15: Representational, Abstract, Symbolic

SampleTron

By: IK Multimedia

This is the software interface for IK Multimedia's SampleTron, a virtual instrument which recreates and consolidates the sounds of many analog instruments over the last 50 years into one interface, specifically the Mellotron of the 1960s. The representational, Abstract and Symbolic elements that are evident interact to sharpen the look and experience of this software towards that of an actual organ.

The name of this software is derived from its function as a sampler and the name of the most legendary sample based organ, the Mellotron. The same can be said for the look of its interface with representational elements of organs from the past, namely its knobs, light indicators, keys, and pitch/tone wheels. Their role and impact, like many software interfaces of music instruments, is to bring the user into the familiarity of the abstracted musical interaction. At first glance these representational elements are recognizable as functional tools in both a tangible organ and work well to orient the user of this software interface. These elements interact with abstracted and symbolic elements to give the interface the look and feel of a vintage instrument.

The main abstracted element in this interface is the interface itself. The layout and proportions of the horizontal and vertical lines are there to hone the proportions of the top view of a flattened three dimensional organ. Visualize if you will the shape of an organ, similar to that of an upright piano. Now visualize that the black information screen is the top of the organ, the silver strips with knobs folded inward and perpendicular to the top is the front panel, while the keys remain parallel to the top but lower in space. This is reinforced by the keys being smaller in proportion to the knobs, an abstraction which gives a sense of depth to the parallel planes of the top and keys. While this is a subtle detail it also functions as a visual cue, since the keys are far to small to be played by most grown people. While this aspect speaks to the representational elements within the abstraction of an organ the smaller keys also function as a symbolic element, a locative device within the octave range.

Being most people would find playing an instrument like a piano, where many notes are hit quickly and in unison, with the single click of a mouse impossible and cynical, a hardware devise is typically used but usually only contains a two octave range to the seven of an actual piano. For this reason the the full range of a piano, as displayed within the interface, becomes a symbolic element which denotes both an aural tone and a location. While its impact is not visually obvious, like the other elements talked about, this symbolic element within this design reinforces the abstraction of an experience, playing an organ, one which both the representational and abstracted elements all seek to convey.