Track numbering
I was talking in this discussion about muting multiple tracks at once, and I started to post this there but decided a new discussion was warranted.
Why is "select next track" orientation-dependent but track numbering isn't? This is very confusing to me. If I record three loops in a row from another app (using audiobus to trigger the recording), the loops record sequentially (1,2,3,etc.), but when I'm using the app in landscape mode, if I select the "next" track, they record in this sequence: 3,6,9,12,2,5,8, etc. I would leave it up to Michael to decide exactly how to address this issue, because there is no perfect solution. I suppose you could say there is no issue, this is just the chosen implementation.
I understand the inclination to avoid clutter, but things that have such a fundamental impact on the way the program works deserve a menu option, in my opinion. The simplest option would be something like "Next and previous actions follow track numbering." A more complex way to go would be to allow different track numbering modes, such as top-left to bottom-right, etc. With this you would probably also need an option for existing sessions, something like "Do you want to re-order the tracks in existing sessions to reflect the updated track numbering?" I'd imagine that route could get pretty complicated, so I'd be fine with the simpler system.
Also, I would still like to see an option to let the entire interface rotate instead of just the current system. It's very confusing to do a session in one orientation and then open it in another.
Comments
I agree that it's a little strange as it is, but I don't think it's near the top of the list. I was surprised to see that in landscape mode, loop 1 was in the bottom left! Not a big deal for me, but my io dock does look a bit silly rigged to be in portrait.
Maybe not near the top of the list, but I do think it presents a significant workflow discontinuity.
Simple solution, screen lock your iPad in portrait mode, then when you flip it to landscape, nothing moves. But yes, control icons are sideways and loops start at 3 o'clock instead of 12.
I did have a convo with Michael somewhere on the forum a few months ago about this and learned it was a deliberate design. Let me see if I can find it.