What are you using those track layout for?

[garubi]

Sorry for the "relatively stupid question", but I'd love to have your feedback and suggestions.

I see that many themes come with a "vca" tarck layout, and a "strip" track layout.

1) What are you using them for? Maybe efx return? or other specialized duty?
2) Can you share your typical Reaper layout?
3) Could you point me some "real/analog" desk examples in the real world that have similar buss too?

As (partial) justification for this question I have to say that I grew up mainly in the DAW age, and I haven't been in many "analog/old style studios" nor seen firsy hand a lot of "classic" recording consoles (a part a lot of mixers for live show)

thank you

Stefano

[Coachz]

I use TCP and nothing else.

[User41]

I use TCP only. Inspector to left, master to right.

I will occasionally use MCP for copy, moving, and/or deleting plugins across tracks.

[elcalen]

Well a VCA track is a special kind of track that's typically only used to control the levels of other tracks. So having a simplified layout for it makes sense. (Using VCAs is explained in chapter 5.18 of the REAPER manual, if you don't know what they are...)

"Strip" layouts typically are very narrow. I imagine the main use of those would be when mixing a project with a lot of tracks, so you can fit more of the project on screen at once.

I personally only use a single basic layout for everything, though...

[Judders]

Strip layouts are good to save space. I'll use them if I've sent a few tracks to a bus and frozen the bus (I could just hide the tracks but I like to see what I've done at a glance).

If a theme has a VCA layout it's good for quick identification, so you don't have to read the track name, you just reach for the track without a meter and know it's a VCA.

Here a photo of the 8 VCA faders under the centre section of an SSL desk:


With themes that have coloured faders I'll colour code busses, VCA's and effects returns. It's simply for being able to take everything in at a glance and never having to hunt for anything in the mixer.

[Rednroll]

Kenny has a video on VCA's and gives some good examples of use cases.

https://youtu.be/G-aZE97PD4w

[garubi]

Thank you for all your answers and links, they are really useful!

Stefano