How to create DAW templates for your music (free files included)

While too few music producers take advantage of them, DAW templates can be a powerful asset to one’s workflow.

We have approximately 6,000 thoughts between the time we wake up and the time we go to sleep. How many creative ideas and experiences do you think might have slipped through your fingers because your mind and time were occupied with finding the right preset or instrument? Fortunately, we have DAW templates on our side to help us out.

In the video above, iBEENART dropped by our YouTube channel once again to walk us through how to create three common types of templates—sample making, drums / loops, and two-track vocal recording—so that you can save time and energy in your future sessions and focus on the creative decisions that are truly important. While everyone’s DAW templates will look different depending on their needs, we also take a look at useful tools like Splice Sounds and Arturia’s V Collection 8 that can be valuable resources for accelerating workflow.

Are DAW templates ‘cheating?’

Many music producers ask others or themselves if using templates is some form of ‘cheating.’ However, it’s important to understand that templates are nothing but starting points, and shouldn’t replace your actual creative process in any way if implemented correctly.

What’s more, it’s important to keep the perspective of the end consumer in mind. When the average listener is hearing their favorite song, they almost never care about how the song was made—they just love experiencing the music. So, if templates help you craft and share your art either more efficiently or more effectively, then they’re definitely at least worth your consideration.

If you’re an FL Studio user, you can download the templates we created in the tutorial for free here to have solid starting points for further customization. For more (DAW-agnostic) tips on making the most out of your time and improving your workflow, also consider checking out our article on time management strategies for musicians.

Go forth and build some templates

Hopefully this tutorial gave you a solid foundation for understanding why DAW templates can be valuable and how you can create your own. That said, do you have any questions on anything we covered in the video? What sorts of topics in music production would you like to see us explore on the Splice YouTube channel next? Let us know in the comments section of the video.


Try Arturia’s V Collection 8 for free, and then Rent-to-Own it for $24.99/mo until you own it outright:

April 16, 2022

Harrison Shimazu

Harrison Shimazu is a composer, content strategist, and writer who’s passionate about democratizing music creation and education. He leads the Splice blog and creates music as Namaboku.