Software improvement suggestions

[eriky]

Hi,
I like to propose a list of software changes/improvements from the user community to Sonuus for the Wahoo.

Here is my first:

1 - consider adding an option to the Wahoo editor software to copy a preset, e.g. from Fxx to Pxx - this enables easy starting of a custom preset and then adjusting it in stead of starting at a blank preset.
2 - allow the entering of a preset to jump to in by keyboard, e.g. 'F23' to jump to F23, in stead of having to go there by using the up and/or down arrows.

Please add your suggestions to this topic.
Thanks,
Erik

[james]

For (1), this is actually how the Wahoo works currently. Start with a preset you want to modify and start changing it. When you press SAVE, you can then select where you want this to be saved (you don't need to save it over the one you started from, and indeed if you started from a factory preset you can't overwrite that).

For (2), do you mean by a MIDI keyboard (you can use MIDI program change to do this just now), or do you mean by using a knob to select the program? Note: holding the up/down arrow will move you in jumps of 10 to make it faster to get through the presets.

[Christian]

Maybe it is possible to assign the footpedal with a parameter,"dry/wet" would be great.
Is it possible?

Christian

[james]

Christian,

This is possible, but the wet/dry control can be a bit steppy / clicky because of how it is controlled. So, there's no problem using it to setup a preset, but when automated, it may or may not get in the way, depending on what sound is set up. So, it's something we are thinking of adding with a disclaimer: it works, but watch out for the clicks.

The same thing applies to all of the level controls: drive, filter mix, output level. That's why we don't have an option to use the output level controlled like a volume pedal.

[gastric]

Huge improvement:

* Provide an online repository for users to upload / share patches that can be access directly from the editor application. I'd like to suggest mimicking what Line6 provides for their devices. It allows both the company and users to provide new patches, rate / review them, download them easily, etc. and create an entire new companion "product" to support the hardware you're selling. In contrast, most companies do not provide company-hosted patch repositories and it makes it extremely difficult for users to share / get new patches from each other due to technological and time / effort hurdles.

[james]

I agree. This is a great idea. We just need time/resources to get it done.

[gastric]

Suggestion: Provide much, much more flexible expression pedal assignments.

I'd point to BOSS / Roland multi effect pedals as the design to follow regarding their Assigns. They provide between 4 and 8 assigns (depending on the device you happen to have) which allows you to map the expression pedal (or any other control footswitch on their devices) to nearly any parameter available in their effects. Thus you can be adjusting cutoff, resonance, mixes, inputs/output levels, toggle parameters on-and-off, etc. all with a single expression sweep within a single patch. And you can control which range of the expression sweep is active for a given assign, and on and on and on. It's an extremely powerful, extremely flexible feature that is limited only by the user's imagination as opposed to limited by the narrow range of controls the device allows you.

Case in point: I really wanted to have two filters setup, and assign the expression to sweep the filter blend. Then I could have an envelope Filter 1 setup for heel down, then sweep the blend to a LFO based Filter 2 for quick switching between two different filter sounds. That'd be awesome! But I cannot do it.

Other ideas I'd like to try:

* Envelope filter but with the expression also controlling cutoff and resonance.
* Envelope filter with expression sweeping some specific range of the Sensitivity
* MIDI Clock beat division sweeps while also controlling cutoff and resonance separately

[gastric]

Suggestion: Make Editor parameters modifiable by keyboard once focused.

Would be great to be able to click on the Sensitivity then be able to use Up / Down Arrow keys on the keyboard to further tweak it. And in some cases may be easier as moving the knobs by increments of 1 can often be challenging.

Suggestion: Enable a key modifier such as Shift to allow finer control of the Editor parameters.

Similar to the previous suggestion, but a little different. It'd be great to be able to Shift+Click then drag the knobs around to get a more precise gradient of control. Currently moving the knobs by increments of 1 can often be challenging.

[james]

Case in point: I really wanted to have two filters setup, and assign the expression to sweep the filter blend. Then I could have an envelope Filter 1 setup for heel down, then sweep the blend to a LFO based Filter 2 for quick switching between two different filter sounds. That'd be awesome! But I cannot do it.

This is already on our list of things to look at: to make the modulation matrix more flexible. It wasn't in the initial release because we didn't want to scare people (having three knobs on a Wah pedal already scares some people!)

Some things can't be modulated smoothly because it is an analogue effect, unlike a digital effect where it is possible to control everything smoothly (if it's coded correctly).

For example, the filter mix could be modulated, but it might have small clicks/pops when this is done. This is because the control is done via digitally-controlled pots which have a stepped response to them. So, we didn't allow this to avoid complaints about these clicks. However, this has been asked for, so we may add it at some point with a warning about the possibility of clicks.

Other ideas I'd like to try:

* Envelope filter but with the expression also controlling cutoff and resonance.

How would this work? Maybe as an extra layer of hi/lo for the cutoff and resonance? So, the envelope filter normally goes from the hi/lo values you set, but the pedal lets you move between other hi/lo ranges? So, essentially, there is another dimension in the control.

* Envelope filter with expression sweeping some specific range of the Sensitivity

This is planned for a future update (probably the next one). We think it will be a cool feature. You will also be able to similarly set hi/lo limits for the punch, attack and decay parameters all controlled by the pedal.

* MIDI Clock beat division sweeps while also controlling cutoff and resonance separately

Similarly, this has been requested a lot and is on our list.

[james]

Suggestion: Enable a key modifier such as Shift to allow finer control of the Editor parameters.

Similar to the previous suggestion, but a little different. It'd be great to be able to Shift+Click then drag the knobs around to get a more precise gradient of control. Currently moving the knobs by increments of 1 can often be challenging.

Using the mousewheel when hovering over a pot will let you change the pot value in steps of 1, and you then also have the tactile click of the mouse wheel. This also works when hovering over menus too.