Solo and Mute

[hunchermuncher]

Just getting to know Ableton. I see that you can solo tracks, but how do you mute a single track (ie vertical column in Session View)? I can see that you could Control+Click on all the track Solo buttons that you want to hear, apart from the one that you don't want to hear but this is obviously long-winded. I must be missing something here. Thanks.

[mr.adl]

Just getting to know Ableton. I see that you can solo tracks, but how do you mute a single track (ie vertical column in Session View)? I can see that you could Control+Click on all the track Solo buttons that you want to hear, apart from the one that you don't want to hear but this is obviously long-winded. I must be missing something here. Thanks.

Go with your intuition:

[hunchermuncher]

Hi mr.adl

Thanks very much for pointing this out. The track activator seems like a good idea, but if I clip the Scene launch button the track still plays even if it is deactivated. Also in my version of Ableton Live 8 the track activator buttons are not yellow for some reason - they are light grey or medium grey. Does that mean anything, or maybe just a different version.

Say I wanted to launch a scene but not have the lead playing, just have bass and drums starting together. Then bring the lead in. That's what I'm trying to do.

[yur2die4]

It sounds to me like all your Solo buttons are activated, and that is causing you some confusion. Make sure that none of your Solo buttons are lit, then you should be able to play with the track activator buttons.

[3rdordertrauma]

Hi mr.adl
Say I wanted to launch a scene but not have the lead playing, just have bass and drums starting together. Then bring the lead in. That's what I'm trying to do.

This can be done with just more scenes... no mutes or solos required. For example... scene 1 contains drums and bass only and scene two contains copies of the drums and bass plus lead. You do know you are not confined to just scenes as well? Meaning once you launch scene one which contains your bass and drums you could then just launch a lead clip independent from any scenes.

[hunchermuncher]

Hi 3rdordertrauma

good idea about just moving the lead to another scene. I did know about launching individual clips apart from scenes, though it all still seems more complicated than just having a mute button. But I guess I'll get used to it. Everything else about Ableton seems really intuitive!

[3rdordertrauma]

Hi 3rdordertrauma

good idea about just moving the lead to another scene. I did know about launching individual clips apart from scenes, though it all still seems more complicated than just having a mute button. But I guess I'll get used to it. Everything else about Ableton seems really intuitive!

Well if that way of working suites you best then of course you can do that too... the mute switches can be easily assigned to your midi controller. Thats the beauty of it... Live pretty much works anyway you'd like to. I'm pretty sure by default the mute switches are assigned to the 'F' keys on the computer keyboard. At least they are on a MAC... not sure about PC.

[dentaku]

Hi 3rdordertrauma

good idea about just moving the lead to another scene. I did know about launching individual clips apart from scenes, though it all still seems more complicated than just having a mute button. But I guess I'll get used to it. Everything else about Ableton seems really intuitive!

Well if that way of working suites you best then of course you can do that too... the mute switches can be easily assigned to your midi controller. Thats the beauty of it... Live pretty much works anyway you'd like to. I'm pretty sure by default the mute switches are assigned to the 'F' keys on the computer keyboard. At least they are on a MAC... not sure about PC.

Yup, F1 through F8 activate and de-activate scenes in windows to.

[hunchermuncher]

Hi

Thanks for the tips. I have just tried using the F keys and they do change the state of the Track Activator, but for some reason this does not stop the track playing. So for example in Track 3, I have Impulse playing - whether or not the Track Activator is on or off. I am sure I am missing something obvious here.

[hunchermuncher]

Hi

I did miss the obvious - I had Solo switched on with those tracks. Once I switched it off my problems are solved. Thanks everyone for help and patience!