Composing

Discuss, share content, offer tips and advice on hardware, software, style, strategies, process, work-flow and the business of scoring a film, video or theater production

Morgan Aitken
The Musical Stylings of AI - And the Existential Angst of it All: SOLVED

It's like this, see. I have been mucking about with AI to colour grade footage and thought, maybe after just one too many wee drams of whisky, to apply it to composition. So, I asked ChatGPT 5 to write a Bach symphonia (3 part invention) following the rules of Baroque counterpoint. It asked me for a...

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Morgan Aitken

Is anyone using AI to generate MIDI or an original score? What was your experience?

Mark Gosney

I haven’t , but this was in the new this morning..

there has been some push back by art...

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Mark Gosney

Rick puts it in a better perspective as always!!

https://youtu.be/rGremoYVMPc?si=FQzXAINPM12MoLgU

Kat Spencer
When emotion turns into melody…

Something shocking happened last night — one of those moments that catches you off guard and suddenly, there it is: a few bars of music, a chord progression, the start of something new. I’m not sure where it’ll lead yet, but it reminded me how life itself writes the best songs.

What about you?

Has a l...

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Peta Meredith Williams

Usually breaking up with a guy or falling in love, for me at least

Mark Deuce

That is how I wrote True Haunt. The events I went thorugh as a kid came pouring back when I starting my writing career.

Wyman Brent

It is a wonderful feeling. Just that seems to be my fate every day. I have now written more than 450 songs since April. Each one pops out without me having to give any real thought beforehand. A rando...

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Morgan Aitken

Good question, and a lovely insight, Kat Spencer ! I've come up with ideas or let's call them musical moods mostly while reading; screenplays, novels, poetry. Or watching dailies. An actor will delive...

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Ville Hilden

The worst thing is when something comes up while half-asleep! You have to rise and write it down, otherwise it will be forgotten by morning ;-D

Libby Wright
How Would You Score?

Who Wants To Play?

Here we go: If a whole movie was based solely on a song you wrote to go with this image, what would the song be like? Would there be lyrics? What would the title be? What would be the major themes? Why?

I had Strep followed by moving my actress daughter cross-country to be nearer...

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Libby Wright

I'll start: TITLE: Too Empty Chair. The style would be bluegrass and the major themes would harken back to listening to songs on a scratchy radio like The Carters. (Set in the Great Depression.) Choru...

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Jon Shallit

My full feature SETESH on youtube is based on the 4 notes in Beethoven's opus 135- must it be?

Morgan Aitken

Ooooooo, I see a slow zoom in toward the fireplace. The music is dark, low strings and muted brass in minor key. The flames start to morph into crimson and liquify, while high string clusters reminisc...

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Karim Hassan

First , welcome back! That sounds like an incredibly exhausting stretch—recovering from strep and doing a cross-country move is massive. I’m so glad you’re back and, as you said, ready to rest and hav...

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Wyman Brent
George Jones and Inspiration

Inspiration That Never Fades: George Jones and the Songs He Stirred in Me

I was lucky enough to see George Jones perform three times in my life. Each time felt like standing in the presence of living history — that unmistakable voice, that ache in every syllable, and the way he could take a simple li...

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Wyman Brent
Wandering Mind

My Mind Refuses to Stay in One Lane

Some songs take weeks to form. Mine usually arrive in a flash.

Today, I was riding the bus when the phrase “apply a little pressure” popped into my head. By the time I stepped off, I had all the lyrics written for Totally Essential — a playful groove with an energy...

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Wyman Brent
450 Songs and Counting — Where Does It Come From?

Every now and then, I stop and ask myself: Where does this all come from?

Since April, I’ve written over 450 songs — across country, rock, blues, folk, psychedelic, protest, and even children’s music. Each one arrives like a guest at the door — unexpected, but always welcome.

I’m still trying to und...

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Maurice Vaughan

"trust the current. Don’t question where the inspiration comes from — just let it come through you." I do that, Wyman Brent. And sometimes I'll get part of a script idea from a picture, video, social...

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Wyman Brent

Maurice Vaughan, great minds think alike.

Navid Lancaster
30th collaboration.

John Williams will compose the score for Steven Spielberg’s upcoming movie, marking their 30th collaboration.

I am happy? Yes ... yes I'm very happy ❤ ❤

Maurice Vaughan

I can't wait to see the movie and hear the scores, Navid Lancaster!

Mark Gosney

This is awesome news, I can't wait to hear it!! :-). He's a huge influence of mine..

Justin Wildridge

He's probably already written it! As I understand it, like dear Hans Zimmer, the thematic concepts are frequently completed way in advance of any cut of the movie. It is interesting, though, why JW ha...

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Libby Wright
What's Your Approach To Composing?

Here's a question for you: Do you compose in a scheduled or regimented manner (meaning you have a certain day/time or do it as a discipline) or do you do it more on inspiration or in spurts? I tend to work by inspiration and spurts-- probably because of the dreaded egg timer I had to use to practice the piano everyday as a kid lol!

Bruce Bray

I didn't really wait on inspiration. I set a schedule and just work on it. I know what I'm searching for before I start. I already know point of in view, tempo, purpose, and tonality before I begin. When I start to feel it, I know I'm in the neighborhood.

Ville Hilden

Hard work=Inspiration. Not that I live by that.

Mark Gosney

I tend to compose in scheduled manner. i feel it’s important be working on you writing daily not just when inspired.

Ashley Renee Smith
Deep Dive for Composers & Music Makers: The Score of TRON: Ares by Nine Inch Nails

Nine Inch Nails took the helm for TRON: Ares’ soundtrack, and it’s unlike anything the franchise has heard before.

Following Wendy Carlos’s synth-classic TRON score and Daft Punk’s iconic Legacy soundtrack, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (scoring here under the full Nine Inch Nails banner) stripped aw...

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Kat Spencer
My Newest Obsession

I just can’t stop listening to this song. It’s got the most incredible build.

All I can say is: wait for it.

Kaleo – Sofðu Unga Ástin Mín

What’s a song or piece that’s completely captivated you lately? The one you can’t turn off...

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Maurice Vaughan

I like Sofðu Unga Ástin Mín, Kat Spencer! I added it to my screenwriting list. I've been listening to Aerosmith's Angel a lot. I have a movie idea it'd be perfect for....

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Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

I’ve been listening to several phonk songs lately, probably my favourites right now are “Portent” by Weightlessness and “Essence” by Casper.

Mark Gosney

Very cool tune and interesting visuals!!

Piotr Peszek

Hello , Beautiful male voice. I was captivated by the remix of the song "Such Same" by the defunct group Talk Talk, the music video contains fragments of feature films. Mark Hollis, the band's vocalist, also had an amazing voice. .

Cyril Pineau
First real scoring experience - BIFSC2026

I’m currently working on my submission for the Berlin International Film Scoring Competition 2026 (https://www.bifsc.org/), and I have to say: it’s such a blast!

It’s my first time scoring directly to such a high-quality video, and I’m learning a ton along the way. Honestly, I have zero expectations...

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Fabio Acri

thanks for reminding me about it Cyril Pineau wanted to attend previous editions but always missed that, will participate this time! how is it going so far? and nice to meet you!...

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Kat Spencer
Do You Write Better Alone or With Others?

Collaboration can bring out brilliance or chaos—sometimes both.
Do you thrive in creative solitude, or do you find new layers when you co-write or score with others?

Kat Spencer

I can relate to that Mark Gosney!

Kat Spencer

I feel the same way Banafsheh Esmailzadeh for my own work. Though I've had a few collaborators add some things to a few of my songs, it's rare. And for writing in general, that's definitely a solitary...

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Kat Spencer

I'm that combo Ville Hilden haha, I've helped others when they get stuck with lyrics, but for my own, it just flows out.

Bruce Bray

Are we talking about movie scores or songs? Because with movie scores it's absolutely just myself working in tandem with the director. The creative process is very personal for me. it's exhausting and...

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Kerry Kennard

Like Bruce Bray said, I write alone for scores /

DAW settings. For songs, I’m open to other suggestions. Recently, I saw two writers for

Pink Pony Club. For a hit like that this one, it’s usually writ...

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