Do you use production templates?

[morbid]

I used to always start each track from scratch and still do but have a modified starting point which is basically 8 bus tracks - VOX / ATMOS / KICK / BASS / DRUMS / PERC / FX / SYNTH

Then a bunch of fx on sends with some of my favourite presets eg couple of reverbs I like on synths, couple of plugs for kicks and drums, saturator and comps etc

I load the template and start from scratch but as soon as I start to get a bit of a vibe going on I route everything to the busses and focus on how the track sounds as just 8 components

Makes it easier for controlling stuff live as well, my brain only works in 8s, 16's and 32's anway so if I have song with 22 tracks or whatever it doesnt make sense to me

I find I can make really complex arrangements and play around with subtle differences on each individual track but still easy for me to understand what fits in where tonally

All on Ableton

[BloodStar]

...as I start to get a bit of a vibe going on I route everything to the busses and focus on how the track sounds as just 8 components

+1

this is good when track is finished and you must cut the parts into 8channells tracks live pa set. much easier when you have your track sorted since begining and you keep similar structures from track to track...