Professional Audio Systems  
4 Replies Last post: Feb 9, 2010 9:23 AM by mdhull

Audio/Nexia software GUI needs help, in a hurry...

Nov 8, 2009 5:04 PM

Click to view PEPAR's profile PEPAR 13 posts since
Jan 8, 2009
This has been a long time coming..... Is it just me or is the Audia/Nexia software in need of a desperate, complete overhall, GUI wise?

Personally I find it clunky and not very smart. As someone who spends a fair amount of time designing, modifying and tweaking layouts, I often find myself frustrated with the overall usability and appearance of the software.

I use a lot of other audio applications, DAWs such as Logic, Pro Tools, Cubase etc, with thrid party plug-ins. If you consider the overall appearance and funcionality of these programs compared to Biamp's software, you would think that Biamp is stuck in the 80's. Don't get me wrong, the software works at the end of the day, and this is the number one priority. But how much longer can Biamp contnue to offer such outdated software for its otherwise awesome audio DSP platform. Just remembering that we are dealing with PC GUI based DSP here.


Just a couple fo examples of things that always cause me irritation and waste time:

Labelling- often can't fit the text I need in. Lack of ability to add additional labels to IN/OUT blocks.

Cable lines- aren't very smart and don't always move corerctly when selecting several blocks and moving them around the layout.

Block sizes- why are single channel blocks fatter (higher grid spacing) than multi channel blocks? For example if I want to insert 4 single EQ blocks directly after a 4 channel input the ins and outs don't match up horizontally, and you end up with diagonal lines (messy as hell) or alternatively you have to draw in right angle turns in the cable lines. Multiply this example over and over again for a large layout and you end with a spider's web. I can't stand messy layouts.

Other block issues- Limited resize ability, where are the text size/alignment options?


Now, these are just a couple of quick ones of the top of my head, and I know all of the work arounds for these niggles, but really I'm talking about being to work efficiently as possible. Not to mention the joy that working with a nice looking application would bring into my life everyday, LOL.


Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

Click to view PEPAR's profile PEPAR 13 posts since
Jan 8, 2009
1. Re: Audio/Nexia software GUI needs help, in a hurry... Dec 3, 2009 4:41 PM

add to that DaVinci. I'm making a new DaVinci page now and what a dog of a program. ugly, clunky, time consuming. has to be a better way than that.

Maybe one day BIamp will look at it too. but given the lack of response to my post above, I'm not hopeful that anything will ever be done about the software.


sigh a shame because otherwise I love Biamp.

Click to view Graeme's profile Graeme 77 posts since
Sep 18, 2007
2. Re: Audio/Nexia software GUI needs help, in a hurry... Dec 4, 2009 9:26 AM

Hi there Pepar

First of all, thanks for your comments on our software interface and I certainly agree with some of the dislikes that you have regarding Nexia/Audia software although I would put those into the category of niggles (sometimes very frustrating niggles, but niggles) and I don't see how these would indicate that we're stuck in the 80's.

For example being a mac fan using snow leopard, I'd argue that the windows environment that our software runs in is more old-fashioned than the software itself!

I'd also like to know more about why you are so frustrated with daVinci. Please feel free to e-mail me at gharrison@biamp.com.


Cheers

Graeme Harrison

VP, International Sales

Click to view PrivateIdaho's profile PrivateIdaho 12 posts since
Dec 3, 2008
3. Re: Audio/Nexia software GUI needs help, in a hurry... Jan 13, 2010 12:10 PM
I agree with the original poster.
Click to view mdhull's profile mdhull 18 posts since
Sep 29, 2008
4. Re: Audio/Nexia software GUI needs help, in a hurry... Feb 9, 2010 9:23 AM
in response to: Graeme

Hi Graeme

daVinci is a marvellous tool that is capable of creating some great interfaces with a bit of work.

I offer my latest UI build as an example. A multizone outdoor sound system spanning a few square kilometers.

A user can select zone control or paging by clicking the zone.

Every loudspeaker location has monitoring that shows up it's status on the daVinci panel

There are however some things that daVinci lacks, or does badly.


For example the system has a NPS1 paging microphone that is useless as it cannot be controlled via the daVinci interface

The job was nearly passed to a competing manufacturer because the operator cannot change schedule times from the user interface.

I will mail you a list of snags, glitches and improvements gained from my experience of building interfaces.

Regards

Mark

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