Why are M and S both highlighted in the upper left corner?

Cubase
1

Before I opened Cubase, I unplugged the Focusrite audio interface to plug in a keyboard as MIDI instrument. Later, I unplugged the keyboard and plugged the audio interface back in. Problem is: even though Audio Connections are back to Scarlett Solo for both Audio In and Audio Out, now there is no sound.

For some reason, both M (mute) and S (sound?) at the top left corner are highlighted. When I tap S, the yellow M button lights up. I must manually change each track to S, but there is still no sound…

None of this works, so I copied the tracks to paste them into a new cpr file. There is still no sound!

Boy, am i frustrated! Any ideas how to resolve this issue?

2

S is for Solo. It mutes all tracks except that one. The M&S at top left are actually solo and mute defeat so turn it off for all tracks.

I doubt this specifically is your problem….it’s more likely something like you lost routing from tracks to stereo out because that out was not available when the focusrite got unplugged.

Have you actually tried restarting Cubase with the interface plugged in?

If you haven’t saved your track since it went mute this might fix it….otherwise check your routing or show us a screencap that shows it so we can confirm

3

OK, if i unplugged Scarlett Solo when the file was still open, what should I do now to fix the problem?

I have checked each track, and they are all routed to Stereo Out.

4

Oh wait, in Mix Console, i see that Stereo Out has a blank space under Routing. Should I simply insert the tracks??

5

You need to route each tracks output somewhere. For simplification purposes I would route each track to the Stereo Out.

6

No stereo out doesn’t need anything in routing, it’s the end of the route.

Did you try reloading the project or restarting Cubase?

7

You should probably look in Studio→Audio Connections→Outputs and see if your audio device is there. If it says “Not Connected” just click there and re-add it. And as @Grim says, restart Cubase with your device already connected.

8

I have exited Cubase and restarted. Still, no luck.

9

Each track is already routed to Stereo Out.

10

Scarlett Solo is connected as Output. Still does not work…

11

As a note she is using Elements

12

You may have to reboot your computer, you unplugged your audio interface and Cubase and/or Windows may not load it again till you reboot.

13

No, this is Pro. I just haven’t figured out how to update my profile yet lol

14

OK, will try rebooting the whole computer now.

15

There is something a bit weird with the M&S buttons staying lit, you are talking about the ones in the toolbar….not ones on tracks in the track list down the left??

16

I rebooted the Mac, but there is still no sound.

WIth M&S, I am referring to the ones in the toolbar.

17

Yeah so it does seem odd that if you click on them they stay lit, they should go grey and disable any solos or mutes on all tracks. Can you try a different project or start a new empty one and see if it’s the same.

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18

I went to old projects, and the problem is the same. I also copied these tracks, then pasted into a new file, but no luck.

19

Can you post screencaps of studio setup and audio connections, then the project window showing as much routing as possible and with track actually playing so we can see which meters are moving (or not)

1 Like
20

Image 11-17-25 at 18.19
Image 11-17-25 at 18.191920Ă—1103 436 KB
What the heck?! I simply left the room for 1 hour or so, then came back to the computer and the sound is now working. boy, this DAW is moody.

The yellow and red M&S buttons are still both highlighted though. i don’t want to take any risk of switching back to Mute again. Any idea why this is the case>?