What is the single biggest thing you can do to speed up a DAW session? Create templates and use them! Make a list of the common tracking and/or composing scenarios you find yourself in. Now, create a blank session for each and populate it with the tracks, soft synths, plug-ins, and mixer routings that you would use. Before tracking or beginning to compose, save the session as a template (if your DAW supports its own template files) or just save the session under the name “Template.” Now, when it’s time to begin a session, load up the appropriate template, save it under a new name, and get to work!