How do you keep your editing and comping workflow consistent and efficient?

1 Organize your tracks and regions

Before you start editing and comping, make sure your tracks and regions are well organized and labeled. This will help you find and select the parts you need, avoid confusion and clutter, and speed up your workflow. Use folders, groups, colors, and markers to sort and categorize your tracks and regions. For example, you can group all the vocals in one folder, color-code the different takes, and mark the sections of the song or script.

2 Use keyboard shortcuts and macros

Editing and comping can involve a lot of repetitive actions, such as cutting, copying, pasting, fading, crossfading, muting, soloing, and so on. To save time and effort, learn and use the keyboard shortcuts and macros for these actions in your DAW (digital audio workstation). Keyboard shortcuts and macros allow you to perform tasks faster and more accurately, without relying on the mouse or menus. You can also customize and create your own shortcuts and macros for your specific needs.

3 Apply non-destructive editing

Non-destructive editing means that you can edit and comp your audio without altering the original files. This gives you more flexibility and control over your audio, as you can undo, redo, modify, or revert any changes you make. Non-destructive editing also preserves the quality and integrity of your audio, as you don't introduce any artifacts or degradation from repeated processing. To apply non-destructive editing, use features such as playlists, layers, regions, clips, or take lanes in your DAW, depending on the software you use.

4 Use automation and plugins wisely

Automation and plugins are powerful tools that can enhance your editing and comping workflow. Automation allows you to adjust parameters such as volume, pan, EQ, or effects over time, creating smooth transitions and dynamic changes in your audio. Plugins are software applications that can add effects, processing, or functionality to your audio, such as compression, reverb, pitch correction, or noise reduction. However, automation and plugins can also slow down your workflow, consume CPU resources, or create unwanted side effects if used excessively or improperly. Therefore, use automation and plugins wisely, sparingly, and selectively, and always check the results with your ears.

5 Compare and evaluate your edits and comps

After you finish editing and comping your audio, it's important to compare and evaluate your edits and comps to make sure they sound good and meet your goals. Listen to your audio in different contexts, such as headphones, speakers, or different devices, to check for any issues or inconsistencies. Compare your audio to other similar or reference tracks, to see how they compare in terms of level, balance, tone, or quality. Evaluate your audio objectively, critically, and constructively, and ask for feedback from others if possible.

6 Save and backup your work

The last but not least tip for keeping your editing and comping workflow consistent and efficient is to save and backup your work regularly and properly. Saving and backing up your work ensures that you don't lose any progress or data in case of a crash, power outage, or other unexpected event. It also allows you to restore or recover your work if you need to. Save and backup your work in multiple locations, such as an external hard drive, a cloud service, or a flash drive, and use a clear and consistent naming system for your files and folders.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?