diff --git a/src/app_task.cpp b/src/app_task.cpp
index b000725..76ab7e6 100644
--- a/src/app_task.cpp
+++ b/src/app_task.cpp
@@ -40,21 +40,38 @@ void AppTask::update() {
             last_switch_state[i] = false;
         }
     }
+    
+    // Test mode: hold pad 0 + pad 9 for 2s to cycle palette
+    static uint32_t test_hold_start = 0;
+    static bool test_mode_active = false;
+    bool p0 = switch_driver->is_pressed(0);
+    bool p9 = switch_driver->is_pressed(9);
+    
+    if (p0 && p9) {
+        if (test_hold_start == 0) test_hold_start = millis();
+        else if (!test_mode_active && millis() - test_hold_start > 2000) {
+            test_mode_active = true;
+            run_palette_test();
+        }
+    } else {
+        test_hold_start = 0;
+        test_mode_active = false;
+    }
+}
+
+void AppTask::run_palette_test() {
+    Serial.println("[APP] PALETTE TEST: cycling through all 127 colors on pad 0");
+    Serial.println("[APP] Hold pad 0 + pad 9 for 2s to re-run");
+    
+    for (uint8_t v = 1; v <= 127; v++) {
+        led_driver->set_led_state(36, 1, v);
+        vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(80));
+    }
+    led_driver->set_led_state(36, 1, 0);
+    Serial.println("[APP] Palette test complete");
 }
 
 void AppTask::process_midi_event(const MidiEvent& event) {
-    // Visual indicator: blink LED 0 on ANY MIDI receive
-    if (led_driver && event.type != MidiEvent::SYSEX) {
-        static uint32_t last_blink = 0;
-        uint32_t now = millis();
-        if (now - last_blink > 100) {
-            last_blink = now;
-            led_driver->set_led_state(36, 1, 127); // Brief flash on pad 0
-            vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(10));
-            led_driver->set_led_state(36, 1, 0);
-        }
-    }
-    
     Serial.printf("[APP] MIDI IN: Type=%d Ch=%d Data1=%d Data2=%d\n",
                   event.type, event.channel, event.data1, event.data2);
     
@@ -63,7 +80,7 @@ void AppTask::process_midi_event(const MidiEvent& event) {
     uint8_t midi_note = event.data1;
     uint8_t midi_velocity = event.data2;
     
-    // Handle NOTE_ON/NOTE_OFF for LED control (Launchpad standard)
+    // NOTE_ON/NOTE_OFF on channels 1-3 (Launchpad standard)
     if (event.type == MidiEvent::NOTE_ON || event.type == MidiEvent::NOTE_OFF) {
         for (uint8_t i = 0; i < NUM_PADS; i++) {
             if (pad_mapping[i].midi_channel == midi_channel && 
@@ -74,46 +91,45 @@ void AppTask::process_midi_event(const MidiEvent& event) {
         }
         
         if (led_index < NUM_PADS) {
+            uint8_t color_vel = (event.type == MidiEvent::NOTE_ON) ? midi_velocity : 0;
+            // For flashing/pulsing channels, just use velocity as color
             led_driver->set_led_state(
                 pad_mapping[led_index].midi_note,
                 pad_mapping[led_index].midi_channel,
-                event.type == MidiEvent::NOTE_ON ? midi_velocity : 0
+                color_vel
             );
-            
-            Serial.printf("[APP] MIDI -> LED: Ch%d Note%d Vel%d -> LED%d\n",
-                          midi_channel, midi_note, midi_velocity, led_index);
+            Serial.printf("[APP] NOTE -> LED: Ch%d Note%d Vel%d -> LED%d\n",
+                          midi_channel, midi_note, color_vel, led_index);
         } else {
-            Serial.printf("[APP] MIDI Ch%d Note%d Vel%d - no LED mapping\n",
+            Serial.printf("[APP] NOTE Ch%d Note%d Vel%d - no mapping\n",
                           midi_channel, midi_note, midi_velocity);
         }
     }
-    // Handle CC for LED control (Loopy Pro uses CC)
+    // CONTROL_CHANGE on any channel (generic MIDI / Loopy Pro)
     else if (event.type == MidiEvent::CONTROL_CHANGE) {
         uint8_t cc_num = event.data1;
         uint8_t cc_val = event.data2;
         
-        // Map CC number to pad index
-        // Loopy Pro: CC2=pixel0, CC3=pixel1, ... CC11=pixel9
-        // Also try CC 0-9 and CC 36-45 for compatibility
+        // Map CC to pad: CC2-11 (Loopy Pro), CC0-9, CC36-45
         if (cc_num >= 2 && cc_num < 2 + NUM_PADS) {
-            led_index = cc_num - 2;  // CC 2-11 -> pads 0-9
+            led_index = cc_num - 2;
         } else if (cc_num < NUM_PADS) {
-            led_index = cc_num;  // CC 0-9
+            led_index = cc_num;
         } else if (cc_num >= 36 && cc_num < 36 + NUM_PADS) {
-            led_index = cc_num - 36;  // CC 36-45
+            led_index = cc_num - 36;
         }
         
         if (led_index < NUM_PADS) {
+            // Use CC value directly as color velocity
             led_driver->set_led_state(
                 pad_mapping[led_index].midi_note,
                 pad_mapping[led_index].midi_channel,
-                cc_val  // CC value = velocity/color
+                cc_val
             );
-            
             Serial.printf("[APP] CC -> LED: Ch%d CC%d Val%d -> LED%d\n",
                           midi_channel, cc_num, cc_val, led_index);
         } else {
-            Serial.printf("[APP] CC Ch%d CC%d Val%d - no LED mapping\n",
+            Serial.printf("[APP] CC Ch%d CC%d Val%d - no mapping\n",
                           midi_channel, cc_num, cc_val);
         }
     }
@@ -123,7 +139,6 @@ void AppTask::process_switch_event(uint8_t switch_id, bool pressed) {
     for (uint8_t i = 0; i < NUM_PADS; i++) {
         if (pad_mapping[i].physical_switch == switch_id) {
             uint8_t channel = pad_mapping[i].midi_channel;
-            // Loopy Pro expects CC2 for pixel0, CC3 for pixel1, etc.
             uint8_t cc_num = 2 + switch_id;
             uint8_t cc_val = pressed ? 127 : 0;