User interface update

[jpcima]

New user interface. This has all functionality of the old one.

The new functionality will need support on sfizz side in a future work.

• memory usage
• controller values (read/write)
• key switches
• key ranges
• sending notes

[paulfd]

Do you have a screen of how the interface is supposed to look?

[alcomposer]

Further to the features needed in sfizz backend:

• output level meter

[jpcima]

Current UI looks like this on the main panel.

[paulfd]

With my system it did not look like this at all. I embedded the "logo" font and used it, but we can change 🙂

In the logo it's fine but in the interface it looks slightly childish I think.

[alcomposer]

Roboto font family is a very high quality open font. Example of it used in sfizz. I think this looks much better, especially for numbers.
ABeeZee font (current) is a children's learning font? I don't think this is the best place for it.

NOTES

• Remove icons for open & edit in external editor and replace with downward chevron dropdown menu that contains both (and possibly more items)
• Have the file name area itself as an open dialogue LMB action. (This is expected behaviour- and nothing wrong in having open file in two places)
• Add downward chevron to keyswitch select & Max polyphony value
• I'm not sure about using home icon, is there a home in sfizz? I would suggest 4 icons:
  
• Icons arranged in most used to the centre of the interface: Settings, Info, Controls, SFIZZ-XML / artwork.
• Highlighting the icon on hover feels wrong- it could be a button area highlight?
• LMB over sfizz logo icon to open About Sfizz pop-up.
• Consider changing KS to K-Switch

[jpcima]

• +1 for roboto font
• if you add a picture, include a 2x variant and run it through optipng

I'm not sure about using home icon, is there a home in sfizz? I would suggest 4 icons:

Imo, large text+icon is excessive at the top right.
Remove sfizz's large icon to leave just the text, then change the home icon to sfizz icon.

[paulfd]

* +1 for roboto font

* if you add a picture, include a 2x variant and run it through optipng

I'm not sure about using home icon, is there a home in sfizz? I would suggest 4 icons:

Imo, large text+icon is excessive at the top right.
Remove sfizz's large icon to leave just the text, then change the home icon to sfizz icon.

It's a bit sad to put unfa's work small no? Maybe an engraving in the background...

[jpcima]

Maybe an engraving in the background...

I'll be ok with such a choice.
Personnally, I am disturbed by the sfizz text not being center-aligned in the box.
Or perhaps, expand the hbox a bit more and space the buttons, as in Alex's mockup above.

[alcomposer]

WIP Mock-up of left two panels:

Notes:

• Roboto font
• sfizz brand text center
• Grey highlight under tab icon when mouse hover
• Active dot under tab icon for active tab
• Left-Right chevron for moving to next-previous SFZ script in folder
• Downward chevron for file options dropdown: load, edit in external editor, duplicate & edit etc
• Green SFZ engine status indicator. GREEN= all good. RED Cross Icon= error. LOADING throbber= loading.
• LMB on status indicator to bring up per instance sfizz engine log.

[jpcima]

I updated the file dialog of vstgui according to Robin's advice, this is expected to work in the Ardour6 binary bundle.