Problem:
The master channel is currently not visually or functionally distinct from other tracks. It behaves like a regular track, which can cause confusion in large projects. It's also hard to locate quickly.
A key technical issue: there's no way to control individual hardware outputs separately (e.g. headphones vs. front-of-house). The master bus affects all outputs together – including volume, mute, and FX.
Proposed Solution:
  • Make the master channel visually distinct (color, icon, fixed position)
  • Pin it to the right side or move it to a dedicated top/bottom section
  • Optionally make it always visible (sticky)
  • Add centralized access to master-specific functions like monitoring, metering, limiting, solo/mute bypass
  • Allow per-output control (e.g. separate headphone and FOH levels)
Benefits:
  • Better navigation in large projects
  • Quicker access to global mix tools
  • Clearer separation of audio routing
  • Avoid unintended volume changes across all outputs
  • Matches expectations from traditional DAWs
This summary was automatically generated by ChatGPT-4 on April 30, 2025.