Visual feedback suggestions A4/AK

0x80 · 2014-12-27T13:28:22.000Z

At the moment I’m playing with both the AK and A4 to find out which one suits me better. One thing I like on the AK is the visual feedback you get on the sequenced note from the leds above the keys, but I feel both machines can be improved in this aspect.

What I miss most in terms of feedback is a quick way to know what is playing on what track. With the AR (and most other sequencing boxes like Maschine or Push or Electribe) you get a really clear visual feedback of what’s happening.

If you’re jamming live, and want to tweak a sequence that you hear, there is no easy way to know at a glance on what track it is playing. In the worst case scenario, on the A4, you have to select each track in grid/rec mode to see the programmed steps, and possibly also switch pages to figure this out.

I have a few suggestions:

On A4, use leds positioned at the keys to light up playing notes just like AK. If it is annoying to enable at all times make them light up only when you hold [function] or the [track#] key or something
On AK and A4, have a key (could be same as suggestion 1) that you can hold down to light the track leds so that all 4 leds blink on every programmed event. This would create something similar to the visual feedback on the AR pads.
On pattern selection, make the active pattern led blinking (similar to active page led). I find the contrast between dim/highlight leds on the pattern selection really too small.
I don’t quite understand why the programmed steps are visually hidden unless you enter grid/rec mode. It confused me the first time I started working with Elektron gear, and I don’t see the benefits. I assume this is the way all Elektron boxes behave traditionally, but a user option like “show steps in play mode” would be nice I think, to give you an quick way to always know the content of a track without having to think about the mode you’re in.

And not that this can be changed, but I wish they’d used multi-colored leds on the sequencer steps just like the track buttons. That would allow for a lot more visual cues.

Thanks for listening. This post was a little long

smokyfrog · 2014-12-27T14:15:02.000Z

It bugs me too. I’d be happy with some kind of moving bar display on the mixer window, although this won’t take care of the CV track. I do a lot of experimentally turning tracks on and off, not how I’d like to play it live though.

Given my way (which I won’t be), I’d swap the behaviour of track mute/select too. I’d much rather select using Func + Track as fast-muting is part of how I perform. (I realise I can use the track buttons in Perf mode but what I want is consistency).

0x80 · 2014-12-27T16:22:52.000Z

I also just noticed that all steps that have parameter locks, have their leds blink / glitch every second or so. Try creating a pattern where you put parameter locks on every step, and then try to follow the position pointer.

Jeez, I’m afraid I might develop a nervous twitch. How much nicer would colors have been here…sigh. Or at least sync the glitch to the clock tempo?