The Tune-to-Sheets project aims to simplify the often complex process of music transcription by providing a tool that converts audio into readable sheet music. This project phase focuses on refining user interactions and designing wireframes based on user feedback. The goal is to enhance usability, intuitiveness, and functionality in response to insights gathered from internal evaluations and informal feedback sessions. Building on Phase I, which explored competitive analysis, persona and scenario creation, and UI sketches, this phase targets external perspectives and wireframe designs to inform the next steps in development.
To develop a clearer understanding of user needs and challenges, we used two research methods:
Cognitive Walkthrough.
Purpose: The cognitive walkthrough method was used to identify potential usability issues by observing how users (represented by personas) might interact with the wireframes to accomplish typical tasks. This method focuses on user knowledge and feedback at each step, revealing where guidance, error feedback, or visual cues may be needed.
Procedure: Four participants completed predefined tasks within the wireframes while responding to two core questions:
“Will the user know what to do at this step?”
“Will the user know they did the right thing and made progress toward the goal?”
This method allowed us to pinpoint specific areas where users might encounter confusion, providing a basis for design adjustments.
Informal Feedback Session (n=65)
Purpose: This session was conducted to gather broad user feedback on user expectations, suggested features, and anticipated frequency of use.
Procedure: During a live demonstration with a CSCI 430 class, students engaged with the Tune-to-Sheets prototype and answered questions on its potential use, expectations, and feature requests. Their feedback provided insights into immediate usability and potential long-term features that could enhance the product’s appeal to a broader audience.
Cognitive Walkthrough
Error Feedback: Users needed immediate error messages, especially during login. This will help them understand if they’ve entered incorrect information and provide quick guidance on resolving errors.
Enhanced Visibility of Sign-Up and Guest Access: The options for account creation and guest access took time to become visible. Users suggested increasing the prominence of these options to help first-time users easily identify different login paths.
Confirmation Cues for Actions: Participants highlighted the need for visual confirmations (e.g., notifications) to indicate successful actions, such as uploads or navigation steps, allowing them to feel secure in their progress.
Guidance with Tooltips or Onboarding: Evaluators recommended implementing tooltips or a brief onboarding guide to introduce key features. This would help new users feel confident navigating the tool and understanding its functionality.
Informal Feedback Session
Anticipated Use Cases: Participants reported that they would use the tool to convert complex music pieces, suggesting that features supporting playback, editing, and customization would be useful.
Suggested Features:
History Tracking: Some users recommended a log or history feature that would allow them to track previous uploads and conversions. Web View of Sheet Music: There was a strong preference for an in-browser display of the converted sheet music, which allowed users to try the tool without commitment.
Instrument-Specific Adjustments: Participants suggested that users should be able to select the type of instrument, tailoring the conversion output to the specific instrument used. **
Based on these findings, the following recommendations were developed to guide future design work:
Refine Menu Navigation and Visibility:
Navigation: Reorganize the main menu on the homepage to provide clear, instinctive paths to core features, such as the file converter and editing options.
Enhanced Sign-Up and Guest Access: Increase the visibility of sign-up and guest access options to allow users greater flexibility in engaging with the tool. A guest option will remove barriers for first-time users and support initial exploration.
Improve Feedback Mechanisms:
Expanded Pages for Key Functions:
Enhanced Homepage: Redesign the homepage to incorporate onboarding, quick access to tutorials, and links to essential features, such as the file converter. This will help users navigate directly to high-use areas and onboard smoothly.
File Converter and Instrument Pages: Add dedicated pages for the file converter and instrument-specific settings, allowing for a more customizable experience that meets diverse user needs. These pages will offer tailored settings that improve transcription quality based on instrument type.
Despite the valuable insights obtained, there are some limitations to the research methods:
Limited Sample Size in Cognitive Walkthrough: The walkthrough may only capture some usability issues with four participants, especially regarding user demographics and backgrounds.
Persona Accuracy: While the personas used were detailed, they may not represent the full range of potential users, potentially introducing some bias in findings.
Restricted Demographic in Informal Feedback: Feedback was collected from a single class cohort, limiting user experience and needs diversity. Future research should include a more demographically varied user base to enhance reliability.