Goldberg: Raw Notes for Subject 1

Notes compiled from the audio tape transcription and our scribblings during the testing session with Subject 1. Items which we found important or interesting are indicated in bold.

The Rating Interface

• asks to hear variation 6 first
  • because Mike referred to #6 as an example?
  • this is inverted, which she consistently rates highest
• goes through variations sequentially after that
• asks to hear 3 (transpose) again, rates second-highest
• points out lack of scale on sliders
  • she correctly assumes up/down is better/worse
  • "There's no rankings on these, so I just . . . made 'em the way I like 'em."
• asks for 2 again (harmonize), then 4 (retime)
• she's not clear about the goal
  • is she supposed to pick the one she likes best or the ones with aspects she likes?
• asks for 1 (theme) again, then is happy
• Kevin asks her if she's ready to go to next variation set
• wants to play all variations sequentially, 5 (invert) again, 7 (trim) again, then says "i think i'm happy"
• as Kevin chooses next set, Mike asks about repeating playback of current variation until you ask for next
  • she pauses, says yeah, that would be good
• she asks about levels of variation process, which we didn't explain
• Kevin asks if she wants looping; she says to try it
• she forgets that loop is on during playback of first two variations and apologizes
• asks for 2 (major) again, then next set of variations
• says "I could see this getting easier to use once you played with it for a while. I'm having more problems with the task of figuring out what I like...."
• asks about tree navigation
  • Mike mentions Netscape/Mosaic, so she figures out Mark, Go, and Tree. Mike needs to explain Redo.
• she laughs halfway through the stretch variation (she doesn't like this one)
• asks for 5 (invert) again
• she usually listens to looped variations twice or less
• "They're all starting to sound the same to me."

Questions

• how difficult to remember what's what?
  • not too bad
  • markers on sliders would help
• rating or ranking better?
  • ranking probably easier
  • she mentions "if I were a musician...."
  • sounds like she thinks "rating" requires more musical knowledge than just setting sliders

The Choosing Interface

• Mike explains main differences
  • more knowledge of what's happening
  • pick best rather than rate all
• Mike mentions edit window and extra info, asks Kevin if they should be used
  • extra info not too useful for non-music types
• Kevin explains visual ("piano roll") notation and shows the theme while playing it
• she asks about number of pitches in edit window
• Mike explains the 6 variations in each batch before she listens to any
• play theme, she waits, Kevin asks if she wants to hear them sequentially; she says yes
• asks if she's suppose to pick one; picks transpose
• we mention that "new" variations won't really relate to her choice; she offers to pick another one
• we ask: "do you think names and visual representations help?"
  • yes -- probably more since she doesn't know what's going on
• asks about edit button, if we've designed the editor yet
• asks why have an edit button for each; not distracting, but curious
• on to second set; Mike explains variations
  • she says she can guess what some are
• asks to hear major (the second choice) first
  • departure from "play all sequentially" approach
  • she didn't see this one in the first set
• asks for rest in order
• picks append
• Kevin turns off looped playback
• she says it helps to have names
• in next set, asks for ones she hasn't heard yet by name
• asks difference between invert and transpose
• picks invert
• she says she knows she's heard harmony and stretch, doesn't like stretch

More Questions

• Which interface better? The second one.
  • helps to know what variations are doing
  • helps to have names
  • visual of pitches useful even though she doesn't read music (gives indication of motion up or down)
  • she likes big note changes and can rule out some options based on picture
• thinks going back followed by Redo might be confusing
  • ask if any indication of what level you're at
  • iteration number might be useful
  • disable forward arrow
  • Redo and Go might be combined
• not clear how to select a variation
• notices that she doesn't control which variations appear at each step
• Would names and/or visuals make Rating interface better?
  • asks how computer interprets her ratings
  • with "pick one" approach, she says she was still ranking them and picking the top one
  • loss of rating info if you're forced to pick one
• all the buttons on Choosing interface are overwhelming
  • alternative: select one, bring up window, then edit inside window
  • Kevin suggests master play and edit
  • Mike points out need for two clicks per play
  • subject points out wanting to play others while editing one

The Music Processor Interface

• we show her the basic idea
• thinks it would be useful for music types
• was wondering in others how you get your starting theme into the computer
• thinks you might want to start with music sheet, then bring a small piece into one of the other Goldberg interfaces
• points out that "Tree" (in other two interfaces) is strongly CS term, mentions family trees