Re: [Audacity-devel] Best default track heights?

[Anthony A. O. <ai...@gm...>]

On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 23:53:44 -0700, Dominic Mazzoni wrote:

>On Oct 12, 2004, at 4:12 AM, Markus Meyer wrote:

<snip>

>> - Make track height dependent on window height and number of tracks,
>> that is, if there are only one or two tracks, show them "full-screen",
>> but later on proportionally resize tracks up to, say, 4 or 5 tracks

>This sounds like a mode to me; it could be great but it should be 
>optional.  "Automatic Vertical Fit Mode".


>> - Automatically minimize other tracks when new tracks don't fit on
>> screen anymore

>No, I don't think minimizing should happen automatically.

I suggest you give the user the function of creating an "Overview" window,
which shows the session in a microformat, with rectangular lined window
displaying your current view in the main session. Click and Drag will
update your view of your session.

Folder tracks are exceptionally effective in Nuendo. Toss the tracks in to
such a folder track and minimize them by closing the folder, as you do in
the Windows Explorer tree view. Tracks turn in to two to four pixel lines
that display black(or???) where clips are on that track.

Protools has its track size handle where we have the level figures left of
the waveform display. That's a good place to start, escpecially if you
introduce a "ALL" key modifier, that changes all track heights when held,
and that of just one track is changed. This is the ALT key in PT. Logic has
something similar.

For most apps, features are either minimized or dropped with smaller track
sizes. It's a matter of taste and function. Vegas has all its track
controls in just this kind of track view. PT has a "Mix View", where it's
all arranged vertically but without a waveform view, lending itself to a
more classial outboard mixer view. This is a more readable view for some
tasks. PT can switch the view of inserts/aux/comments/IO on and off for all
tracks. It's something to consider, when people will only edit their
material, but later need to fiddle around with an AUX or access a plugin.
Having an extra menu pop up to edit plugins is too time consuming.


>> - Give track popup menu an option "Set current track height as default
>> height for new tracks"

>This is a great idea, it complements the other ideas well.

Neat idea.


>Another minor thing to add to your todo list while working on this: 
>creating a new track (however it's done) should either trigger a "fit 
>vertically", and/or scroll vertically so that it's revealed.  Otherwise 
>users may not find it!

Please have the track appear beneath the currently selected track or in the
middle of the current view. It's a pain in the ass to move tracks around
the session in any app.

Examples:
If the currently selected track is below the screen middle, should the
track be inserted above it, because the user may expect it to work this
way?

Can I insert more than one track at once ?

Can I set the track size? Can I set which controls are shown?(does that
even make sense?)

Can I save session layouts without having to save the session itself ? This
means that I can save a session layout from a fully loaded session, without
having to discard all the material first.

Can I switch between views of my session via keyboard shortcuts, such as
the numeric keypad? Does this "view" save the zoom levels, position, cursor
position and control view ?

Can there be markers that carry the above attributes?

Is there a history of CURSOR positions? How many times have you changed the
cursor position and wished you could go back. PT is complete shit is this.

What does the vertical-session-zoom zoom in to ? Selected track if visible
onscreen and middle of screen if not ?

 Tony