That’s great. I would love to try it!
Customizing Themes (again)
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This forum is for most discussion related to the use and optimization of Digital Performer [MacOS] and plug-ins as well as tips and techniques. It is NOT for troubleshooting technical issues, complaints, feature requests, or "Comparative DAW 101."
This forum is for most discussion related to the use and optimization of Digital Performer [MacOS] and plug-ins as well as tips and techniques. It is NOT for troubleshooting technical issues, complaints, feature requests, or "Comparative DAW 101."
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Re: Customizing Themes (again)
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Re: Customizing Themes (again)
Exactly!!HCMarkus wrote:…I always found that look impressive, but impractical. Just not clear enough.
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Mac Studio M1 Max, 64GB/2TB, macOS Sequoia 15.5 Public Beta 2, DP 11.34, MOTU 828es, MOTU 24Ai, MOTU MIDI Express XT, UAD-2 TB3 Satellite OCTO, Console 1 Mk2, Avid S3, NI Komplete Kontrol S88 Mk2, Red Type B, Millennia HV-3C, Warm Audio WA-2A, AudioScape 76F, Dean guitars, Marshall amps, etc., etc.!
Re: Customizing Themes (again)
The other thing I found useful is to change the background colours in kEndpointIndicatorIconset_PictID.png. This has the loop, repeat, etc icons that appear in the time line. The backgrounds here are usually grey, so some of them blend in with the background in the time line. I made the backgrounds yellow in most cases, but it depends on the theme you start with. You can also make these symbols larger, filling in the available vertical space, rather than leaving the top and bottom rows of pixels the same as the background colour.
The result is often not too elegant, but it does make it easier to spot things on a busy screen.
The result is often not too elegant, but it does make it easier to spot things on a busy screen.
2018 Mini i7 32G macOS 12.7.6, DP 11.33, Mixbus 10, Logic 10.7.9, Scarlett 18i8, MB Air M2, macOS 14.7.6, DP 11.33, Logic 11
Re: Customizing Themes (again)
It looks great! Would love to try it out.Rick Cornish wrote: ↑Thu Nov 18, 2021 1:30 pmI plan to post this theme for anyone who wants to try it out once I get it to a place I could reasonably call "v1.0."
groove
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Re: Customizing Themes (again)
Thanks, Bayswater. I’ll check that one out.bayswater wrote:The other thing I found useful is to change the background colours in kEndpointIndicatorIconset_PictID.png.
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Rick Cornish
DP 11 on M2 Mac Studio (64gB mem. + 2tB int. SSD + two 2tB ext. SSDs). VIs from MOTU, Spectrasonics, NI, UVI, 8dio, Soniccouture, East West, Spitfire, Heavyocity, Vir2, and more; plus Waves 14, Brainworx, iZotope, Wavesfactory, Oeksound, Final Mix, JST, SPL, PSP, UVI, Valhalla DSP, and other FX plugs, Roland A-88, Apogee Quartet, iCON Platform Nano, Genelec 1032a and Westlake BBSM4 monitors, Gibson HR Fusion III. rickcornish.net
DP 11 on M2 Mac Studio (64gB mem. + 2tB int. SSD + two 2tB ext. SSDs). VIs from MOTU, Spectrasonics, NI, UVI, 8dio, Soniccouture, East West, Spitfire, Heavyocity, Vir2, and more; plus Waves 14, Brainworx, iZotope, Wavesfactory, Oeksound, Final Mix, JST, SPL, PSP, UVI, Valhalla DSP, and other FX plugs, Roland A-88, Apogee Quartet, iCON Platform Nano, Genelec 1032a and Westlake BBSM4 monitors, Gibson HR Fusion III. rickcornish.net
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Re: Customizing Themes (again)
Hey… does anyone know the phrase in Style.xml that sets the Focus Color (the color of the outline on the active window)? I'll be damned if I can find it.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Rick Cornish
DP 11 on M2 Mac Studio (64gB mem. + 2tB int. SSD + two 2tB ext. SSDs). VIs from MOTU, Spectrasonics, NI, UVI, 8dio, Soniccouture, East West, Spitfire, Heavyocity, Vir2, and more; plus Waves 14, Brainworx, iZotope, Wavesfactory, Oeksound, Final Mix, JST, SPL, PSP, UVI, Valhalla DSP, and other FX plugs, Roland A-88, Apogee Quartet, iCON Platform Nano, Genelec 1032a and Westlake BBSM4 monitors, Gibson HR Fusion III. rickcornish.net
DP 11 on M2 Mac Studio (64gB mem. + 2tB int. SSD + two 2tB ext. SSDs). VIs from MOTU, Spectrasonics, NI, UVI, 8dio, Soniccouture, East West, Spitfire, Heavyocity, Vir2, and more; plus Waves 14, Brainworx, iZotope, Wavesfactory, Oeksound, Final Mix, JST, SPL, PSP, UVI, Valhalla DSP, and other FX plugs, Roland A-88, Apogee Quartet, iCON Platform Nano, Genelec 1032a and Westlake BBSM4 monitors, Gibson HR Fusion III. rickcornish.net
Re: Customizing Themes (again)
That's a tough one. The files names are not much help. Perhaps a brute force way to find it is to use something like the eyedropper tool in Photoshop to sample the current colour. Then use a search utility that looks at file and package contents, and look for the 3 8 bit digit sequence that identifies that colour in the xmi statements.Rick Cornish wrote: ↑Mon Nov 22, 2021 9:21 am Hey… does anyone know the phrase in Style.xml that sets the Focus Color (the color of the outline on the active window)? I'll be damned if I can find it.
Thanks.
Or ask Magic Dave. No doubt he has these things memorized.
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- monkey man
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Re: Customizing Themes (again)

Mac 2012 12C Cheese Grater, OSX 10.13.6
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Novation, Yamaha & Roland Synths, Guitar & Bass, Kemper Rack
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Re: Customizing Themes (again)
Already tried that. Unfortunately, the colors get layered in the interface, so you don’t get an accurate of the actual color in the theme when you eye dropper it with Digital Color Meter.bayswater wrote: ↑Mon Nov 22, 2021 1:50 pmPerhaps a brute force way to find it is to use something like the eyedropper tool in Photoshop to sample the current colour. Then use a search utility that looks at file and package contents, and look for the 3 8 bit digit sequence that identifies that colour in the xmi statements.
Rick Cornish
DP 11 on M2 Mac Studio (64gB mem. + 2tB int. SSD + two 2tB ext. SSDs). VIs from MOTU, Spectrasonics, NI, UVI, 8dio, Soniccouture, East West, Spitfire, Heavyocity, Vir2, and more; plus Waves 14, Brainworx, iZotope, Wavesfactory, Oeksound, Final Mix, JST, SPL, PSP, UVI, Valhalla DSP, and other FX plugs, Roland A-88, Apogee Quartet, iCON Platform Nano, Genelec 1032a and Westlake BBSM4 monitors, Gibson HR Fusion III. rickcornish.net
DP 11 on M2 Mac Studio (64gB mem. + 2tB int. SSD + two 2tB ext. SSDs). VIs from MOTU, Spectrasonics, NI, UVI, 8dio, Soniccouture, East West, Spitfire, Heavyocity, Vir2, and more; plus Waves 14, Brainworx, iZotope, Wavesfactory, Oeksound, Final Mix, JST, SPL, PSP, UVI, Valhalla DSP, and other FX plugs, Roland A-88, Apogee Quartet, iCON Platform Nano, Genelec 1032a and Westlake BBSM4 monitors, Gibson HR Fusion III. rickcornish.net
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Re: Customizing Themes (again)
Hey gang......
For those who've asked, here's v1.0 of the "Beyond Black" theme (thanks to Monkey Man for the name). It uses elements from a number of different MOTU themes along with some of my own revisions.

I was looking for a predominantly dark theme that's easy to read with lots of contrast and a predictable sense of where I am that prioritizes what's most important to see. You may find it works for you, and—if so—you're welcome to use it. If it ain't your thang, just keep scrolling,
For the full effect, in your prefs, I suggest starting with the theme selection color, memory cycle color, memory play color, auto-record color, and meter color.The theme focus color appears to be the same for all themes as a medium grey (must be is hard-coded into DP where mere mortals can't get at it), so I suggest using a custom focus color of white (255).
You can download the bundle, along with my Beyond_Black track color palette here: https://we.tl/t-6gg5TmOWL3
NOTES:
If it's useful to you, that's great. If not, maybe you can do something better… I would certainly check it out if you do.
For those who've asked, here's v1.0 of the "Beyond Black" theme (thanks to Monkey Man for the name). It uses elements from a number of different MOTU themes along with some of my own revisions.

I was looking for a predominantly dark theme that's easy to read with lots of contrast and a predictable sense of where I am that prioritizes what's most important to see. You may find it works for you, and—if so—you're welcome to use it. If it ain't your thang, just keep scrolling,
For the full effect, in your prefs, I suggest starting with the theme selection color, memory cycle color, memory play color, auto-record color, and meter color.The theme focus color appears to be the same for all themes as a medium grey (must be is hard-coded into DP where mere mortals can't get at it), so I suggest using a custom focus color of white (255).
You can download the bundle, along with my Beyond_Black track color palette here: https://we.tl/t-6gg5TmOWL3
NOTES:
- It's for Digital Performer v11 only
- Use it at your own risk. I take no responsibility for how this might affect your system.
- Unpack the zip archive
- On a Mac, drop the bundle into System Drive->Library->Application Support->MOTU->Digital Performer->Themes
- I have no idea how to install this on a PeeCee or whether it would even work. If you try it, let me know what happens.
If it's useful to you, that's great. If not, maybe you can do something better… I would certainly check it out if you do.
Rick Cornish
DP 11 on M2 Mac Studio (64gB mem. + 2tB int. SSD + two 2tB ext. SSDs). VIs from MOTU, Spectrasonics, NI, UVI, 8dio, Soniccouture, East West, Spitfire, Heavyocity, Vir2, and more; plus Waves 14, Brainworx, iZotope, Wavesfactory, Oeksound, Final Mix, JST, SPL, PSP, UVI, Valhalla DSP, and other FX plugs, Roland A-88, Apogee Quartet, iCON Platform Nano, Genelec 1032a and Westlake BBSM4 monitors, Gibson HR Fusion III. rickcornish.net
DP 11 on M2 Mac Studio (64gB mem. + 2tB int. SSD + two 2tB ext. SSDs). VIs from MOTU, Spectrasonics, NI, UVI, 8dio, Soniccouture, East West, Spitfire, Heavyocity, Vir2, and more; plus Waves 14, Brainworx, iZotope, Wavesfactory, Oeksound, Final Mix, JST, SPL, PSP, UVI, Valhalla DSP, and other FX plugs, Roland A-88, Apogee Quartet, iCON Platform Nano, Genelec 1032a and Westlake BBSM4 monitors, Gibson HR Fusion III. rickcornish.net
Re: Customizing Themes (again)
Awesome!!!
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Re: Customizing Themes (again)
Hey, Rick/
That looks awesome. Do you think you could please post a pic of what it looks like in the GE or SE?
I ask because the almost invisibility of measure/grid lines, and lack of contrast of how the keys relate to notes in the GE, have been a pet peeve of mine for a long time.
Something tells me all that will look better in your theme.
BTW, be careful! Isn't this, an innocent wish like yours, what got Amplidood and Guitar Gaz seriously started into this rabbit whole a few years back? I heard messing with themes can be addictive
That looks awesome. Do you think you could please post a pic of what it looks like in the GE or SE?
I ask because the almost invisibility of measure/grid lines, and lack of contrast of how the keys relate to notes in the GE, have been a pet peeve of mine for a long time.
Something tells me all that will look better in your theme.
BTW, be careful! Isn't this, an innocent wish like yours, what got Amplidood and Guitar Gaz seriously started into this rabbit whole a few years back? I heard messing with themes can be addictive

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---------------------------
"In physics the truth is rarely perfectly clear, and that is certainly universally the case in human affairs. Hence, what is not surrounded by uncertainty cannot be the truth." ― Richard Feynman
Tascam DM-24, MOTU Track 16, all Spectrasonics' stuff,
Vienna Instruments SUPER PACKAGE, Waves Mercury, slaved iMac and Mac Minis running VEP 7, etc.
---------------------------
"In physics the truth is rarely perfectly clear, and that is certainly universally the case in human affairs. Hence, what is not surrounded by uncertainty cannot be the truth." ― Richard Feynman
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Re: Customizing Themes (again)
Thanks for your generosity in sharing your work with the community, Rick! Much appreciated. It looks nice!! 

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Mac Studio M1 Max, 64GB/2TB, macOS Sequoia 15.5 Public Beta 2, DP 11.34, MOTU 828es, MOTU 24Ai, MOTU MIDI Express XT, UAD-2 TB3 Satellite OCTO, Console 1 Mk2, Avid S3, NI Komplete Kontrol S88 Mk2, Red Type B, Millennia HV-3C, Warm Audio WA-2A, AudioScape 76F, Dean guitars, Marshall amps, etc., etc.!
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Re: Customizing Themes (again)
Hey FM…..FMiguelez wrote:Hey, Rick/
That looks awesome. Do you think you could please post a pic of what it looks like in the GE or SE?
Probably best for you to look at those on your own system. I’m clocking out from developer camp to start a bunch of new tracks.
Hope it works for you.
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Rick Cornish
DP 11 on M2 Mac Studio (64gB mem. + 2tB int. SSD + two 2tB ext. SSDs). VIs from MOTU, Spectrasonics, NI, UVI, 8dio, Soniccouture, East West, Spitfire, Heavyocity, Vir2, and more; plus Waves 14, Brainworx, iZotope, Wavesfactory, Oeksound, Final Mix, JST, SPL, PSP, UVI, Valhalla DSP, and other FX plugs, Roland A-88, Apogee Quartet, iCON Platform Nano, Genelec 1032a and Westlake BBSM4 monitors, Gibson HR Fusion III. rickcornish.net
DP 11 on M2 Mac Studio (64gB mem. + 2tB int. SSD + two 2tB ext. SSDs). VIs from MOTU, Spectrasonics, NI, UVI, 8dio, Soniccouture, East West, Spitfire, Heavyocity, Vir2, and more; plus Waves 14, Brainworx, iZotope, Wavesfactory, Oeksound, Final Mix, JST, SPL, PSP, UVI, Valhalla DSP, and other FX plugs, Roland A-88, Apogee Quartet, iCON Platform Nano, Genelec 1032a and Westlake BBSM4 monitors, Gibson HR Fusion III. rickcornish.net
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Re: Customizing Themes (again)
You’re welcome, James. The folks here have given me a lot, so I’m only too happy to give back.James Steele wrote:Thanks for your generosity in sharing your work with the community, Rick! Much appreciated. It looks nice!!
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Rick Cornish
DP 11 on M2 Mac Studio (64gB mem. + 2tB int. SSD + two 2tB ext. SSDs). VIs from MOTU, Spectrasonics, NI, UVI, 8dio, Soniccouture, East West, Spitfire, Heavyocity, Vir2, and more; plus Waves 14, Brainworx, iZotope, Wavesfactory, Oeksound, Final Mix, JST, SPL, PSP, UVI, Valhalla DSP, and other FX plugs, Roland A-88, Apogee Quartet, iCON Platform Nano, Genelec 1032a and Westlake BBSM4 monitors, Gibson HR Fusion III. rickcornish.net
DP 11 on M2 Mac Studio (64gB mem. + 2tB int. SSD + two 2tB ext. SSDs). VIs from MOTU, Spectrasonics, NI, UVI, 8dio, Soniccouture, East West, Spitfire, Heavyocity, Vir2, and more; plus Waves 14, Brainworx, iZotope, Wavesfactory, Oeksound, Final Mix, JST, SPL, PSP, UVI, Valhalla DSP, and other FX plugs, Roland A-88, Apogee Quartet, iCON Platform Nano, Genelec 1032a and Westlake BBSM4 monitors, Gibson HR Fusion III. rickcornish.net