Finding Thematic Material

Finding Thematic Material Finding the right thematic material and having both parties (you and your customer/director) agree on it can take quite some time. When you present possible themes, it is common today to present them in their best shape as directors very...

Orchestral Intransparency

Orchestral Intransparency It is in the nature of orchestral music to not be able to hear every instrument clearly in the mix. Some instruments like woodwinds even regularly “drown” in tuttis and their only purpose is to add to the ensemble sound. This is actually a...

Loops, Prerecorded Phrases and Presets

Loops, Prerecorded Phrases and Presets The use of loops, presets and prerecorded phrases is seen very controversial among the community of composers with some people using only their own individually programmed presets and loops. There are of course two sides to this:...

Fingers Off the Pan Knob

Fingers off the Pan Knob The standard panning knob (or balance on a stereo signal) works in a way that it simply changes the levels of the right and left channel according to where you set it. Therefore, on stereo signals it only seems to change the direction of the...