Enhancing Your Workflow in Music Production
Hi everyone!
Organizing or categorizing your workflow on the computer allows you to access ideas or elements faster while making music, helping you stay focused and finish projects more efficiently. Today, I’d like to share some of my experiences to enhance your workflow.
By the way, I’m not focusing on basic production training in this blog. Instead, you’ll find more advanced and practical methods, especially in sound design. While I use Ableton Live as an example of a DAW, you can adapt this approach to other environments.
1. Simplifying Plugins and Samples
Every producer knows this, yet somehow unused samples and plugins often pile up. Simplifying your plugin library by eliminating unnecessary formats like VST2 or AAX, depending on your preferred protocol, can improve your computer's performance. A cleaner workspace also sharpens your focus.
2. Using a Template
Starting every project from scratch is unnecessary and time-consuming. Creating a custom template tailored to your workflow speeds up the process. For example, in Beatcord’s production templates, EQ presets start with the same 20-2000 Hz settings, and hitting the “M” button switches the mix to mono—helpful for checking balance and phase issues. Continuously improving your templates creates a more efficient and seamless environment over time.
3. Classification
Categorizing your files for easier access speeds up your creative flow. You can organize samples and presets by genre, BPM, key, or even by project type—recordings, demos, or prototypes. Proper categorization improves accessibility and saves valuable time during production.
4. Using Live Enhancement Suite (LES)
Live Enhancement Suite is an incredibly useful script for Ableton Live. Instead of searching for plugins manually in Live’s browser, LES allows you to access all plugins with a simple right-click. I’ve categorized my plugins into four main groups while sticking to Live’s stock categories for FX, ensuring consistency between stock and third-party plugins.
Final Thoughts
I’d love to hear which of these methods you already use and whether you have different tips to share. Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
For more details, check out the full video on the Beatcord YouTube channel. The video is in Turkish, but you can translate it into any language using the subtitle settings.