Groove Template Workflow

[Analog Kid]

I originally posted this thread in the incorrect forum. I have a question regarding the workflow when working with groove templates. I am well aware that when making corrections to timing, i.e. quantizing, it's best to work in sections (I usually do no more than 3-4 bars at a time). However, if I am going to take a track and only use it to create a groove template with (to line up other tracks), is it still a good idea to work in very small sections (and as a consequence create many groove templates), or will I get usable results if I do the whole track in one go? Or, would it be a good practice to divide up the song in bigger sections (i.e. verse, chorus, bridge, etc...)?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

The Kid

[DC-Choppah]

I find it is best to take a simple part like the bass drum, or a shaker, or snare or something, from the performance that followed the natural groove of the music well. Then use this to establish the entire song's groove template that you use to conform the other more complex stuff to. No need to chop the groove up into pieces. I think you only need to wotk in short sections when you are trying to manually bring things back to the click track and want to account for how the musicians tend to stick all together as they drift in and out from the click - the click is hard for them to hear really.