hitting with 2 fingers for overdub was a bit tricky... and sometimes it registered as a one finger
Agreed, hand his proposed solution sounds good to me. Also, there's no real reason all six cycles need to be the same size, at least at first. I tend to be focused on my last, present, and next loop with any previous loops mainly of interest for triggering/switching back to, so perhaps the interface could take advantage of this by giving more real-estate to the last, present, and next loop. I didnt like that to multiply I had to hit a second time before the 2 fingered hit for overdub. I would rather have multiple loop overdub as the default and have a one or two fingered hit to close the multiplying overdub.
I agree and add to this that I would like a visual indicator of what mode would hit at the end of the cycle. Without that, I'm distracted, wondering if I hit it right. I thought that the slightly dimmed loop-dot was too subtle an indicator that the track was muted...
I only was able to spare 5 minutes to play with it so far but I can tell you I did mute a track and did not notice this visual representation of muting so I agree. Dim blue or grey maybe? Now being able to multiply is one thing,
I couldn't figure out how to multiply. Again, 5 minutes, only checked out the 1st few pages of the tutorial, but that's so basic that it should be something instinctual. I noticed pressing and holding didn't seem to do anything, so perhaps a single press and hold (number of multiple shows) then release on desired multiple?
(UNDO IS COMING RIGHT? Not shaking please...
Also agree.
By the way, I found a bug, it seems to function a bit wrong after it has been closed and then re-opened. I needed to properly close the app (long press, click the red dot) for it to work properly...
I'll check for this next time I play with it.
The biggest problem I had was not hearing the beat or previous material while overdubbing. Now, I understand why this is, of course, as I was not using headphones so maybe it does play the content of the loop when headphones are inserted, I don't yet know, but without it would be very helpful to have visual indicator of the beat. Thinking about it now, perhaps there was one in the lower left, a little circle that flashed, but whatever it was it wasn't enough. So if you, for instance, start an empty loop intending just to have the beat, it's real hard to know what you're doing. Or over-dubbing, the audio content in the circle, again, doesn't show the beat as precisely as needed to keep track of it in your mind. Clear loop start (and even loop-aproaching-start-at-some-sensible-interval indicators would be dandy. Forgive me if I missed existing signals, again, 5 minutes.
----Christopher
On Jun 25, 2011, at 8:18 AM, mark francombe wrote: Hi Micheal!
Great work on Loopy2... I concur with the others on design, looks very nice, as does your site.. for my day-job, my interface design is somewhat simerlar to yours...
So to comments.. I realise its early days and you have improvements planned of the reverse/half speed etc type- I have some other suggestions and comments on current version.
Please bare in mind that these comments are all.. me being VERY picky... basically I think its lovely!
Recording first loop is great no problems... now for me, hitting with 2 fingers for overdub was a bit tricky, as I hav big fat fingers, and sometimes it registered as a one finger, and muted. I suggest keeping the circular radar indicator, useful and cool, but increasing the hit area to a boxed area around each circle. you have at lease 5 mm either side and thats a huge increase of space in which to hit.
I didnt like that to multiply I had to hit a second time before the 2 fingered hit for overdub. I would rather have multiple loop overdub as the default and have a one or two fingered hit to close the multiplying overdub. (maybe you thought that was dangerous?)
I thought that the slightly dimmed loop-dot was too subtle an indicator that the track was muted... go for red overlay on the whole radar circle... then I have an overview of whats I have to unmute with one glance.
Now being able to multiply is one thing, but inserting and deleting and replacing are the next step here...
Personally I would skip insert, but you need to be able to delete and replace.
(UNDO IS COMING RIGHT? Not shaking please... what if its mounted on somthing, or if you shake accidentaly.. remember were musicians... moving mi ass!)
Both of these functions should be available in unquantised and quantised versions. now really to delete or replace (just to clarify, a replace is a kind of delete where you are recording new material while deleting the original) one needs very accurate control over WHEN you do this, because you often want to take out a tiny click or fart sound that ies somehwere in your loop, and to do that a quick touch on and release off would be best however that gesture you already use for record and mute (ok not exactly). maybe you can ARM delete/replace with a button to change your gesture from mute to delete.
the quantise/unquantise feature is important. As finger technique on the iphone is iffy, its unlikely that you can be beat acurate with your clicking... but by forcing your deletes or replaces to divisions of the beat (8ths 16th) you open up for some cool in synch glitchy rhythm stuff... This feature I have yet to see on any iphone looper app yet... so how would this work?
OK the unquantised replace works, as just said, by you touching and the recording starts and when you release it ends.
The quantised version works by choosing the quantise division (or lack of ) NONE, 3, 4, 5, 8 and16 should be MORE than enough, then as you finger hits the recording waits til the next division of the beat, as you release, it again waits til it reaches the next division of the beat. so a quick hit, would add one segment.
For now that ends my report, but you should also take some inspiration from (if you havent already, which I think you have matey) from Proloop from Autodesk. The feature of being able to use one loop to modify another via ring modulation is awesome...
As it stands, tis a great tool, but probaly most of use to the vocal looper... the 2 fingers thing is the biggest drawback because it immediately makes it a TWO HANDED looper, and if you are playing an instrument, (one handed instrument).. but with it mounted on something, it becomes more possible.
By the way, I found a bug, it seems to function a bit wrong after it has been closed and then re-opened. I needed to properly close the app (long press, click the red dot) for it to work properly...
Mark
On Fri, Jun 24, 2011 at 9:19 PM, Michael Tyson <michael@atastypixel.com> wrote:
Hey Mark,
As a matter of fact, no, you're not too late! Do let me know what you think!
Cheers =) Michael
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A Tasty Pixel: Delectable apps for iPhone and Mac
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Mark Francombe
www.markfrancombe.com
www.ordoabkhao.com
http://vimeo.com/user825094
http://www.looop.no
twitter @markfrancombe
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