This week, let’s talk about something that might seem small but can have a big impact on your mixing workflow: user defaults.
It’s a total silent game changer! And I’m not just talking about saving your favourite tilt setting on the Pro-Q’s analyser. I mean using user defaults strategically across your go-to mixing plugins to speed up your workflow in a big way.
Think about it: Do you find yourself making the same tweaks every time you open a plugin? Maybe with reverb, you always start by adjusting the wet/dry mix and high-pass filter. Or maybe you have a favourite saturation setting in a plugin that isn’t the default, but you use it almost every time. So why keep repeating yourself? Make it the default!
Here’s how to do it:
Step 1 – Open the plugin
Step 2 – Set the parameters like how you usually use the plugin
Step 3 – Click the dropdown menu at the top of the plugin window and click “Save As Default”
Now, every time you open that plugin, it’s already set up the way you like it. No more extra clicks. No more repetitive tweaks. Just faster, smoother mixing.
Give this a try with a couple of your most-used tools and watch your workflow tighten up immediately. Then, check out The Only 16 Mixing Tips You’ll Ever Need to further optimise your mixing process.
Until next time,
Rob
