Enhancing the Functionality of the Solo Override Command

[murat k.]

In Cakewalk, there are two separate commands share the same symbol: "Exclusive Solo" and "Solo Override"

"Exclusive Solo" restricts soloing to a single track, while "Solo Override" allows additional tracks to be soloed even when "Exclusive Solo" mode is active.

However, when "Exclusive Solo" is not enabled, using the "Solo Override" command on a track produces no effect beyond what a regular "Solo" command would achieve.

My request is that, when "Exclusive Solo" mode is not active, the "Solo Override" command should restrict sound output exclusively to the tracks that have been soloed with this override.

As a workaround the Group method is unsuitable for this type of auditioning as it requires prior planning. This request seeks a more dynamic solution that allows for the spontaneous selection and auditioning of any soloed track or group of tracks. And also:

If this feature is implemented, it would enhance the functionality of the "Solo Override" command by aligning its behavior more closely with the exclusivity implied by its symbol, both in exclusive and regular solo modes.

[David Baay]

8 hours ago, murat k. said:

However, when "Exclusive Solo" is not enabled, using the "Solo Override" command on a track produces no effect beyond what a regular "Solo" command would achieve.

Sorry, but that's not accurate. Solo override ensures that a track remains audible when anything else is soloed - exclusively or not - but does not cause the track to play solo when nothing else is soloed as a regular solo does. What it's doing is overriding the muting effect that soloing some other track(s) would normally have without causing any muting itself.

I agree that using the same icon for both functions is a bit confusing, but it's not the functionality that needs to change, just the icon.

There might still be a need for some additional soloing functionality but changing what Solo Override does is not the right approach. I use it for what it's designed to do currently and would not want it to change.

[murat k.]

2 hours ago, David Baay said:

Sorry, but that's not accurate. Solo override ensures that a track remains audible when anything else is soloed - exclusively or not - but does not cause the track to play solo when nothing else is soloed as a regular solo does. What it's doing is overriding the muting effect that soloing some other track(s) would normally have without causing any muting itself.

I agree that using the same icon for both functions is a bit confusing, but it's not the functionality that needs to change, just the icon.

There might still be a need for some additional soloing functionality but changing what Solo Override does is not the right approach. I use it for what it's designed to do currently and would not want it to change.

Actually, rather than thinking the icon is confusing, I think the functionality is simply insufficient. But I understand your point. To preserve the existing system while expanding the Solo Override functionality, we could implement the following:

- When clicking the Solo button with Shift, the Solo Override command would continue to work as it does currently.
- When clicking the Solo button with Alt, it would gain exclusivity, allowing this feature to work in both "Exclusive Solo" and "Regular Solo" modes.

To make this functional difference clear, a change in the icon would also be necessary.

- Normal Solo Override icon:

- Exclusive Solo Override icon:

In essence, when a track is assigned the Solo Override Exclusive command, only that track would produce sound, regardless of the mode we are in. As shown below:

[David Baay]

I think I need an example situation to fully understand the use case, and how it's not currently covered.. Also, some other modifier will be needed as Alt-clicking a widget currently enables dragging it to re-order widgets.

[murat k.]

1 hour ago, David Baay said:

I think I need an example situation to fully understand the use case, and how it's not currently covered.. Also, some other modifier will be needed as Alt-clicking a widget currently enables dragging it to re-order widgets.

Click and Click and Drag are distinct functions, so there’s no issue with using Alt+Click actually.

If an example is needed, think that you have some solo tracks and you only want to hear only one of them, you can achieve this by Alt-clicking on the desired track's Solo button. When toggled, the track will return to its previous state, and you will continue hearing what you heard before.

Simply put, regardless of whether other tracks are soloed or not, only the tracks where the 'Exclusive Solo Override' command is applied will produce sound in any Solo mode.

In other words, we’ll use this feature to solo tracks exclusively within Solo mode.