Setting up to maximize workflow

[soulbill]

Hey all,

I happily just signed away my next 8 weeks to score another film (yay!), and I'm just wondering, "How do other film composers set up DP before you even start doing any creative work?"

A few things: The Production team and I haven't had a spotting session yet (that'll be in 5 days), so I have a little time to prepare. We've already talked about the sound world (what I call my "sound palette"), which will be pretty basic with strings+piano. I don't have a stock template for scoring because I work on a variety of things. So for every project I create a new template specific for that film and load up a couple V-Racks with what I think I'll be needing. With those things out of the way... what is your process like?

Thanks!

[HCMarkus]

Congrats on the new gig! Here are a few of my thoughts...

Now that I'm on Apple Silicon, and due to the fact tracks can be pre-set then disabled, and folders collapsed, I have a fairly comprehensive template from which I always start projects. Nice to have favorite libraries on hand and set up to my preference, always ready to go with a mouse click.

I use Breath Control a lot for orchestral instrument programming, winds, brass and strings. I have MIDI translation plugins already in place where required, so I can jump right in with BC when the VI is looking for CC01. Also, outputs to appropriate buses are pre-established.

I've been working with more buses due to my mac's enhanced capability; currently moving to sends addressing returns residing on group buses to facilitate quicker, more accurate stem creation.

I'll house multiple Kontakt VIs (i.e. String Section) from a single library developer in a single Kontakt instance so I can volume automate the entire section library volume from a single fader, but solo instruments get their own instances of Kontakt.

Hope the job goes well for you!

PS: just looked at your sig. We have very similar DAW rigs... just wish I had a C7, too!

[stubbsonic]

For some of the grunt-work-flow, doing a little planning about what kinds of tasks you do often (scrolling, zooming, window sets, transport, etc, etc), and how you might prefer to activate them, (via mouse button, key-stroke, trackpad gesture, etc), then setting up the COMMANDS in DP and working out 'the dance' of each command. Even practicing it a little-- to see if it makes sense to your nervous system.

I have a mouse with quite a few buttons and have them set up to do scrolling, zooming, and a few other misc tasks. I use Steermouse to configure mouse for this kind of thing. Works well.

[soulbill]

Thanks stubbsonic and hcmarkus! It’s so important to get stuff setup so when you turn everything on you can just work. Good to read about your setups.