Re: [Harp-L] For Zoom H2 Fans

[Garry <harp@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ken Deifik wrote:
> Here's my beef with the H2.  You have to hit the record button twice 
> because the first hit is for level testing and the second one actually 
> initiates the recording process. 

that's actually pretty standard.  my minidisc does the same thing.  when 
you
hit record, it comes up paused so you can set the levels before the 
actual recording
begins.  it also flashes, like the h2, so you know it's paused. 


> I wrote them a polite note suggesting that they make the two-hit 
system into
> an option, and got a dismissive note saying that this might be 
suggested at
> some design meeting at some point.

even if they liked your idea, implementing it could be a major big deal 
for them.
remember that their user interface is severely constrained by a tiny 
device with
a small number of physical controls, most of which by necessity serve 
multiple purposes. 

most tapers want to be able to set levels without recording anything.  
so if it came
up in record mode like you suggest, you'd need a way to pause it.  you 
can't just
hit "record" to pause it (like my minidisc does), because "record" is 
already used
to stop recording once it's started.  you could change that, but then 
you need a
way to stop it.  there's no "stop" button.  maybe you could use "play".  
oh wait,
that once is marked "play/pause".  maybe that one.  or, you could add a 
button.
no, wait, no physical space.  and a 10 cent cost for another button, 
times 100,000
units, just cost you a bunch of money.  plus you'd need to retool to 
manufacture
a different circuit board.  and print new manuals....

you get the idea.

> For a company that got almost everything SOOOOO right, they really 
are being
> boneheads about this.

the point i'm trying to make is that designers operate under a lot of 
different
constraints: physical size, complexity, parts cost, marketing, etc.  
changing things
after the fact can be extremely costly, in ways that are not obvious to 
users. 

in this particular case, the h2 behaves the same as the edirol and 
minidiscs and
perhaps other recorders, proving a useful feature (level setting without 
recording)
within the constraints of the device.  but even if it was a boneheaded 
idea, it's probably
smart of them to leave it alone.

(the astute reader might discern that i've done a bit of user interface 
design
on small devices myself).


--
We make a living from what we get, 
but we make a life from what we give.
- Kathy Moser