Global Mutes for Tracks?

bens

In a previous version of ST3 you could assign the 6 tracks to different outputs within ST3, then assign each output to a destination in your Audio Interface.

One nice thing about this is that it's easy to globally mute a drum track, for instance.

In the new version I love the flexibility we have with routing to separate channels, (and the increased tracks!) but we lost the ability to mute an output entirely. Instead I have to change the output routing to be None instead of the channel it was on. (and in a pinch I may not remember which channel it should be routed to later)

Am I missing something obvious here? If not, could I request a global mute for each of the tracks?

peter

Global mutes are still there. Just select "Disabled" as the track output for tracks you want to mute globally.

bens

That's my point. I'd love to be able to mute the track without losing the channel it was on before.

peter

That's not possible and would add an, in my opinion, unnecessary configuration layer. Besides, before version 3.8 you lost the assignment to the output bus when you selected "none" to mute a track. I don't see a difference here.

bens

Before 3.8 I did this:

Track 1 (Drums) -> Aux2
Track 2 (Lead Vocals) -> Aux 1
...
Track 6 (Click) -> Aux3

These busses were mapped to specific channels on the audio interface (in my case a Presonus Studiolive 16R). If I wanted to mute Drums (because the drummer is present), then I'd change the bus to "None". But the output channel would remain.

As of 3.8 I'm missing this option, the tracks are routed directly to the output channels.

peter

You had to remember that drums are on Aux2. Now you have to remember that Drums are on outs 5/6 for example. That's no difference and offers much more flexibility as you can use more outputs than before.

Now you can assign outputs directly to tracks without the need to have busses in between. I think that's a big advantage.

bens

You're right, but there are 24 inputs to remember on my interface. I am seeing your point about the new system being way more flexible (we wouldn't want to see 24 aux busses show up if you use a 24ch interface) -- but a global mute for each of these would be a welcome change!

🙏

Sharonzaz

Initially I was also missing the old busses but honestly I think the new system works well.