UI polish: amber theme, smooth spectrum, MIDI LED, VU tuning

- Rename section labels: COMPRESSOR → COMPRESSION, AUTO-PAN → PANNING
- Replace spectrum analyzer bars with smooth gapless filled wave
- Use gold (#c59c07) for wave/spectrum strokes and piano roll active keys
- Amber CRT-style patch LCD with dark background and gold dot-matrix text
- Add MIDI signal LED with glow between semi and scale controls
- Reduce VU meter sensitivity (5x → 1.5x) and match amber gradient theme
- Add subtle glow behind section and sub-section boxes
- Fix Compressor.h class name and PluginProcessor include to match

README.md

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ will work reliably, be useful in any way, or even make any sense whatsoever.
 ## Signal Flow
 
 ```
-Osc1 + Osc2 → Amp Envelope × Velocity → Filter → Drive → Distortion → Compressor → Auto-Pan → Delay → Reverb → Output
+Osc1 + Osc2 → Amp Envelope × Velocity → Filter → Drive → Distortion → Compression → Auto-Pan → Delay → Reverb → Output
 ```
 
 ## Oscillators
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ All effects are stereo and processed in series after the synth voice.
 - **Mix** (dry/wet): 0.0 – 1.0
 - Bypassed when amount < 0.001
 
-### Compressor
+### Compression
 
 - **Threshold**: -60 dB – 0 dB
 - **Ratio**: 1:1 – 20:1
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ Custom dark theme with gold accents. ~50 knobs across 9 sections.
 | FILTER ENV | Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release knobs |
 | Master | Pan, Drive, Level, PB Range knobs |
 | Distortion | Type selector, Amount, Mix knobs |
-| Compressor | Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release, Makeup, Mix knobs |
+| Compression | Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release, Makeup, Mix knobs |
 | Auto-Pan | Rate, Depth knobs |
 | LFO 1/2 | Rate, Depth knobs, Shape and Destination selectors |
 | Delay | Time, Feedback, Mix knobs, Ping-Pong selector, Spread knob |

Source/DSP/Compressor.h

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #include <cmath>
 #include <algorithm>
 
-class Compressor {
+class Compression {
 public:
     void prepare(double sr) {
         sampleRate = sr;

Source/PluginEditor.cpp

@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ void VuMeter::paint(juce::Graphics& g) {
         clipPath.addRoundedRectangle(bounds, 9.0f);
         g.reduceClipRegion(clipPath);
 
-        juce::ColourGradient grad(juce::Colour(0xff00cc44).withAlpha(0.7f), 0.0f, bounds.getBottom(),
+        juce::ColourGradient grad(juce::Colour(0xffc59c07).withAlpha(0.7f), 0.0f, bounds.getBottom(),
                                    juce::Colour(0xffcc2200).withAlpha(0.7f), 0.0f, bounds.getY(), false);
         g.setGradientFill(grad);
         g.fillRoundedRectangle(innerBar, 2.0f);
@@ -230,13 +230,13 @@ void WaveformDisplay::paint(juce::Graphics& g) {
         clipPath.addRoundedRectangle(bounds, 9.0f);
         g.reduceClipRegion(clipPath);
 
-        juce::ColourGradient waveGrad(juce::Colour(0xff00ff88).withAlpha(0.5f), 0.0f, bounds.getY(),
+        juce::ColourGradient waveGrad(juce::Colour(0xffc59c07).withAlpha(0.5f), 0.0f, bounds.getY(),
-                                        juce::Colour(0xff005522).withAlpha(0.4f), 0.0f, bounds.getBottom(), false);
+                                        juce::Colour(0xff3d2e02).withAlpha(0.4f), 0.0f, bounds.getBottom(), false);
         g.setGradientFill(waveGrad);
         g.fillPath(filledPath);
 
-        g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xff00ff88).withAlpha(0.7f));
+        g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xffc59c07).withAlpha(0.9f));
-        g.strokePath(wavePath, juce::PathStrokeType(0.7f));
+        g.strokePath(wavePath, juce::PathStrokeType(1.5f));
     }
 
     g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xffccaa44));
@@ -272,23 +272,26 @@ void SpectrumAnalyzer::paint(juce::Graphics& g) {
 
     fft->performFrequencyOnlyForwardTransform(fftData.data());
 
-    int numBars = 48;
+    int numPoints = 128;
     float w = bounds.getWidth();
     float h = bounds.getHeight() - 22.0f;
-    float barBottom = bounds.getBottom() - 2.0f;
+    float bottom = bounds.getBottom() - 2.0f;
-    float barW = w / static_cast<float>(numBars);
     int maxBin = fftSize / 4;
+    float sampleRate = static_cast<float>(processor.getSampleRate());
+    float binHz = sampleRate / static_cast<float>(fftSize);
+    float lowCut = 80.0f;
+    float lowPass = 250.0f;
 
     juce::Graphics::ScopedSaveState savedClip(g);
     juce::Path clipPath;
     clipPath.addRoundedRectangle(bounds, 9.0f);
     g.reduceClipRegion(clipPath);
 
-    for (int bar = 0; bar < numBars; ++bar) {
+    std::vector<float> mags(numPoints + 1);
-        float t = static_cast<float>(bar) / static_cast<float>(numBars);
+    for (int i = 0; i <= numPoints; ++i) {
-        float tNext = static_cast<float>(bar + 1) / static_cast<float>(numBars);
+        float t = static_cast<float>(i) / static_cast<float>(numPoints);
         int binStart = static_cast<int>(std::pow(t, 2.0f) * static_cast<float>(maxBin));
-        int binEnd = static_cast<int>(std::pow(tNext, 2.0f) * static_cast<float>(maxBin));
+        int binEnd = static_cast<int>(std::pow(t + 1.0f / static_cast<float>(numPoints), 2.0f) * static_cast<float>(maxBin));
         if (binEnd <= binStart) binEnd = binStart + 1;
         if (binEnd > maxBin) binEnd = maxBin;
 
@@ -301,24 +304,43 @@ void SpectrumAnalyzer::paint(juce::Graphics& g) {
         mag = count > 0 ? mag / static_cast<float>(count) : 0.0f;
         mag = mag / static_cast<float>(fftSize);
         mag = std::sqrt(mag) * 6.0f;
-        mag = juce::jlimit(0.0f, 1.0f, mag);
 
-        float barH = mag * h;
+        float centerHz = static_cast<float>((binStart + binEnd) / 2) * binHz;
-        float x = bounds.getX() + static_cast<float>(bar) * barW;
+        float rolloff = juce::jlimit(0.0f, 1.0f, (centerHz - lowCut) / (lowPass - lowCut));
-        float bw = barW - 2.0f;
+        mag *= rolloff;
-        float bx = x + 1.0f;
+        mags[i] = juce::jlimit(0.0f, 1.0f, mag);
-        float by = barBottom - barH;
-
-        g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xff00ff88).withAlpha(0.4f));
-        g.fillRect(bx, by, bw, barH);
     }
 
+    juce::Path wavePath;
+    wavePath.startNewSubPath(bounds.getX(), bottom);
+    juce::Path strokePath;
+    strokePath.startNewSubPath(bounds.getX(), bottom - mags[0] * h);
+
+    for (int i = 0; i <= numPoints; ++i) {
+        float t = static_cast<float>(i) / static_cast<float>(numPoints);
+        float x = bounds.getX() + t * w;
+        float y = bottom - mags[i] * h;
+        wavePath.lineTo(x, y);
+        if (i > 0) strokePath.lineTo(x, y);
+    }
+
+    wavePath.lineTo(bounds.getRight(), bottom);
+    wavePath.closeSubPath();
+
+    juce::ColourGradient fillGrad(juce::Colour(0xffc59c07).withAlpha(0.35f), 0.0f, bottom,
+                                   juce::Colour(0xffc59c07).withAlpha(0.02f), 0.0f, bottom - h, false);
+    g.setGradientFill(fillGrad);
+    g.fillPath(wavePath);
+
+    g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xffc59c07).withAlpha(0.9f));
+    g.strokePath(strokePath, juce::PathStrokeType(1.5f));
+
     g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xffccaa44));
     g.setFont(juce::Font(13.0f).boldened());
     g.drawText("SPECTRUM", bounds.withBottom(bounds.getY() + 22.0f).translated(0, 6), juce::Justification::centred);
 }
 
-// --- Patch LCD (green dot-matrix) ---
+// --- Patch LCD (amber dot-matrix) ---
 namespace {
     struct Glyph { char c; unsigned char rows[7]; };
     // 5x7 font; each byte is a row, bits 4..0 are columns left->right.
@@ -374,16 +396,16 @@ void PatchLCD::paint(juce::Graphics& g) {
     auto b = getLocalBounds();
 
     // Dark LCD panel
-    g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xcc061206));
+    g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xcc1a0e00));
     g.fillRoundedRectangle(b.toFloat(), 3.0f);
-    g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xff114411));
+    g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xff5a3a00));
     g.drawRoundedRectangle(b.toFloat(), 3.0f, 1.0f);
 
     const int pitch = 3;
     const int glyphW = 5, glyphH = 7, glyphGap = 1;
 
     // Faint "off" LED grid
-    g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xff0a200a));
+    g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xff1a1000));
     for (int y = pitch / 2; y < b.getHeight(); y += pitch)
         for (int x = pitch / 2; x < b.getWidth(); x += pitch)
             g.fillRect(static_cast<float>(x) - 0.5f, static_cast<float>(y) - 0.5f, 1.0f, 1.0f);
@@ -402,9 +424,9 @@ void PatchLCD::paint(juce::Graphics& g) {
                 if (bits & (1 << (glyphW - 1 - col))) {
                     float px = static_cast<float>(cx + col * pitch + pitch / 2);
                     float py = static_cast<float>(cy + row * pitch + pitch / 2);
-                    g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xff1a330a));
+                    g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xff3a2000));
                     g.fillEllipse(px - pitch * 0.5f, py - pitch * 0.5f, pitch, pitch);
-                    g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xff33ff66));
+                    g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xffc59c07));
                     g.fillEllipse(px - pitch * 0.4f, py - pitch * 0.4f, pitch * 0.8f, pitch * 0.8f);
                 }
             }
@@ -414,8 +436,32 @@ void PatchLCD::paint(juce::Graphics& g) {
     }
 }
 
+// --- MIDI Signal LED ---
+void MidiLed::paint(juce::Graphics& g) {
+    auto b = getLocalBounds().toFloat();
+    auto centre = b.getCentre();
+    float radius = juce::jmin(b.getWidth(), b.getHeight()) * 0.5f;
+
+    bool active = processor.isAnyNoteActive();
+
+    if (active) {
+        g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xffc59c07).withAlpha(0.2f));
+        g.fillEllipse(centre.x - radius * 1.8f, centre.y - radius * 1.8f, radius * 3.6f, radius * 3.6f);
+    }
+
+    g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xff1a1200));
+    g.fillEllipse(centre.x - radius, centre.y - radius, radius * 2.0f, radius * 2.0f);
+
+    if (active)
+        g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xffc59c07));
+    else
+        g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xff3a2a06));
+
+    g.fillEllipse(centre.x - radius * 0.75f, centre.y - radius * 0.75f, radius * 1.5f, radius * 1.5f);
+}
+
 MainContentComponent::MainContentComponent(ChromaFlockProcessor& p)
-    : processorRef(p), vuMeter(p), waveformDisplay(p), spectrumAnalyzer(p), pianoRoll(p) {
+    : processorRef(p), vuMeter(p), waveformDisplay(p), spectrumAnalyzer(p), pianoRoll(p), midiLed(p) {
 
     auto setupParam = [&](juce::Slider& knob, std::unique_ptr<SliderAttachment>& attach,
                           const juce::String& paramId, const juce::String& name) {
@@ -534,6 +580,7 @@ MainContentComponent::MainContentComponent(ChromaFlockProcessor& p)
     addAndMakeVisible(presetButton);
 
     addAndMakeVisible(patchLCD);
+    addAndMakeVisible(midiLed);
     patchLCD.onClick = [this]() { showFileMenu(); };
 
     auto setupArrow = [&](juce::TextButton& btn) {
@@ -576,6 +623,12 @@ MainContentComponent::MainContentComponent(ChromaFlockProcessor& p)
     scaleLabel.setJustificationType(juce::Justification::centredRight);
     addAndMakeVisible(scaleLabel);
 
+    midiLabel.setText("MIDI IN", juce::dontSendNotification);
+    midiLabel.setFont(juce::Font(9.0f));
+    midiLabel.setColour(juce::Label::textColourId, juce::Colour(0xff888888));
+    midiLabel.setJustificationType(juce::Justification::centredLeft);
+    addAndMakeVisible(midiLabel);
+
     auto setupTransposeLabel = [&](juce::Label& label, const juce::String& text) {
         label.setText(text, juce::dontSendNotification);
         label.setFont(juce::Font(9.0f));
@@ -916,6 +969,10 @@ void MainContentComponent::paint(juce::Graphics& g) {
     auto drawSection = [&](int x, int y, int w, int h) {
         auto rect = juce::Rectangle<float>(static_cast<float>(x), static_cast<float>(y),
                                            static_cast<float>(w), static_cast<float>(h));
+        // Soft glow behind section
+        auto glow = rect.expanded(6.0f);
+        g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xff222222).withAlpha(0.25f));
+        g.fillRoundedRectangle(glow, 12.0f);
         // 3D fill gradient: slight light top, dark bottom
         juce::ColourGradient fillGrad(juce::Colour(0xBB222222), rect.getCentreX(), rect.getY(),
                                        juce::Colour(0xBB111111), rect.getCentreX(), rect.getBottom(), false);
@@ -938,6 +995,9 @@ void MainContentComponent::paint(juce::Graphics& g) {
     auto drawSubSection = [&](int x, int y, int w, int h, const juce::String& title, int titlePadY = 2) {
         auto rect = juce::Rectangle<float>(static_cast<float>(x), static_cast<float>(y),
                                            static_cast<float>(w), static_cast<float>(h));
+        auto glow = rect.expanded(6.0f);
+        g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xff222222).withAlpha(0.25f));
+        g.fillRoundedRectangle(glow, 12.0f);
         juce::ColourGradient fillGrad(juce::Colour(0xBB222222), rect.getCentreX(), rect.getY(),
                                        juce::Colour(0xBB111111), rect.getCentreX(), rect.getBottom(), false);
         g.setGradientFill(fillGrad);
@@ -950,8 +1010,8 @@ void MainContentComponent::paint(juce::Graphics& g) {
     };
 
     drawSubSection(10, 508, 510, 140, "DISTORTION", 6);
-    drawSubSection(528, 508, 468, 140, "COMPRESSOR", 6);
+    drawSubSection(528, 508, 468, 140, "COMPRESSION", 6);
-    drawSubSection(1004, 508, 268, 140, "AUTO-PAN", 6);
+    drawSubSection(1004, 508, 268, 140, "PANNING", 6);
     drawSubSection(1280, 508, 370, 140, "LIMITER", 6);
 
     // LFO sub-sections
@@ -1048,7 +1108,7 @@ void MainContentComponent::resized() {
         distToneKnob.setBounds(dx + (fxKnobSize + 6) * 2, fxKnobY, fxKnobSize, fxKnobSize);
     }
 
-    // Compressor sub-section (X=528, W=470)
+    // Compression sub-section (X=528, W=470)
     {
         int rowW = 5 * fxKnobSize + 4 * 6;
         int sx = 528 + (470 - rowW) / 2;
@@ -1142,6 +1202,9 @@ void MainContentComponent::resized() {
     semitoneTransposeLabel.setBounds(1214, labelY2, 32, labelH2);
     semitoneTransposeBox.setBounds(1246, comboY2, 74, comboH2);
 
+    midiLabel.setBounds(1340, labelY2, 46, labelH2);
+    midiLed.setBounds(1390, (headerH - 10) / 2, 10, 10);
+
     scaleLabel.setBounds(1514, labelY2, 42, labelH2);
     uiScaleBox.setBounds(1560, comboY2, 80, comboH2);
 
@@ -1324,7 +1387,7 @@ void PianoRollComponent::paint(juce::Graphics& g) {
 
         bool pressed = processor.isNoteActive(note);
         if (pressed) {
-            g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xffccaa44));
+            g.setColour(juce::Colour(0xff996600));
         } else {
             juce::ColourGradient grad(juce::Colour(0xff444444), static_cast<float>(bx), 0.0f,
                                       juce::Colour(0xff222222), static_cast<float>(bx), static_cast<float>(blackKeyHeight), false);

Source/PluginEditor.h

@@ -67,6 +67,15 @@ private:
     juce::String text = "INIT";
 };
 
+class MidiLed : public juce::Component, public juce::Timer {
+public:
+    explicit MidiLed(ChromaFlockProcessor& p) : processor(p) { startTimerHz(30); }
+    void paint(juce::Graphics& g) override;
+    void timerCallback() override { repaint(); }
+private:
+    ChromaFlockProcessor& processor;
+};
+
 class PianoRollComponent : public juce::Component, public juce::Timer {
 public:
     explicit PianoRollComponent(ChromaFlockProcessor& p) : processor(p) { startTimerHz(60); }
@@ -129,6 +138,7 @@ private:
     juce::Label osc1Label, osc2Label, filterLabel, envLabel, fEnvLabel, globalLabel;
     juce::Label fxLabel, lfoLabel, fx2Label;
     juce::Label scaleLabel;
+    juce::Label midiLabel;
     juce::Label octaveTransposeLabel, semitoneTransposeLabel;
 
     juce::ComboBox octaveTransposeBox, semitoneTransposeBox;
@@ -167,6 +177,7 @@ private:
     // Preset menu
     juce::TextButton presetButton{"PRESET"};
     PatchLCD patchLCD;
+    MidiLed midiLed;
     juce::TextButton prevPresetButton{"<"}, nextPresetButton{">"};
     juce::TextButton randomizeButton{"RANDOM"};
     int currentPresetIndex = 0;

Source/PluginProcessor.cpp

@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ void ChromaFlockProcessor::prepareToPlay(double sampleRate, int samplesPerBlock)
     currentSampleRate = sampleRate;
     synth.setCurrentPlaybackSampleRate(sampleRate);
     distortion.prepare(sampleRate);
-    compressor.prepare(sampleRate);
+    compression.prepare(sampleRate);
     limiter.prepare(sampleRate);
     delay.prepare(sampleRate);
     reverbFX.prepare(sampleRate);
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ void ChromaFlockProcessor::processBlock(juce::AudioBuffer<float>& buffer, juce::
         getParam("distSymmetry"),
         getParam("distTone"));
 
-    compressor.setParameters(
+    compression.setParameters(
         getParam("compThreshold"),
         getParam("compRatio"),
         getParam("compAttack"),
@@ -449,8 +449,8 @@ void ChromaFlockProcessor::processBlock(juce::AudioBuffer<float>& buffer, juce::
         right = distortion.process(right);
 
         // Compression (stereo)
-        left = compressor.process(left);
+        left = compression.process(left);
-        right = compressor.process(right);
+        right = compression.process(right);
 
         // Brickwall limiter (stereo)
         left = limiter.process(left);
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ void ChromaFlockProcessor::processBlock(juce::AudioBuffer<float>& buffer, juce::
 
     float rms = std::sqrt(sumSquares / static_cast<float>(numSamples));
     float level = juce::jmax(rms, peak);
-    level = std::min(level * 5.0f, 1.0f);
+    level = std::min(level * 1.5f, 1.0f);
 
     float prev = rmsLevel.load(std::memory_order_relaxed);
     if (level > prev)

Source/PluginProcessor.h

@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@ public:
         return midiNote >= 0 && midiNote < 128
                && activeNotes[midiNote].load(std::memory_order_relaxed);
     }
+    bool isAnyNoteActive() const {
+        for (auto& n : activeNotes)
+            if (n.load(std::memory_order_relaxed)) return true;
+        return false;
+    }
 
     int getTransposeSemitones() const;
 
@@ -88,7 +93,7 @@ private:
     static constexpr int maxVoices = 16;
 
     Distortion distortion;
-    Compressor compressor;
+    Compression compression;
     Limiter limiter;
     Delay delay;
     ReverbFX reverbFX;