Differently colored instrument strips

[unfa]

Hi everyone!

I think it could be a nice feature for improoving speed of work. Here how should it work:

- each created instrument (or sample if no istruments are used) gets a random color identification. It is displayed as a coloured rectangle next to instrument name edit box. Clicking on it with left mouse button opens a color selection dialog, where user can set the requested color. Right-clicking instantly changes color to new randomly generated one.
- in pattern view, a default background color is used everywhere, where no note is played. But each instrument cell's background (maybe note cell's too) until a ^^ or == is used has a current instrument color instead of default defined in color sheme.
-an additional feature would allow user to set genarated color's desired saturation and brightness (hue is random). An additional frame in Colors tab in Setup window. There is some room left

No more reading this tiny instrument number, you just SEE which instrument plays here!

Here is how I see it working:
http://www.mediafire.com/?dndyjjmlhcz

[LB]

This sounds like a great idea, if used correctly! *adds 1 point to the vote counter*

[Waxhead]

If someone does this please make it optional!

[LPChip]

I wonder if it is actually possible with the current pattern editor.

I know that it uses bitmaps for fonts instead of a simple textscreen, but ofcource I can still see a way to get colour there, as its already possible. The from note to note colouring seems to be hard though... What if you don't enter a note-off or note-cut? Will it create an endless note?

Or how about having several notes behind eachother with only one note-off, but the others still sound?

[Saga Musix]

especially BECAUSE the pattern is based on a bitmap, it should be easy to use different background or foreground colours. Believe me, there aren't really any technical issues - It's more like motivation that's lacking.

[LB]

I wonder if it is actually possible with the current pattern editor.

I know that it uses bitmaps for fonts instead of a simple textscreen, but ofcource I can still see a way to get colour there, as its already possible. The from note to note colouring seems to be hard though... What if you don't enter a note-off or note-cut? Will it create an endless note?

Or how about having several notes behind eachother with only one note-off, but the others still sound?

Well, maybe it could calculate the sample/instrument length based on the info it has to detirmine how long to make it. Just a guess, don't know how easy that'd be.