Paul G
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X3 Colors (SOLVED, sort of...)
I know this was discussed to death when X3 came out and I've read as many of those threads as I could find. I'm not here to rehash the problems with color customization but rather to ask how all of you have dealt with the short comings? How are you setting things up in X3? I have just recently installed X3 and I'm trying to get everything set up to my liking. I love being able to apply colors to the tracks and buses but not being able to set the clip background defaults so they automatically update or even change those dark grey colors except manually via the Inspector is going to be tough. The whole "dark theme" that developers seem to be using these days, (from plugins to websites), is very annoying to me. I've had to set my monitors to be darker that default because I just cannot stand the high contrast and overly bright colors the defaults produce. I guess my eyes are going. Now everything in Sonar is even more dark. Much of the text on Sonar's Control Bar is very hard, (if not impossible), to read. And now the very dark audio and midi clips.... What are you guys doing? I've downloaded Panu's Duckbar but have not tried it out yet. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks. Paul 
post edited by Paul G - 2014/09/26 13:25:17
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deswind
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/17 23:22:53
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I love X3. My only complaint is that I still miss the color themes of 8.5.3.
But it is an awesome program and worth it with this annoyance.
I like light clips with dark waves or midi notes. I like having the next recorded clip match the color scheme that is already on that track without having to make a couple more moves.
But I still love X3 because of how it sound and its audio engine, and frankly everything else.
I still have 8.5.3 on my computer but I never use it.
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stickman393
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/17 23:48:05
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I gave in and went with the whole dark clip/bright waveform thing. It helps to completely rebuild your projects from scratch in X3, and not have any older color overrides.
Then I set up my busses with colors I like, which tend to be a bit brighter/less saturated than the defaults in the color palette popup which to my mind, are too dull.
Once I've set the buss colors up - and become used to the coding - then the clips automatically take on the custom colors and I am content with the results. I got used to it. Do I prefer it? No, but I certainly don't hate it, and I no longer wish to waste energy fighting with SONAR about clip colors.
Note: For my string quartet, I override the track colors because with multi-part midi editing, I need my 4-5 bright colored and differentiated midi notes in the PRV.
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brconflict
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/18 00:39:03
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I've gotten used to the current color scheme, but it's more limited in imagination for my taste. I do like the customization in color of the tracks themselves, but even those are lacking artistic appeal to me. I recently stumbled upon a screenshot of X1. I still can't get over how well thought out the color scheme was for that, the backlit tracks, especially. The color choices really had some pop and set X1 apart from all the other DAW's. My eyes were immediately drawn to it. It was so easy on my eyes, and had a different, artistic appeal to me. It's really what sold me on giving X1 a try! I wouldn't be here if it weren't for that color scheme.
Brian Sonar Platinum, Steinberg Wavelab Pro 9, MOTU 24CoreIO w/ low-slew OP-AMP mods and BLA external clock, True P8, Audient ASP008, API 512c, Chandler Germ500, Summit 2ba-221, GAP Pre-73, Peluso 22251, Peluso 2247LE, Mackie HR824, Polk Audio SRS-SDA 2.3tl w/upgraded Soniccraft crossovers and Goertz cables, powered by Pass-X350. All wiring Star-Quad XLR or Monster Cable. Power by Monster Power Signature AVS2000 voltage stabilizer and Signature Pro Power 5100 PowerCenter on a 20A isolation shielded circuit.
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ston
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/18 04:56:32
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Paul G
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/18 09:51:45
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ston
Is this thread of any help..?
http://forum.cakewalk.com...-m2882038.aspx#2883720
The Box link to the track icons .zip file is still working.
Thanks Ston. And also for all your work on the icon colors! I agree with the poster who just wanted the foreground to to be black and the background to be varied colors, (although having the colored midi notes would be a great help in multi-track midi editing). Yes it can all be changed via the Inspector but that's a lot of extra work and every time you add a track the whole scheme changes. I guess I really liked how things were in 8.5 as it's been a hassle ever since. But now with the very dark clips, editing will be so much more difficult. I'm going to install Duckbar today and we'll see if some of this is resolved. I'll report back. Thanks to everyone who's responded and I'd still appreciate a post from anyone else and how they approach this issue. Paul
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Guitarpima
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/18 10:09:58
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I use X2 as there was a mod made by an extremely talented and generous individual who made mods. I don't even use X3. It makes my eyes physically hurt in fact, if it were not for Panu's mods, I would still be using 8.5.
There is no color customization. There is only 50 shade of grey and not bondage section in the manual. It's a shame too. X3 is, under the eyesore, a much better program.
Notation, the original DAW. Everything else is just rote. We are who we are and no more than another. Humans, you people are crazy. Win 7 x64 X2 Intel DX58SO, Intel i7 920 2.66ghz 12gb DDR3 ASUS ATI EAH5750 650w PSU 4x WD HDs 320gb DVD, DVD RW Eleven Rack, KRK Rokit 8s and 10s sub
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Paul G
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/18 10:18:21
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Guitarpima
I use X2 as there was a mod made by an extremely talented and generous individual who made mods. I don't even use X3. It makes my eyes physically hurt in fact, if it were not for Panu's mods, I would still be using 8.5.
There is no color customization. There is only 50 shade of grey and not bondage section in the manual. It's a shame too. X3 is, under the eyesore, a much better program.
Panu's Duckbar Ver. 1.8.0 is supposed to work with X3. I'll post what I find out.
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Glyn Barnes
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/18 10:19:18
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Each to his own of course, but given the choice of colours I would probably pick something very similar to X3. I tend to dislike bright colours in a program.
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dlion16
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/18 12:21:01
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i use duckbar with x3e. couldn't live without it.
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Anonymungus!
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/18 13:20:35
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Hey Paul, how is your monitor? I'm getting up in age, but overall, I like the color schemes, and have no problems seeing anything. Monitor upgrade?
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Anderton
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/18 19:46:44
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I think quite a bit depends on ambient light and monitor calibration. Sony Vegas has two color options, one is so dark as to make Sonar look like you need sunglasses...but it's designed for a dark video editing suite environment. If I try to use it when there's daylight in the studio, it's unuseable.
Also, calibrating my monitors definitely improved my overall quality of life, not just with Sonar.
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Paul G
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/18 20:21:29
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Anonymungus!
Hey Paul, how is your monitor? I'm getting up in age, but overall, I like the color schemes, and have no problems seeing anything. Monitor upgrade?
I have a pair of Samsung 23" widescreens. They're a couple of years old but as I've said, I need to tone down the default settings in order to use them and that makes the current crop of programs and plugins very hard to use. Thanks.
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Paul G
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/18 20:40:50
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Anderton
I think quite a bit depends on ambient light and monitor calibration. Sony Vegas has two color options, one is so dark as to make Sonar look like you need sunglasses...but it's designed for a dark video editing suite environment. If I try to use it when there's daylight in the studio, it's unusable.
Also, calibrating my monitors definitely improved my overall quality of life, not just with Sonar.
Mr. Anderton, what an honor! I'm a big fan of your work. I spent quite a bit of time setting these monitors up to best work across the various programs I use. The default settings on the monitors themselves and the video drivers were just too intense! I installed DuckBar this afternoon and so far it's giving me the option to change the clip backgrounds as well as a few other things that I think will really help. With the clip background colors set as defaults, newly inserted tracks now update the color scheme. Nice! I'm having to give up the track/bus colors feature which is sad and of course, I still can't change the Toolbar but I'll take what I can get. As I become a little more acquainted with Duckbar, I'll post back. Thanks to everyone for your input! Oh, and a special thanks to Panu for a great tool! Paul
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Anderton
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/18 20:46:56
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Paul G
Mr. Anderton, what an honor! I'm a big fan of your work.
Thanks for the props, but you can call me Craig. "Hey you" works in a pinch, too. Here we're all just Sonarians looking for the coolest way to make music! In fact, I'm about to go fire up the computer and make some noises...I expect to post a new song soon, once I get the video done.
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Paul G
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/18 20:55:08
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Anderton
Paul G
Mr. Anderton, what an honor! I'm a big fan of your work.
Thanks for the props, but you can call me Craig. "Hey you" works in a pinch, too. Here we're all just Sonarians looking for the coolest way to make music! In fact, I'm about to go fire up the computer and make some noises...I expect to post a new song soon, once I get the video done.
Thanks Craig. I've built one or two of your PAIA kits back in the day. Interesting, my friends call me 'Hey You' as well.
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Paul P
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/19 04:46:41
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Paul G
Thanks Craig. I've built one or two of your PAIA kits back in the day
Back in the day... I used to dream of building the PAIA synth that was developed in monthly articles in some magazine. I was a kid with no money, so never did more than read and dream. I recently came across this reference in the article History of Electronic Sound Modificationby Harald Bode : Anderton, Craig. “For Your Guitar, a Compression Sustainer.” Popular Electronics 30 (May 1969). Craig's been around a while 
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mettelus
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/19 05:42:42
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Dang... before my time (literally)
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Paul G
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/19 09:19:40
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Paul P
Paul G
Thanks Craig. I've built one or two of your PAIA kits back in the day
Back in the day...
I used to dream of building the PAIA synth that was developed in monthly articles in some magazine. I was a kid with no money, so never did more than read and dream.
I recently came across this reference in the article History of Electronic Sound Modification
by Harald Bode :
Anderton, Craig. “For Your Guitar, a Compression Sustainer.” Popular Electronics 30 (May 1969).
Craig's been around a while
I actually did build the PAIA piano/strings keyboard kit. It was back in the '70's and we were on the road. The guitar player bought the kit and I put it together. A task in a motel room but I really enjoyed it. I just recently finished three mic mod projects, fun. Paul
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Paul G
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/20 12:15:05
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Just an update. I spent last night fiddling with DuckBar and I've been able to set most of the BG colors to my liking. Lots going on with this great little program. More experimentation ahead... Paul
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brconflict
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/22 15:17:50
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Is there a saved scheme in Duckbar for "X1 Light" (original X1 colors)? I'd like to get those colors back.
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Paul G
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/22 19:06:40
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brconflict
Is there a saved scheme in Duckbar for "X1 Light" (original X1 colors)? I'd like to get those colors back.
No that I found but Panu is supposed to be working on it again this Fall.
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ston
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/23 07:06:11
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Anderton
Also, calibrating my monitors definitely improved my overall quality of life, not just with Sonar.
That sounds interesting, how did you do this?
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soens
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/23 07:20:26
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brconflict
Is there a saved scheme in Duckbar for "X1 Light" (original X1 colors)? I'd like to get those colors back.
Just choose one of the color sets within X1.
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brconflict
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/23 09:56:47
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☄ Helpfulby ston 2014/09/23 10:16:17
ston
Anderton
Also, calibrating my monitors definitely improved my overall quality of life, not just with Sonar.
That sounds interesting, how did you do this?
I use an old Spyder2 Colorimeter. The latest Spyder4EXPRESS should do the trick. http://spyder.datacolor.c...o-view/spyder4express/
Brian Sonar Platinum, Steinberg Wavelab Pro 9, MOTU 24CoreIO w/ low-slew OP-AMP mods and BLA external clock, True P8, Audient ASP008, API 512c, Chandler Germ500, Summit 2ba-221, GAP Pre-73, Peluso 22251, Peluso 2247LE, Mackie HR824, Polk Audio SRS-SDA 2.3tl w/upgraded Soniccraft crossovers and Goertz cables, powered by Pass-X350. All wiring Star-Quad XLR or Monster Cable. Power by Monster Power Signature AVS2000 voltage stabilizer and Signature Pro Power 5100 PowerCenter on a 20A isolation shielded circuit.
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ston
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/23 10:23:44
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Paul G
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/26 13:32:34
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Here's an update. I went back and reset my monitors to the factory defaults and then re-did the settings in the graphics card software and things are a bit better. However, there is a monitor setting I had previously overlooked, the View Angle! It did make a noticeable difference in the monitors color tone! Granted, by resetting everything, the contrast and brightness in programs like this forum, (for example), are harder on my eyes but X3 is much better. I can actually see the text in Sonar's Control Bar. Not perfect, but better and I can now actually see the gray tone differences in X3! I'm still using Duckbar and really like the colored clip backgrounds with the black waveforms. Unfortunately, I can't use the new track colors but am able to at least color the buses. I brought an X2 project into X3 last night and did some editing. I think this is going to work for me. Thanks to everyone for your comments. Now if I can just figure out all the other X3 goodies! Paul
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Paul G
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/26 13:35:15
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brconflict
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Re: X3 Colors
2014/09/27 11:44:45
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Paul G
brconflict
I use an old Spyder2 Colorimeter. The latest Spyder4EXPRESS should do the trick.
http://spyder.datacolor.c...o-view/spyder4express/
This looks very neat! Now I just have to come up with the $170.
Thanks
You can possibly find some people to go in with you to buy it, or contract some calibration services for others until it's paid for.
Brian Sonar Platinum, Steinberg Wavelab Pro 9, MOTU 24CoreIO w/ low-slew OP-AMP mods and BLA external clock, True P8, Audient ASP008, API 512c, Chandler Germ500, Summit 2ba-221, GAP Pre-73, Peluso 22251, Peluso 2247LE, Mackie HR824, Polk Audio SRS-SDA 2.3tl w/upgraded Soniccraft crossovers and Goertz cables, powered by Pass-X350. All wiring Star-Quad XLR or Monster Cable. Power by Monster Power Signature AVS2000 voltage stabilizer and Signature Pro Power 5100 PowerCenter on a 20A isolation shielded circuit.
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