(NOTE: the post below is not referring to the “preview” of anything… nor am I referring to the opening of an unaltered file in a 2nd tab which is a non real-time work around).
If Spectra-layers can break out so many unmixed audio streams and play them back in perfect, sample, phase accurate, and. perfect null sync,
WHY, in 2024, can it not also (at least provide the option. to) add a final, original audio file stream to it’s layers that could be accessed with a BYPASS button so that…
after one has unmixed a track and adjusted layers to taste, one can immediately compare ones decisions to the original (un altered) during real time playback.
WHY, can’t customers A/B switch to the original file, in real-time (after the unnmixed layers are adjusted)?
WHY, (eleven versions in) do customers have to patch (resource consuming) work arounds involving external apps just to do REAL TIME A /B comparisons with their real time layer manipulations and the original track?
There’s so much code in there already that provides realtime soloing, muting, mixing and automation but… NO BYPASS?.. really!!?
Or have I missed. something (eleven versions in)… If I “sound” frustrated, its because I am.
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Because that… would make no sense to provide such a dedicated option ?
In a DAW when you slice an audio clip in multiple parts (to make an analogy with unmixing) and move them around, there’s no “bypass” button.
Similarly, when you import multiple stems in a DAW, and then adjust their individual volume (as in your example), there’s no “bypass” button as well that plays all the stems at 0dB.
When you open an audio file in WaveLab, or RX or other audio editors and do edits, there’s no bypass button either.
That being said, when you use SpectraLayers as an ARA plugin, some DAW offers to bypass the ARA plugin to listen to the original - but that’s definitely the host DAW responsibility, not the ARA plugin responsibility here.
Also, there’s a very simple way to achieve what you want : just duplicate your original layer, and mute it. Do your edits. When you want to compare, just click Solo on the duplicated layer. Unsolo it again to listen to your edits again.
Or just use the History : you can go back and forth dynamically in the history while playing back, and it offers much more granularity than a simple “bypass” button, which would only have the starting point as a reference.
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Thanks for the reply,
I’ll try the duplicate layer w/mute active (then presumably solo would un-mute it and provide the missing bypass functionality I’m looking for).
Note though, that “when you slice an audio clip in multiple parts and move them around”… is in no way, whatsoever analogous to un-mixing in Spectralayers.
But I appreciate the suggested workaround, and hope, that in an update, Steinberg will, transparently, automatically add a hidden duplicate layer when a new file is opened, and provide that hidden layers solo button, in the form of a BYPASS!! 
or whatever code efficient equivalent accomplishes that… because, you know, it’'s 2024, and we are ELEVEN versions into Spectra layers, and BYPASS functionality, is something users of Spactralayers shouldn’t have to search for workarounds for.
Happy 2025!!! (in advance)