Hi all!, Peter after using Lyrics Only mode on iPhone for two weeks i am beginning to realised why i am frustrated by it.
I am hoping this feedback might correct some things on ST3 as they might be easy fixes, if too hard then leave them as is, and perhaps keep them in mind when designing ST4 so it does not disappoint us when it comes out.
I know STEREO, LYRICS ONLY , MULTITRACKS WILL BE INTEGRATED so you don't need to make decisions to which way you will start, and this is great, i am more worried about when you do decide which songs are what as to how they will serve us on stage, this is my biggest concern.
I am purely talking about iPhone use as it is the smallest screen surface , the iPad and desktop use of the ST can easily adapt as it has bigger realestate.
Lets say i use ST as my lyrics only device, i don't need anything else, i run free as a bird on stage but i NEED my lyrics.
I don't like the way ST3 does not accomodate me in this mode.
Why?
I feel restricted, confused, and overworked when using it on Iphone, because the logic does not change to suit my needs on stage.
Creating a Lyrics Only is nice and easy on ST3, i hope ST4 will be too i expect if i create a new song and load a text file into the song will automatically set up all operational needs on stage tosuit a lyrics only user, then if i load a stereo file it automatically assumes i need both and adjusts all functions on screen to suit that operation, and as soon as i load another track in to this song, this converts it automatically and assumes i am a multitrack user and creates a work surface to suit for that song only this will also work in reverse by removing files it works the opposite, this eliminates a lot of unnecessary user work.
Why i dont like ST3 lyrics only on iphone.
The logic is frustrating and not accomodating to that specific use.
I don't need a play button as i don't need a timed scroll and i don't need a XFADE as i don't have audio , but what i do need is an easy way to jump from song select screen and lyrics screen as i cant have them both on screen, and instead of a XFade button i need this to become a progress to next lyrics button, i don't want to have to go back in to song select unnecessarily , i don't need a play list volume at the bottom or a scroll speed as i am not using TIMED SCROLL, at the moment if i disable timed scroll i loose the Xfade button , why don't you leave this function button in place and change its function to quickly select the next song, this then does not confuse the user by swapping it to the play button.
The bottom area is totally miss used and confusing, the play button is now the next song /xfade function, why? When you already had a next song selection place to hit with Xfade now it has jumped to the play button, this is confusing and unnecessary , the bottom area has plenty of space to place more useful functions in it , perhaps use this area wisely, like if we don't engage a scroll time means we don't need a play button any more, what we need is a quick next text insert button which should be in the old play button are, this is much more useful. The bottom area becomes useful for other things we might actually need, like quickly selecting a next song text without loosing the lyrics but using the next song indicator to see the progress selection and making a choice that way without leaving the lyrics screen, this is more useful on stage .
So basically if you don't select a scroll time you don't get disadvantaged in any way.
In actual fact you get tools you need to make life easier and all the funtion buttons give you extra power to achieve a simple goal and that is to have your lyrics in front of you quickly when needed and to move through them simply.
Two screen scroll up down buttons are more important than a volume indicator thats not needed
If TIME is selected OR NOT SELECTED the Xfade button is simply a select next song function as there is no audio to Xfade so why not make it available at all times no matter what.
Play button becomes a next song selector button that simply one time only allows to insert a next song,by pressing that button once gets you to the song screen, allows you to mark your next song and by pressing it again gets you back to now selected lyrics to keep performing until you need the next song , when you are done with now song hit old XFade button which is now a progres to next song and you are off and performing.
This gives you consistancy of operation and no swapping of buttons to confuse you.
So now you have five buttons in the bottom area,
First one gives you easy setupof NEXT song the next two buttons allow you to move up down the song list without loosing your lyrics and the other two allow you to move up down the lyrics screen , all these functions have remote capability.
Finger operation should be as simple as a swipe on lyrics screen to right shows the song select page, this is an easy way to get to song mode in emergencies when needing a new lyric.
Getting back to lyrics should be also easy , if you swiped to right converts the select next button to get back to lyrics button as this function is not needed and is now usefull to be a return to lyrics button, as you are back in the lyrics screen this button becomes a NEXT song selector button, if you use this button to select the next song it opens up the song select page and allows you to make a one time NEXT song selection and is also used to get back to the LYRICS SCREEN.
This is your get back to lyrics method and is consistant and its your choice to which option you use to get your next song but the return to lyrics is always on the same button.
A double tap on a song immediately gets you in to lyrics screen WITH THAT SONGS LYRICS no matter if you have TIME selected or NOT, because if you have left swiped to get to song mode it means you desperately need the next lyric and should be able to get it immediately, if i was to need a next song i would go through the next song selector button.
I know this is a ship load of information to take in just for one simple way of operation but somebody has to point things out to improve future development , one person cant do it all , i hope others can give their input but they are probably too busy gigging so i hope i have started you thinking from a different perspective to either improve st3 or make ST4 greater.
At least see if you can make the lyrics pages stop scrolling to the top of screen when finger scrolling to end of text, that way we can safely strongly swipe up and not end up with a blank screen.😂
Sorry for the long read.
Cheers Damir