A workflow to automate printing stems with an external mixing console.

I'm new to Reaper and I'm exploring its capabilities. I'm curious if it would be possible to design a workflow to automate printing stems on sessions with an external mixing console. Basically my way of printing stems at the moment is to solo a VCA and to record a track with the external analogue mixer stereo return and repeat that for each group of instruments. I'd like to see if it would be possible to "tell" Reaper to solo a VCA, render a stereo return then solo another VCA, render the same stereo return, and so on.

There's two actions you can chain to achieve this. 1. Xenakios / SWS Set render speed to realtime 2. Track: Render track to mono stem (and mute original) I use it to bounce track that are running through outboard using Reainsert. The good thing is you can select multiple tracks and it does them all individually. Edit, notice you're talking about stereo, there is a stereo version of the Track: Render track command too...

I'm talking about printing stereo stems such as drums, all guitars, all vocals. Basically I do this manually at this point. I solo a VCA, I record a console return, then I solo another VCA, I record another stereo file, and so on.

Yup, that's the solution I've given you, (except you don't have to solo anything), just select the tracks you want to print and it does a realtime bounce (through the hardware), creates a new track and mutes the source.

If it does all in real-time probably you can still play with all parameters then, another interesting aspect. For the extra live feel.

I now understand how render queue works, which basically allows me to add individually soloed groups of instruments which are patched to a series of individual outputs from the computer, running to my external summing mixer. I only need to return the signal back to Reaper. I'll perform first tests soon. If there's anyone who's got an external summing mixing workflow with Reaper and could chime in with some tips, I would be more than grateful! :)