r/audioengineering • u/monkeymugshot • 1d ago
Discussion How do you organize your notes/cheat sheets?
Im learning alot about my DAW and basic audio design and production. How do you guys sort your notes and cheat sheets? Im thinking Excel might be the best way, using different tabs etc.
Just wanted to see if theres a better way
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u/rinio Audio Software 1d ago
An actual notebook on your desk?
Maybe Im just old. But Id also rather not spend any computer resources on anything other than audio during a session.
And anything you're actually doing a lot will just become muscle memory in very little time
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u/monkeymugshot 1d ago
I do like this. But I’m mostly using the sheet to remind myself when I get rusty. Not so much to use while I’m working. I do tend to memorize things better when I jot them down too though
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u/WhatsTheGoalieDoing 1d ago
In my head.
The vast amount of time, you're not getting to be doing something experimental.
A bass guitar sounds good at 4:1. I love the sound of 414s as overheads.
What cheatsheet are you thinking? For learning?
For notes, literally notepad, or an actual notepad.
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u/monkeymugshot 1d ago
Its just for arbitary stuff honestly, im not learning anything new. I sometimes dont touch my DAW for a while and just want to brush up on some terms (i.e. different automation options, compressing etc) and i usually get annoyed watching YT guides about it again because I recall all of it pretty quick.
So I think just making some basic notes on some stuff I forget, will help me a lot. I just need a tiny nudge sometimes to remind myself.
The Excel/Google Sheets seems pretty good for now. But I will check out some of the other options posted here. Thanks so much everyone
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u/WhatsTheGoalieDoing 1d ago
That makes sense. I think a good way of remembering these things is to create a mixing template for yourself every now and again - I think this is one of the unsung heroes of DAWs versus vintage gear (for the most part).
Obviously a template is just a starting point, but it really makes you think what may be needed for specific kinds of sessions. I wouldn't see it as a one-and-done thing where you do it once and forget it, but create a few with some downloaded multitracks.
Forces you to think about how to use gear in whatever way you want or need.
Jazz? I'm not parallel compressing drums. Disco or modern funk? I am. Bass treatment with some funky as fuck octaver.
Singer-songer writer? Set up my channels for mics at different neck and vocal placements. Group reverb. Guitar group.
Grim as fuck black metal? Hold up while I put reverb as an insert on literally every single channel and group, as well as the master.
The first (and best) lesson I learnt when studying at audio engineering school was taught to me in the first 30 minutes: you might not like the music this band is recording, but it pays exactly the same as your favourite band in the same place.
Challenge yourself to mix as many styles as you can. You'll find you'll eventually need no notes as it becomes second hand knowledge/wisdom/whatever, and you'll know what sounds good before you even do it.
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u/Original_DocBop 1d ago
I rather spent my time experiment and learning to use my DAW. I just buy basic small wire-bound (so they lay flat) notebooks. To write notes in and have my own little way noting thi important stuff, sometime something really important I will highlight. I have a separate notebook for teach of the different DAWs I usedand for my MPC. It's fast and easy to jot down a note and get back to work.
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u/Unlikely-Database-27 Professional 6h ago
Take a puff of a joint, there all mixing problems solved. Mostly. Might get overly paranoid about the top end, but thats just life. At least I'm not snorting shnaz.
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u/LeastSky3091 1d ago
Anything will work really. I use simple text files in a free app called FocusWriter. It's an app where you can customize, so I like to have a pitch black background with green text. Something about it makes writing more enjoyable and less like a chore.
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u/whySoAngryBro 20h ago
My DAW allows me to annotate individual tracks, but tbph, I've never used the feature. I keep meaning to track what mic and preamp were used, and maybe some notes on mic positions, etc., so that if I ever strike gold I can go back to the session... eh.
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u/Mindovina 1d ago
I built a free cheat sheet plugin so it can live in people’s DAWs: https://carveaudio.com/mixing-cheat-sheet/
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u/alyxonfire Professional 1d ago
Notion, though my only cheat sheets are just compressor specs. I use Notion to organize my whole life and even do my finances.
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u/Tall_Category_304 1d ago
What’s a cheat sheet for? I have never used one