pxt-arcade
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microsoft
Music Editor User Study
The Problem
We would like to change our existing melody editor and provide a new suite of music editing features to arcade. This will hopefully draw in more users and provide more education opportunities.
Before we narrow on a design, we need to test the following hypotheses:
- Users will prefer tools that are more aligned with digital music makers / sequencers
- Users have some desire to learn music as it is taught professionally
- Users will want to use MakeCode for micro:bit more if there is a better music editing tool
- Users are dissatisfied with the current melody editor
- Users want to create their own original songs
- Users want to replicate existing songs they like
- Users want to upload an audio file they have into their projects
Based on our validation or invalidation of these hypotheses, we can move forward with a design
As an ancillary point of data, we are also sending a survey of questions to adults, primary music teachers and music enthusiasts. This is to help us understand how our music editor will fit into primary and secondary education.
Links
- OneNote User Study Outline
- Figma Design File
- Music Editor Survey
- User study videos
This user study is on pause for now, as we have switched priorities. Ideally, we should book 3-5 more user study candidates before validating any hypotheses
Would be great to get imporoved music and music editor support in MakeCode Arcade, on the same level of the 8-bit graphics and era, with recognizable tools(compared to other DAWs), to enhance the self made games, the user experience and for usefulness within music programming courses.
Everybody who is of some age by now, remember the amazing feeling when going from the sound of the IBM 386 PC tweet beeps and bops, to their first real soundcard or the much better experience on a C64/Amiga at the time. ;-)
Day and night!
