Lesson 1Session backups and file management: immediate backups, incremental saves, consolidated audio export and session export checklistThis section covers safe backup habits: save strategies, incremental versions, local and external backups, consolidating audio, exporting sessions for other studios, and maintaining a clear folder structure for long-term archiving.
Save habits and incremental versionsLocal, external and cloud backupsOrganizing project and audio foldersConsolidating and cleaning audio filesExporting sessions for other DAWsArchiving and documenting final sessionsLesson 2Take management and comping workflow: marking good takes, playlists/lanes, comping strategies and version controlThis section explains how to mark takes, use playlists or lanes, organize alternate versions, comp efficiently, and maintain version control so you can quickly rebuild edits, compare options, and avoid losing great performances.
Labeling and rating each recorded takeUsing playlists or lanes per instrumentOrganizing alternates and safety takesComping strategies for vocals and solosEditing while preserving performance feelVersion control and session snapshotsLesson 3Talkback, communication and session etiquette: talkback mic setup, cue talkback workflow, headphone mix management and session timeboxingHere you will learn to set up a reliable talkback system, manage cue mixes, keep communication clear and respectful, timebox takes and breaks, and maintain a focused, professional atmosphere that keeps the band relaxed and productive.
Choosing and placing a talkback micRouting talkback to cue mixesManaging headphone mix requestsSetting expectations for studio behaviorTimeboxing takes, breaks and reviewsHandling conflicts and fatigue diplomaticallyLesson 4Guide tracks and click usage: when to use click or guide guitar, setting tempo map and time signatures for three-song demoThis section covers when and how to use click tracks, guide guitars, or scratch vocals, building tempo maps, handling tempo changes and odd meters, and preparing a tight, musical grid for a multi-song demo without killing performance feel.
Deciding when to use a click trackCreating guide guitar or scratch vocalsBuilding a tempo map in the DAWHandling tempo changes and ritardandosSetting time signatures and odd metersClick and guide strategy for three songsLesson 5Input list construction and mapping: 1–8 input template with instrument, mic model, preamp assignment, pad/phantom and gain notesThis section teaches how to design a clear input list and map it to your interface: numbering inputs, assigning instruments, mic models, preamps, pads, phantom power, and gain notes, plus building reusable 1–8 input templates for fast setup.
Numbering and labeling hardware inputsAssigning instruments to each channelDocumenting mic models and positionsPreamps, pads, phantom and polarityCreating 1–8 input DAW templatesUpdating input lists during the sessionLesson 6Recording order and rationale: recommended step-by-step (scratch/vocals guide, drums, bass, guitars, overdubs, leads, final vocals) and alternate live-with-rooms approachesThis section explains logical recording order for modern sessions, why scratch tracks matter, how to prioritize drums and rhythm instruments, when to capture vocals, and how to adapt the workflow for live-off-the-floor and room-focused recording approaches.
Planning scratch and guide performancesPrioritizing drums and rhythm foundationWhen to track bass, guitars and keysScheduling overdubs, leads and doublesTiming for final lead and backing vocalsAdapting workflow for live band trackingLesson 7Pre-session preparation: session checklist (power, cables, spare mics, DI boxes, cans, adapters, tools) and pre-communication with bandYou will build a solid pre-session routine: technical checklists for power, cables, mics, DI boxes, headphones, and tools, plus pre-communication with the band about songs, tunings, arrangements, expectations, and studio rules to avoid surprises.
Creating a studio session checklistVerifying power, cables and adaptersChecking mics, DIs and headphonesPreparing instruments and tunings listCollecting demos, lyrics and chartsPre-session expectations with the bandLesson 8Gain staging workflow: setting mic preamp gain, checking RMS/PEAK meters, using trim plugins and headroom targets for analog and digital chainsHere you will learn a repeatable gain staging workflow: setting mic preamp levels, reading RMS and peak meters, using trims and pads, and hitting safe headroom targets in analog and digital chains to avoid noise, clipping, and weak signals.
Setting initial mic preamp gainReading RMS and peak meters correctlyUsing pads, trims and input sensitivityHeadroom targets for digital recordingGain staging through analog hardwareTroubleshooting noisy or hot signalsLesson 9Track naming, grouping and routing in the DAW: track templates for drums, bass, guitars, vocals, stereo synth and bussing strategyYou will learn consistent track naming, color coding, grouping, and routing in the DAW, including drum, bass, guitar, vocal and synth templates, bus routing, and basic print tracks to keep large sessions fast, readable, and mix-ready.
Consistent track naming conventionsColor coding by instrument familiesCreating drum and band track templatesRouting to buses and submix groupsUsing VCAs and folder tracksPreparing mix and print tracks early
