Comparing Compressor Interface Designs : How do visual displays on digital compressors impact how audio engineers navigate an interface and the choices they make?

Abstract: This research tested to see how audio engineers navigate and use compressors differently with alternative designs. A pre-study in the form of a semi-structured interview with a focus group was held to determine a compressor considered having a “good design” and a compressor considered having a “bad design”. An active test was conducted with audio engineer students to investigate if there is any connection between time it takes for an engineer to navigate a compressor depending on its design. The test also investigated patterns in how audio engineers use compressors differently depending on their design, and what makes it easier to navigate and more satisfactory to use. 6 paired T-test were made between different compressor designs and a video and screen capture was annotated to investigate how audio engineers navigated the compressor. The results showed that 2 out of 6 T-tests gave a significant result, meaning that the time it took to navigate some of the compressors against each other were affected by the design of the compressor interface. Results showed that there are many contributing factor towards why a compressors is easier navigate and more satisfactory to use, but with a slight tendency that “parameter controls”, “visual information” and “aesthetically pleasing” are the most important factors. No findings on how engineers might use compressors differently depending on its design were found. Some additional patterns for audio engineers using compressors were found as well.