Genghis
Thanks Larry.  I figured out how to do it the way I like it.  I don't want to have everything mapped to a separate track but I like to group my outputs from BFD2.  I do a few things in the BFD mixer and use the DAW mixer for subgroups of similar drum elements.  So I have a mono kick, a mono snare, and stereo mixes for cymbals, toms, and the various room sends.
 
I was trying to start with the basic layout and add the few tracks I needed, but I ended up inserting all of them like you said and deleting the 20+ tracks I don't need.  Saved it as a track template and made a starting project template with that layout and a few guitar and vocal tracks that are grouped in folders with submixes going on. That tends to be the main layout I use for the guitar stuff and I'll add various soft synths to get different sounds.
 
Their concept of sub-mixes is a lot different than SONAR, so I hope I did it in the most efficient way.  I'm kind of just jumping in without reading anything and figuring it out as I go along. (The way I do most things. LOL)  I think I need to read up on their concept of folders and mixing groups and things like that.  Also, if they do track layers better than SONAR, I might switch.  I hate the lanes in SONAR.

Glad ya gotter' done....

This is pretty kewl...I have it installed and it looks awesome...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAGb2pnEXlU

Forgot to give the link for the theme..
 
http://stash.reaper.fm/th...%20x-tools%20v1.0.1%29

 I really like that Theme....very kewl....

Just a note on cclarry's side chain post. Important point.
 
Any vst effect can be side chained, beautiful feature in one knob mixing the dry signal with the effect.
 
Don't know if this was designed or just a collateral effect, but the vst side chain knob also functions as a volume control for any synth in a chain if you are running a midi track. Volume mixes can be set for each unit in a chain on a single track. Example... Keyboard player has Dim Pro chained into Rapture, chained into TTS-1, into whatever. Turn down the volume of Dim Pro if needed via the mix knob. This function is exquisite.
 
Only thing missing is a per synth pan function to really set the stereo balance.
 
Non-attached objective observation, but try to pull off this level of elegant control in Sonar... Case closed...
 
John
 
 

I've been trying to figure out the side-chaining using compressors that don't natively support side chaining and there is just something I must be missing.  Got it to work using the Reaper compressor and Cakewalks CA-2A, but I haven't been able to make sense of getting it to work with UAD compressors.  I've read that it is possible, but don't quite get how to assign the trigger channels in the plugin.  I'd like to compress my bass and trigger the compression off of the kick for example.  Any tips?

Genghis,
 
Don't know if this is possible, and can't control a vst unless it is registered as an internal plug in Reaper. Same probably with Sonar or any other DAW.
 
Sensitivity to audio dynamics isn't possible as far as I know unless the response is within the effect.. Reaper will fail otherwise, but so will everything else.
 
I use Sonar for printed midi sheet music and Reaper for about everything else. I'm using less than 2% Reaper's capacity so have to defer this to better minds and more experienced users.
 
You may want to look at the automation lanes for registered vst/vsti plugs. There are several approaches and in depth complexity if you want or need to micromanage a track.
 
Take a Valhalla reverb with multiple knobs within knobs. Reaper automation will allow you to expand and control any parameter in real time. Powerful stuff way more than my surface level of involvement. You could in the extreme automate each kick but this would be time consuming, though it is doable if you have the time...
 
More experienced users should weigh in.
 
John
 

I think I sort of got it to kind of work, but need to try another compressor and see if it works better.  I found some info on the Reaper forum that showed a right-click menu that I had overlooked.  It shows the inputs for the channel and you can route channels 3&4 to trigger the compressor, but it also uses the bass signal that's coming in to trigger the compressor.  It appears that it mixes the two signals and just adds a slight pumping on each kick hit, even when you crank the level of the send up all the way.
 
Naturally it works perfectly with the CA-2A or with the compressor that comes with Reaper, and I think I have a few more that actually have side-chaining, so it's kind of a non-issue. 
 
Would post more, but since this is the Cakewalk forum I'll just say that X3 better be mind blowing if they want me to spend more for the upgrade than I just spent for Reaper and the next two full version upgrades.

Hey Genghis,
 
Followup on this, and also completely respect the forum open mic format to analyze other software. This just happens to be a competing DAW as the industry would see it. My view just to get the music published, and appreciate Cake allowing a random opinion for what needs to supplement Sonar to get it done.
 
If you want to control a snare compression, there's a dangerous tool in Reaper. The multi band compressor native.
 
Dangerous because if you push the limits too far, the thing rebounds with a shriek that will blow your ears out before the safety kicks in to auto mute. Maybe a bug. Opinions that this is one of the best unknown multi band compressors anywhere. My opinion also, if you don't push it too far to breakdown.
 
With a bit of caution, the multi band comp can zero in on about anything you need. Precise and targetted compression range leaving the rest of the spectrum alone. Can easily achieve what you want to accomplish by focusing on the freq response of the snare. Mix with the side chain control if you need some dry signal.
 
John