> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sampler.meiji.industries/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Muting And Soloing > Understand the three mute layers - mixer, loop, and track - so you can arrange, perform, and record without surprises. # Muting And Soloing Muting in Meiji Sampler happens in three layers: 1. **Channel mute** in the mixer 2. **Loop mute** in the loops row 3. **Track mute** inside the sequence editor That distinction matters. Sometimes you want silence in the speakers while the performance logic keeps running. Other times you want the loop to keep time while specific triggers stop firing, or you want one instrument lane to drop out while the rest of the loop keeps playing. ## The mental model Use **audio mute** when the sound itself should disappear from the output. Use **trigger mute** when the loop should keep running but recorded events should stop firing. Use **solo** when one channel, loop, or track should stay active while the others in that layer are muted. ## Audio mute in the mixer Mixer mute works at the output layer. The pad still exists, the channel settings still exist, and recordings can still continue. You are muting what you hear from that channel. ### Use audio mute when * a part is cluttering the mix and you want to hear the rest * you want to record without monitoring one channel * you want to compare balance decisions quickly ### Keyboard shortcuts | Context | Shortcut | Result | | ---------- | -------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | Pads row | `m` | Mute the selected channel | | Pads row | `s` | Solo the selected channel and effectively mute the other channels | | Mixer pane | `m` | Mute the selected channel | | Mixer pane | `s` | Solo the selected channel and effectively mute the other channels | Press `s` again on the same channel to turn that channel solo off. ### What still happens while mixer-muted * the pad remains assigned * channel settings still apply * the rest of the session keeps running * recording can continue without monitoring that channel ## Trigger mute in loops Loop mute works at the sequencer layer. The loop keeps its timing and position, but the recorded triggers in that loop stop firing. ### Use loop mute when * you want to drop out a whole section without stopping transport * you want to keep a loop ready for the next section * you want arrangement moves that keep bar alignment intact ### Keyboard shortcuts | Context | Shortcut | Result | | --------- | -------- | ----------------------------------------------- | | Loops row | `m` | Mute the selected loop | | Loops row | `s` | Solo the selected loop and mute the other loops | If the selected loop is already soloed, pressing `s` again un-solos and restores the other loops. ## Trigger mute in tracks Inside the sequence editor, mute applies to one recorded instrument lane within the loop. This is the layer to use when the kick should stay, but the hats or snare should drop out. ### Use track mute when * one instrument should drop out while the rest of the loop stays active * you want arrangement variation without duplicating a loop first * you want to audition whether a part is helping or hurting the groove ### Keyboard shortcuts | Context | Shortcut | Result | | ------------------------------------------------------ | ---------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Sequence editor | `m` | Mute or unmute the selected track | | Sequence editor | `s` | Solo the selected track; press again to un-solo | | Sequence editor on a muted running loop | `m` or `s` | Un-mute the loop, solo the selected track, and restart that track | | Sequence editor in ALL TRACKS view (no track selected) | `m` | Mute the loop, or clear all loop and track mutes if it is already effectively muted (loop muted or all event tracks muted) | ALL TRACKS view is the sequence editor state with no individual track selected. Press `Esc` once to clear the current track selection and return to that view. Track solo is a toggle, just like channel solo and loop solo. Pressing `s` on the selected track silences every other track in the loop; if the loop itself was muted, soloing also un-mutes it. Pressing `s` again un-solos and unmutes every track in the loop. If the loop is muted and you want one instrument back, select that track and press `s` or `m`. Both shortcuts un-mute the loop and solo the selected track in this context. If the loop is running, the selected track restarts immediately. ## What solo means in each layer Solo is layer-specific. It does not create one global solo state across the whole app. * **Channel solo** affects mixer output across channels * **Loop solo** affects which loops fire triggers * **Track solo** affects which tracks fire triggers inside one loop This is why you can have a mixer solo decision and a loop solo decision that are both active at the same time. They operate on different parts of the system. Every layer toggles the same way: press `s` to solo, press `s` again to un-solo. * **Channel solo** toggles on and off with `s` * **Loop solo** toggles on and off with `s` * **Track solo** toggles on and off with `s` ## What you cannot mute individually You can select individual recorded events in the sequence editor, but there is currently no per-event mute state for one selected trigger. For a specific event, the available path is to reposition it or delete it. If you need a temporary drop-out, mute the whole track or loop instead. ## MIDI mappings related to muting MIDI mapping currently covers these mute-related actions: * loop mute * loop solo * channel mute Channel solo is currently keyboard-only. There is no dedicated MIDI mapping for it. There is not a dedicated MIDI mapping for muting one selected event or one recorded trigger. ## Practical examples ### Kill the hats but keep the groove Open the sequence editor for the loop, select the hat track, and press `m`. The loop keeps running, but that instrument stops firing. ### Stop hearing the bass while recording more layers Select the bass channel in Pads or Mixer and press `m`. The bass channel stops coming through the output, but recording can continue. ### Bring one loop forward for a transition Go to the loops row and press `s` on the loop you want to feature. The other loops mute at the trigger layer, but transport stays aligned. ### Bring back one instrument from a muted loop Mute the loop, enter the sequence editor, select the track you want, and press `s` or `m`. The loop un-mutes, the selected track restarts immediately, and that track becomes the soloed layer while the other tracks stay muted. ## Related pages * [Loop](/learn/loop) * [Mix](/learn/mix) * [Overdub And Loop Editing](/guides/overdub-and-loop-editing) * [Mixer And Effects](/guides/mixer-and-effects) * [Keyboard Shortcuts](/reference/keyboard-shortcuts) * [MIDI Implementation Reference](/reference/midi-implementation)