MIDI Note Color in Piano Roll Editor

[hotzmarino]

Hi,
It would be nice if:

REQUEST
In the Piano Roll Editor I need to have the Track colors in the MIDI notes, in the same way we see them in Color Picker and not darkened by default.

BENEFIT
Production becomes more easier. This allows to immediately recognize, even after hours of work, which instruments are in the MIDI window without straining eyes.

REASON
I work with a huge number of MIDI tracks and I need coding the color for each instrument.
Ex:
Red> Violins I
Yellow> Violins II
Green> Viola
and so on.

In Piano Roll Editor when I choose color as Track or Media the color is darkened by a gradient:
if I want to edit a huge number of tracks it (the dark gradient) does not helps at all and working becomes confusing and tiring , eyes are straining more and more.

IMPLEMENTATION SUGGESTION

1 - We can use that dark gradient as an option.
2 - in the theme development tweaker it would be nice to set "MIDI editor note selected/unselected (mid_note_colormap_overrides)" colors like an alpha

Ciao!

[tpunk]

I was disappointed that I couldn't find the setting because I thought about the same thing.
If the track control panel is not colored, MIDI notes will not have gradation, so I would like such a setting.

[Daodan]

+1!

[mccrabney]

strongly agreed, it's wrong to choose a color only to have a program darken it automatically.

imagine if word processors did this for text color.

[DMDComposer]

+1


Working with large templates it is vital that when I open several items of tracks in the Midi editor that I can instantly relate which track is which by the exact color.

The current state with the off-shade gradient of the track color is disappointing and unexpected. Hopefully, this is an easy addition that can be added in a future update.

Looking forward to it!

Cheers,
DMDComposer

[hotzmarino]

Hi,

I also asked to IDDQD (great YouTube channel to learn/understand workflow in Reaper).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1mafXgMv4k

with no results.

Everything can be personalized but this feaure seems to be misssing.

[hotzmarino]

Originally Posted by DMDComposer

+1


Working with large templates it is vital that when I open several items of tracks in the Midi editor that I can instantly relate which track is which by the exact color.

The current state with the off-shade gradient of the track color is disappointing and unexpected. Hopefully, this is an easy addition that can be added in a future update.

Looking forward to it!

Cheers,
DMDComposer

Hi DMDComposer

I have also other important requests at https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=265119

If you have time, when you 'll have time please go to the link and add your composer opinion.

Best

[tapemelancholy]

+1

Some kind of midi_note_overlay.png would be nice to have for coloring notes in track mode. Standart colors are too dark

[dirtrider]

Has anyone figured out how to get track colored midi notes to stay the same color and not darken?

[tohubohu]

https://forum.cockos.com/showpost.ph...20&postcount=2

[mccrabney]

Originally Posted by White Tie

The color by track / media item functionality is newer than midi_note_colormap. It doesn't use it. Ah! you're thinking, then it probably calculates the difference between the MIDI editor note selected and unselected definitions, right? Nope.

..IIRC, its just one of those many, many things in Reaper that are not themable.

circa 2019

https://forum.cockos.com/showpost.ph...66&postcount=8

[mccrabney]

here's a side by side of some colored tracks and their corresponding color-by-track MIDI, in a MIDI editor in which all project MIDI is visible (but not editable) at a moderate opacity:



note that REAPER saves MIDI note selection status item-by-item, which is cool, but it also represents that selection status via removing the shading that is applied to the actual track color.

if this was themable i'd remove (or at least decrease the intensity) of the darkening and allow my chosen note borders/fill color to indicate selection (green, above).

[hotzmarino]

In Piano Roll Editor when I choose color as "Track" or "Media" the color is darkened by a gradient.

When working with a huge number of tracks the dark gradient does not helps readibility, lookig at CC (a very critical area for MIDI instruments) is a real bet with the eyes.
Working becomes confusing and tiring , eyes are straining more and more.


IMPLEMENTATION SUGGESTION
1 - We can use that dark gradient as an option.
2 - in the theme development tweaker it would be nice to set "MIDI editor note selected/unselected (mid_note_colormap_overrides)" colors like an alpha

BENEFIT
Production becomes more easier. This allows to immediately recognize, even after hours of work, which instruments are in the MIDI window without straining eyes.


Thank You

P.S.:
In the two attachments readibility is much better in CHANNEL than TRACK.

[dangguidan]

Using colors to manipulate a large number of MIDI tracks in Reaper is a laborious task, and I avoided this operation in other ways.
My track colors are almost all default, so the note colors in the piano roll will not follow the track, and this color mode is clearer.
Generally speaking, the playing notes or CC are easy to find, so my action is to select the notes that need to be edited, and then shortcut switch to these tracks. (Implemented using scripts)

[tpunk]

Originally Posted by hotzmarino

In Piano Roll Editor when I choose color as "Track" or "Media" the color is darkened by a gradient.

When working with a huge number of tracks the dark gradient does not helps readibility, lookig at CC (a very critical area for MIDI instruments) is a real bet with the eyes.
Working becomes confusing and tiring , eyes are straining more and more.


IMPLEMENTATION SUGGESTION
1 - We can use that dark gradient as an option.
2 - in the theme development tweaker it would be nice to set "MIDI editor note selected/unselected (mid_note_colormap_overrides)" colors like an alpha

BENEFIT
Production becomes more easier. This allows to immediately recognize, even after hours of work, which instruments are in the MIDI window without straining eyes.


Thank You

P.S.:
In the two attachments readibility is much better in CHANNEL than TRACK.

Yes, I have the exact same idea.
Dark gradients are basically unsuitable for dark-colored editors and are a major limitation when considering the color scheme of a theme.

Also, the mute notes that are superimposed here are difficult to see depending on the color of the editor, so it must be possible to adjust them.
Furthermore, it would be even better if the muted notes could be expressed in a color based on the original color instead of just gray.

If the color of the editor is adjustable, I think that the color of each kind of note should be adjustable as well.

[hotzmarino]

Originally Posted by dangguidan

Using colors to manipulate a large number of MIDI tracks in Reaper is a laborious task, and I avoided this operation in other ways.
My track colors are almost all default, so the note colors in the piano roll will not follow the track, and this color mode is clearer.
Generally speaking, the playing notes or CC are easy to find, so my action is to select the notes that need to be edited, and then shortcut switch to these tracks. (Implemented using scripts)

Thank you dangguidan.
Every tip is always welcome.

I suggest to have lighter colours as an option, so everybody can choose the workfow that he prefers.

[lolol]

+1
Please, give us the choice to remove the gradient color.

[mccrabney]

photoshop: new color picker tool, but instead of picking the color you click on, have one several shades darker!

[hotzmarino]

I work with huge midi projects.
Do someone think that this help or does not help?

[dangguidan]

Originally Posted by hotzmarino

I work with huge midi projects.
Do someone think that this help or does not help?

This setting will definitely cause dizziness, so I rarely change the color of the track, and the color in the MIDI editor follows the source.
I once tried to use track colors to find the track where MIDI data is located, but it ended in failure.
In large-scale MIDI multi track editing, MIDI data is relatively easy to select, so I changed my thinking and now the entire operation process is not troubled.

The script is downloaded here and loaded in the MIDI editor.
https://stash.reaper.fm/47417/Editab...ed%20event.lua

[mccrabney]

Originally Posted by hotzmarino

I work with huge midi projects.
Do someone think that this help or does not help?

depends on your management

if this issue gets fixed, we could use multiple shades for similar instruments, which might help a very dense project like this:

shades of blue for woodwinds, where lower octaves are represented by darker shades of blue. you could easily sneak 4 different shades/instruments out of a single color this way.

right now, we can't do this because notes aren't colored by track, they're colored by track and then colored some more: so when you enter the MIDI editor, you wouldn't be able to tell your piccolo from your dickolo. this means we can't choose shading, and instead need to pick very distinct colors for our different instruments -- colors that won't appear like other colors even when tinted.

this depletes the rainbow fast.

[hotzmarino]

I greatly appreciate the suggestions and courtesy of those who replies to me and I thank them.
But I am first and foremost a musician (unfortunately not so a great one) but usually I deal with a large number of MIDI tracks.

When I look at the first of the two images I can only say that there are a lot of tracks. How can I on the fly say at marker 4 the horn what does it do?
I spend time zooming in and out in a forest of lines.

When I get into the MIDI editor I feel like I'm inside a quiz: everything is blurry and dark.
Very elegant if there are a few midi tracks but not needed for a large number such as orchestra, plus choir, plus synths plus dozen of midi notes at the same time.


I like Reaper and the whole community and I fight a lot about this which causes me a lot of discomfort to the eyes and time wasting.

I hope those who disagree with me will forgive me.

[lolol]

Hello, hotzmarino, i have exatly the same problems.
Your explanation is very good. All what you say is right and there is actually no solutions.

I have big projects and i need to use midi editor in edition multi track/item.
So, i use the view color track/item. I have tested dark, light, medium backgrounds, it's always ugly and the visibility of notes is poor.

There is no visibility problem when we use the view color source or channel or pitch or velocity. Probleme only with view color track/item.

The solutions in mode view color track/item
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 the gradient -> please remove it
2 notes are darker than track/item -> please exatly the same color
3 the minimum width note is too small -> please add 1 or 2 pixels

Before reaper I used Cubase and the visibility is very very good, very simple, same color, not gradient and minimum notes wider.
Please the solutions exist.

Of course i prefer Reaper for many other reasons.
Thank you and congratulations for the version 7, i test it yesterday and i love it.

[lolol]

INCREDIBLE !!! I'M SO HAPPY

v7.0pre27 - September 20 2023
+ MIDI editor: improve color matching when coloring notes by track or media item

i have tested it and 2 changements
gradient has been removed
the track color and track note is exatly the same.

it is fabulous. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you........
You are the best.

[hotzmarino]

Originally Posted by lolol

INCREDIBLE !!! I'M SO HAPPY

v7.0pre27 - September 20 2023
+ MIDI editor: improve color matching when coloring notes by track or media item

i have tested it and 2 changements
gradient has been removed
the track color and track note is exatly the same.

it is fabulous. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you........
You are the best.

+1 Thank you guys to all of you!

[smandrap]

Nice, but still not quite right for CCs. See https://forum.cockos.com/showpost.ph...7&postcount=20