9 Tips to Boost Music Production Workflow for All DAWs

Your DAW, or digital audio workstation, is one of the most pivotal music production tools in your home studio. The first DAWs appeared in the late 70s, but it wasn’t until digital production went mainstream that this software took off.

Since then, music producers have never looked back. Why would they? Now that you have all the tools and plugins to create any music genre from anywhere.

DAW workflow tips

All that said, there is one thing that separates seasoned producers from novice ones: a solid workflow. At the end of the day, a DAW is nothing more than another tool. But, establishing an efficient DAW workflow will help you make the most out of it.

Here are some music production workflow tips that apply to all DAWs.

1. Key Commands Will Change Your Life!

Have you ever watched an experienced producer work? Chances are, they rely on their keyboard a lot more than they do the mouse!

Key commands will change the game once you get comfortable with them! One of the best workflow tips we can give is learning as many commands as you can.

The sheer number of menus, windows, and buttons on a DAW can get overwhelming pretty quickly. Sure, you can learn where all the important functions you need are. But taking time to navigate the system with your mouse is cumbersome.

With a few key inputs, you can do everything from creating tracks, bring up plugin information, and so much more.

Key commands vary from DAW to DAW. But, most of them provide shortcut information in the manual. Whether you use Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, Abelton Live, or one of the many other DAWs out there, key commands will be a life-changer!

2. File Management is a Must

One of the biggest rookie mistakes beginners make when using DAWs for the first time is failing to keep files organized. This applies to files within the software and outside of it!

Inside your DAW, it’s good to keep tracks organized by groups. For instance, you should keep all of your percussion instruments in one group, your vocals in another, and so on and so forth. Doing this alone will make a world of difference when you’re trying to figure things out.

Many producers follow a very specific organizational pattern. You don’t have to follow the same pattern that every other producer is doing. But, you need to pick a pattern and stick to it! Every project you work on moving forward should have tracks in the same spot. That way, there’s no second-guessing.

Now, outside of your DAW, you need to establish robust file management and naming system.

We get it: Inputting file names doesn’t seem like a huge priority when inspiration strikes. But, you should take a moment to put everything in the right folder with the right label.

DAWs these days will practically force you into keeping things organized. However, it’s still up to you to input names and save everything in one place. Trust me: The last thing you want to deal with is finding lost tracks later on. Heed our DAW workflow tips to avoid that future headache!

3. Take Advantage of Colors, Markers, and Labels

One of my favorite music production workflow tips is to take advantage of all the organizational tools your DAW provides.

Many programs let you customize track colors. This might seem like an unnecessary extra step. But you’d be surprised by how your brain reacts to colors!

Paint similar tracks one color to visually group everything together. Or, color-code different parts of the song so that you know what you’re working on at any given moment! How you use color-coding is up to you, but you should never ignore the feature.

The same goes for labeling and markers. Labeling goes back to staying organized. But it’s good to take things a step further by implementing specific timed markers.

Say, for example, that there’s a part of the song you want to go back to later. Maybe it’s giving you trouble or you want to try new things. Instead of having to listen to the entire project to find that part, just use a marker!

Pro tip: Some DAWs even let you jump between markers with a few key commands. One thing that many producers do is mark verses, pre-choruses, choruses, and bridges so that they can listen and fine-tune sections quickly.

4. Change Your View

DAWs can get crowded very quickly. With a separate arrangement section, mixing sections, and file management section on the screen at one time, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

One great workflow tip is to adjust your view so that you can see everything you need all at once.

The easiest way to do this would be to invest in a dual-monitor setup. With two monitors, you can have one screen dedicated to your mixing while the other focuses on the arrangement. No more flipping between the two!

Of course, that’s not always practical. At the very least, we recommend using separate virtual desktops. You can do this on both Windows and Mac. In most cases, you can flip between the two screens with a key command or finger swipe.

Either way, you can dedicate more screen real-estate to the items you need to see.

5. Buses, Sends, and AUX Tracks Save Time

Here’s something that you don’t often see mentioned in workflow tips: Use your buses, sends, and AUX tracks! You’ve probably seen these unique functions on the mix panel at some point.

Many beginners do not take advantage of them. But, you really should! These tracks can help save time. Plus, they provide you with greater flexibility.

Buses are the collection point for multiple tracks. You already use one bus: the Master Bus! But, you can also create smaller buses to group together drum kits, instruments, vocals, and anything else you need.

AUX tracks receive signals. You can’t record on an AUX track. Rather, it receives a duplicate that gives you greater control of the mix. Without getting too much into the technical weeds, most use AUX tracks for processing so that they can fine-tune the “wet” and “dry” mix.

Finally, there are Sends. With a Send, you can feed multiple channels through the same effects processor. It saves you from having to create plugin chains on every single track you want to process. All you have to do is set up a single Send!

Buses, Sends, and AUX tracks are a bit more advanced than what newbies are used to. However, once you get over the learning curve, they can do a lot to help you work smarter and faster.

DAW workflow tips

6. Understand Signal Flow

When you’re learning new workflow tips, it always pays to brush up on signal flow. A lack of understanding of how audio signals move through the workflow is going to hold you back.

Did the previous section about Buses, Sends, and AUX tracks throw you for a loop? If you understood signal flow, those concepts would have been far easier to understand!

Signal flow is how the digital signal travels. It starts at the source, which could be a microphone signal or instrument line. Then it goes through the audio interface and into your DAW. From there, the signal must travel from one track all the way to the final Master Bus before you hear it.

Where it goes between those steps will affect how it sounds. Are you using plugins? What about automation or EQs? When you understand the signal flow, you will instantly know where to place things and how to send signals efficiently.

7. Don’t Be Afraid of Templates

Not sure where to get started? Try a track template on for size!

Many DAWS offer a wide range of templates to start your project on the right foot. Some producers are wary of using them, but there’s no reason not to give them a shot. One of the most effective music production workflow tips you can receive is to start with a plan.

A template can guide you in the right direction and help you stay organized before you even start. You don’t have to stick to the template the entire time. In fact, you’ll likely stray from the template as your work develops. But, you can use them to stay focused and form a creative plan.

DAWs like ProTools and Logic offer a small selection of templates based on the kind of music you’re making. Others, such as FL Studios, have thousands of downloadable templates. Any producer giving out FL Studios tips will tell you that those downloadable templates are a wealth of inspiration!

8. Keep Things Light

The coolest part of working in a DAW is playing around with plugins. Plugins are a dime a dozen these days. They can have a huge impact on your work and deliver the distinct sound your after.

But, do you really need all those plugins on a single project?

We see this all of the time! No matter how many music production workflow tips they hear, new producers are always eager to fill tracks with lengthy plugin chains. In most cases, those chains are overkill!

We’re not saying you shouldn’t use plugins at all. However, try to limit them to only a handful.

Plugins are very resource-heavy. Your DAW is already working hard to process your music. When you throw several plugins on top, you’re just asking for trouble! Excessive plugin and VST use leads to lag. If you’re not careful, your project could crash and cause you to lose all that hard work!

9. Experiment with Core Functions

This one goes back to some of our previous workflow tips. No matter what DAW you use, it’s already pretty feature-rich. Why not take advantage of as many core features as you can?

Instead of opting for third-party plugins, try using the DAW’s built-in options. Rather than trying to fiddle with plugin settings to achieve a specific effect, see if you can do it with the built-in EQ and automation.

You don’t need a ton of extras to create great work. For every unnecessary extra, you tack onto your project, you’re taking away valuable time. Plus, you might have to overcome a new learning curve.

Take some time and experiment! DAWs are complex programs with a lot to offer. Learn what you can about your program to unlock its full potential. Then, you can make magic with nothing but your DAW in tow!

Over to You

Those are just a few of the many music production workflow tips out there. DAWs are the ultimate music creation tool. They are more powerful than most think!

If you can perform basic functions on a DAW, you’re already on the right track. But it’s not until you improve your workflow that you’ll start to take full advantage of the software’s capabilities.

The more time you spend with your software, the better you’ll get at it. But, adopting some of our workflow tips can push your skills even further!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *