Repurposing Encoder Buttons For Audio/MIDI Control

Currently, the encoder push buttons are somewhat underutilized in both the Audio Overview and the MIDI Overview of Track8. Let’s delve into how we can repurpose these encoder push buttons to enhance user experience and functionality. This article discusses potential improvements for Track8's encoder push buttons in audio and MIDI modes, aiming for a more intuitive and efficient workflow.

Current Encoder Button Functionality

In the Audio Overview, the encoder push buttons serve a dual purpose: they change the encoder functions for three seconds and provide access to Varispeed (Encoder 1) and Scrolling (Encoder 8). However, this implementation can be unintuitive from a User Experience (UX) perspective. Users may find it challenging to remember the secondary functions and the time limit, leading to a less efficient workflow. The current setup, while functional, doesn't fully leverage the potential of these buttons, which could offer more direct and immediate control over critical audio parameters.

In the MIDI Overview, these buttons simply toggle the mute function of the corresponding track. While this is useful, the same mute functionality is already accessible via SHIFT + Track Button, which aligns with the Audio Mute function. This redundancy suggests an opportunity to repurpose the encoder push buttons for other valuable functions, creating a more streamlined and efficient control scheme. By freeing up these buttons, we can introduce new control possibilities that cater to the needs of MIDI production workflows.

The Proposal: Cycling Through Encoder Settings

The core idea is to repurpose the encoder push buttons to cycle through various encoder settings, creating a more intuitive and efficient workflow for both Audio and MIDI modes. This approach offers several immediate and future benefits, enhancing the user experience and expanding the creative possibilities within Track8. For example, in the Audio View, pressing an encoder button could cycle through settings like Volume, Pan, Stereo Width, and potentially other custom parameters. This cyclical functionality ensures that frequently used controls are always readily accessible, reducing the need for complex button combinations or menu navigation.

Audio View Enhancements

For example, in the Audio View, pressing an encoder button could cycle through essential parameters such as:

• Volume: Adjusting the overall level of the track.
• Pan: Positioning the track in the stereo field.
• Stereo Width: Controlling the spaciousness of the stereo signal. This is particularly useful for managing stereo recordings and ensuring they sit well in the mix.
• Additional Parameters: Future updates could include more advanced settings, tailored to specific mixing and mastering needs.

The immediate benefit of this approach is a more straightforward method for adjusting the pan of a track. Currently, this requires holding SHIFT and turning the encoder, which is nearly impossible to accomplish with one hand. By making pan adjustment a single button press away, the workflow becomes significantly faster and more ergonomic.

Future benefits include the ability to introduce new track settings, such as Stereo Width. Adjusting the stereo width can be invaluable for fine-tuning the spatial characteristics of a track, allowing users to create a tighter, more focused mix or a wider, more immersive soundscape. This flexibility opens up new avenues for creative sound design and mixing.

MIDI View Enhancements

Similarly, in the MIDI View, the encoder push buttons could cycle through parameters relevant to MIDI control, such as:

• MIDI Volume: Adjusting the volume of the MIDI track.
• Pan: Positioning the MIDI track in the stereo field.
• Expression: Controlling the dynamic range of the MIDI performance.
• MIDI Track Delay: Addressing timing issues by applying a negative delay. This feature, proposed in FR : MIDI tracks negative delay, would allow users to fine-tune the timing of MIDI tracks, correcting for latency or creating intentional rhythmic variations.

By implementing this cyclical approach in both Audio and MIDI Overviews, we create a consistent User Experience (UX) that is both intuitive and powerful. Users can quickly adapt to the control scheme, regardless of whether they are working with audio or MIDI tracks, fostering a more seamless and efficient workflow.

Benefits of Repurposing Encoder Push Buttons

Repurposing the encoder push buttons offers several key advantages:

1. Improved User Experience: Cycling through settings is more intuitive and user-friendly than the current system, which requires remembering specific button combinations and time limits. This streamlined approach reduces cognitive load and allows users to focus on the creative aspects of music production.
2. Enhanced Efficiency: Quick access to essential parameters like pan and stereo width significantly speeds up the mixing process. By reducing the need for complex maneuvers, users can make adjustments more quickly and efficiently, maintaining their creative flow.
3. Expanded Functionality: The ability to add new track settings, such as Stereo Width and MIDI Track Delay, broadens the creative possibilities within Track8. These additional parameters provide users with greater control over their audio and MIDI tracks, enabling more nuanced and expressive performances.
4. Consistency: A unified control scheme across Audio and MIDI Overviews minimizes confusion and promotes a smoother workflow. This consistency allows users to transition seamlessly between audio and MIDI tasks, without having to relearn the control scheme.

By repurposing the encoder push buttons, we are essentially transforming them into dynamic control hubs, offering quick and direct access to a range of essential parameters. This enhancement not only simplifies the user experience but also unlocks new creative potential within Track8.

Addressing the Drawbacks

One potential drawback of this proposal is the need to find a new location for Varispeed and Scroll functions, which are currently accessed via encoder push buttons in the Audio Overview. However, it's worth considering whether these functions are essential enough to warrant dedicated button access. The need to relocate Varispeed and Scroll highlights the importance of carefully evaluating existing features and prioritizing those that offer the most value to users.

The poll created for Varispeed (https://github.com/ThingstoneGmbH/Track8/discussions/56) will provide valuable insights into the community's usage and preferences regarding this feature. The results of this poll will help inform the decision-making process, ensuring that the final implementation aligns with the needs and expectations of Track8 users.

If Varispeed and Scroll are deemed important, alternative solutions could include assigning them to a different button combination or integrating them into a menu accessible via a long press on one of the encoder buttons. Exploring these options will ensure that all essential functions remain accessible, even after the encoder push buttons are repurposed.

Conclusion

Repurposing the encoder push buttons in Track8's Audio and MIDI Overviews presents a significant opportunity to enhance user experience, improve workflow efficiency, and expand creative possibilities. By cycling through essential parameters like Volume, Pan, and Stereo Width, these buttons can become dynamic control hubs, offering quick and direct access to the most frequently used settings. While the relocation of Varispeed and Scroll functions needs careful consideration, the overall benefits of this proposal make it a compelling direction for future development.

The proposed changes promise to make Track8 an even more powerful and intuitive tool for music production. By focusing on user-centric design and prioritizing the most valuable features, we can create a workflow that is both efficient and enjoyable. The future of Track8 looks bright, with the potential to become an indispensable tool for musicians and producers alike.

For further insights into user interface design and improving music production workflows, consider exploring resources from the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. They offer extensive research and educational materials on creating effective and user-friendly interfaces.