Daily Film scoring bits

Welcome to the Daily Film Scoring Bits. On this page I post little tips, tricks and advices about film scoring in general but also more specific topics like orchestration, composition, working relationships, business advices etc.

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Clarinet Dynamics

Due to their construction with a single reed, Clarinets (and also Saxophones) have the special ability to create incredibly low dynamics and can…

Microphone Spill

When recording a real orchestra, unless isolated in separate booths or recorded in several sections, you will basically hear every instrument on every…

Symmetrical Scales

Symmetrical Scales are called like this because they are built out of structures that repeat, for instance the two most common ones are the whole tone…

Rhythmical “Engines”

Particularly in action and adventure scenes, the scoring usually relies heavily on pushing rhythms and lots of rhythmical activity. If you do not want…

Several Composers on One Project

In the current media world with increasingly tighter deadlines, it has become quite common to have more than one composer on one project, not only for…

Bow Length Duration on Strings

The time of how long one bow length lasts on string instruments is massively depending on the dynamic degree it is being played. For instance on Violins…

Sub Bass Synths

The ultra low bass frequency support for instance on sustained (string) chords that is very common in today’s film scores and one of the style…

Minor Ninths

The minor ninth is considered the “last dissonant interval”, even more than a minor second. Therefore it should be handled with care in any chord…

Red Herrings

Another very common way of scoring certain moments in movies are so-called “Red Herrings”. This principle is used for instance in tension scenes where…

How to Read Movie Scripts

Sometimes, you need to start working or conceptualizing a score already with nothing more than a script. Be aware that this is not like reading a book…

Double and Triple Tongue on Brass

Double or triple tonguing passages on brass instruments can sound very exciting and fanfaric and can create a great effect of forward motion. Especially…

Mix Delivery in Stems

When delivering the music to the film mix, often a separation into so-called stems is requested, meaning that you don’t deliver a complete mix but…

Parallel Movement of Several Voices

Parallel movement of many voices usually sounds musically rather unattractive. Particularly if you let several voices leap into the same direction, the…

(Over)Stretching Your Comfort Zone

Be sure BEFORE you sign for a project whether you can deliver or not. It is probably the worst nightmare and questioning your professionalism if you…

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