ME542 Assignment 5.

2 - Heuristic Evaluation of
Soundtrap Peter Zimmer and Richard Thompson

Introduction:

Soundtrap is an internet-based music sequencer. Similar to many other

sequencing programs such as Garageband, Pro Tools, Logic, and Mixcraft, Soundtrap

can be used to record audio such as musical instruments and vocals, utilize sound

loops available within the program, as well as record and playback MIDI data with a

number of software based synthesizers,. Soundtrap differs from other computer music

sequencers in that it is based entirely online, rather than locally storing any information

on the user’s hardware. All projects and sounds are stored and accessed on the

internet, through either a web browser, or through Soundtrap’s custom app available for

tablets and smartphones.

By situating its operating environment online, Soundtrap allows for increased

connectivity and collaboration by its users. Users can invite others to join them in

creating or modifying an existing audio project, and teachers can assign projects to their

students. Additionally, collaborators on a project can instant message and video chat

within the program itself, rather than resorting to outside applications for these

purposes. Furthermore, Soundtrap works on most devices, from both Windows and

Mac PC’s, to smartphones and tablets running both Android software, and iOS. This

makes Soundtrap much more usable than competing programs such as Garageband,

that are available only on iOS or Mac OS.

Soundtrap’s intended audience is anyone with an interest in music

production/creation. Soundtrap’s user interface will be familiar to anyone who has used

any music sequencing programs before, while also offering enough ease of use for

anyone without any music sequencing experience. Soundtrap has also targeted
ME542 Assignment 5.2 - Heuristic Evaluation of
Soundtrap Peter Zimmer and Richard Thompson

teachers, with a specific Educational tier for usability and pricing. The educational

account allows teachers to invite and group their students by class, create assignments,

and integrate with Google Classroom.

1. Visibility of System Status

Soundtrap does an excellent job conveying system status information to its user.

For example, when a project is first loaded, a status bar indicates the amount of time left

to load. When a project is playing, the ‘play’ button changes to ‘pause,’ and a small

meter visually indicates the volume. When auditioning an audio loop, a small status

indicator changes to show loading and playing. Finally, a play cursor moves in real-time

as the project plays, indicating where in time the song is playing.

2. Match Between System and the Real World

Soundtrap’s user interface is very conventional, and its visual elements should

be familiar to anyone with any music sequencing experience. Standard transport

controls of ‘record,’ play,’ ‘fast-forward,’ and ‘rewind’ are present, as well as volume

knobs and sliders. ‘Tempo,’ ‘song key,’ and the ‘metronome’ are all common musical

terms, and the ‘Loops Library’ is a familiar concept thanks to Apple’s Garageband. Also

present are standard computer operating elements such as the menu bar at the top of

browser, with options for ‘File,’ ‘Edit,’ Settings,’ and ‘Tutorials,’ as well as buttons for

‘Undo/Redo’ and ‘Save.’ While these elements are similar in the tablet/smartphone

version, certain elements have been relegated to the menus in order to facilitate the

smaller screen size of a smartphone.

3. Error Recovery and Exiting

ME542 Assignment 5.2 - Heuristic Evaluation of
Soundtrap Peter Zimmer and Richard Thompson

Soundtrap offers numerous ways to fix errors and leave the program. Simple

back and forward arrow symbols in the toolbar offer familiar Undo and Redo functions,

allowing the user to retrace their steps forward or backward. These functions can also

be found under the ‘Edit’ menu in the toolbar. Exiting the program can be done in

numerous ways, from using the ‘back’ button in the user’s browser, to clicking on the

Soundtrap logo, to clicking ‘Exit to Profile’ in the drop down menu. Of note, however, is

the absence of the Soundtrap logo in the tablet app, making it slightly harder to exit from

the app, as opposed to within the browser.

4. Consistency and Standards

While Soundtrap has done a great job implementing its chosen features, one

area of heuristic concern relates to the consistency between the browser interface on a

personal computer (PC) and the app interface (or browser interface) on a tablet or

smartphone. While they offer almost all of the same features, these two operating

environments are not identical, making it slightly difficult to transition between the two.

For example, while the browser has the transport controls at the bottom of the screen,

the app has them located at the top of the screen. In the browser version, the

metronome, song tempo, and song key are all permanently displayed and accessed at

the bottom of the screen, while in the app version, these elements are hidden within the

‘Settings’ menu. Additionally, the app version does not allow for the use of a MIDI

controller, nor does it offer video chat capabilities, both features available in the browser

version on a personal computer.

5. Error Prevention
ME542 Assignment 5.2 - Heuristic Evaluation of
Soundtrap Peter Zimmer and Richard Thompson

Soundtrap has made it fairly difficult to encounter many problems while using the

program. For example, the computer keyboard does not do anything other than trigger

sounds. In other sequencing programs such as Garageband, if a user types the ‘R’ key,

the program will start recording. In Soundtrap, other than accidentally clicking the

‘record’ button with the mouse, it is hard to make an inadvertent recording mistake. If a

user does make a mistake, the ‘Undo’ command will fix things. Since Soundtrap is a

creative environment, there are no real right or wrong “answers,” and because of this,

the user does not need to worry about making any big mistakes.

6. Navigation Support

Navigation support is another area where there is a large difference between the

PC browser version and the tablet app/browser version. On a personal computer,

hovering the mouse over any menu item will bring up a small label indicating the

function of said button. The tablet version of Soundtrap lacks this functionality, making

it more difficult for the unacquainted user to distinguish unknown icons. Additionally, the

PC browser version offers a ‘Support’ search bar that is always visible at the bottom of

the screen. This is extremely useful if the user has questions about the program or its

functionality. Unfortunately, this ‘Support’ feature is missing from the tablet version of

the program.

7. Aesthetics

Aesthetically, Soundtrap has done an excellent job with the PC browser version,

but has left some things to be desired with the tablet version. The design of the

interface is easy to use, and familiar to anyone who has used the extremely popular

Garageband, or most other music sequencing software. Everything that has been
ME542 Assignment 5.2 - Heuristic Evaluation of
Soundtrap Peter Zimmer and Richard Thompson

included is thoughtfully laid-out on the screen and straightforward for a user with any

computer experience. Soundtrap has managed to keep fonts and icons at a small

enough size to facilitate a large number of tracks, while keeping them large enough to

read fairly easily. However, while the interface is easily scalable on the PC browser

version, there is no way to make things any bigger on the tablet version, a possible

problem for anyone with any vision impairments. The relegation of certain project

settings (metronome, song key, tempo, cycle mode and grid settings) to the ‘Settings’

menu on the tablet can also make things slightly confusing for a user familiar with the

PC browser version. While not ideal, these differences are indeed necessary for the

reduced screen size of a smartphone (although, not necessarily for a tablet).

Additionally, as mentioned earlier, while the transport controls are found at the bottom of

the screen on the PC version, they are in a different location on the tablet/smartphone

version, an aesthetic inconsistency.

8. Help and Documentation

Soundtrap truly excels in the help and documentation category. There are

numerous video tutorials available from the website, ranging from general music

sequencing instruction, to Soundtrap specific functionality. These tutorials are available

via a direct link from almost every page on the website. Unfortunately, the tutorials are

missing from the ‘Support’ page, a slightly frustrating omission. The Support page does

offer answers to numerous frequently asked questions, on topics including general

audio, music production, and Soundtrap functionality. These questions can also be

accessed from the support box on the studio main page, allowing the user to remain

within the program to find the knowledge they need. As mentioned previously, this
ME542 Assignment 5.2 - Heuristic Evaluation of
Soundtrap Peter Zimmer and Richard Thompson

functionality is absent from the tablet/smartphone version. Additionally, while the

tutorials are available on the main page in the tablet app (under the ‘Tutorials’ menu in

the toolbar), the ‘FAQ,’ ‘Tutorials and support on Facebook,’ and ‘Keyboard Shortcuts’

menu items do not function correctly in the tablet/smartphone app, a bug that needs to

be addressed. Also, while there are a good number of tutorials available to view on the

Soundtrap website, and within the app, there are additional tutorials only available on

the Soundtrap Vimeo website, which would be useful for any user.