I am a musician.  A DAW is a tool that I use to create music.  I don't care if the UI is day-glow orange with purple spots as long as it 'enhances' my ability to make music.  Ultimately, when I am alone in my studio working on a project with a client, it is of absolutely no consequence what others think about the tools that I use, the way that I use them, or how those tools rate with the 'paranoid critical village'.  If the result that I get was achieved with alacrity and a minimum of distress, and the client is happy with the product . . . I continue to use those production tools.
 
I have been using Sonar for years.  Almost every major change that has been made to the product has benefited 'my' needs as a musician.  So, I continue to use Sonar and to recommend it to other musicians.  When I tried 'Tungsten' i found it a bit easier (for me) to navigate the DAW than with than the old UI.  For that reason I am continuing to use it.  If that had not been the case, I would have reverted back to the previous interface . . . this whole 'controversy' seems a bit excessive to me.
 
As I understand it, this is the first step in providing a series of interchangable UIs, and a first step to providing a utility that will allow users to design and implement their own UI schemes.  Seems like a good idea and an excellent first step to me.

I think that the new dark is pretty ugly. However, I also think that it does make somethings easier to see/understand. So, I think it's a win overall. Besides, I'm still young and my eyesight is fine, and a common thing I'm seeing is that it's been a real boon to those with poorer eyesight. Which I think is great. I want a dark theme, too. Just not sure that I want that dark theme. It's not great, but it is okay. I'm not too concerned with my aesthetic feelings about it as long as I can use it efficiently. Though my attitude towards it might come with the knowledge that custom themes are coming eventually, which I think I'm going to be blown away seeing what the community comes up with.

Well, if anyone is still reading this idiotic thread........  Generally speaking I don't like the trend in recent times to make software darker. So I am really surprised by how much I like Tungsten. I much prefer it to Mercury. 
 
Good job Cakewalk.
 
To those of you who find that this new theme has ruined your DAW experience: Quit whining, grab a chunk of cheese, and switch back to Mercury.
 
BTW, calling something ugly and insulting those who created it does not qualify as constructive criticism.

subtlearts

mettelus
 
... while I was messing with PNG files today I turned to a "buttonize" tool for ones I re-did to give texture to them. That particular effect is older than dirt, but definitely makes the UI easier to navigate (visually).

I'd be interested in seeing a screenshot of the result of that, if you find a moment... 

I used Panu's Dark Side 2015 theme for the base, and modified only the three files I referenced in this post. I ended up making the green a little darker when I buttonized them, and the final result was this:
 
 
I used a VERY old copy of Paint Shop Pro 5 (1998) to buttonize them, which was simple to select the appropriate PNG area and then "Image->Effects->Buttonize..." with the following settings applied:
 
 
I chose PSP5 simply because it is a "no muss, no fuss" graphics program that does the major functions Photoshop does without the need to search for what you want to do.
 
N.B., I am still on Manchester1, so do not have the new theme dll files. One could do the entire UI per the above, but it would be an effort in extreme patience, and not readily share-able (but I honestly wanted the FX buttons "fixed" on MY version).

Geo524

coolbass

Dave000


I use Photoshop, RGB 16 million colors, Jpg file... It's truly a no brainer. What I see is what I get. 
I've been doing computer graphics for over 20 years so I could be wrong but I'm not!
 
 
 

So, after 20 years in computer graphics, you are really proud of that avatar, I suppose.
You almost can see the 16 million colors.
 
Keep working, You will get better at it, eventually.
 
Tungsten is very well done, despite your derogatory remarks.

Now that's good!

lol, yea I don't really care about art as I can do it in my sleep... fast and done! And reality as an artist I do know that a human can not see 16 mil colors... and who cares! BUT I will point out... TODAY's Splat update seems to be working on the problems that I have been talking about! So, WHAT! lol... I'm right AGAIN! lol.. and I couldn't care less....

• Non-segmented meters have increased contrast.
• The Now Time marker in the time ruler has more depth.
• The current track name background is orange.
• Track name colors are consistent between the Track view and Console view.
• Track view menu bar uses the correct colors.
• Various text color changes.

Dave000
 
lol, yea I don't really care about art as I can do it in my sleep... fast and done! And reality as an artist I do know that a human can not see 16 mil colors... and who cares! BUT I will point out... TODAY's Splat update seems to be working on the problems that I have been talking about! So, WHAT! lol... I'm right AGAIN! lol.. and I couldn't care less....

For your information there are other threads in this forum where users constructively discus about the new theme and the minor suggestions, fixes and improvement’s they look forward for.
 
And perhaps every possible improvement will be implemented, coz its Sonar!
 
Don't be surprised of that and don’t be idiotic to believe you have anything to do with it. Really? you were talking abt these problems they improved? All I can see you talking is how everything about tungsten is crap and how the people who created it are crap and not an artist as you are. All I can say is once cakewalk is ready with the tools for UI customization you be away with it create your own great interface and be happy with it. See bakers seem to have solution even for people like you. You can be a little happy about it.

mettelus

subtlearts
 
I'd be interested in seeing a screenshot of the result of that, if you find a moment... 

I used Panu's Dark Side 2015 theme for the base, and modified only the three files I referenced in this post. I ended up making the green a little darker when I buttonized them...
 
N.B., I am still on Manchester1, so do not have the new theme dll files. One could do the entire UI per the above, but it would be an effort in extreme patience, and not readily share-able (but I honestly wanted the FX buttons "fixed" on MY version).

Thanks. I misunderstood though, I thought you were modding Tungsten, putting back a bit of dimension to the flat look of certain elements. That may be possible, but I'm too busy/lazy to do it myself  ... plus I'm actually OK with the flat look, I was just curious. As you were! Nothing to see here! 

I reserve the right as the Troll you all believe I am to arrange or rearrange what I say, think or believe at any given moment to conserve and defend my integrity as a Troll. 
I must say that Tungsten2 looks a bit crisper and more balanced.
 

Troll rhymes with A-hole.