If you use Audition for the same types of tasks each day, this tip may help to save you time.  In my case, I spent most of my time in Audition creating production for radio.  I like to have things laid out in a certain way, because it’s faster for me.  For example, I like to have three tracks (VO 1, VO 2, VO 3) that are sent to a bus called “VO Bus” which has my dynamics processing settings already loaded up.  Then, I usually start with four other tracks that feed straight into the master channel.  Finally, I have two effects on the master channel:  a slight tweak using Parametric EQ, and a little more presence using the L2 from Waves.

I timed myself today.  It took me about 25 or 30 seconds to set that up.  Lots of clicks all over both monitors.  Even if you work at superhuman speeds, that’s a waste of your time.  It’s much easier to set it up once, then tell Audition to use that session layout as the default.  It will remember tracks, how you have them bused, effects, EQ, and the works.

Did I mention it’s extremely easy to do?

Just set up your session the way you like it, minus any audio clips.  (If you want to make sure you have it sounding right by testing with audio clips, that’s fine, just get rid of them before you proceed to the next step.)

Then, from the”File” menu, expand “Default Session” (near the bottom).  The two options do exactly as promised.  If you’d like the set up you just created to be the default any time you open Audition or create a new session, select “Set Current Session As Default“.

If, in the future, you decide to abandon the whole thing, simple choose “Clear Default Session“, and you will be returned to the Adobe default: six tracks, no effect or bus presets loaded, and the master.

There is one thing to keep in mind when you’re choosing a default session.  The more complicated the layout, the longer it will take Audition to load and prepare it each time you create a new session.  We’re not talking minutes here, but if you have set up a bus or two and have effects here and there, it may take a few seconds before you’re ready to start producing…even if you’re on a screaming quad core with 8 gigs of RAM.  Still, it saves you time in the long run.  Plus, you’re free to start translating your ideas into audio without having to fuss with the hassle of preparation.

And, personally, it makes my work a little more consistent and easier to edit later.