Firstly, I would like to mention that I’m thoroughly enjoying AbleSet. It has become an essential part of my live setup, and I truly appreciate all the work that has gone into it.
I have one suggestion that I think could make live performance even better.
During a show, users need to understand the current playback state instantly, without relying on small icons or subtle indicators.
Current Behavior
Currently, a looped section is only indicated by:
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The small loop icon.
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The loop brackets around the section.
While functional, these indicators can be difficult to notice on stage.
More importantly, there is no clear visual distinction between several playback states that have different behaviors.
The Problem
From the perspective of a performer, these are four distinct states:
1. Normal Playback
The section is playing normally and will continue to the next section.
2. Loop Armed
The section is playing for the first time, but Loop has been enabled. It will repeat when it reaches the end.
3. Currently Looping
The section has already repeated at least once and is actively looping.
4. Loop Exit Armed
While the section is looping, Loop is turned off. The current repetition will finish, then playback will continue to the next section.
Although these states behave differently, they look almost identical.
For me, the most critical moment is the transition from Currently Looping to Loop Exit Armed. After disabling the loop, there isn’t an immediate visual confirmation that the command has been received. During a live performance, this can create uncertainty because I can’t immediately tell whether the section will exit the loop after the current pass or continue looping.
I know there have been previous requests to make the Loop button or looped sections more visually obvious. My suggestion is slightly different. Rather than simply making looping more noticeable, I’m proposing distinct visual indicators for the different playback states of a section. The goal is not just to know that looping is enabled, but to immediately understand whether a section is armed to loop, actively looping, or scheduled to exit the loop after the current pass.
Suggested Solution
Rather than changing the section’s color, I think it would be better to preserve the user-selected section color and add visual overlays to communicate the playback state.
Many users assign colors to identify song sections (Intro, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, etc.), so preserving those colors helps maintain quick visual recognition.
Possible visual indicators could include:
| State | Suggested Visual Feedback |
|---|---|
| Normal Playback | Current appearance. |
| Loop Armed | Animated or pulsing border, dashed outline, blinking edge, or subtle moving pattern while keeping the original color. |
| Currently Looping | Similar visual treatment, making it immediately obvious that the section is actively repeating. |
| Loop Exit Armed | A different animation or overlay (different blink rate, animated border, moving dashes, etc.) indicating that the current repetition will be the last. |
The important part is that the playback state is communicated through overlays or animations, while the section’s assigned color remains unchanged.
Why This Matters
During a live performance, there is often only a split second to glance at the screen.
Ideally, I should be able to answer these questions instantly:
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Is this section going to repeat?
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Is it currently looping?
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Did my command to disable the loop register successfully?
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Will this be the last repetition before moving on?
I believe this would make looping even more intuitive and give performers much more confidence when making live decisions on stage.