I've decided to share with you my personal logging system for music projects (Tracks).
Take from it what you would like. Feel free to share your ideas as well. Im always looking for better methods.
When a producer asks for stems (just the raw tracks) the one thing he will dread to see is a cluster muck of unorganized labeled files. remember to bounce your clips to tracks to have one whole file, not 10 little ones that = 1 track.
send him a document with song information. he will love you and probably show others your methods
Here is my method:
The NN system(Number/Name)
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TRACK PREFIX - DEFINITIONS: AUC:
Acoustic (abbreviation used in Acoustic guitar tracks).
BPM:
Beats per Minute. In reference to tempo.
DI:
Direct Input. No amps, no effects, just the mic pres. Pre Amp.
FREEZE: Stands for
Frozen Track. A midi track bounced down to Audio.
FS:
Full SongGIT:
Guitar.
HVY:
Heavy.
HI:
high. In reference to drums – High Tom.
MID:
Middle. In reference to drums – Middle Tom.
FL:
Floor. In reference to drums - Floor Tom.
L:
Left. An instrument panned hard left
R:
Right. An instrument panned hard right
C:
Center. An instrument panned center
C 2:
Center Two. A second Centered instrument.
Solo:
A solo instrument. Typically a guitar lead.
TRK:
Track.
DIST:
Distortion. A Re-amped instrument. Typically guitar
RE-DIST:
Re mixed distortion track (a different mix of DI guitars)
RE-Amp:
An instrument
run through a simulator (Guitar Rig, Amplitude, TH3)NU:
Not Used. A recorded track that didn’t fit in the mix.
VOX:
Vocal. A vocal track
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TRACKS TRACK TYPES: Each track always begins with a number. It’s then followed by a name. This is to describe its characteristics. Below is a list of
track types, their prefix definitions and title meanings.
MIDI TRACKS: Midi tracks are always prefixed with a single digit Zero.
Example:
0.DRUM TRK FS BPM90. In this example:
0 =
Midi Track.
DRUM =
Instrument.
TRK =
Track.
FS =
Full Song.
BPM =
Beats Per Minute.
90 =
The Tempo.
FROZEN/BOUNCED MIDI DRUM TRACKS: These are Audio tracks. Bounced from
the original Midi tracks. They are simply frozen midi with no effects on them. Bounced to Audio.
Frozen drum Midi tracks always begin with a double digit number starting with zero.
Example:
05.RIDE MIDI. In this Example
05 =
a frozen midi instrument / the kit piece.
RIDE = Instrument.
MIDI =
what Form it is / where the audio came from.
FROZEN/BOUNCED MIDI INSTRUMENT TRACKS: These are Audio tracks. Bounced from
the original Midi tracks. They are simply Frozen with no effects on them. Bounced to Audio.
Frozen instrument tracks always begin with a single or double digit number. But never start with a zero. Only Midi or Frozen Drum midi begins with a zero.
Example:
7.PIANO AUDIO FREEZE. In this Example
7 =
Track number.
PIANO =
Instrument.
AUDIO =
File Type.
FREEZE =
origin.
AUDIO TRACKS: All Audio Tracks are numbered with either a single or a double digit but never starting with a Zero. . Only Midi or Frozen Drum midi begins with a double digit number. Example:
10.GIT DI C In this Example
10 =
Track number.
GIT =
Guitar.
DI =
Direct Input.
C =
Center (pan center).
RE-AMP TRACKS:
Re-Amp tracks are signified by their .ext (
DIST). Typically Re Amped tracks are the last tracks in the mix to be processed so their numbers are the highest being they are the Guitar DI tracks bounced down with only guitar simulation. No effects. Example:
21.GIT L DIST In this Example:
21 =
Track number.
GIT =
Instrument.
L =
Pan Left.
DIST =
Distortion/ReAmped.
Re-Amped tracks are not part of the original mix. They are there for future purposes.
IE- if a guitar sim is not available during Re Mix.
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Now for the Track logsIf you are serious and want the best product possible, give as much information as possible.
The song Below is the song located in my Signature "The Elements Of Love / A Little Love Is All We Need".
This will give you an idea on where all these instruments are in the spectrum.
(Though you don't have to listen to it and still find this section below helpful.)
The Songs Information
Complete Track List / The Track Log
Special Details
FYI- The
Special Details are for another song, disregard that (I posted a different one by mistake.)