DAW template ideas?

[Paulie]

I've been in 'studio organizing' mode this week. I recently re-read Fett's Roadmixing Roadmap and now I'm working on a master DAW template to use when starting projects. There are plenty of options, it often depends on the genre, but I think there are some things that could save me time while at the same time incentivizing best practices. So I'm looking for some suggestions...

What sort of bus/aux setups are you using? Fett recommends three different reverb aux's initially (short, medium, long). I've also picked up some plug-ins specifically for drums, so a master drum mix aux makes sense. What else?

[cassmcentee]

Hey Paulie!
My main template has...
2 mono audio tracks (since I double mic everything)
EZkeys
EZDrums (8 channels activated to 8 tracks, EZDrum mixer channels already assigned)
Those 8 tracks routed to a Group Bus called drums
Kontakt (8 channels activated)
Halion SE (8 channels activated)
5 Effect Sends: Reverb, Stereo Delay, Ping Pong Delay, Tremolo, Step Filter
Main Channel with Brickwall Limiter, Multi-band Compressor, Final Mix-MixBusLite, Magic A/B

Works for me at the moment!
Cass

[mojobone]

My non-orchestral templates mostly start with Addictive Drums, followed by some sort of bass. After that come chordal instruments like keyboards and/or guitar, followed by strings and/or brass, depending on the genre.

[Len911]

I don't use templates

If I have a certain setup for certain tasks that I may return to I just give the project a name like "tester" or "samples" or whatever it is, and load the project.

If I do anything consistent it might be adding a folder called midi and one called audio. When I'm finished rendering a midi file, I dump the effect or instrument and put the midi or audio in the appropriate file. Maybe it's 'cuz I don't have a lot of ram,lol, but I'm used to it and it's a lot less clutter.

I get distracted a lot with ideas, but template has never been one of them. I think one time I might have thought about it a few minutes and decided I didn't have anything to put in one.

[Samwinski]

I just use one template in a rudiment way. The reason is that instruments and efx change from project to project.
The template contains: Tracks of Drums, Bass, Piano, Keys, Guitars, Vocals ... in their specific color, busses and sends to FXs
if I don't need them, I just delete.
The channels are just set as channels, but not filled with an instrument or fx, as I fill them according to the project.
i also set an colored and titled arrangement with Intro, Vers, Chorus, Bridge, Outro ...

So I just fill, shift and scroll content.
Hope that helps

[lesmac]

My setup is pretty simple with a few templates with names like basic and start.
I'm not using too many instruments.
For someone who is composing in multiple genres I would suggest opening a few sessions in each genre and noting what is common and what you can't do without. My preference is keep the template minimal as its so easy to add tracks. Just as easy to delete too I agree.
Pro tools has track presets which can be handy for Virtual instrument routing or track and group setups with your fav plugins.
A stitch in time.....

[andygabrys]

i am happy to post my Logic X template for you(s) - it will show you the signal flow and the various auxes I have preset for verbs and delays but it won't necessarily "work" unless you have all the third party plugs.

let me know.