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Obel - Tablet Edition

Paper Prototype Demo

Over view.
Obel is a DAW comprised of isolated modules which allow the user to work on specific scopes of an audio project without dividing system resources to components or effects that aren't actively invoked. Originally I designed the layout of Obel to be optimal in a high resolution computer environment with a mouse and keyboard. The original design was constructed via a series of modules that were individually invoked only when in use. This module based interface lent it's self to a mobile/tablet environment. The main features are a clip arranger, wave editor, midi sequencer and mixer. Virtual instruments and effects are typically secondary to the design of the host application. A smooth interface and intuitive functions based on the way composers typically construct music is a critical focus. Each component must react in clear and logical ways, such as having audio clips align and snap to bar lines. Also having a clear flow path and access to each component should be quickly apparent.

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1. The Clip arranger.

I haven't included a play head, the indicator of where the track is paused /scrolled to. The track is currently scrolled to part way.

2. Move the arrangement back to the start.

One touch and drag/swipe in a direction on the arrangement area pushes the tracks in the direction you drag.

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3 Released at 0:00
Release at any point to set position, it will snap gently into position. For fine position selection the play head will be long tappable and a precise numerical value can be entered.

4.Scroll down.
We can scroll up and down the list of tracks being used in the project the same way as left and right. Typically movement will lock into up and down, or left and right movement. Though by swiping in a circle you can negate this and move the arranger in all directions.

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5. Additional track revealed

6. Copy a clip
Tapping a clip will select it. Long hold and dragging a clip will allow you to drag it and set it in place by single taping it or tapping away onto something else. Double tapping will open up the midi sequencer or wave editor. Double tap and hold will copy the clip and it will be moveable until you drag it into position, tap it or tap away. Here we are making a copy, so double tap and hold!

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7. In position
The clip can be dragged into position, we tap it once when it's in place or long hold to enter a numerical value for it's position.

8 Add a track or instrument

Tap the plus icon in the empty track to open the assets manager.

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9 Select a player!
The assets manager occupies the space where the arrangement and track panel was. The instrument panel is usually on the left half and assets browser to the left. I had thought that if the "add track" icon was long held then the track list would stay on top allowing you to drag as many new track on as you want at once.

10. Tap dat.

Just tap the instrument you want. If you tap the down arrow symbol you can open up the preset menu to select a specific sound for the instrument. In this case we want the default "synth" instrument.

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11. Added
The synth instrument with default settings is loaded into the new track. The track is named in sequence of the first midi track in the list -"Midi X". You can long hold the track title to rename it.

12. Move the sequence

Long hold to collect the midi data clip

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13. Placement and Editing

By simply double tapping (max tap interval 1 second), we can edit a clip. Accessing a wave clip will open the wave editor which also allows for swapping the loaded audio data with another. Here we'll double tap a Midi Clip to access the Midi sequencer.

14 Access Midi Sequencer

This is the basic layout of the Sequencer module which occupies the arrangement space. This modules requires finite note placement controls, to quickly and precisely place each note. Basic tools for editing are seen as icons at the top and hopefully straight forward enough. The radial dial at the top left allows for sequence shifting and play back. Top right has a navigation panel to scroll to a section quickly. In a smaller smart phone version this would not be big enough and the bottom Arrangement View Navigation panel would be used for it instead.

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15. Back Out of Module

The default view for Obel is the Arrangement View pressing back when in a module will return you and all other altered panels to this default view.

16. Transport Controls and Mixer

Transport controls for the project are permanently nested at the bottom left side of the screen. The Play and Record symbols are accentuated as they are more critical. The Play button switches to a, two vertical line, pause symbol during play back. The volume and effects mixer can be accessed via a graphical representation of the mixer, nested above the main transport controls.

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17. The Mixer Panel

This is where we can access finite volume controls, adjust SEND effect levels and panning controls. These controls are found in Arrangement View, but this view just focuses the task of mixing. A representation of the arrangement view remains in the long bar at the bottom.

18. Access Effects and Instrument controls.

Double tapping on a track title in Mixer or Arrangement view reveals the effects chain in the navigation panel at the bottom.

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19. Effects Chain

Here we see the main synth at the start of the chain followed by an effect which the synth feeds audio data. Pressing the "Plus" symbol here opens up the Assets Manager with focus on various effects.

20. Lock the view.

Pressing the lock icon keeps the chain in view, when switching between modules. Allowing us to edit and arrange while giving us constant access to the selected tracks effects.

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21. Back to Arrangement View

Here we can either press the "back" button or tap the icon area that took us to the Mixer mode.

22. ...

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23. Alter Parameters.

All dials and knobs can be accessed and edited a few ways. Double taping and holding/dragging will allow radial modification where the dial is accentuated and visually enlarged and rotates with the angle of your finger.

24.
Simply double tapping a dial will open up a parameter overlay as such. Usually parameters are paired and can be set via an X/Y axis, otherwise just the one axis will be changeable as seen above. Press "back" or tap away to close.

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25. Enter Value

One long tap will open up the numerical input field. Also the dial is accentuated.

26. Switch To Navigation

This switches the bottom bar back to Arrangement Overview.

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28. Extra Behaviours

Tracks can be reorganised by double tapping and dragging. A list of extra options for a track can be accessed by simply long holding it. This reveals Track Rename, Delete Track, Track Duplicate, and extra features in advanced versions of Obel.

27. Done!
There are a lot of behaviours not covered by this tutorial, but these are most of the basics to be included in the Basic edition of Obel - Tablet. Hopefully in this a behaviour pattern is recognised by most users. -Single tap to select -Long hold to edit in context -Double tap to edit as a module -Double tap and hold to additively interact with an element.