Topic: some ideas to make podium better.

map box. hide all non used in and outs on loading of podium.

give option to load podium with all dlls instead of putting dlls that cant be confirmed behind folders. distinguish between vsti dlls and vst dlls by using diffrent symbol of dll for each instead of a one dll one look. create individual map boxes for each function instead of a one all do all. that being, a box thats defines outputs, a box that defines vstis, another that defines vst fx, another buses and create each in a open close tier style strip racks . give a difrent look to the symbol that defines what each tier function does. on loading of new instrument automaticly rename chosen track to name of synth or fx loaded and since the user know what synth or effect they want. ie if the synth was a linplug alpha on default and the person decided that a vanguard would be better, vanguard is loaded, the leftover track with the sequencer on it would now also be renamed vanguard instead of staying named alpha.

input. give two options in the input box defined software user: this would automaticly asign a midi input to each software instrument that is loaded and also reconize the best audio inputs and outputs based on there soundcard. the other option would be the hardware user: in which the user would have to choose output based on which hardware they want to use.

preset box. add a strip to the top of the preset box that would let the user select previous/ next along with a panel box with 4 little folder that lets the user load/save/fxb/fxp and if posible to simplify, allow podium to use only one folder for load/save and another to load both fxb/fxp that would be even better. add same preset editor strip to top of vsti/fx editor. also create a way so that if a user doesnt want to browse all 128 patches and has a few favorites, to see all presets on bank and load on click as such.

pianoroll: for those that dont play piano a none velocity option for both realtime playing and also pianoroll work. a way to allow users to simply touch a note with the mouse oin the pianoroll and have podium sustain the note for as long as its pressed with the mouse.

paremeters: distinguish between midi and vst parameters by creating individual symbols for both instead of trying to cover all bases. maybe a midi cable signal for midi paramters. and a computer monitor picture for vst parameters.

track inspector: (not regular inspector) on loading of synth or effect, the most important box the editor box is hidden and user must open track to access editor. in channel strip where volume level is replace volume level with lower buttons that cant be seen so that you would have all potential user buttons in eye level and access upon loading. the strip thats says midi in is a space waster. empty box also wastes space.

so now you have the volume level in a vertical style, the six inspector buttons are seen directly upon loading a synth or effect, the midi on and empty strip is gone replaced by a simple on/off midi in/empty symbols.

create option to allow podium to turn on monitoring upon project load.

give each transport button a diffrent look so that people dont get confused which is which.

podiums gui is a little to coverall end all style look. by that i mean the look,
minimizes things a bit too much by trying to cover everything as simple as possible and though this works the gui could be made much more professional looking and undertstandable if things were more graphicly advanced ie individual symbols for each function, dlls, transport buttons, mixers ect. instead of a universal format. sometimes making a program too logical makes it more complicated because the program assumes the user assumes that there doing the most logical thing when the problem relies in the fact that whats logical is individual for each person hence the reason why so many people have a hard time understanding how podium works. perhaps a better idea is to not assume that the individual knows how podium works and making podium less simple and more defined how everything works would work better for people.

hireing a professional graphic designer like nbeat or somebody could realy get podium noticed.

i honestly belive that the reason why podium is so difficult for alot of people and very simple for others is because of how logical it is. but yeah thats what i think would make podium better and easier to learn for everybody 🙂