independent. Routing functions such as the selection of input sources and output destinations are also unlinked. However, as clicking on a channel selects all of its linked channels as well, you can Alt/Option-click to apply the same source or destination routing to all of them. (This is confusing, given that Alt-clicking temporarily suspends links between faders and the like!) To link channels, select them, then right-click and select 'Link Channels'; to unlink do the same and select 'Unlink Channels'. To link channels, select them, then right-click and select 'Link Channels'; to unlink do the same and select 'Unlink Channels'. It may be unlikely that you'll want to select the same input source for several tracks at once, and I'm struggling to think of scenarios where you'd want to do linked changes on EQ (perhaps engaging high-pass and low-pass filters?) or insert. You could always use presets or drag-and-drop copying to do this quickly anyway. It would certainly have made sense, though, to link the 'R' and 'W' buttons: it would be great to click to select the group, click on the 'W' icon, hit play and move the faders to write automation data for every track in the group. As it is you will have to hit 'W' for each track in the group (fiddly on a 13-mic drum setup!). "No problem," you say, "I'll draw the automation in for the linked channels." The problem is you can't, because the Link Channels function can be used only in the mixer