garageCube

[vanakaru]

After last gig I am frustrated about this stuff missing that has been asked for long and repeatedly.
LOCK LAYERS - it is absolutely must in stressful environment. Is this really so hard to implement. When I put a mask on the top most layer I do not want to change this during a show no matter what.
BTW was there a module for a mask layer - I kind of remember reading, but not able to find?

[lotech]

Agreed - probably the single most annoying feature to be missing. That and play/pause buttons for each layer.
I had a good email conversation with Ilan about it 6 months ago - but there hasn't been much going on since it would seem. I even went to the effort of doing some quick photoshopping to show what I meant. I'll dig it up and post it.

[lotech]

Here we go, keep in mind I wasn't trying to do the best job, more a matter of show how things could be better implemented. One of my reasons for doing it was that I have a 1920x1200 screen on my laptop - which is barely enough for all the modules I need to have open just to get some of these basic functions.

Click on the pic for a full screen cap - it shows the modules I'm currently forced to use to get the basic playback features I want/need.



1. Extended Layer Controls (From left to right)
Display On/Off with Thumbnail (Like it does now - but with a thumbnail in there).
Lock Layer
Play/Pause Buttons - these need to be separate buttons (for midi).
And keep Opacity as it is now.

2. Fader Controls
This should be set to ON by default (not 10 layer mode like it is currently although I imagine others use the default so a setting in the preferences to open on either would be good.
Transform buttons ala V4:
Fade button & timer - again like the V4 to do smooth fades from one bus to the other.
Cut button - instantly switch to the opposite bus.

3. Hide button for master panel.
The ability to hide this will help those with smaller screens and I find myself rarely using these settings.

4. Random Frames Button
Press for random frames, based on the current speed. Possibly a drop down menu switch to be random based on audio.

5. Freeframe FX
A tabbed panel to switch between the current Animation FX and a Freeframe FX panel.
Then something similar to the current module but with at least a few default/standard dials and switches that can be assigned midi.

6. MIDI Control of preview selection (See linked pic)
So you can switch your panel via midi or keyboard shortcut. Possibly control for all those buttons but MAIN & PREVIEW and a switch between each one button (so if need be you can just use 1 key to switch between the 2).

7. Ability to right click on a button/dial/switch and set its current state to SET AS DEFAULT.
This is especially obvious when settings such as BLUR as it is set way too high by default or that the option normalize isn't ticked by default.

[vanakaru]

Yes I was going to bring up more, but surely we have been talking about this extensively when 2.6 came about.
From my experience too - Master control panel is almost never used. Only when I set up sound control at the sound check and should safely be put away to the rest of the show.
There is one thing to add - ability to fine adjust sliders. Maybe right click the control to bring up *FINE* option that is the same controller larged. This is very usable for size and speed.
And PAUSE/STOP - sbsolutely.

[ilan]

The Pause and Stop issue is controversial because it begs the question as to what is exactly paused. Just the video clip? What about the animation FX? This is something that requires some discussion and debate so there is a balance between the various functions.

[Vibber]

I see Ilans point but I also agree with (most of) the suggestions from lotech. I think they are on target and address some of the features that I also use most (via modules) or would use the most if they existed. Although I do like the modular approach it would be nice to have a few of those options in the main interface.

[vanakaru]

The Pause and Stop issue is controversial because it begs the question as to what is exactly paused. Just the video clip? What about the animation FX? This is something that requires some discussion and debate so there is a balance between the various functions.

I am glad that locking feature is not up for discussion. So would it be soon. As for Pause/Stop just make FULL STOP/STOP VIDEO/PAUSE ALL/PAUSE VIDEO. Actually since FX has switch off/on already the most beneficial would be to stop video.

[lotech]

Yeah I've never really wanted/needed to stop anything other than the video although that might be more my vj style and how I use Modul8 - although play/pause are basic playback functionality - even Windows Media play have them....