Topic: What Version 4 NEEDS...

Version 4 needs a new UI. The present one feels like it was designed in the 90's (unless we're trying to match the look of a historic instrument or something).

Seriously. You have the best piano on the planet - no doubt. But once launched, I can't wait to minimize your plugin coz it's an eye sore.

The words 'Velocity', 'Output' and 'Effects' look like they've been taken from a font in Windows 98, turned into an image and placed there. yuk. It's almost abrasive to look at it.

The buttons such as the EQ and Velocity have a gradient effect that using a decent (and free) image editing program would give you FAR better results. You can identify 3 colors on the button!

Yes I know you want to keep the file size down coz you do boast about it being a small file. But with our modern machines I'm sure we can handle another few megs of UI updates.

Another thing I noticed is that the velocity 'meter' that shows green bars on the velocity curve goes all the way up to 'fff'? whether I press hard or soft it shows 'fff'. Yes, of course I'm supposed to find where the graph intersects the line - But can't software do that? Why the additional work for me? I'm the one paying? Chop off the green lines that go over the velocity line if that's how it's supposed to be. Don't make me do the work - I'm busy playing!

Also, why am I not able to maximize the interface? Or at least stretch it more than what it is? I'm on a Mac and the screen resolution on this thing is 1920x1280 (yes, some of us have 'modern' machines). The interface looks like it's taking up 1/9 of the screen space. Any smaller and it will be an icon on my desktop. And if I try to look at the keyboard at the bottom play the keys I have to move closer to the screen! Yes, Mac OS has the ability to zoom right in as much as I want, but do I want a pixelated Pianoteq? Nope.

Even the words 'Action', 'Tremolo', etc.

The player on the top looks like it doesn't even belong in the program! Seriously guys this thing needs a bit of class.

Give it as much class as it sounds. I believe you can hire a graphics person to do these simple things. If you really can't, send me the images of the buttons and I'll do it for you. Free. It'll take me 15 minutes to sort out a few of these and give this aged thing a face lift.

I know, I shouldn't be ranting like this and I'm probably gonna get flamed by a hundred of your users. I do apologize if I've stepped on anyone's feelings. I'm just sick of looking at this thing. That's all. Charge $5.00 more for your product and hire a real pro to do your graphics. I for one will pay double.

Here is what I'd like, if possible in the next version.
- Better looking UI
- Don't mess with the sound
- Better looking UI
- A keyboard that I can see right across my screen
- Better looking UI

I love to be able to play for people and even in a recording situation it's awesome when you can play and everyone is able to see it. I don't want everyone's heads 2 feet from my screen so they can see what keys are being played.

Thanks for putting up with me. I hope you can see this as a way to straighten up the act.

Re: What Version 4 NEEDS...

You're a bit late to the party (v4 is going to be released in the coming weeks very likely), but I think your sentiments will be understood by Modartt.

I very much agree with you on the MIDI player being out of place, and I suggested that to be changed already before. Let's see if that happens...

Last edited by EvilDragon (15-03-2012 20:18)
Hard work and guts!

Re: What Version 4 NEEDS...

Honestly I think the UI of pianoteq is done very lovingly.  I would be quite satisfied if it were a simple QT/GTK GUI with a grey background, if it achieved what it did.  It happens to be both pleasant and useable.  Of course, I'm sure that version 4 will be even better in this respect, but what I am many others are checking the website for daily is not an update on the visual appearance of the application!

Re: What Version 4 NEEDS...

Pianoteq UI it's ok in terms of "modern look".

It need a option to minimize, or/and minimize most functions and let the essential, or just one choosed opotion.

But the key point right now it's the sound, so let's put the "book's cover" to second plans.

Re: What Version 4 NEEDS...

MasKeys wrote:

Also, why am I not able to maximize the interface? Or at least stretch it more than what it is?

I realy agree om this, it would be so much easier to control the sound if it was possible to have bigger slides (is it the Wright word???, it's not knobbs...).

Re: What Version 4 NEEDS...

I think the grafic design of pianoteq is good

- I hate it when programs are to flashy like a commercial, pianoteq is not, just cool and easy to overview design.

Like so many users im running pianoteq both on its own for piano solo, but also in projects together with lots of other vsts and effects. When running pianoteq with lots of other memory demanding vsts I really appreciate that pianoteq is so easy on the cpu,

Im afraid too many programmers dont trust their programs to be good on their own and add too much grapic and flashy moving stuff which basicly causes the program to become slower and more demanding on the cpu.

Im acctually hoping that pianoteq sticks to a simple and clever design like the current, beautiful and fast for the cpu.

Its not the pianoteq GUI I want to sit and stare at for hours and hours, I want to stare at my 88 key roland fp5 and enjoy the wonderful sound that is modartt!

Re: What Version 4 NEEDS...

What version 4 needs is a release!

Re: What Version 4 NEEDS...

FJ wrote:

What version 4 needs is a release!

yesss !!!

Re: What Version 4 NEEDS...

Yes!!! on both a release and a  new UI, even if not for 4.0, but 4.5

I find it such an eyesore and un-modern, especially the fact that it's a fixed window size that I can neither maximize nor resize. Seriously, the only programs that do that are indeed circa 1998 Windows '98 programs.

If you need to keep the old UI for XP users, fine, do that, but surely a rebuild with a WPF or Metro UI would bring it to the modern era. I don't know about what API you use for Linux or Mac, but surely they have scalable UIs too that you could re-use assets in.

I would even make the piano keybed more front and center, perspective style so that it looks like you're actually sitting at a piano and not looking directly down at something in isomorphic space. Seriously, there is a serious disconnect between the audio quality and the UI quality. Don't delay the release of 4.0 for this, but maybe make it 4.1 or 4.2 (after a bugfix / optimization release).

I know GUI updates often accompany major revision numbers, but who cares, better late than never. Something that looks cheap will not sell as well, in this era of ipads and whatnots. You really can't have a fixed resolution UI any more, especially with super high res displays coming out, the UI will be tiny on those if you can't scale up.

Last edited by rlburnside (22-03-2012 01:32)

Re: What Version 4 NEEDS...

rlburnside wrote:

Yes!!! on both a release and a  new UI, even if not for 4.0, but 4.5

I find it such an eyesore and un-modern, especially the fact that it's a fixed window size that I can neither maximize nor resize. Seriously, the only programs that do that are indeed circa 1998 Windows '98 programs.

If you need to keep the old UI for XP users, fine, do that, but surely a rebuild with a WPF or Metro UI would bring it to the modern era. I don't know about what API you use for Linux or Mac, but surely they have scalable UIs too that you could re-use assets in.

I would even make the piano keybed more front and center, perspective style so that it looks like you're actually sitting at a piano and not looking directly down at something in isomorphic space. Seriously, there is a serious disconnect between the audio quality and the UI quality. Don't delay the release of 4.0 for this, but maybe make it 4.1 or 4.2 (after a bugfix / optimization release).

I know GUI updates often accompany major revision numbers, but who cares, better late than never. Something that looks cheap will not sell as well, in this era of ipads and whatnots. You really can't have a fixed resolution UI any more, especially with super high res displays coming out, the UI will be tiny on those if you can't scale up.

I can see you are registered at 28-12-2009
So i really wonder why all these complaints about gui shows up more than two years after you probably bought Pianoteq ?

Just a thought

Re: What Version 4 NEEDS...

I'm pretty sure they're using QT (don't remember where I read that, maybe I'm imagining it), which is why they are able to easily release versions for three platforms simultaneously. Their decision to make it fixed-size has nothing to do with it being "vintage". It's not old or outdated; the UI they designed simply would not scale properly. They could make a scalable interface, but they'd have to rethink the layout. Not an unreasonable thing to do with a major version update. I don't know how their programming staff is organized, but if they have an interface person/team, they could probably work mostly independently of the people who are improving the piano sound models.

Every UI can stand improvement, and with Pianoteq I would like to see different options for the UI. Example: I have a small touchscreen monitor in the closet, and I would love to have a PT interface that was optimized for such a touchscreen. Full-screen window, large buttons, etc. I tried using the monitor for PT, but the window didn't quite fit and many features were too small to interact with.

Honestly, most of the time, I'm playing with my monitor (which is actually my living room TV) turned off and Pianoteq effectively running "headless". I have a few options connected to my NanoKontrol sliders and buttons, but most of the time, it's just a living room piano. Only when I'm recording or tweaking do I actually use the interface.

Last edited by JerryKnight (22-03-2012 20:02)

Re: What Version 4 NEEDS...

JerryKnight wrote:

I'm pretty sure they're using QT (don't remember where I read that, maybe I'm imagining it), which is why they are able to easily release versions for three platforms simultaneously.

Pianoteq use the JUCE UI Toolkit, cross platform, C++, runs on Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, Android. Similar to Qt  but developed originally for audio applications.

http://createdigitalmusic.com/2010/05/m...for-linux/

Re: What Version 4 NEEDS...

Yes.  Hopefully we will see photo realistic 3-D pianos rotating on a virtual stage with an animated audience that responds in real time to your input as you play. A spinning disco ball would be a welcome addition as well.
  Ooops...it's not quite April Fools Day yet, is it!  Sorry.

Re: What Version 4 NEEDS...

I love pianoteq 3, love recording with it and is really fun, Id just want a more beautiful sound, but thats something Id ask forever. Maybe a more powerful bass?, like a thunder?, and more attack as everybody says.

Re: What Version 4 NEEDS...

Don't forgete that audience will be able to throw tomatos if you play crap.


Studiocat wrote:

Yes.  Hopefully we will see photo realistic 3-D pianos rotating on a virtual stage with an animated audience that responds in real time to your input as you play. A spinning disco ball would be a welcome addition as well.
  Ooops...it's not quite April Fools Day yet, is it!  Sorry.

Re: What Version 4 NEEDS...

It's OK...they're just virtual tomatoes!

Re: What Version 4 NEEDS...

Thanks for your input guys. Just wanted you to know that I did put my money where my mouth is - I just purchased the Rock Collection a few minutes ago.

Re: What Version 4 NEEDS...

Tinknocker wrote:
JerryKnight wrote:

I'm pretty sure they're using QT (don't remember where I read that, maybe I'm imagining it), which is why they are able to easily release versions for three platforms simultaneously.

Pianoteq use the JUCE UI Toolkit, cross platform, C++, runs on Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, Android. Similar to Qt  but developed originally for audio applications.

http://createdigitalmusic.com/2010/05/m...for-linux/

Awesome, thanks.