Please post your ideas, comments and suggestions in the discussion thread for this request.

Colour tinted , not colour-tinted.



Colour-tintable Inserts and Parameter Knobs

Default behaviour is to create a palette of 16 colours, give these colours names by which they appear in the list, such as "Dynamics", "EQ" or "Reverb", and then assign these name-colour swatches to plugins in the FX browser.

This default behaviour is the fallback after any additional rules the user can apply. The rule list of the SWS Track Auto Color configuration window is suggested.

Those additonal rules can be

• Plugin category or folder in the FX browser (for even easier setup)
  
  
• a simple text pattern like "Audio Damage" or "Cockos" to colour by manufacturer.
  
  
• Plugin type (JS, VST instruments, AU and so on)

Preset rules in order of execution could then be:

1. Plugin Type
   
   Only the VST instruments need a set colour, since they're outside any of the other categories like dynamics or delay for example.
   
   
2. Plugin category or folder, i.e. My Folders in the FX browser
   
   Have some folders already set up with the Cockos plugins sorted in. It's a good way to establish a decent standard like the default theme did.
   
   EQ, dynamics, delay, reverb, pitch and other, with a little colour block left of the folder name.
   
   This creates an easy way to add plugins to a category with simple drag'n'drop. By the way, this should not switch to the target folder any more. During sorting, it's rare to want to see the result until you're finished sorting.
   
   
3. Text pattern in plugin description
   
   Plugin manufacturer, special names and so on.
   
   
   
4. Per Plugin colour
   
   This overrides all others and allows for the most customization. Indeed, there are some users who will want to colour their inserts and subsequent parameter knobs on a seession by session basis. If implemented, this should only be facilitated in the FX Chain window with a colour patch left of the plugin entry(like the track manager does it) and the MCP Insert slot section as a context action.

For the tinting, 25% opacity looks good in the mockup.



Small Bonus FRs for the MCP(and TCP in some cases)

• Selective Per-Plugin Parameter Knob display
  
  When screen realestate is tight, you might only be able to show the parameter knobs of one of your plugins.
  
  Then an idea by Spaceman Tree suggests we pick which plugins' parameter knobs we have displayed by middle-clicking on an insert slot. Modifier + middle-click could do it for selected or all tracks, if that plugin is present on the other tracks. Middle-click on the same plugin again to show all parameter knobs.
  
  
• Drag'n'Drop of parameter knobs in the track MCP/TCP
  
  We have this for the inserts. One has to delete the knobs right now to build the right layout as if this were a brick house. Build a better parameter knob section, faster.
  
  
• Parameter Knob graphics in addition to colour, per plugin/category/pattern/folder
  
  That's right. It would increase to installer size by a megabyte or two at least to include more Parameter knob choices, but it probably helps.
  
  
• Save parameter knob config in plugin presets
  
  Else the user will have to save all plugins in their own FX chain or track template to reuse parameter knobs with full renaming.
  
  Also, it would help to establish a default parameter knob config for every plugin, because all the users out there have plenty of presets without such things.
  
  Thus, an optional default knob set per plugin would be established with an action such as "Save parameter knobs as default for plugin", triggered in the FX chain window or the context menu of the insert slots on the MCP. Any preset without a defined parameter knob set would use this default set.
  
  
• Virtual layout grid for inserts, knobs and sends
  
  Lining up the same effects across a larger session can become important, especially when using such a grid can make it easier to navigate the tracks visually.
  
  This would not be a static slot system, but just a way to make a visual layout easier. Some people will want to keep a way handy to insert a plugin before all others without the trouble of having to move it. The next item deals with that particular problem as well.
  
  To make this ever more useful, some sorting functions could be provided, such as "Place same plugin instance in same virtual grid slot on all/selected tracks)".
  
  
• Inserting and Replacing plugins
  
  This is a context menu function, though some may wish to do a mouse combo, especially for replacments.
  
  Often requested, often missed. The user currently has to perform several actions to pull these off, so this is a convenience function.
  
  Right now :
  Insert - Instantiate new fx, then move to final slot
  Replace - delete old fx, instantiate new fx then move to final slot
  
  
  
• Change send target via context menu of send, and in IO window
  
  Pretty simple, right ? Context menu on the send slots, dropdown in the I/O.
  
  
  
• Display receives in send area if no sends are active
  
  Even so, sends could be tacked on at the bottom if necessary. The receives could have its knob on the other side for example.