diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_styles.rc.in b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_styles.rc.in
index 29c1e7dcdf..0a9f14d809 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_styles.rc.in
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour3_styles.rc.in
@@ -753,7 +753,11 @@ style "audio_bus_base" = "very_small_text"
 style "send_strip_base" = "default"
 {
   font_name = "@FONT_SMALLER@"
+  # NORMAL is used for single-data type labels, or Audio
+  # ACTIVE is used for MIDI in the presence of multiple data type
   fg[NORMAL] = @@COLPREFIX@_send_fg
+  fg[ACTIVE] = darker(@@COLPREFIX@_fg)
+
   bg[NORMAL] = @@COLPREFIX@_send_bg
   bg[ACTIVE] = @@COLPREFIX@_send_bg
   bg[PRELIGHT] = @@COLPREFIX@_send_bg
@@ -764,7 +768,11 @@ style "send_strip_base" = "default"
 style "audio_track_base" = "default"
 {
   font_name = "@FONT_SMALLER@"
+  # NORMAL is used for single-data type labels, or Audio
+  # ACTIVE is used for MIDI in the presence of multiple data type
   fg[NORMAL] = @@COLPREFIX@_fg
+  fg[ACTIVE] = darker(@@COLPREFIX@_fg)
+
   bg[NORMAL] = @@COLPREFIX@_audio_track
   bg[ACTIVE] = @@COLPREFIX@_bg
   bg[PRELIGHT] = @@COLPREFIX@_bg
@@ -775,7 +783,11 @@ style "audio_track_base" = "default"
 style "midi_track_base" = "default"
 {
   font_name = "@FONT_SMALLER@"
+  # NORMAL is used for single-data type labels, or Audio
+  # ACTIVE is used for MIDI in the presence of multiple data type
   fg[NORMAL] = @@COLPREFIX@_fg
+  fg[ACTIVE] = darker(@@COLPREFIX@_fg)
+
   bg[NORMAL] = @@COLPREFIX@_midi_track
   bg[ACTIVE] = @@COLPREFIX@_bg
   bg[PRELIGHT] = @@COLPREFIX@_bg
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/gain_meter.cc b/gtk2_ardour/gain_meter.cc
index 90e6f3dc37..18e16fdce5 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/gain_meter.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/gain_meter.cc
@@ -911,21 +911,23 @@ GainMeter::render_metrics (Gtk::Widget& w, vector<DataType> types)
 
 	for (vector<DataType>::const_iterator i = types.begin(); i != types.end(); ++i) {
 
-		Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::GC> fg_gc (w.get_style()->get_fg_gc (Gtk::STATE_NORMAL));
+		Gdk::Color c;
 
 		if (types.size() > 1) {
 			/* we're overlaying more than 1 set of marks, so use different colours */
 			Gdk::Color c;
 			switch (*i) {
 			case DataType::AUDIO:
-				cairo_set_source_rgb (cr, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0);
+				c = w.get_style()->get_fg (Gtk::STATE_NORMAL);
+				cairo_set_source_rgb (cr, c.get_red_p(), c.get_green_p(), c.get_blue_p());
 				break;
 			case DataType::MIDI:
-				cairo_set_source_rgb (cr, 0.2, 0.2, 0.5);
+				c = w.get_style()->get_fg (Gtk::STATE_ACTIVE);
+				cairo_set_source_rgb (cr, c.get_red_p(), c.get_green_p(), c.get_blue_p());
 				break;
 			}
 		} else {
-			Gdk::Color c = w.get_style()->get_fg (Gtk::STATE_NORMAL);
+			c = w.get_style()->get_fg (Gtk::STATE_NORMAL);
 			cairo_set_source_rgb (cr, c.get_red_p(), c.get_green_p(), c.get_blue_p());
 		}