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If you missed part one of our project template coverage, be sure to check it out first.
Part One can be found here.
As I mentioned before, I am a firm believer that ones ability to work efficiently depends on how the project is set-up before ever pressing record. Your sure path to a great set-up are the DP project templates. Last time we talked about all of the options available under each of the menus along the top menu bar. This time we’ll jump into setting up each of the windows, including mini-menus.
It’s important to note that the settings that I describe below are only a small portion of available DP settings. These are simply those that can be saved with a template. All others are either global, which means they apply to all projects, or they simply don’t apply until you begin working in a project. While working through these project-level settings it is advisable to also establish your global settings up front so that your working environment suits your working style every time you open a new project.
Because project set-up is all about personal taste, this is just a list of what’s possible to be saved in a template. You can determine the settings that are best for you and your working style.
Finishing What You Started
If you began a template while working through the prior installment, go ahead open that one back up and let’s finish it off. Be sure to periodically save your project so you don’t lose any of your changes.
Tracks Window
I prefer using the Consolidated Window view but you can apply these same settings to the independent windows view as well. The Tracks window probably provides the greatest versatility for your templates. Regretfully, the column set-up is global.
- First consider the types of tracks that you think you would use for this type of project. You can then add MIDI, Aux, and Audio tracks according to the associated instrumentation and signal chain. I highly recommend naming all of the tracks even if you might change them later.
- Consider inserting Instrument tracks for virtual instruments that you think you will typically use for this type of project (or use V-Racks described above). If you'll be sharing your files with other DP users, be sure to consider whether those users have the same plug-ins.
- In the Output column, establish the outputs for each track.
- In the Input column, establish the inputs for busses and MIDI channels.
- Using the Move column, sort the tracks to your liking. One thing to keep in mind is whether you want to use track folders (new to DP5). Track folders allow you to group tracks under a folder and hide them all when not in use. For my default template I create track folders for drums, vocals, bass, guitar, VI tracks, MIDI tracks, and loops.
- In the Color column assign a color for each track (based on the palette you selected under Setup > Colors).
- Note that when you add multiple tracks of any kind you can have DP automatically assign a unique shade of a given color by going to Digital Performer > Preferences > Colors and under "Assign New Tracks" select "to different shades of the same color". Then below that select "Use different colors for different track types" and select your preferred color for each type of track. Remember though that these are global settings.
- In the lower right corner, use the “+” and “-“ to set your desired horizontal zoom.
Mixer Window
- To the right of the mini-menu in the upper left select whether you want to show or hide the Track Selector List. Click and highlight the tracks you want to display.
- Nearly everything in the mini-menu can be set for your template.
- Check all of the controls that you want displayed on the mixer.
- You can establish groups, use narrow view, and set the number of inserts and sends.
- My favorite is being able to establish board layouts. I typically establish about 8 different layouts that correspond to the various phases that I go through in just about every project. Doing that up front in the template is a major time saver. You can easily modify them later when you create additional tracks.
- Based on your selected controls, adjust the height of the Mixer window to your liking.
- Consider inserting any plug-in effects that you think you will typically use for this type of project. Depending on the type of instruments you normally use, you can even establish plug-in settings that would serve as a good starting point for each project.
- You can establish automation settings but since you may not know exactly what you'll be recording this may not be very helpful.
- While you can use the Mix Mode menu in the bottom left to create multiple mixes, this isn't all that helpful until you actually begin mixing.
Sequence Window
- To the right of the camera icon in the upper left select whether you want to show or hide the Track Selector List. Click and highlight the tracks you want to display.
- Using the mini-menu set your zoom preference.
- At each track use the down arrow to select your track height preferences, or just adjust the track height by hand by placing your cursor at the bottom of the track over the Track Information Panel to the left and just click and drag when the little hand appears.
- Using the drop down menu in each track, select your preferred edit item (volume, pan, loops).
- In the upper right corner turn the Edit Grid on or off and, if necessary, set its resolution. This can differ from the same selection in other windows.
- Just to the right of that is a small box where you can select to have the window snap to your established Markers.
Drum Edit Window
- To the right of the mini-menu in the upper left select whether you want to show or hide the Track Selector List. Click and highlight the tracks you want to display.
- Above the columns in the upper left use the big gray button to set your preferred view resolution.
- In the three sub-menus at the bottom you can select how to view your continuous data and what type of continuous data to view.
- At the bottom right set your zoom preference.
- Between the Note Grid (top of window) and Continuous Data Grid (bottom of window), adjust the median strip handle to your liking.
MIDI Window
- To the right of the mini-menu in the upper left select whether you want to show or hide the Track Selector List. Click and highlight the tracks you want to display.
- Use the mini-menu or the "-" and "+" in the upper left of the Note Grid (top of window) to set your zoom preference
- In the upper left of the Note Grid is a small button with a magnifying glass. Use this to adjust your Note Grid zoom level.
- In the upper right corner turn the Edit Grid on or off and, if necessary, set its resolution. This can differ from the same selection in other windows.
- In the three sub-menus at the bottom you can select how to view your continuous data and what type of continuous data to view
- Between the Note Grid (top of window) and Continuous Data Grid (bottom of window), adjust the median strip handle to your liking.
Quickscribe Window
- To the right of the mini-menu in the upper left select whether you want to show or hide the Track Selector List. Click and highlight the tracks you want to display
- Set any of the Options in the mini-menu.
- Also in the mini-menu you can:
- Choose to show System Margins, Tools, and Film Cues
- Choose to view the Dynamics and Arrangement palettes
- Choose whether to display or play the various types of notes.
- At the bottom of the window is a sub-menu for selecting zoom level.
Meter Bridge Window
- I recommend first selecting which types of meters you want to view using the six show/hide buttons for inputs, outputs, busses, bundles, instruments, and tracks. Just keep in mind the size of the window.
- Depending on how many meters you have selected you can choose a single-tier or multi-tier view using the two linear layout buttons above the show/hide buttons.
- You can then select the scale of the meters by grabbing the bottom of the blue vertical scale bar and dragging it up or down.
- You can set the width of the meters by clicking and holding on the magnifying glass button above the scale bar. A pop-up appears that allows you to select a width in real-time.
- If you want the meters to be taller you need to hide some of the meters that you chose to show.
Markers Sub-Window
If you don't already have the Markers window in your window set, select Markers from the Project menu. While markers will be unique to each sequence you can set-up a few options using the mini-menu.
- If you work with video you can go to "Add & Edit Options" for streamer selections. Doing this will create a marker which you can simply reassign later.
- Select "Show Streamers" which will add a column to your window.
- You can select to "Generate a Streamer Track for" MOTU DTP/VTP, CueLine ProCue 1M1, or ClickStreamMachine
Multiple Sequences
If you wish to set-up multiple sequences in a template, the majority of the settings described above will apply to your second sequence. However, for the additional sequences you can modify the track set-up, track folders, plug-ins, and mixer independently from the other sequences.
Saving Your Templates
So you’ve finished all of your settings and you now need to save it as a template. First do a final save of your project. Now, go to the File menu, select “Save As Template” and type in the name of your template. If you would like this template to be the template that is used each time you select “New” when opening a project, check the box that says “Use as default New Template”.
If you now have another project type for which you want to create a different template, either start fresh or use the template you just created, make your changes, and Save As Template using a different name.
If you have a Digital Performer related question that you would like me to take a shot at answering or have any feedback, please send it to timr@audioMIDI.com. I will do my best to select the questions that seem to stump the most people.
As always, stay tuned to the audioMIDI.com eNews for the latest reviews and new product info.
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