The Simpler Life

Use the plug-ins and virtual instruments bundled with your host as much as possible. Most hosts now include a decent assortment of instruments and processors, which has several advantages:

• No compatibility issues.

• Instrument upgrades usually happen in tandem with host upgrades.

• Easy file exchanges with others who use the same host.

• Should you re-visit a file in a few years, odds are the instruments will open up if you’re using the same host.

Granted, bundled instruments won’t necessarily do everything. But keep your collection of instruments manageable: a few “specialty” instruments, and maybe a good workstation or sampler (Reason is a fine choice, as it has several great instruments and can rewire into just about anything). Avoid the temptation to download a zillion shareware plug-ins just because you can: It’s more to learn, more to maintain, and more that can go wrong.

You do need an audio interface with multiple inputs. “I’m a solo performer, so I only need a couple inputs.” Wrong! You have a condenser and a dynamic mic, right? And at least a couple of keyboards . . . and if one of them has multiple outputs, that’s at least a half dozen outs, all desperately seeking inputs. You don’t want to re-patch; it’s great to have everything ready to go, so all you need to do is record-enable a track to make music. Incidentally, this is also a reason d’être for the new generation of Firewire-compatible mixers: Mixers aren’t just about mixing, but about routing.

Manage your upgrades. Schedule doing upgrades (e.g., once every month or so), then check for upgrades for your plug-ins, host, operating system, graphics card, etc. Windows users should set a System Restore point before upgrading anything; all users should test their setup after each upgrade. You’ll often find this to be more efficient than upgrading using a more scattered approach.

Forget incremental backups. Just get a USB/FireWire drive enclosure ($50 or so), big hard drive, and copy your data drive over to the backup drive while you enjoy a movie. Not only do you avoid the stress of wondering if something’s backed up, you avoid the huge amount of stress that happens when your data drive fails.

Anything that saves time is good. The one gift we’re all given is time, and anything that saves time in the studio is good. Wasting time gets in the way of inspiration, and reduces what you can do during a given session. Here are some of my favorite time-savers:

• Two (or three) monitors; moving and re-sizing windows is a major waste of time.

• A printed list of keyboard equivalents: Refer to it often, and after a few weeks, you’ll have the list memorized — and keyboard equivalents save time.

• A scroll wheel mouse; using a scroll wheel beats clicking and dragging.

• A stripped-down system. Mac people, forget that “genie-sucking-the-window-into-the-dock” thing. Windows people, under Performance Options > Visual Effects, choose “Adjust for Best Performance” (see illustration, above). Remove anything that runs automatically unless it’s absolutely essential; with operating systems, less is more.

• Place an alias (shortcut) right on your desktop for everything you use consistently. And add a shortcut for your current project.

And the #1 way to simplify your life in the studio: Learn to cut your losses. Sometimes a performance or a song just isn’t happening. You try some EQ, some effects, some mix changes, maybe an overdub or two . . . nope.

You’ve written music before, and you’ll write music again. If something isn’t flowing right, don’t complicate your life: Cut your losses and move on!