---
language: en
updated-at: 2026-10-28
---

App Store release pending

MixSift guide

# Understand Level, Mute, Solo and Practice Mix presets

Resolve silent soloed stems, combined Solo selections and presets that replace your current practice balance.

Updated 28 October 2026

## Level lowers a group; Mute silences it

Level controls a stem’s contribution from −60 to 0 dB. It attenuates relative to the default; it cannot boost above 0 dB. Even the minimum level is not a Mute command. Use Mute when you want the group excluded.

![Control relationships: Mute overrides Solo; when any Solo is active, only unmuted soloed groups sound. Level can reduce an audible group. Master Volume and metronome affect listening, not the exported mix.](/assets/control-relationships-diagram.svg)

Check which groups are audible before adjusting their levels.  
Original explanatory diagram with English control names, not an app screenshot. Export Mix uses its confirmed Level, Mute and Solo snapshot for the full song; listening-only controls are excluded.

[View full-size diagram ↗](/assets/control-relationships-diagram.svg)

Mute wins over Solo. If Bass is both muted and soloed, Bass stays silent. Raising its Level cannot undo Mute. Check these states before assuming the file or playback is broken.

## Solo selects the available groups you hear

With no available stem soloed, available unmuted stems play together. Once Solo is enabled on an available stem, only available soloed stems can sound, and each must also be unmuted. You can Solo more than one group.

1. To study Bass alone, unmute Bass and Solo it. Clear any other Solo selections.

2. To hear Bass with Drums, leave both unmuted and Solo both. Other and Vocals are then excluded by Solo even if they are not muted.

3. If Bass is muted while soloed, unmute it to hear it. If it is the only available soloed group, the other unsoloed groups remain excluded.

4. Before making a full backing, clear temporary Solo states and verify the intended Mute and Level settings.

## Practice Mix replaces the current channel settings

A preset is a complete starting balance, not an extra filter layered over your adjustments. It sets channel levels back to 0 dB, clears Solo and applies its Mute choices while preserving which stems are available.

- Full Mix: all available groups unmuted.

- Sing Along — No Vocals: Vocals muted.

- Play Drums — No Drums: Drums muted.

- Play Bass — No Bass: Bass muted.

Apply a preset before fine-tuning. Selecting one again replaces your previous Level, Mute and Solo edits. If you only want to change a single group without replacing the rest, adjust that group directly.

## Check the same states before Export Mix

Export Mix uses a snapshot of Level, Mute and Solo confirmed for the full song. A forgotten Solo can exclude accompaniment. Review included/excluded groups in the summary, not just the audible loudness in your headphones.

Master Volume is listening-only and the metronome is excluded from the exported mix. Those controls cannot solve an export balance or clipping problem. For a quieter but still audible guide part, follow [the attenuation workflow](/guides/rebalance-song-for-practice).

## Continue with a related guide

[Decide about clipping protection](/guides/export-mix-clipping-warning)

[Understand saved mix semantics](/guides/export-practice-mix-vs-stems)

[All guides](/guides)

Audio processing on your Mac.

Prelaunch · Public availability unverified.