Get started with mixing

Mixing a project involves balancing the different parts of the project and blending them into a cohesive whole.

In the Mixer, each track has a channel strip that corresponds to its track type. You can control the sound of the track using its channel strip controls, which include Mute and Solo buttons, a Volume fader and level meter, a Pan/Balance knob, and others. You can also add effects plug-ins, change plug-in settings, and control the signal flow using sends and auxiliary (aux) channel strips.

Figure. The Mixer, showing audio, software instrument, auxiliary, and master channel strips.

The channel strip for the currently selected track also appears in the lower-left part of the inspector, along with the channel strip for its output. You can try out the following tasks using either the inspector channel strips or the channel strips in the Mixer.

Figure. Inspector channel strips, showing the Channel Strip setting button, Effect slots, Send knob, Pan/Balance knob, Volume fader, Level meter, and Mute and Solo buttons.

Open the Mixer

  • Click the Mixer button in the control bar (or press X).

    The Mixer opens below the Tracks area.

    Figure. Opening the Mixer.

Mute and unmute a channel strip

  • Click the channel strip’s Mute button (with an “M”).

    Click the button again to unmute the channel strip.

Solo and unsolo a channel strip

  • Click the channel strip’s Solo button (with an “S”).

    When you solo a channel strip, the Mute buttons of all unsoloed channel strips flash.

    Click the button again to unsolo the channel strip.

Adjust track volume using a channel strip

  • Drag the Volume fader up or down.

Adjust track pan or balance using a channel strip

  • Drag the Pan control vertically.

Choose a channel strip setting

  • Click-hold the Setting button at the top of the channel strip, then choose a setting from the pop-up menu.

Choose a different plug-in

Do one of the following:

  • Click the rightmost part of the Effect slot (with the Up and Down arrows), then choose a plug-in from the pop-up menu.

    Figure. Holding the pointer over the rightmost part of an Effect slot, to choose a different plug-in.
  • Place the pointer above or below an existing slot, click the blue line that appears, then choose a plug-in from the pop-up menu.

    Figure. Placing the pointer above or below an existing slot, to choose a plug-in.

Open a plug-in window

  • Click the center area of the plug-in slot.

    Figure. Placing the pointer over the center of a plug-in slot, to open the plug-in window.

For detailed information about mixing a project, see Mixing overview. For more information about channel strip controls, see Channel strip controls.