5.0

70
The mixer
About this chapter
This chapter contains detailed information about the ele-
ments used when mixing audio and MIDI, and the various
ways you can configure the mixer.
Some mixer-related features are not described in this
chapter. These are the following:
• Setting up and using audio effects.
See the chapter “Audio effects” on page 85.
• Automation of all mixer parameters.
See the chapter “Automation” on page 108.
• How to mix down several audio tracks (complete with
automation and effects if you wish) to a single audio file.
See the chapter “Export Audio Mixdown” on page 226.
Overview
The mixer offers a common environment for controlling
levels, pan, solo/mute status etc. for both audio and MIDI
channels.
Opening the mixer
The mixer can be opened in several ways:
• By selecting Mixer from the Devices menu.
• By clicking the Mixer icon on the toolbar.
• By using a key command (by default [F3]).
• By clicking the Mixer button in the Devices panel.
You open the Devices panel by selecting Show Panel from the Devices
menu.
What channel types can be shown in the mixer?
The following track-based channel types are shown in the
mixer:
•Audio
•MIDI
• Effect return channels (referred to as FX channels in the
Project window)
• Group channels
• Instrument track channels
The order of audio, MIDI, instrument, group and effect re-
turn channel strips (from left to right) in the mixer corre-
sponds to the Project window Track list (from the top
down). If you reorder tracks of these types in the Track list,
this will be mirrored in the mixer.
In addition to the above, the following channel types are
also shown in the mixer:
• VST Instrument channels (see the chapter “VST Instruments
and Instrument tracks” on page 99).
The other track types are not shown in the mixer.
Output busses in the mixer
Output busses are represented by output channels in the
mixer. They appear in a separate “pane” separated by a
movable divider and with its own horizontal scrollbar, see
“The output channels” on page 74.
Configuring the mixer
The mixer window can be configured in various ways to
suit your needs and to save screen space. Here follows a
run through of the various view options (the following de-
scriptions assume that you have an active project contain-
ing some tracks).
The mixer shows the channel faders for the various tracks
of your project. On the right of the fader panel you find the
output channel fader. On the left is the common panel
which allows for global settings affecting all channels.