So, What Does YOUR Project Template Look Like?

Hello Everyone,
 
I was wondering how people are configuring their project templates?  I want to setup a project template for my new songs, was wondering how you guys configure your projects!  I'm looking for ideas on what's the best ways to set it up.
 
Thanks,
Adam

I have several project templates set up, with split-screens (one screen has Console View, and the main screen has Track, Inspector, Browser, Transport). 
 
The different templates have the above, plus usually a custom kit in Battery 3, with each custom cell kit piece routed to its own outputs, and matched to a Drums track folder - which has audio tracks for each kit piece of the loaded custom kit.
 
The above gives me a good starting point for drums, with control over all aspects of each drum kit piece via them being assigned to their own audio track.
 
Basic levels for each kit are also set, and then I just load up whatever synths I need for the project and get to it.
 
I will also be experimenting with using the Abbey Road Drum and Drummer kits within Kontakt, but have to understand first how to route output for each kit piece there, if I am to use them.
 
Bob Bone
 

I use "blank".
 
The possibilities seem endless.

My 'Normal' has two tracks for acoustic guitar (one through a UA 4-710d and one through a Avalon AD-2022) because that is how I compose. After that it's track templates all the way, many custom one's but I also use the ones that come standard with Sonar.
 
At one point in time I had several 'project' templates but over time I just stopped using them.
 
Regards,

Unless you routinely create songs that are all in the same narrowly-defined style and genre, you'll probably find track templates more helpful than a complex default project template.
 
For a long time I kept adding things to my default template, which made for convenient start-ups - for a while. But over the years my tools and techniques changed, and I found myself deleting or ignoring more and more of the preset stuff in my project template. So I started trimming it back, making it simpler and more generic.
 
For example, I had a specific setup for Superior Drummer that took awhile to configure from scratch, so I'd included it in the template. But then I realized that this standard setup was making every drum track sound alike, requiring further tweaking to SD for each song anyway. So I took SD out of the default project template and created track templates for it instead.
 
Each of these templates is named for the song I originally created it for, making it easier to choose one for a particular feel. (I use the same naming convention for custom effects presets as well.)
 

Further to my other post, you will find that you make slight adjustments now and then for example I set the Master Bus meter to 12dB range because I am only interested in the high end on the Master.
 
You should set up some screensets for example I use...
1) Track View
2) Console View
3) Console view with the Master Bus effects open ( I use Voxengo's GlissEQ,PolyQuasher and Elephant )
 
Each time you change something to work how you want, save an empty project with all the changes so you won't have to do it again.
 
So to start a new project I open a template e.g. 'orchestraltemplate000.000' then I save it as 'orchestral003.000' for instance then every time I record or edit the project I save it as 'orchestral003.001', 'orchestral003.002' etc. so I always have several backups and I know that the project with the highest .xxx number is the latest edit.
 
 
 

All my template are blank. I start all my projects with a clean slate and decide what is needed.
 
CJ

even if you just create a template with your screen sets all set up its worth it to me.
I usually start out every project by going to preferences first, changing about 3 or 4 things.
then I go to screensets, I change almost 6 or 7 screensets to my liking, one for normal view(console in the dock)
another with the PRV open, another SS is showing midi tracks only, another SS showing audio only.
another for comping view, which is 2 tracks opened the width of my whole monitor(inspector and browser are not showing)
 
so im left now with a blank project but all my settings and screensets are good to go, this shaves off atleast 5-10 minutes off every project.
but even more importantly, it lets me start creating music right away, sometimes when we use all this time to set up, we lose a little of that creativity.
because don't we all just want to open sonar and start creating ?