[ubuntu-studio-devel] -controls

[Len Ovens]

On Wed, 7 Dec 2016, eylul wrote:

> Lets assume I am an user. :)
> I want to create a new boot setup (with system tweaks). I have to set up
> the system tweaks, twice on each tab. (or change the boot setup, then be
> mystified why settings aren't affected as I change them).

The boot settings could change the now values as well, that would be easy 
enough. But the now values do not always want the boot values changed. For 
example a laptop user may wish to boot without performance to extend 
battery life only turning it on when needed. A desktop user who does a lot 
of sw building may like to have boost available for building (15 min is 
better than 20)

> Similarly presets doesn't help me at all, if I want to switch back and
> forth between 2 setups.(unless I want a preset change that also affects
> audio setup AND tablet setup AND boot setup). I have to change things
> manually to use the in session tweaks (and potentially look up every
> time what correct setting is).

You want three sets of presets? It is doable I suppose. But if one part 
stays the same there is no need to change it every time, it will still be 
there from where the system is now. Maybe I don't understand. But the 
preset part right now is just a placeholder, it doesn't do anything.

> This is why it is important that the system tweaks are its own profile,
> where there can be a default one to use in boot.

I am confused. maybe use exact values/parameter names to explain.

> Similarly the current preset solution requires me to recreate the audio
> setup (and graphics setup) each time I create a preset for any reason.

Why? Only if it changes.

> It makes much more sense for these to have their own profiles, and
> having a default one on boot. (then underlying structure can deal with
> issues like: does this mean jack is started on boot or not).

Own profiles? I am not sure what you mean by a profile. Do you mean own 
tab? Do you want to rearange what is on each tab? That is not hard to do.

> Also each of these have different change rates:
> * Boot decision is something that will likely rarely change.

So it has it's own tab. It might make more sense for it to be the last tab 
rather than the first. I am just working from where things were and 
expanding.

> * For audio: there might be a couple of profiles that switches back and
> forth (for 2 recording setups with different sample rates, or a graphics
> or gaming profile that turns off zita to avoid extra processing power
> waste. :D)

While I understand this is just an example, it is probably best practice 
to find the rate that works best with your audio interface and record, 
edit, mix etc. at that rate. At export is the time (not realtime BTW) to 
decide what SR is right for distribution. In general most audio cards work 
best at 48000. (the analog filters are set to have the sweet spot there) 
That aside changing master device for jack is quite common for laptops 
that use a USB IF at home and mix to internal on the road. Different 
buffer sizes are also common with a larger buffer for mixdown than for 
tracking and a smaller buffer than either for live effects or softsynth.

> * Graphic tablet setup on the other hand, ideally changes every time one
> switches software! (one of the primary aspects of more professional
> tablets is that they have shortcuts buttons on the side and most
> artists/designers like to adjust them to various shortcuts by program
> basis. Some open source programs do allow their own overrides but not all)

If a tablet shows itself as a file in /dev/input/ it is possible to catch 
tablet key press events. They could be mapped to whatever. In any case, I 
would like to add a tablet or graphics tab, but honestly don't know what 
setting are available let alone which way is which. Someone will have to 
tell me what they are and I will add them. A bash script or command line 
examples would be great.

> Ralf is right in that too many choices will cause more user problems in
> the end, and that the GUI needs to be arranged based on how users
> perceive what they are doing, rather than how we know things actually
> work under the hood. Some extra options (in this case, under the ability

That is what presets are for. Naming the presets so the user can go "that 
looks like the one for me" and be correct most of the time is what I am 
looking for. If we want more than one set of presets for different places 
that is possible. As I have said that is a part I have not started and 
will not be starting till I have mostly done with adding settings.

> E.g.: checkbox to change CPU profile to performance: What is my CPU
> profile when it is unchecked? (ergo, why I had a drop down menu for
> selecting CPU profile in my wireframe).

Len does not care what kind of widgets get used... index 0 or 1 is the 
same as true or false. I just used what was already being used.

My idea for audio is to come up with a default that just works for most 
people (doing audio) along with a preset that allows other user not to be 
setup for audio if they really want to. The thing is, I don't change my 
setting much. I run jack all the time if I am coding, utubing, or doing 
audio. The only change I really make is for live kinds of use where I 
really need low latency. I sometimes use guitarix for effects, and I play 
around on keyboards somewhat more than that. Despite what people may have 
said about using jack all the time and running pulse into it, things work 
amazingly well on all the machines I have used that way. Including my 
wife's machine which is mostly firefox and skype with the odd "I want to 
sing along make my mic live" (I was hoping she might try recording some). 
I really think it should be possible with the tools we have now to default 
to pulse as a front end for jack for everyday use... I am not sure what 
happens when blue tooth headsets are added (not supported by alsa so far 
as I know) or even the user plugs a headset in. But these are things to 
learn, pulse has it figured out, we should be able to as well. In the end 
there will probably need to be a way to opt out of jack as a back end, if 
for no other reason besides someone is sure they need it. Not running 
pulse, as always, is left as an exercise for the user :)  (no I am not 
firm on that)

I could write more, but really I need to have some anwers here so maybe I 
won't have to ask them all :)  There is no problem with wanting things 
different, I am only adding things I know help me or at least someone I 
know. We all have different talents and I lack what other seem to have so 
it fits well.

--
Len Ovens
www.ovenwerks.net