Set default "free item position" new item height?

pbattersby · 12-04-2019, 07:30 AM

I've just started to use free item positioning and I can immediately see it's benefits BUT, is there a way to configure the default height of a new item in a "free item positioning" enabled track?

By default, a new item is about half the height of the track. The way I'll be using free item positioning, there will be limited areas of overlap and I'd like the default for a new item to be the full height of the track, otherwise, every time I create a new item, I'm going to be dragging it to the full height of the track which makes this feature less useful to me versus just creating a duplicate track.

If it doesn't already exist, this would be a useful configuration option as I can see cases where full height, half height or any arbitrary fraction of full height (say for percussion tracks) would be a useful default on a per track basis.

jbraner · 12-07-2019, 02:00 PM

Im subscribing to this thread - I'd love to have new items default to the full track height.

IK-Sound · 12-11-2019, 11:15 PM

I use this feature a lot. In fact, I never uncheck this option. And now this is a problem. Would love to see the option of the item's default height.
Can't find any solution now ...

Joe90 · 12-11-2019, 11:32 PM

You could turn off free item positioning, then turn on 'show overlapping items in lanes', then set your default item mix behaviour to 'always mix'. This would essentially give you what you're asking for I believe,

You won't have as much movement to slide everything around like you do FIP mode, but you also won't have to deal with this -

jbraner · 12-12-2019, 02:43 AM

I use FIP as an alternative to "takes" - for recording guitar.

it's great for this - but a nuisance for other things. (like everything coming in at half height)

Joe90 · 12-12-2019, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbraner

I use FIP as an alternative to "takes" - for recording guitar.

it's great for this - but a nuisance for other things. (like everything coming in at half height)

Why not just use lanes?

jbraner · 12-12-2019, 05:05 AM

Do you mean take lanes?
I find it much easier to use FIPs than take lanes...

or am I missing something? (always a distinct possibility)

Joe90 · 12-12-2019, 05:22 AM

You can switch off takes altogether and just record separate items into separate lanes.

Options menu/New recording that overlap existing media items

The only advantage you get from FIP is that all parts will play simultaneously. If you want everything playing together will recording into lanes, then you can set your item mix mode to 'items always mix', which can be done on a per item level, or on a global project level.

jbraner · 12-12-2019, 05:54 AM

Hmm, I'll have to take alook at this - Thanks Joe! ;-)

jbraner · 12-12-2019, 02:54 PM

Joe - this is perfect!

You learn something new everyday - thanks.

Paul - OP - does this help you? It certainly gets rid of the half height items.
I don't think we need FIP at all.

IK-Sound · 12-17-2019, 03:58 AM

FIP is a very important thing, especially in sound design. You need one track and some media items in it, maybe overlapping. For example, when designing foley/footsteps etc.

The only question was: how to keep new added media items' 100% height in Reaper 6.
There is no answer, I suppose?

jbraner · 12-17-2019, 05:40 AM

Quote:

The only question was: how to keep new added media items' 100% height in Reaper 6.

Well, maybe new tracks default to NOT FIP?
And then make all the tracks you're working on - FIP?

Joe90 · 12-17-2019, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IK-Sound

FIP is a very important thing, especially in sound design. You need one track and some media items in it, maybe overlapping. For example, when designing foley/footsteps etc.

The only question was: how to keep new added media items' 100% height in Reaper 6.
There is no answer, I suppose?

Use 'show overlapping media items in lanes' and don't use FIP. Why do they need to be freely movable if they're already shown in lanes whenever they overlap?

IK-Sound · 12-17-2019, 11:05 AM

Nope. Not the option. Both overlapping lanes (usually I need to cut small part and keep two overlapping pieces in one lane) and toggle FIP (it actually IS the option, but not a comfortable one)

But thanks for the tips!

pbattersby · 12-18-2019, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe90

You could turn off free item positioning, then turn on 'show overlapping items in lanes',

Thanks for the suggestion. I just tried it but there's a problem. I had another track with cross fading between items. I don't want those in separate lanes. "show overlapping items in lanes" is all or nothing right? I can't select that on a track by track basis?

pbattersby · 12-18-2019, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbraner

Paul - OP - does this help you?

Unfortunately no because it causes another problem with cross faded, overlapped items.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbraner

I don't think we need FIP at all.

There may still be a work around but I think the proper solution is for a feature which makes it possible to configure the default new item height when using free item positioning. Hopefully that will happen.

jbraner · 12-19-2019, 02:19 AM

Quote:

There may still be a work around but I think the proper solution is for a feature which makes it possible to configure the default new item height when using free item positioning. Hopefully that will happen.

Well, you're quite right there.
You're right that the "show overlapping items in lanes" isn't perfect.
what I've done is set up a button in my toolbar to toggle FIP on and off for individual tracks.

This way I leave FIP off (esp for new tracks, so I don't get the half height media items), and just turn it on for tracks with crossfades etc.

IK-Sound · 12-27-2019, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbraner

This way I leave FIP off (esp for new tracks, so I don't get the half height media items), and just turn it on for tracks with crossfades etc.

Seems like the best way for now ...

I hope developers will see this post and make such an option, or return the previous default full-size items. It is really a pain in the arse when sound designing

talustalus · 10-09-2021, 01:45 AM

Long bump.

Would love to see Free Item Position items default to full track height when they are the only items in the region.

Daodan · 10-09-2021, 11:21 AM

bump.

Phazma · 10-09-2021, 11:38 AM

I wish FIP would have some kind of snapping.

- Snap item to 1/1 height (full track), 1/2 height, 1/4 height etc..

and

-Snap vertical movement, so for example an item of 1/2 height can only have 2 positions: upper half of track or lower half of track. An item of 1/4 track height can have 4 positions.

This would get rid of all the mess and you could easily auto-crossfade one 1/1 height item with two layered 1/2 height items..

Example of me trying to show this as precisely as I can with the current overly free item positioning:

talustalus · 10-10-2021, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phazma

I wish FIP would have some kind of snapping.

- Snap item to 1/1 height (full track), 1/2 height, 1/4 height etc..

and

-Snap vertical movement, so for example an item of 1/2 height can only have 2 positions: upper half of track or lower half of track. An item of 1/4 track height can have 4 positions.

This would get rid of all the mess and you could easily auto-crossfade one 1/1 height item with two layered 1/2 height items..

Example of me trying to show this as precisely as I can with the current overly free item positioning:

100% agree with this. It becomes such a mess when you use FIP in an advanced way. The very benefit it offers is countered by the lack of organization of the items.