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gui-overview [2020/06/29 16:16] – [Navigating Unify's graphical user interface] shanegui-overview [2023/05/08 18:59] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 Unify's graphical user interface (GUI) window is divided into five main regions, as shown below: Unify's graphical user interface (GUI) window is divided into five main regions, as shown below:
  
-{{::overview-1.png?600|}}+{{::overview-1.png?800|}}
  
   * The **Header** displays information about the current patch, and contains several buttons for editing it. See [[#tour_of_the_header_section|Tour of the Header section]] below.   * The **Header** displays information about the current patch, and contains several buttons for editing it. See [[#tour_of_the_header_section|Tour of the Header section]] below.
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 The Header section comprises many distinct displays and buttons: The Header section comprises many distinct displays and buttons:
  
-{{::header-1.png?800|}}+{{::header-1.png|}}
  
 The large **patch metadata area** describes the currently-loaded patch. If there are more than two lines of (white) descriptive text, you will see a small green **scroll-bar** at the right-hand end. You can scroll down to see the rest of the description either by dragging the scroll-bar with your mouse, or using your mouse's scroll wheel (or ball, or touch surface, or whatever scroll mechanism your mouse or trackpad offers) while the mouse pointer is anywhere inside the metadata area. The large **patch metadata area** describes the currently-loaded patch. If there are more than two lines of (white) descriptive text, you will see a small green **scroll-bar** at the right-hand end. You can scroll down to see the rest of the description either by dragging the scroll-bar with your mouse, or using your mouse's scroll wheel (or ball, or touch surface, or whatever scroll mechanism your mouse or trackpad offers) while the mouse pointer is anywhere inside the metadata area.
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 The **Show/Hide Midi layers** item selects whether MIDI layers (if present) are shown full-size, or shrunk down to just their titles to make more space for other layers. The **Show/Hide Midi layers** item selects whether MIDI layers (if present) are shown full-size, or shrunk down to just their titles to make more space for other layers.
  
-To the right of the patch metadata area you'll see the **library image**, which indicates pictoriallywhich Unify library the current patch is part of.+To the right of the patch metadata area you'll see the **patch thumbnail** imageand just to the right of thatyou will see the **global gain slider**; see below for details about each of these.
  
-To the right of the library image are the **prev/next buttons**, for switching to the //previous// or //next// patch in the current patch list (shown in the **patch browser** in the sidebar, if open).+To the right of the global gain slider are the **prev/next buttons**, for switching to the //previous// or //next// patch in the current patch list (shown in the **patch browser** in the sidebar, if open).
  
 Down the right-hand side of the header are four buttons: Down the right-hand side of the header are four buttons:
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   * The **save** button is for saving the current patch to disk. See [[first-patch|Creating your first patch]].   * The **save** button is for saving the current patch to disk. See [[first-patch|Creating your first patch]].
  
 +==== Thumbnail image ====
 +The //thumbnail image// may be one of three things:
 +  - If the patch library's //Media// folder contains an image file with the same base name as the patch file, i.e., a thumbnail image for that patch specifically, this will be shown.
 +  - If there is no per-patch thumbnail image, but the library's //Patches// file contains at least one image file, the first such image file will be shown, as a thumbnail image for the library.
 +  - If neither a per-patch or per-library thumbnail is provided, the default Unify image will be shown.
  
 +**Starting in Unify v1.8**, if you see a colored outline around the thumbnail image, this indicates the patch has associated [[linked-media|Linked Media]], which you can access by clicking the image.
 +
 +==== Global volume slider ====
 +
 +**Starting in Unify v1.8**, you will see a red **Global Gain slider** between the thumbnail image and the next/previous patch buttons.
 +
 +{{::header-1a.png|}}
 +
 +There are several important things to note about this slider:
 +  * It is **only active in the stand-alone Unify app**. In the Unify plug-in, it appears as a non-responsive red bar.
 +  * It allows you to adjust the overall output-level of the Unify app, which //affects all patches//. It is independent of the Master-level slider for each patch.
 +  * The range is -24 dB to +6 dB; the default value (which you can restore by double-clicking the slider) is 0 dB.
 +  * The Global Gain value is NOT a parameter; it is a //setting// (see [[settings|Using the Settings view]]).
 +  * You can **right-click** (or CTRL-click) the slider to pop up a small menu, which includes an option to **save the Global Gain setting**.
 +  * **You must use the menu to save the setting**, if you want Unify to remember it for the next time you open the stand-alone app.
 +
 +The Global Gain slider is not needed in the Unify plug-ins, because you will normally use these in a DAW or other plug-in host program which provides its own gain or mix-level controls.
 +
 +The Unify stand-alone app sends its output directly to your computer's audio interface hardware, and the amount of "headroom" such hardware provides can vary greatly from one brand or type to another. Some users have reported that Unify patches which output at the "0 dB" level will distort on their hardware, suggesting that it offers little headroom. Reduce the Global Gain setting just enough that you don't hear any distortion (with a loud patch), save it, and it's unlikely you'll need to adjust it again.
 +
 +==== Random-patch button (dice icon) ====
 +Also in Unify v1.8, you will see a new "dice" icon in between the two green arrow buttons:
 +
 +{{::header-1b.png|}}
 +
 +This is the **load random patch** button. When you click this, Unify will make a random selection among the patches currently listed in the Chooser area, and load it according to the current setting of the **load-mode** menu at the very bottom-right.
  
 ===== Icons in the Icon Strip ===== ===== Icons in the Icon Strip =====
-The **Icon Strip** along the bottom edge of the GUI contains three groups of icons:+The **Icon Strip** along the bottom edge of the GUI contains four groups of icons: 
 + 
 +{{:icon-strip-0.png|}} The **single icon at the far left** cancels any latching notes. See [[layer-stack-view#midi_controls|MIDI Controls]].
  
-{{:icon-strip-1.png|}} The **icons on the left** allows you to select what appears in the Footer. From left to right:+{{:icon-strip-1.png|}} The **three icons on the left** allows you to select what appears in the Footer. From left to right:
   * MIDI Monitor: shows MIDI activity coming into Unify from outside   * MIDI Monitor: shows MIDI activity coming into Unify from outside
-  * Macro Knobs: shows eight "macro parameter" knobs which you can link to multiple parameters+  * Macro Knobs: shows "macro parameter" knobs which you can link to multiple parameters
   * Transport: shows Unify's //Transport//, which controls BPM timing   * Transport: shows Unify's //Transport//, which controls BPM timing
     * In the present version of Unify, this only appears in the stand-alone app     * In the present version of Unify, this only appears in the stand-alone app
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 {{:icon-strip-3.png|}} The **icons on the right** allow you to select what appears in the Body. From left to right: {{:icon-strip-3.png|}} The **icons on the right** allow you to select what appears in the Body. From left to right:
-  * //List icon:// (favorite plug-ins) opens Unify's //plug-in subsets view// +  * The first four icons select special views as follows, and **will be greyed out in embedded Unify instances**: 
-  * //Plug icon:// opens the //plug-in scanning view// +    * //List icon:// (favorite plug-ins) opens Unify's //plug-in subsets view// 
-  * //Lock icon:// opens the //Licensing view// +    * //Plug icon:// opens the //plug-in scanning view// 
-  * //Gear icon:// opens the //Settings view//+    * //Lock icon:// opens the //Licensing view// 
 +    * //Gear icon:// opens the //Settings view//
   * The two rightmost icons both select Unify's //layer-stack view//   * The two rightmost icons both select Unify's //layer-stack view//
     * The one on the right selects "accordion view", where all layers will be shown, but may be squashed vertically     * The one on the right selects "accordion view", where all layers will be shown, but may be squashed vertically
gui-overview.1593447402.txt.gz · Last modified: 2023/05/08 18:59 (external edit)