Wish: Assign track color to gui-less instrument

Howdy all, I’m working on a project that uses multiple instances (10+ so far) of mda DX10 and JX10 gui-less instruments. I usually spread my work across 2 monitors and it would be nice if, when the instrument is initially assigned to a track, that it’s frame could take on the same color as the track identifier. It would sure help keep things organized. Few things irk me more than adjusting instrument parameters and then realizing it not the right instrument. :blush:

Cheers.

Howdy all, I’m working on a project that uses multiple instances (10+ so far) of mda DX10 and JX10 gui-less instruments. I usually spread my work across 2 monitors and it would be nice if, when the instrument is initially assigned to a track, that it’s frame could take on the same color as the track identifier. It would sure help keep things organized. Few things irk me more than adjusting instrument parameters and then realizing it not the right instrument. :blush:

Cheers.

+1000 to this!

This issue has already been discussed in the forums several times. This is also related to the issue of being able to classify the instruments by folders, sort them in some way. Also, add the color association between track and instrument. Or even between group and folder. The issue is to facilitate the existing association sight.

Maybe the idea of having the instrument box full of colors is not to the liking of many users. But if the design is well treated, it can be very effective. If in the next plans maybe there is compatibility for very high definition screens, maybe these visual details could be revised in depth.

Specifically, the instrument box can still improve a lot. At the moment, it does not even allow to select and to drag a set of instruments, because apparently, it would imply a lot of internal editing work if there are many patterns full of notes.I guess the characteristic of marking by colors is not that complicated.

The main (conceptual) problem is that instruments are not necessarily bound to tracks.

Perhaps the important word here is the small “necessarily”… because it’s entirely possible to route the output of an instrument (both plugins and sample-based instruments) to a track. Even, multiple tracks.

These are the possible scenarios:

  1. No track routing - can play on multiple tracks at the same time. Only possible with sample based instruments (.xrni) that doesn’t have a DSP chain.

  2. “Soft” routing, e.g. a plugin or .xrni with FX. Will output sound to whichever track the notes appear in.

  3. “Hard” routing to single track. For example, a plugin with one or two channels of audio routed to a specific track, or a .xrni with a single, routed DSP chain.

  4. Any combination of the above - e.g. mixed soft-routing and hard routing to one or more tracks. Possible with multi-out plugins, or .xrni with multiple DSP chains.

I’m not against using color. But to me, it’s not desirable to have “instrument colors” on top of track colors.

Instead, I would like to see colors appear alongside instruments when/if some kind of routing is taking place.

For example, imagine you have a “soft-routed” instrument, used in multiple tracks? It could update (change color) in order to signal that it’s notes are spread across multiple different tracks.

That alone would be very useful IMHO.

Thanks for the information guys. I see that I was only looking at one simple aspect, it can get complicated depending on the case. For now then I’ll have to watch more carefully what instrument I"m tweaking and wait to see what the future may bring. :wink:

Cheers.

Hm yes that freedom, being able to use a vsti on any track does not make that much sense. It even can be harmful, if you use different dsp chains. Ok but that is what the instrument number is for :slight_smile: Maybe you could color code the instrument number?

I findThe_Traveler’s idea pretty good. Couldn’t Renoise automatically color the instrument slot background / gui/guiless border with the color of the first track on which the instrument is used, only if the instrument routing is set to a specific track (so not being forced to evaluate any note instrument numbers)?

in my case i prefer the non dependence of the instrument panel to the tracks !!!

i can use an instrument …and write a melody across diff tracks … each note hitting diff delay configurations or reverb ,filters (on diff tracks of course) and such it so cool to be able to do that :slight_smile:

– in the case of organization …i usually just name the instrument and the track accordingly using the same name :slight_smile:

Instead, I would like to see colors appear alongside instruments when/if some kind of routing is taking place.

I guess we were all thinking about this. Do not?

Also, it could be “an option”. If the user does not want it, do not use it.This is the same as the colors of the tracks. Who does not want to use colors, then do not use them.

i can use an instrument …and write a melody across diff tracks … each note hitting diff delay configurations or reverb ,filters (on diff tracks of course) and such it so cool to be able to do that :slight_smile:

FYI, exactly this is not working with VSTis, only with Renoise instruments. Since the notes would have to be separately processed inside the plugin and not being summed. Of course that works for multichannel vstis, but still also here, you can’t use multiple dsp lanes for the same channel then. MPE would solve such scenarios. I imagine a MPE capable synth, Renoise supporting MPE and then doing fancy note panning.

MPE would solve such scenarios

AFAIK, MPE capable plugins are just capable of receiving more fancy MIDI input,but otherwise works the same.

I can’t see a scheme in which Renoise could guide/assist the plugin to achieve something like soft routing, even if the plugin was multi-channel.

I guess we were all thinking about this. Do not?

We do :slight_smile: I just brought this up because it sounded like you were suggesting an_independent_set of colors for instruments … which I was personally not a fan of.

I think, exactly because track colors have the potential to show the instrument routing, they should be allowed to shine through.

AFAIK a basic MPE will rotate each note’s midi channel, so each note will be processed individually and not mixed. so then you could route each multi channel as you like. Kind of workaround of note expression. At least the Equator synth coming with my Roli works like that… Am I wrong?