6.5 Managing FX: Tips and Tricks
These techniques are available when working with track and item FX, unless the track or item is locked.
Kind: concept (user-guide-section) Chapter: 6 Managing Track and Item FX Source: REAPER User Guide v7.70
These techniques are available when working with track and item FX, unless the track or item is locked.
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Customize FX chain window appearance
Options, Preferences, Plug-ins has options to Show FX list on right side of window and/or Show FX chain buttons above FX list.
Toggle Add FX vertical/ horizontal display
Use the Options, Vertical pane configuration toggle command.
See track/item FX chain overview
Hover mouse over track or mouse FX button, without clicking. A tooltip will appear listing contents of the track/item FX chain.
Open FX from track/item FX chain
Right-click on track FX button (arrange or mixer view) to display list of FX on track/item FX chain. Left-click on required FX.
Rename an FX
Right click on FX in the Add FX window, choose Rename FX … from the menu.
Replace an FX with another
Right-click over the FX in the track or item FX chain. From the context menu choose Replace FX … Select required FX from the list displayed and click OK.
Copy an FX from one track/ item to another
Drag and drop the FX from the track or item FX chain to the track control panel of the destination track, or to the destination item.
Move FX
Hold Alt while dragging and dropping from source to destination track or item.
Move/Copy FX including automation
Right click on FX name in browser left panel choose Copy or Cut selected FX (including automation). Paste into destination track/item FX chain.
Insert multiple FX to a track at once.
Use Ctrl click to build selection, then click OK. If you need to set (or unset) HiDPI compatibility mode, before clicking OK, right click over any item in the selection and choose HiDPI compatibility mode when floating windows.
Copy multiple FX to another track/item
Use Ctrl click to make selection from the source FX chain, then drag and drop to the destination track or item.
Add FX to track directly from track panel.
Right-click over FX button, select FX from menu, or from one of the submenus (e.g. Recently used, Categories).
Add FX directly from FX browser window.
Drag and drop from the Add FX browser window directly to track panel or to item take.
Adjust FX parameter controls (faders, knobs)
For Cockos and JS plugins, these work in the same way as do track controls: Drag for normal adjustment. Ctrl drag to adjust in smaller increments. Alt drag to snap back to previous setting when mouse is released.
Create FX shortcut keys
Right-click on FX name in FX browser. Choose Create shortcut from menu. To open the Keyboard/MIDI/OSC Input. Press the required key combination on keyboard (e.g. Ctrl Alt A) and click on OK.
Add notes to an FX instance
Click in text edit box above presets list. Type your notes/ comments. For longer entries, click on the … (top right) to open a text box.
Rename FX track/item instances
Right-click over the FX instance in track/item FX chain. Choose Rename FX instance from menu. Type new name, press Enter.
Change default FX name
Right-click over FX name in FX browser window. Choose Rename from menu. Type new name then press Enter. Cannot be used with JS effects.
Change FX default parameter settings
Set FX parameter values as required. Click on + button just above the FX gui. Choose Save preset as default, type a name then press Enter.
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Restore original FX default settings
Click on down arrow (next to + button) to display preset list. Choose Reset to factory default. Click on +, choose Save preset as default.
FX Wet/Dry mix and FX bypass
The rotary Wet/Dry mix button (to the right of the UI button) controls how much of the wet signal (i.e. with FX) is mixed in with the dry (i.e. pre FX) signal. The default is 100% wet. The checkbox to its immediate right can be used to bypass the FX altogether.
Force auto-bypass on silence
Right click on plug-in name (left column) and select this option from menu. This, for example, can be used to prevent a reverb tail during a silent passage. The silence threshold is defined in advanced project settings.
Back up FX chains and presets
These can be backed up and restored using the export/import configuration buttons in REAPER's Preferences (General settings). See Chapter 22 for more information about importing and exporting configuration setting
Other FX Options
The FX window menu includes several advanced options dealing with PDC mode, oversampling, and more. These are discussed at the end of the REAPER Plug- ins in Action chapter.