the smiley at the end of my reply. That is the ‘confused ‘ smiley, meaning that I was asking for confirmation. Sorry for breathing!!! 🙄

I like the new look… Very much… For me, the hierarchy approach as it stands makes perfect sence. It’ll be interesting to see if a horizantal perspective makes much of a difference.

With respect to this, I was doing a little reading on Ableton Live and there was a comment made regarding the term track and channel. The argument was that the term “track” is a fallout from the tape days and doesn’t really adapt well with the new capabilities of PC based DAWs. Channel is a more appropriate term in that it better addresses signal flow. Would this help in explaining Podium? I think it would.

@Zynewave wrote:

The argument was that the term “track” is a fallout from the tape days and doesn’t really adapt well with the new capabilities of PC based DAWs. Channel is a more appropriate term in that it better addresses signal flow. Would this help in explaining Podium? I think it would.

I’d be prepared to relabel ‘track’ objects if we can agree on a better word. As I’ve mentioned in another topic, a track in Podium is more like a node in the hierarchy which may or may not have timeline events attached to it. As for the word ‘channel’, I normally associate this with audio channels. The term ‘multichannel’ is also commonly used for describing surround sound. So I think there is a conflict with using ‘channel’ instead of ‘track’.

I think node works well.

I was unhappy with the gfx of the old track header layout, which was a bit heavy on the shadow effects. This new design is more flat, but with a clearer outline of the controls. This has the added bonus of a more CPU efficient UI update.

A flat look does work well. Tracktion and Live 5 have a similar look. As for additional UI CPU effiency, that is good news as well. Not really a weak point as such before anyway, but still it is good to see an improvement in this area.

The thin hierarchy lines from the old design has been replaced with bars, similar to how the headers are drawn in the mixer. This has the benefit that you now can click the bars to select the parent track.

They look very nice. I imagine from the screenshot it is possible to click any track to make it visible or any part of the strip or bar. If that is so, then it is a definite improvement over the previous look and implementation. Nice.

It also makes it possible to add a new ‘hide track lane’ option to the track context menu. Enabling this will hide the horizontal track and just show the vertical bar. Useful for tracks used only for effect plugin inserts.

So hiding say 3 horizontal fx tracks will show 3 bars but hide the three tracks from view?

The screenshot above is just a remake of the existing tree layout. I intend to add another option to the tracks region properties, to switch between ‘tree view’ and ‘routing view’.

Tree view as in old hierarchy view and routing view as in new left to right view?

Selecting routing view will show the track headers aligned to the left edge instead of the right, and the vertical hierarchy bars mirrored over on the other side of the track headers, so that the master track bar is furthest to the right. This way the signal routing can be viewed as going from left to right. The routing view will furthermore have much wider vertical hierarchy bars, so that the meters and various selectable controls (e.g. gain/pan/send dials) will be shown on the vertical bars as part of the signal routing.

I think it sounds similar to your description in the Zynewave synth thread. I think I will have to see it to really be able to visualise it properly. Your screenshot certainly helped this time around, any chance of a screenshot for the new routing view please?

I’ll start working on it tomorrow. I’ll post a screenshot as soon as I have something.

Thanks for all the answers. Looking forward to the screenshot. 🙂