Robot Rock

Subject:

Male 21 year old. Music hobbyist, no formal training.

Observations:

• Needed a little bit of exploring to hit the play button after adding a couple of musicians.
• Said he would create a "basic pattern" out of adding 2 guitars and 2 hi-hats.
• Ran into a previously unknown bug with the metronome object where it doesn't clear its notes between compositions.
• Was able to change keys, change tempo and noticed that pausing doesn't completely stop the sound (known issue).
• Spent time exploring sounds by moving instruments around axes.

Feedback:

• Requests more electric instruments, cymbals, bass drum.
• Noted that having the metronome is useful but he didn't use it.
• "Really simple to use."
• "Anyone who can read a graph can use it."
• After asking what the denominator of key signature was, didn't understand ("measures per line").
• Didn't know what the number signified for Tempo (right answer is bpm).
• Thought the red X stops the music.
• Didn't notice detail window in upper right corner.
• Appreciates being able to make changes while playing in real time.
• Requests more colorful or visually interesting interface.
• Maybe a background image for the stage view instead of a white monochrome.
• Understood that the axes are synonyms for intensity and "musical interest."

Changes:

• No longer present time signature, instead it is one number called "Beats per bar." May need to simplify to just "beats."
• Fixed metronome bug.
• Fixed pause bug.
• Need to relocate 'X' so it clearly acts on an instrument, instead of near the playback controls.
• Need more visual eye candy.