VIDEO: Using DAW Templates To Work Faster

[Paulie]

I had a good conversation with a fellow Taxi member yesterday about creating music faster. If you want to make any real money writing instrumental cues for television you have to have two things: quality AND quantity. This video should help with the quantity aspect. In it I walk through my own process for using a Logic Pro X project from a cue that was placed and then create a brand new cue from it. The video is about 45 minutes long, I could do the work in 30 minutes or less if I wasn't explaining every step. I didn't edit the video at all so you will see my entire thought process.

https://youtu.be/3W055RCRBy0

note: I am NO expert, I'm just sharing my thought process and ideas to pay forward some of the mentoring several Taxi vets have given me. I'll probably do more of these in different idioms now that i figure out how to get all of the audio working properly. I'm on a Mac and used Screenflow Pro 6 to record this.

Paulie

[waveheavy]

Your YouTube video is blocked out, it's private, requiring some kind of sign in. I signed into my account but the video still says it's unavailable.

[Paulie]

oops! I changed the permissions. Same link should work now. https://youtu.be/3W055RCRBy0

Thanks!

PC

[mojobone]

Brave of you to let us in on your creative process! Thank you!

[waveheavy]

Nice video and composition Paulie,

I guess that's a good way to maintain a certain instrumental character when you want to write several tracks of a similar theme.

What I'm doing is trying to create templates based on different genres, like "Dramedy Template" for example. I try to figure out as many of the must have instruments to include for the style and then save that as a template file. For an orchestral piece, the template will have the instruments for a traditional orchestra saved in the template, buses setup, all assignments, all effects and reverb plugins loaded.

I also have various buses setup with mixing plugins on them. I also create separate Audio tracks in the template for the MIDI/Instrument tracks. My UAD plugins aren't available on a MIDI track in Digital Performer, so if I want a certain plugin used on a certain MIDI track, I just go to its Audio track and apply it there.

Something a lot of composers do is begin the composition on like Bar 3 or greater, because it gives the CPU time to generate the MIDI to audio when the tracks start playing.

[sansharbour]

Thanks Paul for sharing this
I have Logic x as well and felt at home watching
I learned a few things and will put to use.....transposing , varying the melodic content etc.

Question .....you didn't seem to have a lot on the mix bus..... is that your usual configuration
EQ, compressor, Mix Bus Lite and spreader

Thanks again for the tips
Don

[edmondredd]

Thanks for sharing that Paulie. It's always interesting to see someone else's workflow, especially when using the same DAW.
The only thing I could add also to work faster is the use of shortcuts: Automation, transpose, zooming in/out, renaming amongst other would sure make your workflow smoother.

you have a great voice and manner for an instructor. I'm sure you'd do very well indeed as a teacher/instructor, should you fancy another/additional career.

As for the video, I've heard many say that working with templates is a good way to ease workflow, but I'd got that in my mind as something a little different to what you showed. I've re-used some of my tracks that are all based on VIs (and also one that's simple audio that is easily re-recorded but all the FX remain in place. However, what I've done is erased the parts, and therefore the arrangement too, and re-constructed another track using the same sounds but with a totally new arrangement. It does help by not having to find the sounds that work and the FX, so I thought that was the point of the template. By comparison, the method you've showed really makes the most of the what you have and re-uses key parts of the arrangement with minimal changes to the individual parts. the bit about 'Damage' rhythms made me smile!

I tend to have the same approach Telefunkin regarding using templates, and this is definitely and additional way of doing it. I'll probably give it a try with smaller projects,

Again Paulie thank you for sharing the knowledge

[Sunset]

[quote=" By the way, the arpeggiator is cool, and I must find the Cubase version. I'll bet you could use it on rhythmic parts too. Also, what about using a chord track too, to help keep track of the chord changes (once established)? You've certainly got me thinking now, and that's great!! ?[/quote]

Hi Graham, there are 2 aprggiators in Cubase 8+ in a midi or instrument track, look to "midi inserts" and select Apache 5 or Apache SX.. Apache 5 is the "lite" version of Sx.. but both will do the job- and plenty of vids to help you get going on them...

Chord track is really cool to use- particularly when you want really unusual arrangements... try playing with the complexity button- it can really get some grim progressions...

John

[Paulie]

Thanks everyone. The video is just one of the ways I work, this method is for cranking out a lot of similar cues for a customer. You can really vary the technique by making broader changes in each section to keep each cue more unique.

I also have templates for various genres that are based on forwards and placements. I save those tracks and erase all musical content and automation, so basically its a template just of the sounds and effects I used. I may go back and replace Piano1 with Piano 12, or kick 364 with kick 1253, etc. But the effects, panning, etc. generally stay the same.

As far as effects I sort of adhere to Ronan Chris Murphy's concept of "less is more." Sometimes i pile a bunch on for a certain effect. On my master bus I've really whittled it down in most cases: Analog tape compression using the Kontakt preset, and then Ozone for the final mix. It really helps me a ton since i have a significant hearing issue in one ear and my mixes have been my achilles heel since I started this process two years ago. Mixing is a skill unto itself, worthy of the same time and commitment as learning an instrument. So, I'm still in the n00b category in that regard.

And, I'm no expert. These are just my opinions and there are a ton of really strong musicians and engineers in the forum. My goal is to help people new to the game, like veterans helped me when I first arrived. I may do a video that shows how I break down an A La for a certain genre to learn the form so that I can replicate it and ensure stylistic accuracy. The only problem is that YouTube may block a video if I use copyrighted material (yet they are fine with screwing composers with their streaming policies).

Paulie

[piwacquet]

Hey Paulie,

Just watched the video. Great!!! I needed to know more about templates. You surely do work fast. Your knowledge of your apps is amazing. Hope I can get there. I too am looking forward to your next video on ala's.

Mike