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Loop Follows Container Selection

Posted

Hi,

For the Playback menu, I suggest a checkable item "Loop Follows Container Selection" (or similar name).

So, for example, in the picture above, the loop (blue line) would have moved to span m33 -> m37  (to follow the newly clicked-on/selected container, 'Slot B') if this new option were present and checked.

 


Mon, 2024-02-26 - 10:40 Permalink

I'd rather not add too many switches. Menus are already crowded. 

Why not set a hotkey on "Loop Container" and hit that after selecting a container.

Mon, 2024-02-26 - 13:21 Permalink

Why not set a hotkey on "Loop Container" and hit that after selecting a container.

OK, I will try that.

FWIW though, my experience with hotkeys so far is that they are both context-dependent and unreliable, and that it is often hard to tell what is the issue when they don't work.    

The goal is behavior that always works!

Also, even if this particular use-case should prove reliable, you are asking for the user to do an extra motion, every time.    In contrast, the suggestion allows the user to turn on the option and have the loop be updated immediately upon container selection, without any extra motion being required.

 

Mon, 2024-02-26 - 15:07 Permalink

OK, tried it.   Results were not-so-good.

Observations:

  1.   Must hit defined shortcut key twice (not once), so that's even more required action by the user.
  2.   It still doesn't work "live" while the music plays, because the original looping container continues playing and playback does not switch to the newly selected container.

I am led therefor to elaborate more specifically on the desired behavior.

With the proposed "Loop Follows Container Selection" switch on, when a new container is clicked the currently playing container will finish playing and then the newly selected container will begin playing in a loop.

We wouldn't want this to require two hands, so a modifier-click would not be a good choice.   Double-click is already used to open other displays.   Which brings me back to a settable option.

The option could be set via right click on the loop icon if menu space is judged to be a critically limited resource.   In fact, changing the color of this icon when the option is on would be good also.

 

Mon, 2024-02-26 - 15:57 Permalink

I think you never could have change the loop on fly. I just see that I could insert note on fly when instant feedback is not mark in playback. It play the new notes when the whole loop return.

Mon, 2024-02-26 - 16:52 Permalink

you are asking for the user to do an extra motion, every time.

A text editor also doesn't have a "Swap Paragraphs" function. The user is required to cut, move cursor and paste - three steps - to accomplish that. Not every conceivable use case and situation justifies a dedicated implementation. 

Of course, a single hotkey press should do the job. That I can agree with.

Mon, 2024-02-26 - 17:27 Permalink

Of course, a single hotkey press should do the job. That I can agree with.

I appreciate that, thanks.


A text editor also doesn't have a "Swap Paragraphs" function. The user is required to cut, move cursor and paste - three steps - to accomplish that.

Well, I hardly ever swap paragraphs in a text editor, and never while it is reading to me and I am playing an instrument at the same time.  <g>