Lesson 1Track naming, grouping and routing in the DAW: track templates for drums, bass, guitars, vocals, stereo synth and bussing strategyYou will learn steady track naming, color coding, grouping, and routing in DAW, including templates for drums, bass, guitar, vocal, synth, bus routing, and basic print tracks for fast, readable large sessions.
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 earlyLesson 2Gain staging workflow: setting mic preamp gain, checking RMS/PEAK meters, using trim plugins and headroom targets for analog and digital chainsHere you learn repeatable gain staging: setting mic preamp levels, reading RMS and peak meters, using trims and pads, and hitting safe space targets in analog and digital paths to avoid noise, clipping, 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 3Pre-session preparation: session checklist (power, cables, spare mics, DI boxes, cans, adapters, tools) and pre-communication with bandYou will build a strong pre-session routine: tech lists for power, cables, mics, DI boxes, headphones, tools, plus pre-talks with band on songs, tunings, setups, expectations, and 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 4Recording order and rationale: recommended step-by-step (scratch/vocals guide, drums, bass, guitars, overdubs, leads, final vocals) and alternate live-with-rooms approachesThis explains logical recording order for modern sessions, why scratch tracks help, prioritizing drums and rhythm, when to record vocals, and adapting for live floor and room-focused ways.
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 5Input list construction and mapping: 1–8 input template with instrument, mic model, preamp assignment, pad/phantom and gain notesThis teaches designing clear input lists and mapping to interface: numbering inputs, assigning tools, mic models, preamps, pads, power, and gain notes, plus reusable 1–8 templates for quick 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 6Guide tracks and click usage: when to use click or guide guitar, setting tempo map and time signatures for three-song demoThis covers when and how to use click tracks, guide guitars, or scratch vocals, building tempo maps, handling changes and odd times, and preparing a tight grid for multi-song demos without losing 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 7Talkback, communication and session etiquette: talkback mic setup, cue talkback workflow, headphone mix management and session timeboxingHere you learn to set reliable talkback, manage cue mixes, keep talk clear and kind, time takes and breaks, and hold a focused, pro air that keeps the band calm and working well.
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 8Take management and comping workflow: marking good takes, playlists/lanes, comping strategies and version controlThis explains marking takes, using playlists or lanes, arranging alternate versions, comping well, and keeping version control so you rebuild edits fast, compare choices, and not lose good plays.
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 9Session backups and file management: immediate backups, incremental saves, consolidated audio export and session export checklistThis covers safe backup ways: save plans, version builds, local and outside backups, gathering audio, exporting sessions for other places, and keeping clear folder setups for long-term keeping in small studios.
Save habits and incremental versionsLocal, external and cloud backupsOrganizing project and audio foldersConsolidating and cleaning audio filesExporting sessions for other DAWsArchiving and documenting final sessions
