Not sure how I missed this comment. Sorry. I treat each song differently. I basically adjust EQ and put custom reverb on. These days the guitars are run through real amps and mic’d. Bass is DI and EQ’d. Vocals through a condenser mic and EQ reverb added. Drums with same mic overhead. Lots of shakers and tambourine. All real. Strings etc are all plugins. Wish I could play violin and horns but I just can’t. Yet. :) but I know how to write and arrange string parts. At least, I think I do. It’s maybe the most fun part.
This is the mentality we should all keep. lol but my bf's music-teacher-soon-to-be-wife also told me "you got a face like a drummer", like about my lips and mouth and jaw and stuff. I loved that.Wish I could play violin and horns but I just can’t. Yet. :)