RAYZOON

I'm a big fan of Jamstix so please take this into account.......

I really feel that it could do with a MAJOR gui overhaul. The current look is out of date by about 20 years. It's the one area that really could do with some attention. I really think it's would be worth getting somebody in to redesign it. The colours, the design of the buttons, icons , layout. Almost from the ground up. Compare it to 99% of audio software, superior drummer, bfd3 even AD2 (which is visually pretty prehistoric!)

For those who say "focus on stability and features" I realise that it might not actually make it more accessible but I think it's something that should be developed rather than 'extra features'. I'd be more than happy to have this as a paid update (v5?).

I feel that the current look puts people off using it and seems to add to the general complexity of the program.

Really don't mean any disrespect to Ralph as jamstix is great

I was talking about Jamstix over on KVR , hoping to generate more interest, as I love it; there were a few comments about being put off by the GUI/learning curve. It never hurts to make things more transparent/easier to navigate and understand.

I wonder if some of the menu's and features could be combined and simplified - there's a lot going on and simplifying always helps. Just the look/navigation I mean , not the functionality.

hotmitts_1 wrote:I was talking about Jamstix over on KVR , hoping to generate more interest, as I love it; there were a few comments about being put off by the GUI/learning curve. It never hurts to make things more transparent/easier to navigate and understand.

I think everybody that uses it...or get's over the learning curve ! .. loves it

o_range wrote:

hotmitts_1 wrote:I was talking about Jamstix over on KVR , hoping to generate more interest, as I love it; there were a few comments about being put off by the GUI/learning curve. It never hurts to make things more transparent/easier to navigate and understand.

I think everybody that uses it...or get's over the learning curve ! .. loves it

i agree 100% about loving.

btw, i have played with some pretty looks-challenged drummers in my time.

If I was going to offer a suggestion about something to 'fix,' it would be to make the entire GUI larger, and to make menus & dialog boxes large enough so that scrolling isn't necessary.

As an example, when loading a kit, Alternative, Breakbeat, Electronic, & Rock all have enough variations that you can't see them all at the same time.

When loading a groove, Jamstix 1 has over 100 choices, but I can only see less than 20 at a time.

Minor nitpicks, but the program itself is great.

non_drummer wrote:If I was going to offer a suggestion about something to 'fix,' it would be to make the entire GUI larger.

there is a GUI resize option ? but it wont fix the issues you are having I think

I know about the resize option, so asking for a larger GUI was a poor choice of words on my part. I guess I meant certain parts of the GUI being proportionally larger, like some of the menus I mentioned, and menus where the text is cut off. Regardless, I love the program.

While I agree that Jamstix looks a little “different” than Groove Agent, Studio Drummer, Abbey Roads, Battery, etc., the truth is, I almost NEVER use any of those others. I use Jamstix on 95% of my projects because it does what I want it to do, which is, to play a unique sounding performance with enough variation, accents, etc., that it sounds like a human and not a MIDI loop.
All the elements and options mean I am always tinkering around and finding new and cool sounding grooves.
I say Jamstix looks “different” than others because I don’t necessarily think a sleek or modern look is better (sleek and modern are both subject to change and opinion). I am all in favor of functional improvements in the GUI such as scaling and the menu scrolling thing mentioned. Aesthetics are a factor for me but they fall far down the list.
So, I think Jamstix looks fine. For me it’s a tool and not an ornament. If it looked different, I am sure I wouldn’t mind either, as long as it still functions well and gets the job done.

I agree with jas lan. There is nothing to compare with Js. It such a unique program. Giving it a Modern make over will only last a short while until the next trend comes along.

I understand what you are saying - and i don't want to detract from it's functionality...quite the reverse.

There are very good reason why modern GUIs are designed the way that they are. I'm not suggesting an update just to make it 'look modern'. Good design increases ease of use - readability - speed of access to features.

I'm also not saying that JS is worse (or better !) than other drum samplers. Of course it is very different......but I am saying that most of them LOOK much better....not just "different" but better design decisions..... and in general this makes them 'more accessible'