KVR Audio

dellboy · Post by **dellboy** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 8:57 am

So I downloaded Reaper and installed the RADO 4 theme and thought it was very nice.

The trouble is that when I click to add a VST an ugly white box always opens with it. I tried the options but could not find a way to totally disable it. Is there a way to do that ? I just want a VST to open its own GUI.

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 9:04 am

Preferences->Plugins->[x] Auto-float newly created FX windows

Abiah · Post by **Abiah** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 10:44 am

EvilDragon wrote: Mon Sep 06, 2021 9:04 am Preferences->Plugins->[x] Auto-float newly created FX windows

this isnt a fix tho? its more a band aid that slips off after a few minutes, as it'll stop working as soon as the fx windows are closed. (unless I'm missing something?)

the only workaround ive seen is, to refrain from clicking on the illuminated "FX" button on both arrangement & mixer view. Ie, only use the mixer window vertical plug in rack to access plugins. if you use that FX button, the plugins will be trapped around that achingly useless block of white space, no matter the preference settings. The UI practically begs for you to use the fx button however, so you'll be working around the contours of Reaper to avoid seeing that empty space.

It's something that Reaper keeps not fixing.

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 11:21 am

dellboy wrote: Mon Sep 06, 2021 8:57 am The trouble is that when I click to add a VST an ugly white box always opens with it.

Do you mean the effects browser on the left? That's just shortcuts etc to your plugins, not sure how you want it 'fixed'? Would be cool if they eventually allowed it to be restyled but that would affect most of the other dialogues too. Some themes do have it a different colour...

Abiah · Post by **Abiah** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 11:31 am

GaryG wrote: Mon Sep 06, 2021 11:21 am Do you mean the effects browser on the left? That's just shortcuts etc to your plugins, not sure how you want it 'fixed'?

Its worth at least noticing that this is one of or the most common question asked about Reaper. Everyone who uses asks themselves why they are continually staring at a box of white dead space, how to get rid of it. It looks like a mistake.

Has anyone asked for this empty white box feature in other daw?

cantaloupe · Post by **cantaloupe** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 12:14 pm

Abiah wrote: Mon Sep 06, 2021 10:44 am
EvilDragon wrote: Mon Sep 06, 2021 9:04 am Preferences->Plugins->[x] Auto-float newly created FX windows
this isnt a fix tho? its more a band aid that slips off after a few minutes, as it'll stop working as soon as the fx windows are closed. (unless I'm missing something?)

the only workaround ive seen is, to refrain from clicking on the illuminated "FX" button on both arrangement & mixer view. Ie, only use the mixer window vertical plug in rack to access plugins. if you use that FX button, the plugins will be trapped around that achingly useless block of white space, no matter the preference settings. The UI practically begs for you to use the fx button however, so you'll be working around the contours of Reaper to avoid seeing that empty space.

It's something that Reaper keeps not fixing.

Some other solutions (might require the right settings under "Plugins" in preferences) to avoid that block of white space:

1) Map opening FX to hotkeys (ctrl+1 to open FX #1 on the selected track, ctrl+2 for FX #2 etc)
2) Map adding FX to hotkeys (ctrl+E or whatever to add EQ to selected track etc)
3) Right click on the glowing FX button and select your specific FX
4) Use "Show FX Inserts in TCP" setting to have the plug in rack in TCP instead of Mixer. (This really works best if you find a theme that supports it, can find on reaper forum.)
5) If you mostly don't use the mixer, you can put it on the side of arranger and narrow it so it only shows a single selected track at a time. This way you have access to the mixer vertical FX rack without the mixer taking up a lot of space.
6) Find scripts that show FX Rack for each track on the side of the track.

I prefer a combination of 1, 2 and 4.

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 12:19 pm

You mean the red bit below?

Inked10-reaper_FX_Browser_LI.jpg

That's just space in the browser, all DAWs have something like that...

screen-shot-2015-08-06-at-12-25-57-am.png

1. Audio Interface Setup- ASIO.png

That FX dialogue is pretty primitive but I don't see any 'dead space they won't fix' or how you want to have it.

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 12:22 pm

You can right-click the FX button and just click on the plugin you want to see, it will pop up in a floating window only.

The box on the left is there to change the order of plugins and quickly toggle them on or off. But yeah you could also use the extended mixer view to do the same, as you mentioned.

dellboy · Post by **dellboy** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 1:09 pm

The option of - "auto float new fx windows" - worked for a very short while, and I was pleased, but then it just reverted back to the empty "white space" around the VST GUI for no reason.

I just checked my other DAWs and they all load up the VST GUI in some sort of wrapper box, but its unobtrusive to the point that I had never noticed it before. I can see that some people like this "feature" and are used to it, but I just find it annoying.

poseidal · Post by **poseidal** » Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:46 am

Classic 1.x theme. Completely usable and clear, with enough visual hierarchy to navigate quickly (a shortfall of completely 'flat' UIs, and UIs with very even buttons without being distinct) and with enough, but not too much, contrast.

3lu5iv3 · Post by **3lu5iv3** » Tue Sep 07, 2021 1:38 pm

Currently using VGS. https://stash.reaper.fm/theme/2199/VGS.zip

Funkybot's Evil Twin · Tue Sep 07, 2021 2:19 pm

GaryG wrote: Mon Sep 06, 2021 7:05 am
Rodulf wrote: Sun Sep 05, 2021 4:53 pm Just tried the Smooth theme...great big mixers!
It looks great but I can't quite get it right on my laptop, either way too small or too big, think WIndows scaling at 125% messes it up.

Yeah, does not have 125% and 150% versions from what I recall.

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Tue Sep 07, 2021 2:31 pm

^ it has 150% which works fine but too big for my screen, TCP takes up a third of the area.

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Tue Sep 07, 2021 6:45 pm

Michael L wrote: Sun Sep 05, 2021 2:11 am Echolot 1.4

Echolot1.4_01.PNG

https://stash.reaper.fm/theme/2753/Echo ... erThemeZip

I hadn't seen that one before, really nice...

digitalboytn · Post by **digitalboytn** » Tue Sep 07, 2021 7:11 pm

poseidal wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:46 am Classic 1.x theme. Completely usable and clear, with enough visual hierarchy to navigate quickly (a shortfall of completely 'flat' UIs, and UIs with very even buttons without being distinct) and with enough, but not too much, contrast.

The v1 theme is like engaging in some time travel...

That one really shows REAPER's Vegas roots...

I understand the attraction,but that one's just a little too spartan except for the most ardent of minimalists

The most Easy-on-the-eyes Reaper theme