# Spectral Editor - Feature Roadmap

This document tracks planned enhancements for the spectral editor.

## Priority: High

### A. Curve Translation (Shift+Click+Drag)
**Description**: Shift+click on a control point + mouse-move should displace the whole curve at a time (translate all control points).

**Implementation Notes**:
- Detect shift key state during control point click
- Store initial positions of all control points in the curve
- Apply uniform translation delta to all points during drag
- Maintain curve shape while moving

**Complexity**: Medium
**Estimated Effort**: 2-3 hours

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### B. Viewport Zoom (Mouse Wheel)
**Description**: Mouse-wheel should allow zooming in/out on the view for fine placement of curves.

**Implementation Notes**:
- Implement zoom scale factor (e.g., 0.5x to 4.0x)
- Center zoom around mouse cursor position
- Update rendering to use scaled coordinates
- Add visual zoom indicator (e.g., "Zoom: 2.0x")
- Consider pan functionality (drag with middle mouse or space+drag)

**Complexity**: High (coordinate transformation, pan interaction)
**Estimated Effort**: 6-8 hours

---

## Priority: Medium

### C. Enhanced Sinusoid Pattern
**Description**: The 'sinusoid' pattern is quite interesting and should have more variations.

**Proposed Variations**:
- **Asymmetric Decay**: Different decay rates above and below the curve center
  - `decay_top` parameter (controls upper harmonics falloff)
  - `decay_bottom` parameter (controls lower harmonics falloff)
- **Temporal Modulation**: Per-frame amplitude/frequency modulation along timeline
  - `amplitude_envelope` (fade in/out over time)
  - `frequency_drift` (vibrato/wobble effect)
  - `phase_offset` (shift pattern over time)
- **Harmonic Series**: Option to generate harmonic overtones
  - `num_harmonics` parameter
  - `harmonic_decay` parameter

**Implementation Notes**:
- Extend `SinusoidProfile` class with additional parameters
- Add UI controls for new parameters (sliders, dropdowns)
- Render preview showing modulation over time

**Complexity**: Medium-High
**Estimated Effort**: 8-12 hours

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### D. Per-Control-Point Modulation
**Description**: Each control point should be assigned individually controllable volume, decay params, etc. for fine modulation along time.

**Proposed Parameters (per control point)**:
- `volume`: Local amplitude multiplier (0.0 - 2.0)
- `decay`: Local decay rate override
- `width`: Gaussian width override (for profile spreading)
- `phase`: Phase offset for sinusoid patterns
- `color`: Visual indicator for parameter variations

**Implementation Notes**:
- Extend control point data structure with parameter fields
- Add per-point property panel (show on control point selection)
- Render visual hints (color-coded points, size variations)
- Interpolate parameters between control points for smooth transitions

**Complexity**: High (UI/UX design, parameter interpolation)
**Estimated Effort**: 10-15 hours

---

### E. Composable Profiles
**Description**: Profiles should be composable along a curve (e.g., apply Gaussian curve to sinusoid pattern).

**Proposed Syntax**:
```cpp
// Example: Gaussian-modulated sinusoid
CompositeProfile {
  base: SinusoidProfile { frequency: 100.0, decay: 0.5 },
  envelope: GaussianProfile { center: 256, width: 50 }
}
```

**Implementation Notes**:
- Define profile composition operators:
  - `multiply`: Envelope modulation (amplitude × profile)
  - `add`: Additive blending (profile1 + profile2)
  - `max`: Take maximum value at each bin
- Add UI for profile layering (drag-and-drop profile stack)
- Render composite preview with layer visualization

**Complexity**: High (requires profile abstraction refactor)
**Estimated Effort**: 12-16 hours

---

## Priority: Low (Polish)

### F. Improved Parameter Sliders
**Description**: Adjust slider ranges for better usability (Decay, Width, Frequency, etc.).

**Issues to Address**:
- Decay slider: Non-linear scaling (logarithmic?) for finer control at low values
- Frequency slider: Snap to musical notes (optional A440-based grid)
- Width slider: Preview visualization (show affected frequency range)
- General: Add numeric input fields next to sliders for precise values

**Implementation Notes**:
- Implement logarithmic slider interpolation for decay/width
- Add slider tick marks at useful intervals
- Display current value and units (Hz, bins, dB, etc.)
- Add reset-to-default buttons

**Complexity**: Low-Medium
**Estimated Effort**: 3-4 hours

---

## Future Ideas (Backlog)

- **Undo/Redo System**: Track edit history for curve modifications
- **Preset Library**: Save/load common curve patterns (kick drum, snare, bass, etc.)
- **Curve Smoothing**: Apply smoothing filters to jittery control points
- **Copy/Paste**: Duplicate curves or control point selections
- **Multi-Selection**: Select and edit multiple control points simultaneously
- **Grid Snapping**: Snap control points to frequency/time grid
- **Export Options**: Export to different formats (JSON, binary, C++ code)

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## Total Estimated Effort
- **High Priority**: 8-11 hours
- **Medium Priority**: 30-43 hours
- **Low Priority**: 3-4 hours
- **Grand Total**: 41-58 hours (roughly 1-1.5 weeks of focused work)

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*Last Updated: February 6, 2026*