The document discusses the technical preparations needed before starting a music production project in a digital audio workstation (DAW). It recommends configuring the project name and file location, digital audio preferences like sample rate and bit depth, recording file type as an uncompressed wav or aiff file, hardware settings to connect an audio interface, and buffer size starting at 128 samples per second. The goal is to properly configure the DAW and set expectations for file management before beginning the music production process.

1. PREPARE A PROJECT IN
THE DAW

2.  Hello, I’m Joel Corella from Mexico. This is my
presentation for week 3 of Introduction to music
production at Coursera.org. I made it about the
preparations before making a project in the DAW
and I hope you find it useful.

3. PREPARE A PROJECT IN THE DAW
 There are some technical specifications that we
have to configure before we start working in the
DAW.

4. PREPARE A PROJECT IN THE DAW
 For this demonstration I will be using Ableton Live 9
software.

5. PREPRODUCTION CHECKLIST
1. Proper project name and location
2. Digital audio preferences
3. Recording file type
4. Hardware settings
5. Buffer size

6. 1. PROPER PROJECT NAME AND LOCATION
 It is important to name the project and organize the
files within the project folder to make the editing
process easier
 Keep the whole file structure together
 Remember where things are being saved
 Don’t mess with the file structure the DAW creates.

7. 2. DIGITAL AUDIO PREFERENCES
 Set the Sample rate (48khz optimal)
Options > Preferences > Audio

8. 2. DIGITAL AUDIO PREFERENCES
 Set Bit depth (24-bit optimal)
Options > Preferences > Record

9. 3. RECORDING FILE TYPE
 Use an uncompressed file type like:
 Broadcast wave
 AIFF
 Wave
Options > Preferences > Record

10. 3. RECORDING FILE TYPE
 Interleaved files: a single file that includes both the
left and the right audio channel.
 Are easier to work with
 Select them when available

11. 4. HARDWARE SETTINGS
 Make sure the DAW is configured to work with the
audio interface .
Options > Preferences > Audio

12. 5. BUFFER SIZE
 Set the Buffer size
 Start with 128 samples/sec and bring it up later
when necessary
Options > Preferences > Audio