Templates used in the search for binary black holes and neutron stars in gr
avitational wave interferometer data have to be computed on-line since the
computational storage and retrieval costs for a template bank would be too
expensive. The conventional dimensionless variable T = (c(3)/Gm)t, where m
is the total mass of a binary, in the time domain and a not-so-conventional
velocity-like variable v = (pi Gmf)(1/3) in the Fourier domain, render the
phasing of the waves independent of the total mass of the system enabling
the construction of mother templates that depend only on the mass ratio of
a black hole binary. Use of such mother templates in a template bank will b
ring about a reduction in computational costs by up to a factor of 10 and a
saving on storage by a factor of 100.