Themes, some general observations and a question

[gm22]

I am new to Reaper and looking at various themes. The fact that Reaper can be customized to the degree it can is truly remarkable. Here's the problem I am finding. No one theme has exactly what I want in terms of features and colors, and the ones that are close seem to have bugs. For example, the mixer of Imperial LCS Mod v2.9.2 does not look right. There are functions on top of other functions, and it appears as a flaw, but otherwise I like this theme and would probably use it as a base model.

How difficult is it for a novice user to tailor the theme? After downloading perhaps 12 of the most popular themes, I've come to the conclusion that I might have to make my own, but I'm concerned about the learning curve.

[lucas_LCS]

Originally Posted by gm22

I am new to Reaper and looking at various themes. The fact that Reaper can be customized to the degree it can is truly remarkable. Here's the problem I am finding. No one theme has exactly what I want in terms of features and colors, and the ones that are close seem to have bugs. For example, the mixer of Imperial LCS Mod v2.9.2 does not look right. There are functions on top of other functions, and it appears as a flaw, but otherwise I like this theme and would probably use it as a base model.

How difficult is it for a novice user to tailor the theme? After downloading perhaps 12 of the most popular themes, I've come to the conclusion that I might have to make my own, but I'm concerned about the learning curve.

Hi,
Imperial LCS Mod v2.9.2 requires the mixer to be full screen on with a resolution of 1920x1080.
using it at smaller sizes or resolutions will result in what you described above.
This is also the case with White Tie's original Imperial that was used to make my mod.

As far learning to mod a theme or make your own, it can be a bit a difficult if coding isn't your thing, but it's do-able.
I suggest you check out the stickies at the top of the Theme forum:

Stickie #1: How to use a REAPER theme
https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=172074

Stickie #2: Common tweaks to a REAPER theme
https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=172341

Stickie #3: Making a REAPER theme
https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=181913

[gm22]

Thanks for the reply. How does one make the mixer full screen. Nothing is jumping out at me. It's too bad it has that small glitch as it's a really good layout otherwise. Have you ever thought of tweaking the mixer?

Edit: I just hit the full screen button with the mixer open, but it still seems messed up. The screen resolution of my Ideapad 300 is 1920 x 1080

[lucas_LCS]

Originally Posted by gm22

Thanks for the reply. How does one make the mixer full screen. Nothing is jumping out at me. It's too bad it has that small glitch as it's a really good layout otherwise. Have you ever thought of tweaking the mixer?

Edit: I just hit the full screen button with the mixer open, but it still seems messed up. The screen resolution of my Ideapad 300 is 1920 x 1080

please post or attach a screenshot of what it's doing.

[gm22]

Originally Posted by lucas_LCS

please post or attach a screenshot of what it's doing.

O.K. will do shortly. Boy I'd love to have the mixer problem solved. I've looked at scores of themes, and have downloaded about 20 of the highest rated/most popular themes, and Imperial LCS-mod v2.9.2. is the closest to what I envision as the ideal theme, even with my limited Reaper experience. The back lit analog style "play, pause, stop, record" are absolutely essential, and the transport on the whole is excellent. I can tell the mixer would look very good if it wasn't scrunched up.

[gm22]

Here is a screenshot of the mixer, as best as I can get it:


<a href="https://ibb.co/d355UK"><img src="https://thumb.ibb.co/d355UK/reaper_image.jpg" alt="reaper_image" border="0"></a>


disney jafar staff

[gm22]

Cleaner version

[Fergler]

You still have the mixer docked, you need to open it in its own window.

Drag the Mixer tab out of the docker its in into the middle of the screen and it should become its own window. Then access it on/off using ctrl + m

[gm22]

Thanks for the reply. I couldn't drag it because it was locked, but I change a setting called dock mixer in docker and then it worked. Here's a screenshot now. Does it look right?

[lucas_LCS]

Yes, the layout looks correct now.
Do you have 2 monitors?
If not, I suggest you dock the mixer, then position the dock to the left or right by clicking on the '!' symbol to left of the tab at the bottom that says 'Mixer'.
This will pop up a menu allowing you to select where to position the dock.
After docking the mixer to the left or right, make Reaper fullscreen and the mixer should show correctly that way as well.
Toggle the mixer on and off with CTRL+M to get to the arrange or TCP view.

[gm22]

Hmmm... I tried that, and justified right, which put it off my screen ( I only have one). But now the exclamation point disappeared, and no amount of button pushing seems to bring it back so I can try a different position.

[gm22]

O.k. I just figured out that I had to adjust the window size. :-) There sure are a lot of settings to figure out, and I haven't even hit the hard stuff yet.

[lucas_LCS]

Glad you got it sorted out.

Originally Posted by gm22

The back lit analog style "play, pause, stop, record" are absolutely essential, and the transport on the whole is excellent.

All of the graphic elements were created by White Tie.
While I did edit or alter many of the graphic files, I don't remember touching the transport buttons or it's other elements.
He makes some nice looking themes.

[gm22]

Do some experienced Reaper users toggle between two or more themes depending on what tasks they're doing? Does the theme creator or modifier have a choice of which functions to include? I could be wrong, but it seems some themes don't include certain functions, like mono switch on the mixer master fader. I am curious to know a bit more about your edits. Are you hunting for the perfect theme, or is that not possible, so you are instead creating a palette of theme for yourself and/or others? I suppose I should download White tie to get an idea of the benchmark.

[DarkStar]

Switch between themes? - sometimes; but more often I just pick different Layouts.

Choice of which functions to include? Yes, some buttons can be omitted. Different Layouts often have different sets of buttons.

Hunt or create? I hunted for a while them modified the ones I found.

[lucas_LCS]

Originally Posted by gm22

Do some experienced Reaper users toggle between two or more themes depending on what tasks they're doing?

or just a need fro a change.

Originally Posted by gm22

Does the theme creator or modifier have a choice of which functions to include?

yes

Originally Posted by gm22

I could be wrong, but it seems some themes don't include certain functions, like mono switch on the mixer master fader.

What themes don't include the Mono/Stereo button on the master?
Or did you mean the Solo button?
I used to leave the Solo button off because I mistakenly thought it was unnecessary, but it affects what's being sent to the hardware if you have more than one mix going out, so I include it now.

Originally Posted by gm22

I am curious to know a bit more about your edits. Are you hunting for the perfect theme, or is that not possible, so you are instead creating a palette of theme for yourself and/or others?

For me, I find a theme I like, but immediately see changes I'd like to make or layouts I want to add.

Originally Posted by gm22

I suppose I should download White tie to get an idea of the benchmark.

White Tie heads the team that makes the default theme for Reaper.
That is the standard for any version of Reaper.
If you want to compare my mod to the original, you can get it here:
http://www.houseofwhitetie.com/reape..._imperial.html

[gm22]

An exhaustive search of the themes I still have (I've removed those I won't use) indicates all have a mono button, so I was probably wrong and too hastily concluded that because one wasn't obvious it musn't have one. Some themes (like Classic_1.x) have mono buttons that are very small and consist of just a symbol like a speaker, and can be overlooked.

In the Master of the Universe Mixer of Imperial LCS-mod_v2.9.2 (as shown in the last picture I posted) there is a small rectangle on each channel centered just above the mute and solo buttons (there is also a little L symbol from the solo button to it) but I can't figure out what it does. Can you indicate what it's for?

I continue to believe that Imperial LCS-mod v2.9.2 is the nicest theme I've come across and will almost certainly be my go to theme. Albert-C (Solaris Pro) is also on my short list of favorites, along with theBlackface and LCS_Ringer-PRO. If I may be so bold to ask Lucas_LCS, if you decide to do another theme in the future, I wonder if you would consider one that is primarily Imperial, but with the transport of SOLARIS PRO (larger buttons) and the non alternating track backgrounds (light and dark) also from SOLARIS PRO, and perhaps the Master mixer of TheBlackface.

[gm22]

Originally Posted by lucas_LCS

Yes, the layout looks correct now.
Do you have 2 monitors?
If not, I suggest you dock the mixer, then position the dock to the left or right by clicking on the '!' symbol to left of the tab at the bottom that says 'Mixer'.
This will pop up a menu allowing you to select where to position the dock.
After docking the mixer to the left or right, make Reaper fullscreen and the mixer should show correctly that way as well.
Toggle the mixer on and off with CTRL+M to get to the arrange or TCP view.

I am still struggling with this. At one time, I could get the mixer to appear on the left side, and the tracks would automatically justify just to the right of the mixer, and the transport would shorten up to allow the mixer, and I could access the exclamation point, but now I can't do any of those things. Also, when I try to push the mixer up high enough to access the exclamation point, as soon as I let go, the mixer shifts downward slightly, putting the exclamation point out of reach. It doesn't seem to matter whether I am docked or not.

[lucas_LCS]

Originally Posted by gm22

there is a small rectangle on each channel centered just above the mute and solo buttons (there is also a little L symbol from the solo button to it) but I can't figure out what it does. Can you indicate what it's for?

It's the Solo Defeat indicator.
Right click on the Solo button, select 'Solo Defeat' and the rectangle will turn green.

Originally Posted by gm22

I am still struggling with this. At one time, I could get the mixer to appear on the left side, and the tracks would automatically justify just to the right of the mixer, and the transport would shorten up to allow the mixer, and I could access the exclamation point, but now I can't do any of those things. Also, when I try to push the mixer up high enough to access the exclamation point, as soon as I let go, the mixer shifts downward slightly, putting the exclamation point out of reach. It doesn't seem to matter whether I am docked or not.

Without seeing what you're looking, I'd guess that you have the mixer docked at the bottom instead of to the left or right.
The other possibility is that you do not have Reaper full screen (F11 in windows).
Again, it's hard to say without a screenshot so we know what you are looking at.

Originally Posted by gm22

if you decide to do another theme in the future, I wonder if you would consider one that is primarily Imperial, but with the transport of SOLARIS PRO (larger buttons) and the non alternating track backgrounds (light and dark) also from SOLARIS PRO, and perhaps the Master mixer of TheBlackface.

I have to say I can't see that happening at this point.
LCS_Blue (previously named LCS_Ringer-PRO) that I just posted is probably the closest I'll get to working on an Imperial mod at this point.
You can try it yourself, though.
The Transport and Master mixer you desire will require learning to unpack a theme and learning to Code WALTER.
The non-alternating track backgrounds ( I assume you mean from the arrange view and TCP) can changed through the theme tweaker.
click on Actions, then 'Show Action List', then type in 'theme' and select the 'Show theme tweak/configuration window'.
You'll need to save your changes when you're done.

[gm22]

Here are screenshots. On one of them, I manually held the window up so that the exclamation point is visible, but as soon as I let go, say to push it, the exclamation point falls below the edge of the screen. While Reaper is really a miracle in its sophistication, to be candid, problems like these are thoroughly exasperating. Still, I am grateful for any advice. The fact that I once had access to the exclamation point seems proof that I should be able to again, but man I am running out of buttons to push.

Edit: This appears to be a docker specific problem. When I put any function in the docker, like Navigator or Track Manager, etc., they always appear with the exclamation point just below the edge of the screen in full screen mode and not full screen.

[gm22]

Here are screenshots of when I manually slide the dock to the right. At some point the tabs appear vertically on the left side, but the exclamation point remains out of view unless I hold the window up higher manually. There must be some other way to dock other than accessing the exclamation point?

[gm22]

Hard to believe, but I solved the problem. The way I did this was trying different layouts, hoping that one of them would display a mixer with the exclamation point exposed. I tried about four or five before hitting on ALBERT-C (SOLARIS pro), which had just the tiniest sliver of the exclamation button exposed, and it still took some precision maneuvering to activate it. Once I did, I was able to change the attach docker settings. I think I still have quite a bit to learn about docking and window layout, but the major problem is solved.

[lucas_LCS]

Originally Posted by gm22

There must be some other way to dock other than accessing the exclamation point?

I know it says it's docked, but it looks like it's floating again.
In any case, click on the Menu button in the Master and try undocking.
this should give you the free floating mixing Fergler guided you to earlier.

Other option is to move the other items in the docker to the bottom and leave the mixer to the right.
you can do this by left-click-hold-drag the item's tab.
drag it to the bottom until a blue line shows up, then release.

You need to take a look at Kenny Gioia's video on using dockers.
You shold probably spend time looking through all of Kenny's videos:
https://www.reaper.fm/videos.php

you can also check out the Reaper Blog for tips:
http://reaperblog.net

[lucas_LCS]

Originally Posted by gm22

Hard to believe, but I solved the problem. The way I did this was trying different layouts, hoping that one of them would display a mixer with the exclamation point exposed. I tried about four or five before hitting on ALBERT-C (SOLARIS pro), which had just the tiniest sliver of the exclamation button exposed, and it still took some precision maneuvering to activate it. Once I did, I was able to change the attach docker settings. I think I still have quite a bit to learn about docking and window layout, but the major problem is solved.

well, that's one way and if it works then use it.

re: ALBERT-C (SOLARIS pro)
are you using Albert's orignal version or my bug-fix?
I recommend using my bug-fix.
I fixed as many of the bugs and glitches I could find and added the Dual Pan and Stereo Pan modes that are missing from original.

[gm22]

In show Reaper resource path in explorer/finder, under color themes, it says exactly ALBERT-C (SOLARIS-PRO), so I think I'm using the original. Will download your bug fix version. Kenny's videos look great. I'll definitely have to spend some time there. Thanks again for all the help.