Track Templates

track templates

Track templates are an easy way of exporting and importing tracks configured to your liking for faster workflow. For example, if you create audio podcasts or voiceovers and use certain plugins like gates, compressors, and equalizers. You can tailor the parameters of each plugin/fx to work well with your voice and recording space. You can then add a track with these exact settings already configured to work in any project, saving you time. Track templates can include track sends, which we’ll talk about in a later topic. Folder configurations are also included. Whenever you need these setups, all you must do is import your track template.

Setting Up Track Templates

1. Insert new track with Ctrl+T (command+T) or from the Insert Menu.

2. Hit arrow up or down to place focus on the track.

3. Press letter (F) to insert an effect (also known as FX).

4. Add an effect. For this example we'll use ReaGate. Type gate in the edit field that you are placed in after pressing (F). Depending on your Reaper configuration, you might need to press A, after pressing F, in order to open the Add window.

5. Down arrow until you hear VST ReaGate or Shift-Tab to the list view and down arrow to it.

6. Tab and adjust parameters to your liking.

7. You can repeat the process to include as many effects as you desire.

8. Move to top of project and use shift arrow plus down to select all your tracks you want to include in your track template. If you just want to add one track, simply arrow to that track.

9. Go to your track menu by pressing Control + applications key (control+2 on mac) or alt then arrowing to the right until you hear track.

10. Down arrow until you hear, “save track as track template”.

11. Type a name for your template. If you do not want to save in default location; tab to the browse folders button and press it. The rest is standard screen reader navigation.

adding media, midi items and envelopes to your track template

if you want to save media or midi items and envelopes within these tracks as a track template, you will have to use the screen review with NVDA, or the jaws screen cursor to check these options. Not necessary for a beginner, but instructions below.

Screen Review Instructions for NVDA

1. In step 11 you land in the name edit field. So tab twice and you should here browse folders. If it states hide folders, press it so that it says browse folders. Then, shift tab back to the name edit field.

2. Press the NVDA modifier key plus NumPad 1 to turn on Object navigator.

3. NVDA+8 to move navigator object to the object containing it.

4. NVDA+NumPad 6 to move to next object. It will move you to the include track items and envelopes in track template check boxes.

5. Press NVDA+numPad enter to perform default action. In this case it will check or uncheck.

Instructions for JAWS Cursor with JAWS

1. In step 11 you land in the name edit field. So tab twice and you should here browse folders. If it states hide folder, press it so that it says browse folders.

2. Turn on Jaws cursor with Insert plus NumPad Minus

3. Up arrow until you here Not check, include track items in template. put cursor focus on not check and route PC to jaws with insert plus NumPad +. That will check it.

4. If you want to include envelopes, repeats steps 1-3 only this time focus on the not check from the include track envelopes in template phrase.

How to import track templates

1. Simply go to your track menu by going up or down followed by control plus applications key, (control+2 on Mac) or by pressing and releasing alt, followed by t.

2. Down arrow to the “import track templates” sub menu, expand it and all your templates should show up.

3. The open dialogue will allow you to browse to a different location.

To find out about Project Templates, read the Project Templates article here.