No solo button in Sequence Editor? Really?

[spitfire31]

Hi,

More and more I have this urgent need for finding the Solo button in the graphic Sequence Editor in 7.2.4. I haven't found one yet, but I can't accept that there is none!

I know about alt/cmd-clicking the Enable/Play button, but that's not the same tging. It means Muting all other tracks/Unmuting all other tracks. But I often have some tracks muted that I don't want touched in this context.

Every time I need to hear just the one track I'm editing, I have to shift to the Mixer window and mute the track in question there. Or I can consolidate the Channel Strip window with Tracks Overview, but then I still have to unfocus/focus the Sequence Editor window.

I'd be more than happy if someone would brand me an idiot by referring me to the page in TFM where it clearly explains how to Solo/un-Solo right there in the Sequence Editor!

Frustrated but kind regards,

Joachim

[maakera]

I use the I-Beam tool to select the range I need to listen and then press alt-space, to hear the selection in solo.

Works for me.
Andre

[spitfire31]

I use the I-Beam tool to select the range I need to listen and then press alt-space, to hear the selection in solo.

Works for me.
Andre

Thanks for the suggestion! Only, the i-beam/alt-space method plays the audio dry, without the Mixer plug-ins. So, it will work for me sometimes, but mostly I'd like to hear the processed audio (for instance, to decide if I need to 'help' compression with some volume automation editing.

Best,

Joachim

[stephentayler]

Can't you consolidate the Channel Strip into the Sequence Editor window?

But I know what you mean. it would be simpler to have it right there, particularly if you need to quickly solo more than one track.

Cheers

Stephen

[spitfire31]

Can't you consolidate the Channel Strip into the Sequence Editor window?
…
Cheers

Stephen

I did try. There was no problem consolidating it into the Tracks Overview window, but I didn't manage to persuade it to sneak into the Sequence Editor…

Best,

Joachim

[Prime Mover]

I switch it around: I have the Sequence/MIDI editors in the consolidated window, and the Tracks window on its own. I find the channel strip to be a lot more useful in the Sequence editor than Tracks overview. That should solve your problem.

[spitfire31]

I switch it around: I have the Sequence/MIDI editors in the consolidated window, and the Tracks window on its own. I find the channel strip to be a lot more useful in the Sequence editor than Tracks overview. That should solve your problem.

That's a good idea. I'll try it out.

Thanks!

Best,

Joachim

[zed]

I use the I-Beam tool to select the range I need to listen and then press alt-space, to hear the selection in solo.

Works for me.
Andre

Thanks for the suggestion! Only, the i-beam/alt-space method plays the audio dry, without the Mixer plug-ins. So, it will work for me sometimes, but mostly I'd like to hear the processed audio (for instance, to decide if I need to 'help' compression with some volume automation editing.

That is not true in previous versions of DP. I just tested this in DP 7.24 because I was pretty that has not been my findings (and I use this method often). It plays the track exactly as it is with whatever plugins and effects you have on the track. This method just solos the track.

Are you saying that you just tried this in DP8 and the audio is played dry?

This method also allows you to quickly solo a bunch of tracks together, like maybe a bunch of drum tracks.

But in any case, your solution to having a solo button for whatever you are working on in the Sequence Editor is to set up your single Channel Strip immediately to the left of your Sequence Editor.

You don't have to include the Channel Strip in your consolidated window if you have a dual monitor setup. I keep the Tracks Overview and Editor Windows consolidated together, and then have the Channel Strip by itself off to the side (on the second monitor) so that it is right where I want it to be. It works like a charm, and I believe this is the intended way to set things up to control your tracks, and soloing, in the Editor windows.

[Dan Worley]

I use "Command -" to Toggle Solo Mode (I forget what the default is), then add and subtract from the solo buss as needed (including option clicking a track's play button to take all the other tracks out of the solo bus).

We talked about this before, the only drag is when you have a lot of tracks and you Option click thinking you're in Solo Mode but you're not. Ouch!

I'm not against MOTU adding a dedicated solo button to the tracks.

[Tritonemusic]

I use "Command -" to Toggle Solo Mode (I forget what the default is),

Just for the record, it's Control > Option > Shift > S.

[Tritonemusic]

I use the I-Beam tool to select the range I need to listen and then press alt-space, to hear the selection in solo.

Works for me.
Andre

Thanks for the suggestion! Only, the i-beam/alt-space method plays the audio dry, without the Mixer plug-ins.

When I use the I-Beam tool, or the Pointer tool, and use the Option > Spacebar command, I do hear the effects. The only time I can hear it dry is if I double-click a Soundbite with the Pointer tool, and the Soundbite is in "popped-up" mode. That can be handy, in and of itself.

I wonder if Bundles could have something to do with it. Is your Master Output on top of your Bundles list? Just a wild guess...

[Shooshie]

Much ado about nothing. Sorry, I constantly change the soloed tracks in the Sequence Editor, and it's not a big deal. The only thing a solo button would give you is a larger target than the Play Enable button. Other than that, it gives you the same result.

Sometimes I use the Tracks Overview -- always available up at the top of my Consolidated Window -- to change the soloed tracks. Or, if I have a very complicated set, I just switch over to the Mixing Board. It's not hard to do.

One thing I never do: sit there cursing DP for not having what I need. Believe me, I would if it were true. But there are so many ways to do things that I never have to slow down.

Shooshie

[Prime Mover]

LOL, now that I think about it, didn't DP4 not have any solo buttons at all? I remember coming off of ProTools thinking, "this is really bizarre!" But somewhere down the line they added solo buttons in every window but Tracks, and I never realized it! Now it looks like the solo button is shrinking back into the darkness again.

Honestly, I like having both the solo buttons and the solo toggle. But if I had to pick one over the other, I'd MUCH rather keep the toggle. The old "last one off makes everything play" may have been quick and immediate, but really obnoxious when you're in the middle of things.

As for the consolidated window. It's funny, I find the window that makes the least amount of sense to be consolidated (besides the mixer) is the Tracks window. I rarely miss the channel strip when I'm looking at the big picture, and I can keep it big and separated from everything else. The only problem is that I often accidentally hit the "Tracks" tab in the CW, and my undocked version gets killed. I'm trying to train myself off of that, but sometimes I still hit it by accident. I really wish I could turn that tab bar off for good, I know all the shortcuts, it just takes up space.

[BobK]

I've long wanted a Solo button in the SE and have submitted a feature request to MOTU's suggestion box. If you haven't already done so, drop 'em a note.