DAWs such as Pro Tools, Logic Pro X and Studio One all represent an epic wish list of features that were created over many decades by working audio engineers. Back in the analogue days when large format consoles, tape and outboard gear were the norm, people in the audio production industry imagined new ways that would one day improve audio production workflows. Many improvements that came to fruition in the transition from analogue to digital are standard functions within DAWs that these days we all take for granted, features that we use daily which analogue audio engineers decades ago would have given their right arm for, such as:

Starting A Session From A Template

In the analogue days, when the centrepiece of most studios was a large format console, engineers had to reset and zero all the faders, knobs and dials before starting a new tracking session, we literary started a song from a blank canvas. These days, in the comfort of our DAW, we can easily start a sizeable recording session within seconds from a session template, be it either a factory preset or a custom template, armed and ready to go with all our regular track types, virtual instruments and go-to plug-ins.

We can of course choose not to use session templates by opting to start a session from a blank session but don’t underestimate the power of session templates as they do save us time, especially if you work on album projects which feature songs with similar instrumentation.

Quantizing - Fixing Timing Issues In A Performance

Correcting a timing issue in a performance after the fact in a DAW is sometimes quicker than rerecording the performance. This is obviously a sweeping statement which depends on how much of an issue the timing problem is in the first place. For obvious timing fixes a simple cut, slip and crossfade of an audio clip is enough to save valuable time in a session and save a take. Tip: Try to avoid snapping every beat to the grid unless the genre or style of track demands this hammer to crack a nut approach.

Pitch Correction

A similar thing can be said about pitch correction. I consider tools such as Melodyne or Antares AutoTune as plug-ins which, with a light touch, can improve an already strong vocal performance. If a note here or there needs a little nudge to pull it into tune then these plug-ins do a great job saving time re-recording an entire part. 

Get A Sound Quick With Plug-in Presets

Studio outboard gear, like analog consoles, typically needs its controls reset to default before we can dial in a sound. Plug-ins, especially emulations that mimic the control and sound of certain models of outboard, don’t need to be reset before using them. We could in-essence bypass using the controls altogether as plug-ins enable us to save and recall presets extremely quickly. Loading a factory preset is of course not the best way to get the most out of a plug-in but presets are useful if you find yourself dialling in the same particular setting each time you for example mix a kick drum.

A.I. Machine Learning Plug-ins

Machine learning A.I. plug-ins have grown in popularity over the last few years. Similar to plug-in presets, A.I. driven plug-ins also save us time in busy studio sessions as well as providing us with useful starting points which can come in handy if inspiration is running a bit dry.

Products such as iZotope’s Neutron, Nectar and Ozone all have the ability to provide us with cool starting point mixing and mastering ideas by use of the “Assistant”. Instead of the starting point being offered up in the form of a static set of controls, which is what we get from plug-in presets, the A.I. bases its starting points on the audio passing through the plug-in.

Plug-in presets and A.I. suggested started points are both very useful, especially if time is against you in a busy session, but don’t expect your in audio engineering skills to improve any time soon if you rely too heavily on these quick approaches to mixing audio.

Loop Record & Comping

My introduction into audio engineering was in an analog tape studio. It is in environments like these where you learn why it is so important to get the best take down the microphone as it was a pig to drop in and re-record sections after the fact. Learning how to record great sounding instruments and vocals to “tape” from the beginning of a song through to the end is an art in itself, an art that I feel is slowly being lost through the generations - We’ll save that debate for another day.

Digital audio workflows make it possible for us to easily punch-in record over the smallest problem area or track large numbers of playlist options for us to comp together at a later time into a full take. It’s a great having this ability to edit audio this way but over comping your tracks, or as I like to call it “Frankensteining” your audio, is a fast track to sucking the life and soul out of your music.

Copy/Paste

Let’s say you’ve tracked the perfect 16 part backing vocal arrangement for a chorus that you want to repeat in the following chorus sections - Why re-record each of parts when you can “copy and paste”? This saves a lot of time in tracking as well as applying a continuity to the sound of the arrangement which some genres of music demand.

“Copy/Paste” is also a great way to test bed different structure ideas. Say you don’t like the intro in the session your working on, cut it. Want a double chorus? Copy & paste it in.

Conclusion

As I stated at the top of this article, there are a number of functions we take for granted these days in modern DAW based music production that audio engineers back in the analog days would had given their right arm for. All of these amazing time saving features listed in this article are of course optional, as in you don’t need to use any of them when you produce a track. Next time you use one or a combination of these common DAW features we’ve listed in this article just remember how lucky we are these days to have such great tools at our disposal. The aspirations of audio engineers back in the analogue recording era really did help pave the way for the features we rely on and take from granted in our DAWs today.