Work with subchannels

Each of the 16 standard instruments in a multi-instrument provides a separate MIDI channel—mirroring the 16 MIDI channels—and is therefore called a subchannel. The multi-instrument’s interface includes a numbered square (button) for each subchannel. Clicking a numbered square selects the corresponding subchannel, and displays its parameters in the Object inspector.

Each subchannel has a complete set of instrument parameters, identical to those for standard instruments. For details, see Standard instrument parameters.

The only parameter you can’t change is the MIDI channel. If you attempt to change the MIDI channel, you’re asked to select another subchannel, or select the multi-instrument itself to change the common driver destination. You can, however, change the channel in the Track inspector to any subchannel of the multi-instrument, and the track will be assigned to the selected subchannel. This allows you to redirect the (regions on the) track to another subchannel, making it easy to play multiple parts with a particular channel/sound.

As with any other Environment object, you can prevent subchannels from appearing in the Reassign Track shortcut menu in the Tracks area by deselecting the Assignable checkbox in the Object inspector. The button for the subchannel appears with a diagonal line through it when deactivated.

In the above image, subchannel 1 is selected, subchannels 1 to 8 are activated, and subchannels 9 to 16 have been removed from the Reassign Track shortcut menu.