How do I do adjustments such as level, L/R panning on an individual item, NOT on the whole track?
I do most this most of the time. I just find it way easier and faster to duplicate a track, get rid of whatever you don't want on each copy, and then do whatever you want to each track. I never automate effects, for example. If I want a long delay on just one word at the end of a line, for example, I just put that word on its' own track and put a long delay on that track.
In REAPER, an "Item" is a piece of audio. You have your waveform, which is one big item, unless you cut it into smaller parts, in which case it is now a bunch of smaller items.
I just find it way easier and faster to duplicate a track, get rid of whatever you don't want on each copy, and then do whatever you want to each track. I never automate effects, for example. If I want a long delay on just one word at the end of a line, for example, I just put that word on its' own track and put a long delay on that track.