REAPER 101: Mixer Control Panel

REAPER 101 is a series of short articles to help beginners get started with REAPER quickly.

This tutorial will explain the various buttons and options of the Mixer Control Panel.

The mixer is the part of REAPER where you mix your song. While offering the same basic controls as the TCP [click here for REAPER 101: Track Control Panel], the mixer has everything laid out in an a large uncluttered way. The REAPER resembles the layout of a traditional hardware mixing console, but infinitely expandable, and customizable.

  1. MCP sections identified
    MCP sections identified in default theme

    Track icon (optional) – you can insert an image to identify tracks, this is normally hidden

  2. Inserts – All effects on the track are listed top to bottom. You can drag to change the order and copy to other tracks
  3. FX Parameters (optional) – often used FX controls can be added for easy access
  4. Sends – All sends to other tracks and hardware outputs are in this section
  5. FX chain bypass – add and edit effects for the track; bypass all fx
    I/O routing –     opens this pop out window to configure routing in and out of the track
  6. Track Name – give your track a name to keep your project and files organized
  7. Panning – output the audio on this track on channel 1 (left output/speaker), channel 2 (right), both (center) or anywhere in between
  8. Volume Fader – makes the audio on this track louder or quieter
  9. Mute – silence the track
    Solo – hear only this track
    Record input monitoring – listen to the input signal or not
    Envelopes/Automation – menu for automation modes and related options
    Polarity/Phase invert – flips the signal voltage polarity 180°
  10. Record Enable – click this if you want to record on this track
  11. Track Number – tracks are numbered as the appear in the project from left to right. The number changes if you move a track
  12. Metering – shows MIDI and audio activity for input and playback. Master shows peak and RMS on expanded meter
  13. Master mono sum – enables mono master output with 4 options: Sum L + R (default), Left only, Right only, or Difference L – R
mcp_expanded_track
Expanded track layout

Tracks can also have an expanded view, one of many layout options available in each theme. [see image on right]

 

The mixer can be docked below the arrange view, or floating to be viewed on a second monitor.

With large projects (or small screens) the option to show multiple rows of tracks in the mixer can be very helpful. [image below]

mcp_multiple_rows
Multiple rows in the mixer

Save

Posted

in

,

by

Admin

Tags:

Comments

26 responses to “REAPER 101: Mixer Control Panel”

  1. Nick Avatar
    Nick

    Thanks man. I would love a tutorial on track colouring.

    Reply
    1. tom harrison Avatar
      tom harrison

      Track coloring is very easy.

      1. Highlight the track that you want to color (left-click on the track).
      2. Right-click and a menu opens up.
      3. Select “Track Color” which opens up a side menu with four options.
      4. Choose the first one “Set tracks to custom color”
      5. This opens another window with colors to choose from.
      6. At the bottom of this color palette window are about 2 dozen empty boxes where you can drag-and-drop colors you like to create a collection of colors that you like and would want to use often which eliminates the need to scroll through all of the colors looking for that particular red or blue color that you used last time.
      7. Select “okay” and voila! You have a track that is colored to your choosing.

      You could also add an icon (small image) to the track to make it even easier to manage your work. These icons are added the same way you add color except instead of selecting “Track Color”, choose the menu option beneath it “Track Icon” and you will find lots and lots of icons of instruments that you can add to your track.

      Midi item coloring? Just as easy!

      1. Highlight the midi item you want to color.
      2. Left-click “Item” on the toolbar.
      3. Choose “Item and Take Colors”
      4. Choose the first option “Select Item and Take Colors”.
      5. Choose your color and click okay. Voila! That midi item is now colored.

      Reply
  2. noiseboy99 Avatar
    noiseboy99

    Jon
    How about a tutorial on mixing

    Reply
    1. Admin Avatar
      Admin

      Check out Acoustic mix with only REAPER plugins. That’s the closest to a mixing tutorial I have here. I can do more, some day…

      Reply
  3. Caleb Kuennen Avatar
    Caleb Kuennen

    How do you get the FX parameters (3) to show up on the channel strip?

    Reply
    1. Admin Avatar
      Admin

      in the plugin, after you move a parameter you can go to the menu (of the plugin wrapper) and select “show in track controls”

      Reply
      1. Enio Vasconcelos Avatar
        Enio Vasconcelos

        but the image #3 shows the fx param in mixer panel. not in track control…

        Reply
        1. Admin Avatar
          Admin

          same function. If you don’t see them in the mixer then this option is OFF
          Mixer: Toggle show FX parameters if space available

          Reply
          1. Enio Vasconcelos Avatar
            Enio Vasconcelos

            where is this option i?

          2. Admin Avatar
            Admin

            ⚙ (gear/cog) button on the master track, or in the action list.

  4. Portefian Avatar
    Portefian

    How to turn OFF multiple rows?

    Reply
    1. Admin Avatar
      Admin

      There’s an options button on the master track. “Show multiple rows when size permits” or something like that.

      Reply
  5. unions8 Avatar
    unions8

    Is it possible to define a range for the FX Control in the Mixer view? Thanx in advance.

    Reply
  6. Paul Valenti Avatar
    Paul Valenti

    Can’t figure out how to get the WIDTH control to show up on the master and mixer panels? Any help would be MUCH appreciated! Tried googling it…no help there at all!

    Reply
    1. Admin Avatar
      Admin

      Hi Paul. Have a look in Project settings/Advanced and the pan options. Stereo pan is the one you want.

      Reply
  7. Patrick Iseminger Avatar
    Patrick Iseminger

    The mixer seems to big for the window, also are are their any of designs for the mixer?

    Reply
    1. Paul Todd Valenti Avatar
      Paul Todd Valenti

      You can change the size of each channel…Can’t recall exactly how right now as I am sitting in my car and can’t look. Also there are tons of themes available on the Reaper website under resources I think. I am using a newer version of a pro tools theme. Hope this helps somewhat.

      Reply
      1. Onno van der Meer Avatar
        Onno van der Meer

        How do we change the size of the channel? I can drag it out length ways but not sideways. I want to use the mixer just for mixing so in/out; monitor on/off and even record are features I would like to remove. Is this possible? If so, can you show me or point me in the right direction. many thanks

        Reply
  8. Maurice Saunders Avatar
    Maurice Saunders

    I want to use reaper for live mixing and I would like to ask how do i get my analog mixer to mimic or control what is happening in reaper , lets say volume faders, eq etc ?

    Reply
    1. Admin Avatar
      Admin

      not with an analog mixer, but you can use a control surface, MIDI controller, even an ipad.

      Reply
  9. Nathan Avatar
    Nathan

    How do you have the mcp insert/send sections colored? I cannot figure that out

    Reply
    1. Admin Avatar
      Admin

      depends on the theme, I think that’s default 4 in the picture

      Reply
  10. Nathan Avatar
    Nathan

    Edit to my previous question:

    I just realized your example is Reaper 4 theme. Can this be done in Reaper 5 theme?

    Reply
  11. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    I’ve been using reaper for about a year with no problems but today the mcp doesnt show up. It would always show up floating but not any more any idea why?

    Reply
  12. Pablo Avatar
    Pablo

    Hi! I want view the name of the track in the top of fader. Joe do You do this? Thank You.

    Reply
  13. Pablo Avatar
    Pablo

    Hi! I want see the name on top of Fader, can You Say me how i can do this?
    Thank You

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *