fix(vst): pin output bus to stereo (mode is decode-only) killing the hard-right pan; auto-default channel mode from the loaded capture (state v9)

src/vst/reasampler_editor.cpp

@@ -248,6 +248,10 @@ void ReaSamplerEditor::commitAndReload() {
     processor_->setSelectedSampleId(selectedId_);
     processor_->setPerformanceMap(map_);
     processor_->reloadFromBank();
+    // GA: the reload may have AUTO-DEFAULTED the channel mode from the loaded capture's
+    // channel count (implicit mode only) — re-read so the Mono/Stereo toggle draws the mode
+    // the engine actually decoded with.
+    channelMode_ = processor_->channelMode();
 #ifdef _WIN32
     invalidate();
 #endif

src/vst/reasampler_processor.cpp

@@ -11,13 +11,10 @@
 
 #include "pluginterfaces/base/ibstream.h"
 #include "pluginterfaces/vst/ivstaudioprocessor.h"
-#include "pluginterfaces/vst/ivsteditcontroller.h"  // RestartFlags::kIoChanged (S7 re-negotiate)
 #include "pluginterfaces/vst/ivstevents.h"
 #include "pluginterfaces/vst/ivstmidicontrollers.h"  // kCtrlAllNotesOff / kCtrlAllSoundsOff (panic)
 #include "pluginterfaces/vst/vstspeaker.h"
 
-#include "public.sdk/source/vst/vstbus.h"  // Vst::AudioBus::setArrangement (S7 output arr)
-
 #include "assignment_request.h"  // decodeAssignmentRequest (S8 request wire parse)
 #include "bank_sync.h"       // S9/S8 pure decisions: parseBankGeneration, consumeDecision
 #include "capture_paths.h"   // resolveBankFile (shared M4 path resolution)
@@ -121,14 +118,18 @@ tresult PLUGIN_API ReaSamplerProcessor::initialize(FUnknown* context) {
     bridge_.connect(context);
 
     // Instrument bus topology: one event input (MIDI in, 16 channels), one audio output, no
-    // audio input. The output arrangement follows the instance's channel mode (S7) — mono by
-    // default (kMono), stereo (kStereo) when the mode is stereo. addAudioOutput needs an initial
-    // arrangement; seed it at the mode's arrangement so getBusInfo is correct from the first
-    // query. (setState may later flip the mode and re-negotiate via setChannelMode.)
+    // audio input. GA fix (hard-right pan): the output bus is a FIXED STEREO bus regardless of
+    // the channel mode. The mode is a DECODE policy (downmix vs L/R split) — mono mode renders
+    // dual-mono through the stereo bus (both channels equal, centered), which is audibly
+    // identical to a mono bus but never asks the host to re-map a live instance's pins. The
+    // prior design flipped the bus kMono<->kStereo via restartComponent(kIoChanged) on every
+    // mode change/restore; in the DAW that flip panned a dual-mono capture hard RIGHT. The
+    // in-plugin path is provably symmetric (decode, per-voice stereo render, engine sum, buffer
+    // write — see testDualMonoStereoSampleRendersCentered), so the asymmetry sat in the host's
+    // re-routing of the live instance's pins across the arrangement change. A fixed arrangement
+    // is the maximally-standard VSTi shape and removes that whole negotiation surface.
     addEventInput(STR16("MIDI In"), 16);
-    const ChannelMode mode = channelMode();
-    addAudioOutput(STR16("Audio Out"),
-                   mode == ChannelMode::Stereo ? SpeakerArr::kStereo : SpeakerArr::kMono);
+    addAudioOutput(STR16("Audio Out"), SpeakerArr::kStereo);
 
     return kResultOk;
 }
@@ -209,14 +210,13 @@ tresult PLUGIN_API ReaSamplerProcessor::setState(IBStream* state) {
         std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(assignMarkerMutex_);
         lastConsumedAssignGeneration_ = cs.lastConsumedAssignGeneration;
     }
-    // Restore the S7 channel mode and point the output bus at its arrangement so a reopened
-    // project comes back in the saved mode. setState runs before the host queries bus info, so
-    // seeding the arrangement here (rather than re-negotiating) is enough — no restartComponent.
+    // Restore the S7 channel mode + the GA explicit flag. The output bus is FIXED stereo (see
+    // initialize) — the mode only governs how the reload below decodes, so no bus work here.
     {
         std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(channelModeMutex_);
         channelMode_ = cs.channelMode;
+        channelModeExplicit_ = cs.channelModeExplicit;
     }
-    applyOutputArrangement(cs.channelMode);
     // S-VIEW-4: restore the per-instance preview velocity. Guarded by previewMutex_ — since Wave 2
     // the editor's velocity knob is a concurrent UI-thread writer.
     {
@@ -251,7 +251,12 @@ tresult PLUGIN_API ReaSamplerProcessor::getState(IBStream* state) {
     ComponentState state_out;
     state_out.selectionId = selectedSampleId();
     state_out.map = performanceMap();
-    state_out.channelMode = channelMode();  // S7: persist the per-instance mono/stereo mode
+    {
+        // S7: persist the per-instance mono/stereo decode mode + the GA explicit flag (v9).
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(channelModeMutex_);
+        state_out.channelMode = channelMode_;
+        state_out.channelModeExplicit = channelModeExplicit_;
+    }
     {
         std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(assignMarkerMutex_);
         state_out.lastConsumedAssignGeneration = lastConsumedAssignGeneration_;  // S8 reader marker
@@ -397,49 +402,32 @@ void ReaSamplerProcessor::previewNoteOff(int note) {
     previewOffRequest_.store(packed, std::memory_order_release);
 }
 
-void ReaSamplerProcessor::applyOutputArrangement(ChannelMode mode) {
-    // Set the single output bus's SpeakerArrangement to the mode's arrangement so getBusInfo /
-    // getBusArrangement report the right channel count. The default getBusArrangement (from the
-    // base) reads back exactly what we store here. No re-negotiation — the caller drives that.
-    BusList* outs = getBusList(kAudio, kOutput);
-    if (!outs || outs->empty()) return;
-    if (auto* bus = FCast<AudioBus>(outs->at(0))) {
-        bus->setArrangement(mode == ChannelMode::Stereo ? SpeakerArr::kStereo
-                                                        : SpeakerArr::kMono);
-    }
-}
-
 void ReaSamplerProcessor::setChannelMode(ChannelMode mode) {
     {
         std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(channelModeMutex_);
-        if (channelMode_ == mode) return;  // no-op: don't churn the bus / re-negotiate
+        // The editor toggle is a DELIBERATE choice either way: latch explicit even on a
+        // same-mode click (the user confirmed the mode; the GA auto-default stops fighting it).
+        channelModeExplicit_ = true;
+        if (channelMode_ == mode) return;  // no decode change: don't churn a reload
         channelMode_ = mode;
     }
-    // The mode changed: repoint the output bus and ask the host to re-negotiate I/O so REAPER's
-    // routing follows (mono<->stereo). restartComponent is a main/UI-thread call; setChannelMode
-    // is driven from the editor, so this is safe. Then reload so the next block decodes the new
-    // channel count into the LoadedInstrument (off-thread, RT path untouched).
-    applyOutputArrangement(mode);
-    if (componentHandler) componentHandler->restartComponent(kIoChanged);
+    // The DECODE policy changed. The output bus is FIXED stereo (GA fix — no bus repoint, no
+    // restartComponent): reloading re-decodes the loaded WAV(s) under the new mode off-thread
+    // (mono = downmix, stereo = L/R split) and the RT path just keeps rendering.
     reloadFromBank();
 }
 
 tresult PLUGIN_API ReaSamplerProcessor::setBusArrangements(
     SpeakerArrangement* inputs, int32 numIns,
     SpeakerArrangement* outputs, int32 numOuts) {
-    // The instrument has ONE canonical arrangement per its channel mode (S7). We take NO audio
-    // input, so any inputs are rejected. For the single output bus: accept (kResultTrue) only
-    // when the host proposes exactly the mode's arrangement; otherwise reject (kResultFalse) but
-    // KEEP the mode's arrangement (per the VST3 contract, a plug-in that can't honor a proposal
-    // keeps a valid arrangement of its own). getBusArrangement then still reports the mode's
-    // channel count, so the host adapts its routing to us rather than forcing our channel count.
+    // ONE canonical arrangement: the fixed stereo output bus (GA fix — the channel mode is a
+    // decode policy, never a bus fact). We take NO audio input, so any inputs are rejected.
+    // Accept (kResultTrue) only a single stereo output proposal; otherwise reject (kResultFalse)
+    // and keep our stereo arrangement (per the VST3 contract, a plug-in that can't honor a
+    // proposal keeps a valid arrangement of its own) — the host adapts its routing to us.
     if (numIns < 0 || numOuts < 0) return kInvalidArgument;
     if (numIns > 0) return kResultFalse;  // no audio input bus to arrange
-
-    const SpeakerArrangement want =
-        channelMode() == ChannelMode::Stereo ? SpeakerArr::kStereo : SpeakerArr::kMono;
-    applyOutputArrangement(channelMode());  // keep the bus pinned to the mode's arrangement
-    if (numOuts == 1 && outputs && outputs[0] == want) return kResultTrue;
+    if (numOuts == 1 && outputs && outputs[0] == SpeakerArr::kStereo) return kResultTrue;
     return kResultFalse;
 }
 
@@ -459,8 +447,9 @@ std::string ReaSamplerProcessor::reloadFromBank() {
         bridge_.readReasamplerExtState(kProjExtBanksKey);
     const std::string projectDir = bridge_.activeProjectDir();
     // The active channel mode (S7) governs how each WAV decodes (mono downmix vs 2-channel).
-    // Read once under its mutex, off the audio thread, before the decode loop.
-    const ChannelMode mode = channelMode();
+    // Read once under its mutex, off the audio thread, before the decode loop. The single-
+    // capture branch below may auto-default it (GA) before its decode.
+    ChannelMode mode = channelMode();
     // Phase S: snapshot the voice-system parameters once — they are baked into the built
     // engine's construction (the engine's config is immutable; a later change rebuilds).
     int builtVoiceCount = kDefaultVoiceCount;
@@ -516,6 +505,18 @@ std::string ReaSamplerProcessor::reloadFromBank() {
             std::optional<SelectedSample> sel =
                 selectSample(*banksJson, selectedSampleId());
             if (sel) {
+                // GA auto-default: while the channel mode is IMPLICIT (never user-toggled),
+                // follow the loaded capture's channel count — a stereo capture decodes (and
+                // shows) Stereo, a mono one Mono. An unknown count (0, an older bank entry)
+                // changes nothing; an explicit user choice is never fought. Decode-only: the
+                // output bus is fixed stereo, so no bus work follows a flip.
+                if (sel->channelCount > 0) {
+                    const ChannelMode desired = sel->channelCount >= 2 ? ChannelMode::Stereo
+                                                                       : ChannelMode::Mono;
+                    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(channelModeMutex_);
+                    if (!channelModeExplicit_) channelMode_ = desired;
+                    mode = channelMode_;
+                }
                 std::optional<DecodedZonePcm> pcm =
                     decodeRelative(projectDir, sel->relativePath, mode);
                 if (pcm) {
@@ -887,6 +888,9 @@ tresult PLUGIN_API ReaSamplerProcessor::process(ProcessData& data) {
     // render ADDS into a cleared buffer — RT-safe (no alloc/IO/lock). NEVER reads the mode here.
     float* ch0 = out.numChannels > 0 ? out.channelBuffers32[0] : nullptr;
     float* ch1 = out.numChannels > 1 ? out.channelBuffers32[1] : nullptr;
+    // The PLUG-IN owns output silenceFlags (VST3 contract). Claim non-silence on every rendered
+    // block — a stale host-side flag left unwritten could mute a channel downstream (GA).
+    out.silenceFlags = 0;
     if (ch0 && ch1) {
         // Stereo: clear both, render L/R. A mono sample plays dual-mono via the engine's stereo
         // path (both channels equal), so a mono capture in stereo mode is centered, not silent.

src/vst/reasampler_processor.h

@@ -102,12 +102,11 @@ public:
     Steinberg::tresult PLUGIN_API process(
         Steinberg::Vst::ProcessData& data) override;
 
-    // S7 channel-mode bus negotiation. The instrument has ONE canonical output arrangement
-    // determined by its per-instance channel mode (mono -> kMono, stereo -> kStereo). We
-    // accept the host's proposal only when it matches that arrangement; otherwise we reject
-    // (kResultFalse) but keep the mode's arrangement, so getBusArrangement / getBusInfo always
-    // report the mode's channel count and REAPER routes accordingly. A runtime mode change
-    // updates the output bus + calls restartComponent(kIoChanged) to trigger re-negotiation.
+    // Output-bus negotiation. The instrument has ONE canonical output arrangement: a FIXED
+    // stereo bus (GA fix — the channel mode is a decode policy, never a bus fact; mono mode
+    // renders dual-mono through it). We accept the host's proposal only when it is a single
+    // stereo output; otherwise we reject (kResultFalse) but keep our stereo arrangement, so
+    // getBusArrangement / getBusInfo always report 2 channels and the host routes accordingly.
     Steinberg::tresult PLUGIN_API setBusArrangements(
         Steinberg::Vst::SpeakerArrangement* inputs, Steinberg::int32 numIns,
         Steinberg::Vst::SpeakerArrangement* outputs, Steinberg::int32 numOuts) override;
@@ -184,11 +183,14 @@ public:
     // (the editor toggle) and read off-thread by getState/reloadFromBank; guarded by
     // channelModeMutex_. NEVER read on the audio thread — process() renders against the host's
     // negotiated output channel count, and reloadFromBank bakes the mode into the decode.
+    // GA fix: the mode is a DECODE policy only (downmix vs L/R split). The output bus is a
+    // FIXED stereo bus — mono mode renders dual-mono through it (centered) — so a mode change
+    // never renegotiates host I/O (the mono<->stereo bus flip's live pin remap was the
+    // hard-right-pan defect).
     ChannelMode channelMode();
-    // Sets the mode. When it CHANGES, updates the output bus arrangement (mono->kMono /
-    // stereo->kStereo) and asks the host to re-negotiate I/O via restartComponent(kIoChanged),
-    // then reloads the instrument so the next block decodes the new channel count. A no-op set
-    // (same mode) does neither. UI thread only.
+    // Sets the mode from the EDITOR TOGGLE (a deliberate user choice): latches the mode
+    // EXPLICIT (the GA auto-default stops fighting it), and on a CHANGE reloads the instrument
+    // so the next block decodes the new channel count. UI thread only.
     void setChannelMode(ChannelMode mode);
 
     // The per-instance preview-trigger velocity (S-VIEW-4, MIDI 1..127). Read/written on the
@@ -234,11 +236,6 @@ public:
     void previewNoteOff(int note);
 
 private:
-    // Apply `mode` to the output audio bus's SpeakerArrangement (kMono / kStereo). Called from
-    // initialize (topology) and setChannelMode (runtime change). Does NOT re-negotiate — the
-    // caller drives restartComponent when appropriate.
-    void applyOutputArrangement(ChannelMode mode);
-
     // Phase S drain retirement (FA1-review Major #2): if process() has published that the
     // CURRENT drain instrument is fully idle (every engine voice + the preview card silent),
     // move it out of the drain slot into the graveyard and prune — so an edited-away snapshot
@@ -330,8 +327,12 @@ private:
     // The per-instance channel mode (S7). Off-thread only (UI + getState + reloadFromBank);
     // guarded against a getState/editor race. Default Mono preserves pre-S7 behavior. NOT read
     // on the audio thread — process renders against the host's negotiated output channel count.
+    // channelModeExplicit_ (GA, persisted v9): false = the mode is an un-touched default that
+    // reloadFromBank may auto-default from the loaded capture's channel count; true = the user
+    // deliberately toggled the mode (setChannelMode latches it) and it is never fought.
     std::mutex channelModeMutex_;
     ChannelMode channelMode_ = ChannelMode::Mono;
+    bool channelModeExplicit_ = false;
 
     // The last assignment-request generation this instance CONSUMED (S8 reader). Persisted in
     // component state (v5) so a re-open does not re-apply a request the user already got and

src/vst/sample_map.cpp

@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ SelectedSample distill(const Sample& s) {
     out.relativePath = s.relativePath;
     out.rootNote = s.rootNote ? *s.rootNote : 60;
     out.loop = loopFromSample(s);
+    out.channelCount = s.channelCount;  // capture intrinsic; 0 = unknown (older entry)
     return out;
 }
 
@@ -629,6 +630,11 @@ std::vector<std::uint8_t> serializeComponentState(const ComponentState& state) {
         if (g > maxLin) g = maxLin;
         putU64le(out, doubleToBits(g));
     }
+    // v9 envelope addition (GA channel-mode auto-default): the channel-mode-EXPLICIT flag,
+    // 1 byte, following the gain double so a v8 blob is a strict prefix up to here (see the
+    // v8 lift). 0 = implicit (the shell may auto-default the mode from the loaded capture's
+    // channel count); 1 = the user deliberately toggled the mode (never fought).
+    out.push_back(state.channelModeExplicit ? 1 : 0);
     // Length-prefixed selection id (it precedes the zones payload, so it MUST be framed —
     // unlike the v1 selection blob where the id ran to end-of-stream).
     putU32le(out, static_cast<std::uint32_t>(state.selectionId.size()));
@@ -705,12 +711,13 @@ ComponentState deserializeComponentState(const std::vector<std::uint8_t>& bytes,
         return out;                    // previewVelocity stays at the mid default (pre-S-VIEW-4)
     }
     if (version != kComponentStateVersion &&
+        version != kSelectionZonesModeMarkerVelVoiceGainV8Version &&
         version != kSelectionZonesModeMarkerVelVoiceV7Version &&
         version != kSelectionZonesModeMarkerVelV6Version) {
         return out;  // unknown -> empty
     }
 
-    // v6/v7/v8 shared prefix: the channel-mode byte, then the 8-byte consumed-assignment marker,
+    // v6/v7/v8/v9 shared prefix: the channel-mode byte, then the 8-byte consumed-assignment marker,
     // then the 1-byte preview velocity, precede the v3 body. A non-{0,1} mode byte is treated
     // as mono (conservative default) rather than rejected — a corrupt mode never silences the
     // instance.
@@ -741,10 +748,10 @@ ComponentState deserializeComponentState(const std::vector<std::uint8_t>& bytes,
         out.voiceMode = (vm == 1) ? VoiceMode::Mono : VoiceMode::Poly;
         out.monoTrigger = (mt == 1) ? MonoTrigger::Legato : MonoTrigger::Retrigger;
     }
-    // v8 (FB1): the master-gain LINEAR double. A v7 blob (pre-FB1) skips it — the construction
+    // v8+ (FB1): the master-gain LINEAR double. A v7 blob (pre-FB1) skips it — the construction
     // default (unity) holds, reproducing pre-FB1 output exactly. A non-finite, negative, or
     // above-cap value (a corrupt blob) falls back to unity rather than silencing/blasting.
-    if (version == kComponentStateVersion) {
+    if (version >= kSelectionZonesModeMarkerVelVoiceGainV8Version) {
         const double g = bitsToDouble(r.u64());
         if (!r.ok) return out;  // truncated inside the gain double — unity holds (out already
                                 // carries mode/marker/velocity/voice fields from above)
@@ -753,6 +760,14 @@ ComponentState deserializeComponentState(const std::vector<std::uint8_t>& bytes,
                 ? g
                 : 1.0;
     }
+    // v9 (GA): the channel-mode-EXPLICIT flag. A v8-or-older blob skips it — the construction
+    // default (false = implicit) holds, so an already-saved instance's mode is treated as the
+    // un-touched default and the shell may auto-default it from the loaded capture.
+    if (version >= kComponentStateVersion) {
+        const std::uint8_t explicitByte = r.u8();
+        if (!r.ok) return out;  // truncated before the flag -> empty (implicit holds)
+        out.channelModeExplicit = (explicitByte == 1);
+    }
     const std::uint32_t idLen = r.u32();
     out.selectionId = r.str(idLen);
     if (!r.ok) { out.selectionId.clear(); return out; }  // truncated id -> empty

src/vst/sample_map.h

@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ struct SelectedSample {
     std::string relativePath;   // project-relative; the shell resolves it (M4 convention)
     int rootNote = 60;          // S2 intrinsic; defaults to middle C when the bank left it empty
     SampleLoop loop;            // S2 intrinsic; hasLoop=false when the bank left it empty
+    int channelCount = 0;       // bank intrinsic (capture channel count); 0 = unknown (older
+                                // bank entries) — the GA channel-mode auto-default skips it
 };
 
 // Resolve the bound sample from the live bank blob. `banksJson` is the raw "banks"
@@ -447,25 +449,29 @@ PerformanceMap deserializePerformance(const std::vector<std::uint8_t>& bytes,
 // instance with NO pick and NO zones restores EMPTY (silence + the "pick a capture" empty
 // state), never auto-playing sample #1.
 //
-// Format (envelope v8): 4-byte LE version tag (== 8), then a 1-byte channel-mode field (0 = mono,
+// Format (envelope v9): 4-byte LE version tag (== 9), then a 1-byte channel-mode field (0 = mono,
 // 1 = stereo), then an 8-byte LE last-consumed-assignment generation (S8/S9 reader marker), then a
 // 1-byte preview-trigger velocity (S-VIEW-4, MIDI 1..127), then the THREE Phase-S voice-system
 // bytes: a 1-byte voice count (1..32), a 1-byte voice mode (0 = Poly, 1 = Mono), a 1-byte mono
 // trigger (0 = Retrigger, 1 = Legato), then the FB1 8-byte LE master-gain LINEAR value (IEEE-754
-// double, bit-cast; 0.0 = -inf/silence, 1.0 = unity, cap ~15.849 = +24 dB), then a 4-byte LE
+// double, bit-cast; 0.0 = -inf/silence, 1.0 = unity, cap ~15.849 = +24 dB), then the GA 1-byte
+// channel-mode-EXPLICIT flag (0 = implicit/auto-default, 1 = the user deliberately toggled the
+// mode — see ComponentState::channelModeExplicit), then a 4-byte LE
 // selection-id length + id bytes, then the CURRENT zones payload (identical to
 // serializePerformance's body — its own self-describing version, see the ZONES-PAYLOAD block).
-// The master-gain double is the ONLY envelope-v8 addition over v7 — the envelope grew a field,
+// The explicit flag is the ONLY envelope-v9 addition over v8 — the envelope grew a field,
 // the zones payload is untouched (a PARALLEL track owns zone-record extension under its own
 // versioning; the two version numbers are independent axes — do NOT bump the zones-payload
 // version for an envelope field). An out-of-range voice byte or a non-finite/out-of-range
 // master-gain double (a corrupt blob) falls back to the field's default rather than silencing
 // the instance (the previewVelocity precedent). BACK-COMPAT on read (every older blob lifts to
 // channelMode = MONO, lastConsumedAssignGeneration = 0, previewVelocity =
-// kPreviewVelocityDefault, the Phase-S voice defaults {16 voices, Poly, Retrigger}, and unity
-// master gain — which reproduce pre-v8 behavior exactly — preserving current behavior for
-// already-saved instances):
-//   * v8 blob        -> {channelMode, marker, previewVelocity, voice bytes, masterGainLinear, selectionId, zones} direct.
+// kPreviewVelocityDefault, the Phase-S voice defaults {16 voices, Poly, Retrigger}, unity
+// master gain, and channelModeExplicit = FALSE — a pre-v9 mode byte is treated as the
+// un-touched default, so the GA auto-default may follow the loaded capture; a user who HAD
+// deliberately chosen a mode re-toggles once and the choice persists explicit from then on):
+//   * v9 blob        -> {channelMode, marker, previewVelocity, voice bytes, masterGainLinear, explicit, selectionId, zones} direct.
+//   * v8 blob        -> {channelMode, marker, previewVelocity, voice bytes, masterGainLinear, selectionId, zones}: pre-GA (implicit mode).
 //   * v7 blob        -> {channelMode, marker, previewVelocity, voiceCount, voiceMode, monoTrigger, selectionId, zones}: pre-FB1 (unity master gain).
 //   * v6 blob        -> {channelMode, marker, previewVelocity, selectionId, zones}: pre-Phase-S (voice defaults).
 //   * v5 blob        -> {channelMode, lastConsumedAssignGeneration, mid, selectionId, zones}: pre-S-VIEW-4 (no velocity).
@@ -489,7 +495,12 @@ inline constexpr std::uint8_t kPreviewVelocityDefault = 64;
 struct ComponentState {
     std::string selectionId;                     // the single-capture pick; "" = no pick
     PerformanceMap map;                          // the opt-in zones; empty = no zones
-    ChannelMode channelMode = ChannelMode::Mono; // S7 output mode; default mono (D-E)
+    ChannelMode channelMode = ChannelMode::Mono; // S7 decode mode; default mono (D-E)
+    // GA (v9): whether channelMode was DELIBERATELY set by the user (the editor toggle).
+    // While false (implicit), the shell auto-defaults the mode from the loaded capture's
+    // channel count on reload (stereo capture -> Stereo, mono -> Mono); once true, the
+    // user's choice is never fought. Pre-v9 blobs lift to false (implicit).
+    bool channelModeExplicit = false;
     std::int64_t lastConsumedAssignGeneration = 0;  // S8/S9: last assign_request generation consumed
     // S-VIEW-4 preview-trigger velocity (MIDI 1..127): a PER-INSTANCE performance choice (sibling
     // of channelMode, NOT per-zone), persisted so the Sample-view preview button retains the user's
@@ -509,7 +520,11 @@ struct ComponentState {
     double masterGainLinear = 1.0;
 };
 
-inline constexpr std::uint32_t kComponentStateVersion = 8;
+inline constexpr std::uint32_t kComponentStateVersion = 9;
+
+// The pre-GA combined-state version (everything through the FB1 master gain, no channel-mode
+// explicit flag). Retained so deserializeComponentState can lift a v8 blob to implicit mode.
+inline constexpr std::uint32_t kSelectionZonesModeMarkerVelVoiceGainV8Version = 8;
 
 // The pre-FB1 combined-state version (selection + zones + channel mode + consumed marker +
 // preview velocity + voice system, no master gain). Retained so deserializeComponentState can