Orchestral DAW templates in 2024 - what's changed?

Introduction

In 2024, the process of building orchestral templates in Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) has undergone significant changes, focusing on efficiency, lower resource requirements, and enhanced flexibility. Gone are the days of dealing with complex setups that consume excessive computer resources. Instead, composers can streamline their workflows and maximize their creative output.

Why Use a Template?

Templates are essential tools in music production, saving time and effort. Starting from a blank slate can lead to repetitive tasks that eat into your creative time. The goal of a well-constructed template is to minimize the technical hassle, allowing you to concentrate on writing music.

Basic Approach to Building a Template

When building your template, an important decision is whether to use a single track per instrument with key switches or separate tracks for each articulation. The latter provides better control over volume, track delay, and other settings. This approach is straightforward and can be accomplished quickly.

Setting Up Your DAW

For this guide, we’ll be using Cubase, but the principles apply to other DAWs like Logic, Ableton Live, and FL Studio. It typically takes around thirty minutes to set up your orchestral template.

1. Organize by Orchestral Section: Start with an orchestral score order, placing instruments like the piccolo at the top.
2. Instrument Tracks: Create a track for each articulation you need (e.g., Legato, Longs, Shorts). Use a macro controller, like a Stream Deck, to speed up the process.
3. Group Tracks: Organize similar instruments (e.g., all woodwinds, brass, etc.) into groups for easier balancing.
4. Add Reverb: Assign individual reverbs for each group to create a natural sound blend without spillover between different instrument sections.

Working with Routing and Stems

The routing of each instrument should correspond to its respective group. For instances where you may want to create stems, designate separate audio tracks for each group so that they record independently. This organization allows for better mixing and managing your soundscape.

Volume Management

One of the most daunting tasks when working with orchestral templates is ensuring consistent volumes across different instruments. To neutralize volume discrepancies:

• Use a pre-gain setting to establish a baseline volume for each track.
• Adjust the mod wheel and expression controls to maintain levels across articulations.
• Start with a consistent velocity setting for your MIDI notes to simplify the balancing process.

Conclusion

The overarching aim of these strategies is to conserve time on technical setups so that you can invest more time in the creative act of composing. The methodology discussed allows musicians to avoid getting lost in complex setups while ensuring they have everything they need at their fingertips.

If you're using a DAW such as Cubase and own the BBC Symphony Orchestra library, a simple download link for a template is provided below for your convenience.

Thank you for reading, and happy composing!

Keywords

• DAW
• Orchestral templates
• Efficiency
• Flexibility
• BBC Symphony Orchestra
• Group tracks
• Reverb
• MIDI velocity

FAQ

Q: What is an orchestral DAW template?
A: An orchestral DAW template is a pre-configured setup of various instrument tracks and settings designed to streamline the composition process for orchestral music.

Q: Why is it important to use separate tracks for articulations?
A: Using separate tracks allows for more precise control over each articulation's volume, expression, and effects, enabling a more nuanced performance.

Q: How long does it typically take to set up a DAW template?
A: It usually takes approximately thirty minutes to set up an orchestral template in a DAW.

Q: How can I balance the volume of different instruments in my template?
A: Use pre-gain settings, consistent MIDI velocities, and adjust mod wheel and expression controls to achieve a balanced sound.

Q: Can this method be applied to other DAWs?
A: Yes, while this guide uses Cubase, the principles can be adapted for most DAWs, including Logic, Ableton Live, and FL Studio.