Re: Possible modifications to interface

On Mon, Nov 17, 2008 at 10:44:44AM +0700, Patrick Shirkey wrote:
> >> 1: What do people think of making jamin into a daemon and splitting the
> >> interface code off so that the daemon could be run in the background and
> >> the interface could be used only when needed.
     
It would use up system resources unnecessarily when it isn't
being used. In a large multitrack recording or mixing session
that is likely to be a problem.
 
> I'm also wondering if the lack of activity for jamin is partly to do 
> with the interface. It might be that we are giving people too much rope? 
> I know we have the presets but maybe we still provide too much room for 
> error that is putting people off from using it.
 
There are simpler tools available. Jamin is the only FOSS program
capable of processing masters in a commercial context AFAIK.
The trouble with removing functionality to make things easy for
less knowledgeable users is that it can render it useless for
those who need it to do their job. 

> I'm wondering if maybe Jamin is too powerful for some users to get into? 
> I would have thought that by now every single musician would have it in 
> their toolset and there would be a thriving community with requests. 
> Maybe it needs a few tweaks to the interface that makes it less scary 
> for the casual user to get into?

Mixing desk manufacturers have been doing this kind of thing lately.
It used to be common for compact mixers to have two bands of
swept mid EQ, but now they usually have one or none, thus rendering them
virtually useless in a real live sound situation. They sell more mixers
to people who don't understand semi-parametric EQ, but not to pros.
I'd hate to see a useful tool like Jamin go the same way. 

I'm not against usability improvements, just saying some caution needs 
to exercised in deciding what constitutes an improvement.

John

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