New Compact Player Layout

[redwing]

It seems that part of fuzziness of the new wave bar comes from a possible bug.

Resizing the player window makes the shape of bar much clearer, which is probably what Steven originally intended.


(original + after resizing)




Aside from the bug, I'd like to see more contrast between fg & bg color.


Edit: If that's not a bug but a resizing effect, then I would still prefer the resized bar shape since it's much cleaner and clearer.

[Alexis]

I should voice that one of the things I liked when looking at the wave bar, is the ability to actually look at it and gather some information or assumptions.  I encouraged enhancing this feature for something that looks good indeed, but also shows  more crisp information.
 
 The downside is that we are trying to put this thing in a compact player, so I am lead to believe that  because it is more compressed,  enough information will not show up, but would be nice to see a better indication of spikes etc (absent in my original post of such).

Please also note that I am not necessarily asking for color. (if one looks at my skins, you will notice they are simply black or white, but I respect that individuals have different taste)

The information i have posted are really for the sake of clarity, without the colors necessarily.  (If I am making any changes for my skins, you will likely see them in a combination of black and white)

I indicated that the improvement made was better than the original because I saw some details with respect to spikes etc,  but it really was somewhat blurry and spiral and not giving the details i hoped for. (I know it is unfinished).  The former appeared to me as a smudge of sorts.

Either case, I am thankful for the vast amount of improvements made  to the player thus far and realize and respect that we all want something different.. because... we are different.

[VX]

Aside from the bug, I'd like to see more contrast between fg & bg color.
 If that's not a bug but a resizing effect, then I would still prefer the resized bar shape since it's much cleaner and clearer.

Agreed.

I appreciate jistme's feedback as well: I always prefer functionality to bells and whistles, but I can see a huge progress with the current development. Thank you 

[Steven]

seeking anyone else with comments on this:

- how do you use the compact player around setting up and maintaining playlists - do you find yourself going back to the main player often to add tracks to the now playing list? Although there is a the "Now Playing Assistant" i am thinking that some sort of library navigation should be more integrated into the compact player (I have some ideas about how to do that when the artist picture is not displayed but i would be interested in comments about the need for it)

[VX]

seeking anyone else with comments on this:

- how do you use the compact player around setting up and maintaining playlists - do you find yourself going back to the main player often to add tracks to the now playing list? Although there is a the "Now Playing Assistant" i am thinking that some sort of library navigation should be more integrated into the compact player (I have some ideas about how to do that when the artist picture is not displayed but i would be interested in comments about the need for it)

Definitely an easier library navigation would be welcomed.

Update

I've just realized that the way I add tracks to the now playing list most of all is through filtered folders in the Computer section on the left. I think compact player would be very convenient if that was allowed. Just have a look how popular so called "Folder Players' are among Android Apss and you'll see that this simple and effective functionality really matters.

[beeing good]

seeking anyone else with comments on this:

- how do you use the compact player around setting up and maintaining playlists - do you find yourself going back to the main player often to add tracks to the now playing list? Although there is a the "Now Playing Assistant" i am thinking that some sort of library navigation should be more integrated into the compact player (I have some ideas about how to do that when the artist picture is not displayed but i would be interested in comments about the need for it)

I always go back to the main player. I forget the playing assistant is there, to me it is just easier to go to the main player and have access to my inbox and playlists if I need them, plus I don't really like list views like the playing assistant displays as.

[HHM]

seeking anyone else with comments on this:

- how do you use the compact player around setting up and maintaining playlists - do you find yourself going back to the main player often to add tracks to the now playing list? Although there is a the "Now Playing Assistant" i am thinking that some sort of library navigation should be more integrated into the compact player (I have some ideas about how to do that when the artist picture is not displayed but i would be interested in comments about the need for it)

I always go back to the main player. I forget the playing assistant is there, to me it is just easier to go to the main player and have access to my inbox and playlists if I need them, plus I don't really like list views like the playing assistant displays as.

same here - I go back to the main player.
some option for easier managing playlist in Compact would be nice, however, as I'm heave playlists user/manager, I assume I will be coming back to Main PLayer anyways.

What I was thinking about are 2 things:
1. another tab in right Playlist panel, next to Now Playin | Lyrics | Bio | (f.e.) Playlists
clicking on Playlist tab would expand the list: Music, Inbox & user's playlists. Clicking on any of them (fe. Music) would send us to that playlist, therefore the name of that tab would change to the name of that playlist. So after clicking on Music, instead of:
Now Playin | Lyrics | Bio | Playlists
we'd have:
Now Playin | Lyrics | Bio | Music
or
Now Playin | Lyrics | Bio | Inbox
etc.
Of course the view of tracks in that playlist mode would be as minimal as it is right now in Compact PLayers Right Panel view.

2. autohiding Left Panel with playlists/folder tree but only for drag+drop operations.

ANOTHER THOUGHT
I don;t know how it is with other users, but I treat Compact Player as an option for "calm" enjoying of music. As I said before - I'm a heavy user of playlists, so when I WORK ON MUSIC (managing playlists for my dj/radio purposes), I have a great Main PLayer.
However, when all work is done and I just want to listen to and enjoy music, Compact Player comes along.

So maybe we should keep in mind not to overload it with functions? Cause eventually we'll end up with just different layout of Main Player called Compact Player.

[HHM]

I liked the 'old' wavebar for it's no-nonsense clean looks.
It also fitted the rest of the layout very well.
I feel the latest suggestions (and implementation?) are not consistent with the current clean look and feel, and are mainly eye-candy and not an improvement or a solution to any problem.

As for the new Wave Bar - I agree with jistme. I prefered the old one as well, not only because it's minimalism was more consistent with the whole aesthetics, BUT ALSO because it was more readible. Right now it's much harder to find the actual position of the track!

[Steven]

There've been a couple of cases in which the bars of the spectrum visualizer seemed a really random color, but aside from those tiny kinds of things, it all looks great.

the colours arent random but when the background is dark, there can be subtle shades that get exaggerated when chosing a contrast so i have flattened the contract colours for the next update

[psychoadept]

the colours arent random but when the background is dark, there can be subtle shades that get exaggerated when chosing a contrast so i have flattened the contract colours for the next update

Ah, gotcha.  That explains the royal purple, then. 

[Steven]

tweaked wavebar and tweak to visualiser colours:
http://musicbee.niblseed.com/V2_1/MusicBee_Exe_Patched.zip

[redwing]

Look at the recent changes of wave bar.



This time subtleness was almost gone due to too much contrast and the return to the original bar shape.

I miss the second sleek one (after resizing) and its color, hopefully with just a little more contrast.

[redwing]

For the tiny differences in height, the two views almost look like different players.
I wonder if something can be done to improve the right one which looks flat and almost unfinished.
  

[VX]

The first suggestion by HHM (reply #186) deserves a closer look. That could be very convenient.

As for the autohiding, it doesn't work for me in Compact Player view and I don't know why.

As far as the recent changes of the wavebar, I share redwing's opinion (reply #191).

[Iasc]

seeking anyone else with comments on this:

- how do you use the compact player around setting up and maintaining playlists - do you find yourself going back to the main player often to add tracks to the now playing list? Although there is a the "Now Playing Assistant" i am thinking that some sort of library navigation should be more integrated into the compact player (I have some ideas about how to do that when the artist picture is not displayed but i would be interested in comments about the need for it)

the main reason i go back to main player is to access my playlists so easy access to saved playlists would be a welcome addition.

i personally like the newest change to the wave bar.

edit - am loving the new compact player layout. thanks.