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

Don't Miss November's Community Open House- Free Webcast Event for All Members!

Don't Miss November's Community Open House- Free Webcast Event for All Members!

Tuesday, November 25th at 12:00 pm PT!

Every success story begins with a first step.

If you’re ready to take yours, join me, Ashley Smith, Head of Community at Stage 32, for our November Community Open House Webcast happening Tuesday, November 25th at 12:00 pm PT!

Free Registration: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32-s-november-community-open-house-webcast

Whether you’re chasing representation, looking for collaborators, or simply tired of creating in isolation, this live event is your chance to show up, be seen, and start making real progress.

This isn’t just an overview — it’s your creative launchpad. You’ll walk away with practical tools, new connections, and a clear path forward, no matter your background or where you are in your career.

You’ll Learn How To:

  • Navigate Stage 32 like a pro and make the platform work for your goals
  • Build authentic connections through the Stage 32 Lounges
  • Access Education, Certification, and Script Services tailored to your next big move
  • Show up in ways that get you noticed by the right people at the right time
  • Participate in real-time Q&A and get guidance specific to your path

Whether you’re a writer, filmmaker, actor, producer, composer, editor, or wear multiple creative hats — this is where your Stage 32 journey truly begins.

If you can’t attend live, don’t worry — registering ensures you’ll receive the full recording to watch anytime from anywhere.

Who’s planning to join me live for the Open House?


Liked by Mark Gosney and 2 others

Geoff Hall
How ‘Sinners’ Found a Sound as Big as Its IMAX Imagery

I’’ve put this post in the Composing Lounge, as it covers the music production for Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ as well as sound and music recording.

When I went to see the film, one of the things that had the biggest impact on me was the sound. I loved every aspect of it, from the songs to the ambience...

Expand post

How 'Sinners' Found a Sound as Big as its IMAX Imagery
How 'Sinners' Found a Sound as Big as its IMAX Imagery
Ludwig Göransson, David Butler, Felipe Pacheco, Chris Welcker, Steve Boeddeker, Benjamin Burtt, and Brandon Proctor on Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners'
Maurice Vaughan

I enjoyed the story, the acting, the cinematography, the music, and more, Geoff Hall! It's hard to pick a favorite thing. The music made me feel like I was back in that time period. The story, acting,...

Expand comment
Geoff Hall

Maurice Vaughan agreed, Maurice. It was a totally immersive experience. In fact, we talk a lot about immersive cinema and I think we should use ‘Sinners’ as an exemplar when we talk about this....

Expand comment

Liked by Pat Savage and 8 others

Mark Gosney
Steinbergs Cubase version 15 has been launched.

So the next iteration of the Cubase DAW software has been released, version 15. I personally in a big cubase user, but have played around with many of the more popular DAW's like, Digital Performer, Logic, and started on Cakewalk when it was a bigger deal many years ago.

If you're a cubase user like...

Expand post

Kerry Kennard

Did you mean Trish B’s piece, Morgan ?

It is nice !

Mark Gosney

Kerry Kennard When I was in school the think was and still is I think, but is changing because of the Expression Map technology, to have one midi track per articulation for all instruments groups. So...

Expand comment
Mark Gosney

Morgan Aitken Ipg Yea, the Omnivoice plugin is pretty cool for sure! I haven't messed with it yet to much I will say though.

Morgan Aitken Ipg

Kerry Kennard , I'm kinda musically illiterate... so, who is Trish B?

Kerry Kennard

Morgan Aitken Ipg , the link you have above brought up Trish, ... some last name starting with B.

Now, it's right ... hearing the thin voice from OmniVocal. Yikes, ... it's def. thin to me.

Glad it do...

Expand comment
Ashley Renee Smith
How Music Shapes the World of Fallout

What does the apocalypse sound like? According to music supervisor Trygge Toven, it’s a blend of heartbreak, irony, and mid-century optimism that perfectly mirrors Fallout’s retro-futuristic wasteland.

In this insightful interview, Toven explains how he shaped the show’s soundscape, balancing compose...

Expand post

Maurice Vaughan

Music and sound can really enhance shows (like Fallout), movies, etc., Ashley Renee Smith. I add music in my scripts. It's just something like "Classic Rock plays on the radio." I've also been focusin...

Expand comment
Geoff Hall

Ashley Renee Smith I’m looking forward to Fallout 2, how about you?

https://youtu.be/ECI3eCAxRGw...

Expand comment
Morgan Aitken Ipg
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...

Expand post

Morgan Aitken Ipg

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...

Expand comment
Mark Gosney

Rick puts it in a better perspective as always!!

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

James Lagrimas
Composers, This One’s for You! Share Your Thoughts on What’s Next in Film Music Education

If you’re passionate about composing for film and want to sharpen your craft, learning directly from award-winning composers, orchestrators, and music supervisors can take your scoring work to the next level. These webinars and classes cover everything from storytelling through music to working with...

Expand post

Libby Wright
How Long Have You Been Composing?

I remember from a really early age making up songs. I'd play them on the piano (instead of playing the assigned scales) or write lyrics down in a notebook. They'd be about nothing, or big feelings I was having, or something that happened at school that day. Sometimes they were even satirical. When did you discover composing?

Tony DiGregorio

Started writing jazz tunes in 1976. Started studying with Paul Caputo in 1994. He taught me harmony, counterpoint and helped me with my first compositions. I've been writing music ever since.

Kat Spencer

Libby Wright I started in 1996, right after I stopped taking piano lessons, which I started when I was 6 years old. That's when I discovered I could compose. I had to be away from the "structured lear...

Expand comment
Ville Hilden

At about 13 when I suddenly realized it´s possible to play by ear. And yes, Kat, I dropped piano lessons too!

Mark Gosney

Guitar Instrumental music and Songs for to many years. Orchestral film type compositions for about ten or so years!

Stuart Michael Thomas

Started on guitar as a child in the late 70s. Played rock for years but in 2000 I started working for a composer in a commercial post studio in Sacramento. 2003 moved to LA and been doing film work ever since.

Kat Spencer
Happy Halloween, composers!

Sometimes the “scariest” thing we do isn’t facing ghosts, it’s facing ourselves.

Maybe it was scoring your first film, sharing your original music, or trying a completely new style.

What’s the scariest creative risk you’ve ever taken that helped you grow?

Justin Wildridge

Every time one faces the blank sheet of manuscript paper or a new file in your DAW....

Mark Gosney

Justin Wildridge for sure!!

Stuart Michael Thomas

The scariest situation was when we suddenly got Peter Jackson's King Kong dropped in our laps at James Newton Howard's studio. 4 weeks to write and record a 3 hour film. Cue the 2 AM meltdown I had in...

Expand comment
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...

Expand post

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...

Expand comment
Morgan Aitken Ipg

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...

Expand comment
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...

Expand post

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...

Expand comment
Jon Shallit

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

Morgan Aitken Ipg

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...

Expand comment
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...

Expand comment
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...

Expand post

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...

Expand post

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...

Expand post

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...

Expand comment
Wyman Brent

Maurice Vaughan, great minds think alike.

register for stage 32 Register / Log In