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I just bought a nice new Surface 3 tablet to use with my Motif XF7. In particular, I wanted to use the Motif XF Editor on it.
I ran into a problem, though. The screen resolution of the Surface 3 is 1920 x 1280 on a 10.8 inch screen, which comes to 204 pixels per inch. As a result, the editor window is tiny, much too small to use.
I thought I was going to have to return the tablet until I discovered the Magnify app, which can magnify part of the screen. It's an accessibility thing for people with vision problems. I don't have vision problems, but I was able to use the app to make the editor window big enough to use.
That's fine, and I'll be able to keep and use my new tablet, but it's a hack. The editor window ought to be resizable so that it can be used on any screen that's large enough regardless of the pixel density.
The pixel density of displays is only going to increase with time, and more and more people will not be able to use the editor in the tiny window that they're going to get on new devices.
I'm posting this here because it's a direct line to Yamaha, and I hope the message gets through to the people who can do something about it. I'm a software developer. I know this can be done. All it takes is doing the work.
Posted : 06/05/2015 2:14 am
Agreed, in a perfect world all software would keep pace with each and every hardware change. Although not quite sure how the logistics of that gets worked out.
The program requirements state the recommended resolution you should use. (1024 x 768) if memory serves me. I guess when this was written that was considered a high resolution. You probably can (or should be able to) set the host computer's screen resolution... Sorry, this is outside my area, I'm not a computer programmer, but it seems it's the device that has the screen that should be adjustable... If not, as we go forward any software older than the latest screen device will be way too small. How can you build software for 10,800 resolution when it doesn't exist yet... (It's a serious question, as I said, I'm NOT a computer programmer).
Seems these new tablets come with a one size fits all attitude as this is concerned (screen resolution).
Not sure, but it would seem... one would need to develop a whole new App to work on tablets,
As far as I know the Requirements for the Editor specifically state which OS and Computer is needed to run the software properly.
But I agree with you, at the end of the day, everything should work on all platforms. I don't know where the fault lies or what it takes to fix it, something should be done.
I can tell you I have learned that this is no easy feat (just from experience with this website and the different browsers and types of devices this will be viewed on. Try formatting something so it visually makes sense on a phone and a 21-inch monitor, and every thing in between!
Posted : 06/05/2015 4:27 am
Topic starter
I tried setting the screen resolution to many different resolutions, including 1024 x 768. Even at 1024 x 768, the window wasn't big enough, and it was ugly besides. The characters were all blocky and illegible.
But I got lucky. When I saw your response, I figured I'd try 1024 x 768 again. Once again, the result was not good. I then tried to do something else unrelated with the tablet, and it crashed.
When it finished rebooting, I tried the XF Editor and it came up full-screen and perfect looking. I checked, and the screen resolution was still set to 1024 x 768. I guess what's going on is that on a Surface 3, screen resolution changes don't take full effect until after a reboot, which is not how any other Windows machine I've ever used behaves.
Which reminds me of an old saying: Neither high intelligence, great skill, or hard work is a substitute for blind dumb luck. But however I got there, I'm a happy camper.
Sorry, this is outside my area, I'm not a computer programmer, but it seems it's the device that has the screen that should be adjustable...
Some are, some aren't. My Surface 3 is, because it's a Windows 8.1 PC under the hood.
If not, as we go forward any software older than the latest screen device will be way too small. How can you build software for 10,800 resolution when it doesn't exist yet... (It's a serious question, as I said, I'm NOT a computer programmer).
Graphical user interface (GUI) apps can be built to be screen-resolution independent. It's more work, but it's definitely doable.
Seems these new tablets come with a one size fits all attitude as this is concerned (screen resolution).
Definitely true for iOS (Apple) devices, somewhat true for Androids.
Not sure, but it would seem... one would need to develop a whole new App to work on tablets,
True for iOS and Android. That's why I bought the Surface 3, which is a Windows machine that can run any PC software including the XF Editor.
And it wouldn't need to be a whole new app anyway. An app like the XF Editor has two components: the internal mechanism (which knows how an XF works and what the settings are), and the user interface (what it shows the user, and what it lets the user manipulate). It's only the user interface that needs to change. And if the code was well-written, none of that will have much effect on the code for the internal mechanism.
But I agree with you, at the end of the day, everything should work on all platforms. I don't know where the fault lies or what it takes to fix it, something should be done.
A simple possible fix for the XF Editor would be to provide a menu of choices like this: 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, ... If the user chose 2x, the window would get twice as big. Assuming that the code for the editor was written well, this might not be that much of a job.
I can tell you I have learned that this is no easy feat (just from experience with this website and the different browsers and types of devices this will be viewed on. Try formatting something so it visually makes sense on a phone and a 21-inch monitor, and every thing in between!
You're completely correct about this. There are known solutions, though, for many of the possible situations.
And the bottom line is, your reply helped me stumble upon a solution to my problem, for which I'm grateful as always…
Posted : 07/05/2015 2:19 am
This would be on my very short wish list for the Motif XS Editor VST that I use in Cubase 8, as well.
Posted : 09/05/2015 10:31 pm
