Last week I wrote about making your studio smarter to ensure there were fewer barriers to creativity. I talked about gear layout, furniture setup and more.
When it comes to mixing in the box then there can’t be many things smarter than using templates for recording and mixing. It makes perfect sense to open a new session and have all your tracks laid out the same way every time, all the colours just right and plugins on each channel and ready to go. What’s not to like about that - it seems to be the smartest trick in the book.
So why, If I extol the virtues of a smart studio can I not use templates?
Is it the same reason I can’t use task lists? Is it the same reason I’ve spent a lot of money on apps for my phone and computer to organise my life which never get used? They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, well mine is paved with productivity apps.
Or is it that a template feels cookie cutter to me, that I want to reinvent the creative wheel every time?
It’s not for want of trying, I have templates set up on my DAW. One for my interface, which has 34 inputs and 34 outputs, but I always forget to use it. The same can be said for my songwriting template. I created one with all my favourite VIs which meant in no time at all I was ready to write with drums, bass and keyboards… I rarely use it.
Or is it that templates are for some people and not for others, you know right brain/left brain stuff.
Do you use templates and can’t begin to understand a word I’ve just written and think I need psychiatric help? Or are you like me and are thinking, at last I don’t need to feel guilty anymore?
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