Solo, Mute and Send FX logic

The Solo, Mute and Send FX functions in the channel strips are very straight-forward when you work with mixer channels that are routed straight to the Master Section. However, when you are using Output Busses for sub-mixing and/or Parallel Channels for parallel processing, the Solo, Mute and Send FX functions need to work intelligently to provide the desired result. This has been carefully taken care of in the Main Mixer in Reason.

Solo and Mute logic

The Solo and Mute functions are designed to work intelligently in the following special scenarios:

•	When several mixer channels are routed to an Output Bus.

•	When a mixer channel has one or more Parallel Channels.

•	When Output Busses are routed to other Output Busses.

•	When Output Busses have Parallel Channels.

Solo and Mute examples

There are two ways a mixer channel can be soloed or muted:

•	Manually, by clicking the corresponding Solo or Mute buttons.

In these situations, the buttons light up in green (Solo) or red (Mute).

•	Automatically, according to the state(s) of the other mixer channels.

This happens when another mixer channel is affected by a manual Solo/Mute in another mixer channel. Automatically soloed/muted buttons light up in dimmed green (Solo) or dimmed red (Mute) color.

The examples in the figure below show how Solo and Mute work in different mixer channel configurations:

Below is another example of the Solo and Mute logic:

Send FX level and mute logic

If you are using Send FX in your mixer channels, these need to behave intelligently when you are using Output Bus channels and/or Parallel Channels.

Send FX level examples

Since the eight Send FX busses in the Main Mixer are shared between all mixer channels, including Output Bus channels, there has to be a way to compensate the Send FX levels for changes in Output Bus levels. Therefore:

•	If a channel is routed to an Output Bus, its Send FX levels will follow the Output Bus level.

One example would be if you have a number of drum channels routed to a “Drums” Output Bus, and add a reverb to the Snare channel using an FX Send. Now, if you raise or lower the Drums Output Bus level fader, the individual Snare reverb Send level will automatically adjust, so that the effect balance is maintained.

Note that the automatic Send FX level adjustment is disabled if the Send FX PRE button is on.

Note that the individual FX Send level knobs will not move to reflect the automatic level compensations.

Send FX mute examples

The example in the figure below shows how the Send FX behave when an Output Bus channel is muted:

The examples in the figure below show how the Send FX behave when you mute a Parallel Channel as well as a Parallel Channel plus an Output Bus: