DP Project Management . . . best way

[mchimes]

This is a follow-up thread to Dan Weiss' suggestion from another thread (very helpful . . . thanks Dan) that I put seperate songs in seperate projects rather than have all songs in one project.

I am working on a 12 song CD project. My plan was to have all 12 songs in one project and use 12 different sequences (for tempo and editing reasons).

But now that I think about it. Closing and opening a file doesn't take much longer than getting a new sequence up and running. The files would be smaller and would have less "baggage" associated with a long protracted project.

Any thoughts? Pros & Cons?

How do you guys approach large projects?

Thanks,
mike

<small>[ March 17, 2005, 03:53 PM: Message edited by: mchimes ]</small>

[quaver]

I don't recommend putting different songs in the same project - I used to have a problem with large project files getting corrupted which, when they hold that much work in them, can be a catastrophe. Keep the songs seperate and pass important mix details - fader channels, presets via a performer clippings window. There is the added benefit that you can save alternative versions of each song seperately etc etc. I would go so far as to duplicate shared audio files or samples if there are any so that the song folder is entirely self contained, for backup or transportation.

Another tiny detail - I have seen some problems with VI's in several sequences with additional ghost instamces of the plugin cluttering up the MIDI devices list...

[dtobocman]

I tend to do albums as a DP file per song and filmscores as all cues within one DP file (or one DP file per reel as necessary).

With the film, I can have one quicktime movie per DP file (they all reference the same film). It's also easier and less of a mind f*ck to not have to name upwards of 60 DP files (it's easier and more self-contained within the single or per-reel DP file).

Also, the need to revisit or recall individual cues in a film is much less common than the need to revist and recall individual songs within an album... once both projects are archived. It would suck to have to restore the entire album to remix one song. Of course this could happen with a film cue too, but not nearly as often...

With TV, I make a DP file per cue because the same cue is often needed in a different episode, but with timing tweaks or remixing... It would suck to have to restore a whole episode to restore one cue...

[chrispick]

I'd agree with dtobocman.

In short, unless you need maintain a long contiguous music form (i.e, scoring to picture), it makes sense to simplify your work to its "lowest common variable," so to speak.

[mchimes]

Thanks guys,

After trying to move one of these Sequences (1 of 12 songs) into a new project via clippings, I can see how easy and powerful this feature is. It transfered without a hitch. Luckily it is only guitar voice scratches at this point.

I'm wondering if I am using the clippings right. I did this:

1) Merged Sounbites in old project
2) Copied Markers into DP Clipping window
2) Opened new "Song" project
3) Set the tempo to match the song
4) Imported the merged soundbites
5) Dragged them into place
6) Dragged the clippings into the conductor track

It worked perfectly and now has none of the "baggage" I could already begin to "feel" with the old projects responsiveness.

I have a question about #4 above. Is there a way to do this in one step as a clipping? Or should I just do the rest like I did (with the import function)?

Thanks,
Mike

[wonder]

I dont recommend putting albums in the same session. You run into LARGE amounts of tracks because most songs DONT have the same instrumetns on them.
Also, file management can get confusing.
Just create a new folder, then create new projects for each song and put them all in the one folder for the album

[mchimes]

Definitely a consensus . . . I feel like a moron for not doing it this way for the last 2 projects!!!

That's what's great about these forums.

Mike

[Splinter]

Mike:

Just grab the chunk you want from the Chunks window and drag it to the clippings window. Open your new file and drag the chunk from the clippings window to the chunks window. Wah lah! The only problem with this is it doesn't copy the audio files.

[Tim]

Originally posted by Splinter:
Mike:

Just grab the chunk you want from the Chunks window and drag it to the clippings window. Open your new file and drag the chunk from the clippings window to the chunks window. Wah lah! The only problem with this is it doesn't copy the audio files.

Then Save As , and Duplicate Audio Data

[mchimes]

Ahhh! I see productivity in my future

In this case the Chunk would comprise the track layout etc. right? . . . but only "pointers" to the audio data in the previous file. Hence Tim's suggestion to get the new file itr's own copy of the audio data.

I'll try it in a little while. I'm wondering what the invading Chunk will do to the new template.

Thanks . . . you guys rock!
Mike

<small>[ March 18, 2005, 05:39 AM: Message edited by: mchimes ]</small>

[Fibes]

loading a chunk into a fresh project works for me. You can select what you want to bring with it.

[gtrnstuff]

You could also combine tempo and markers into a standard MIDI file, if you use conductor track as your tempo source. Just "save a copy as" SMF and drag that into your new project's conductor track, or the left side of your tracks window. Saves a step.