Setting up a simple Stereo track within Reaper ?

Setting up a simple Stereo track within Reaper ? 

Hi all Having wisely taken the precaution of donning a flame-proof suit well in advance, could I nevertheless please ask those more knowledgeable than I a seemingly elementary beginners question ? Is there within Reaper a simple one-click option for setting up a basic stereo recording channel-strip ? Thus far the only cack-handed method I've yet discovered of achieving this is to select [Track - Insert new track] twice whilst subsequently manually assigning the first track as left and the second track as right. Clearly I am missing the bleedin' obvious somewhere along the line, but surely there has to be easier way of achieving this ? Secondly can one yet strip audio tracks directly from a CD WITHIN Reaper, or does this process have to be done via third-party software ? Many thanks for any assistance in these matters, Best regards Richard

Hi stupeT Thanks for the rapid response to my initial query.....so it would seem that at first glance your suggestion regarding the "template" option might be the quickest way of achieving a stereo channel strip. It struck me that including a stereo channel as a preset choice under the Track menu ought to be a pretty basic requirement by any standards ? Admittedly Reaper is primarily designed as a multi-track platform, but even so I find this omission a decidedly odd one ! Best regards Richard

Richard, maybe I an not totally understanding your question, but I'll take a stab. The choice to record mono or stereo is made via that input control on each track. So right click on the "r" button (where you arm for recording), and then choose the input mono or stereo depending on how you have configured your sound card. There are a couple of ways to keep this setting if you want it every time. One, before you record, save the project as your default project type and that way the tracks added will all have that input choice. Or, save the track(s) as a template. For example I have a template for drums that have all the correct input assignments from my mixer so when I add the template everything is there. I have a track for stereo guitar from my effects box, and a mono for my voice/mic. Is this what you are looking for or am I totally off base?

Hi stupeT Re your question: "what was your delighted graceful selection when you picked your audio hardware"? I'm afraid I don't own any audio DAW hardware at the moment, but am simply investigating what Reaper is capable of achieving in conjunction with my current laptop, before selecting something probably along the lines of a Focusrite Saffire PRO 26 or similar.…….not an ideal situation admittedly, but one has to start somewhere ! ….and secondly many thanks to bigwoody whose useful comments were spot on: "So right click on the "r" button (where you arm for recording), and then choose the input mono or stereo depending on how you have configured your sound card" …..and….. "before you record, save the project as your default project type and that way the tracks added will all have that input choice. Or, save the track(s) as a template". I guess each DAW software platform has it's own unique method of doing things, some of which appear either more or less intuitive to the end user, depending upon their outlook or experience ! Many thanks Richard

Richard, i'm glad I could help. Just to beat on it some more, I have a Delta 1010LT soundcard that has 8 inputs. I run thru a pretty standard mixer and then into the 1010. With ASIO Drivers that come with the 1010 I can set up any combination of tracks to be stereo or mono. So I have set things with track templates up such that depending on what I am recording at any given time I can grab a track template and all my imputs and Stereo/mono choices are there, and all I have to do is hit record. You are also correct that Reaper has its own nuances, but in a very short time I think you will be amazed at the possibilities and ease of workflow. (Usually no flame suit required ;-)

Hi bigwoody One more thing.....yeah, funny how there's always one more, isn't it ! I noticed that when I right-click on the Record Armed button of the channelstrip, two options appear: a] Mono Input Left or Mono Input and b] Stereo Input L/R. How come the stereo L/R is only assigned to one channel and not to two separate ones i.e L1 + R1? Many thanks Richard

It all gets back to how you have set up your audio preferences and soundcard. Go to Preferences/Audio/Device. For example mine show my Audio Driver as the M-Audio ASIO, and then my audio inputs are First Analog in 1- Delta 1010LT and Last Analog in 8 - Delta 1010LT. Similar for the outputs as the Delta has several. Also while you are there under the Preferences/Audio tab you have the ability to re-name the inputs. I named them to match the channels on my hardware mixer that I plug everything into. That way I can look at what is plugged into my mixer and immediately know what is the correct selection for that track. For example Analog in 1 Delta-1010LT I renamed to Mixer 1 (meaning channel 1), and so on for all 8 mixer/channel input combinations. Now when I right click the record button my options under Mono are Mixer 1, Mixer 2 ...thru Mixer 8 and under Stereo they are Mixer1/Mixer2, Mixer2/Mixer3 and so forth with all the combinations up to Mixer7/Mixer8. If you haven't yet check out the wiki and the excellent manual on the Manual link. Most of this stuff is really well documented, but also that shouldn't by any means stop you from posting questions here, as this is generally a pretty helpful group and it is a good way to get to know ya!