To make the note list editor work more smoothly and flexibly in the creative situation, I suggest the following:
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functionality to revert all current changes and return the note list to its state when you opened the editor. I suggest the “revert” key and also one of the black keys.
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abort functionality, that is, revert all current changes and exit the editor. I suggest the “no” key because using “no” for delete is counterintuitive. The “yes” key accepts, so it would be more natural for “no” to abort.
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In addition to the X encoder, keys to move forward and backward in the note list. Incorporating the encoder forces a two-hand operation that also requires the extra attention hand-eye coordination (i.e., no muscle memory). Keypresses for forward and backward can feel more precise and easily controllable as well as offering muscle memory.
To accommodate 1, 2, and 3 above, and to provide the option of editing a note list one-handed (which is desirable when you’re playing a keyboard along with operating the PolyPulse), I suggest this layout:
- “no” = revert and exit editor (abort)
- the black key to the right of “no” = select previous note (backward)
- the black key two spaces to the right of “no” = select next note (forward)
- the black key three spaces to the right of “no” = delete (this puts the most dangerous function the farthest from “yes” and “no” to avoid bad results)
I’ve made many mistakes editing notes that I think the above would eliminate. I realize that muscle memory gets us used to anything eventually, but better to make it logical from the start. Redundant keypress/knob turn functionality is also itself desirable because it accommodates different ways of interacting with the PolyPulse. I think the layout I suggest above would be natural for any user, and established users could ignore these changes except for one: the changed functionality of the “no” key in favor of a more natural yes/no paradigm.