Helpful Tips for Users of

1. Position Computer Monitor to be viewed without strain
• Should be able to be viewed WITHOUT turning your head or moving your eyes
• Set resolution as high as possible... (1600 X 1200 X 16k recommended)
• Flat Panel monitors tend to look better than CRTs
2. Keyboard and Trackball positioned comfortably for hands
• Use quality keyboard and Trackball/Mouse
• Don't be afraid to spend money on each
• Consider Avant Stellar keyboards
• and Mouse Trak Track Balls
3. Position Speakers for proper listening while working
• Speaker monitors should be positioned for direct line-of-sight listening
• Consider using a Sub-Woofer
• Don't be afraid to spend money on each
4. Make sure speakers are calibrated for flat freq response
• Use known sound sources for speaker calibration
• Avoid room EQ if possible... reposition instead
• Treat listening room for excessive reflections
• Make your monitoring room QUIET!!!!
• Consider using computer quieting products such as those that can be found at QuietPC.com
5. Calibrate your ears by listening to cd's that sound similar to your client's projects
• Choose the same genre as your client's projects
• Load CD track into Nuendo project for comparison
• Keep that track muted until needed
• When wanting to compare, simply hit the 'solo' button for that track to compare
• Compare OFTEN!!!!

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• Consider implementing OS tweaks found at Steinberg.Net
• Consider installing and using X-Setup
• Consider installing and using TweakUI

• Turn off screen savers
• Turn off Visual Effects (Adjust for best performance)
• Processor Scheduling should be adjusted for background services
• Memory usage should be adjusted for Programs
• Turn OFF system restore
• Turn OFF Automatic Updates
• Turn OFF Anti-Virus Software

• Uninstall Unused OS Components
• Uninstall Internet Explorer

• Keystrokes that I use for Nuendo can be downloaded by clicking here .

• For Nuendo 1.6.2 and earlier consider using EZ Macros or QuicKeys
• Nuendo 2.0 includes a macro maker

• Don't use your Audio Computer to surf the internet
• Don't use your Audio Computer to type MS Word Documents
• Don't use your Audio Computer to do Client Billing
• Never EVER install MS Office on your Audio Computer

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• i.e. Full band template
• i.e. Solo piano recordings template
• i.e. Empty project with click track template

• 32bit float summing leaves PLENTY of headroom... so USE IT!!!
• Any overload at summing point CANNOT be removed from mix
• (Shortcut) Hold Ctrl and left click

• Bring individual channel faders down by temporarily grouping the channel faders together (Ctrl G)
• Lower the level of the channel faders
• Then UnGroup the channel faders

• Bounce tracks to keep it below that figure

• Any compression added during the mixing phase CANNOT be removed during mastering

• Use Cut and Level on Audio objects instead
• The Advantages to 'Cut and Level' over Automation are:
• Speed
• Levels are changed BEFORE plugins
• Easy to see what needs to be leveled BEFORE you hear it
• If you MUST use automation, be sure to 'clean up' your 'mess' afterwards

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• Within that folder create a folder for each song

• When saving mixes, ALWAYS use 32 bit float for Final Mixes
• Match Sample Rate of Final Mix Bounce file to Project Sample Rate
• Mastering engineer is best qualified to resample/dither
• It is NOT a good idea to do this during mixing.
• Sample rate conversaion is the DEATH of high quality audio if done in the digital domian

• i.e. start mixing 07-08-03
• i.e. working on the drums 07-12-03
• i.e. almost done 07-17-03
• i.e. final mix 07-18-03 awaiting approval
• i.e. final mix 07-18-03 approved by producer 07-19-03

Example:

• i.e. I'm working on the lead vocal rides now 07-19-03

• Consider creating a single key shortcut for saving... i.e. F2 (or similar)

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• Never EVER delete ANYTHING until the project is Completed and Approved!
• Copy client's data onto more than 1 hard disk if possible
• Create batch files to make backups easier
• Xcopy is your friend
• I have provided a batch file CPY.BAT that will configure xcopy so that it only copies the files that are new or have been changed.

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