# Everything (including splitting) we do on one of any grouped tracks should happen on all of the grouped tracks. #
I've been on Reaper for 18 months full time now, everything is absolutely amazing - except there is one BIG omission in Reaper : Track Grouping.
I'm working on a project with around 500+ tracks, and adjusting volume automation on multiple tracks is so convoluted that I have had to split and adjust volume of the audio files to get around the lack of volume automation track grouping, and get my work done in time, and then do crossfades to cover the edits
I checked out Kenny's recent vid on grouping automation envelopes hoping there was something I was missing - and could not believe the work around that he is doing to achieve what should be so simple.
He has to make automation items on all of the tracks to get around this - and it is just SO slow, cumbersome and not a workflow option for me.
I would never use this method as a work around for not having grouping.
Automation items are great, - but not as a workaround for not having fully featured track grouping.
We cannot draw automation on a track and have it affect the group.
This is a MASSIVE shortcoming !!
I spent 20 years mixing on ProTools, where I can select 50 tracks spread all over the track list, select group and tick : volume automation, or plugin parameters, (and all the rest) draw the automation and it happens to all tracks grouped
The workflow is seriously incomparable, and the time difference is HUGE
In PT I have a group of tracks, draw automation on one tracks volume and instantly all the grouped tracks have been adjusted.
I can split one audio file - and all of the grouped tracks split.
I can fade one item - and all grouped items get a fade.
I can group 100 different tracks that have EQ on them, select plug in automation from the grouping, and automate (draw) one track and instantly all the grouped tracks are automated.
Instant / extremely fast.
Did I mention this an extremely fast workflow?
After 18 months I am realizing that I have wasted a MASSIVE amount of time working around these few track grouping shortcomings.
Item grouping does not solve these problems. (but has it's place)
To attempt my next project like this I will move to Protools (or any of the others) and do all of my volume and plug in automation (mixing) and VERY sadly bypass Reaper.
Yep - it is that bad a workflow I would never consider mixing a large project on Reaper again.
So from now on - create on Reaper / mix on ProTools.
(and I thought I would never mix on PooTools again)
I'm here BEGGING the Cockos crew to get grouping to work on splitting items, fading items, plug in automation, and volume automation.
If I only get one Reaper wish in my life.....