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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

4th Diversity Talent Accelerator REG
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..

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?

David Laguillo

I started with a Casiotone like this one https://www.ebay.es/itm/256831377146?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=1185... and with a wood flute from school, so I don´t really remember the exact date :)......

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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...

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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!

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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Amélie Sowilo
Is there a specific film score that made you fall in love with film music ?

Hi everyone! I’m new here and I’d love to get to know more of you — and your taste in film music.

Is there a specific film score that made you fall in love with film music?

...

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Mark Gosney

Jermar Jerome Smith yea, Jerry Goldsmiths early scores like his atonal score to Planet of the Apes, In Harms Way, and China Town were spectacular too!...

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Jermar Jerome Smith

Will check them others out.

Hannah Woolmer

Schindler's List, and later on Sherlock Holmes. As I often say, I'm a violinist and I think these scores spoke to me

Mark Gosney

Hannah Woolmer Yes, Itzhak Perlman what a talent, and he played so masterfully and soulfully on the Theme from Schindler’s List, and so many more tracks from that score!!...

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Hannah Woolmer

Mark Gosney Perlman is such an amazing violinist and that score is heartbreaking

Cyril Pineau
First attempt at a visual reel (feedback welcome!)

When I shared my short intro a while ago, the talented Hannah Woolmer suggested I try making a small music reel using free footage, to bring my compositions to life visually.

That was a great idea… but clearly outside my comfort zone! So I gave it a try anyway.

Here’s a short reel built around my cue...

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Hannah Woolmer

wonderful Cyril Pineau

Leonardo Ramirez 2

Very nice Cyril Pineau! Does a great job of building tension. Nicely done!

Cyril Pineau

Thank you Leonardo :)

Leonardo Ramirez 2

You are very welcome Cyril Pineau - love it.

Ville Hilden

Has anyone experimented with AI-video creation tools?

Ashley Renee Smith
Cinematic String Articulations Made Simple

Whether you’re composing for film, television, or games, understanding how to use different string articulations can completely transform the emotional impact of your score.

In this breakdown from Mattias Holmgren, you’ll explore the most common cinematic string articulations from sustains, legato, a...

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Kerry Kennard

The Embertone library is nice for small ensembles.

It takes a little time to get the sound you want, though a lot of options are available.

Julien Ober

You're right, Mark, it's often difficult. I saw that Sonuscore just released a new string library with many articulations called Lux. I haven't tested it yet. We'll see if this library provides any solutions.

Jon Shallit

Hire a LIVE violinist or a quartet. Or violin and piano. LIVE. Or soon there will be no LIVE musicians.

Kerry Kennard

Jon Shallit - I did hire a violinist for one project I did last year. I could never get the sound I wanted from two or three different libraries.....

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Jon Shallit

It is the intangibles that our ears hear that can't be computed.

Ville Hilden
AI voices & words/music dilemma

Hi all! One thing that I´ve been thinking of lately (and the other one forever):

1. What´s your opinion of using an AI singer on a demo? I've been eyeing Synthesizer V Studio 2 Pro for a while since finding a singer/studio is difficult and costly. I must stress that I´m thinking of using AI ONLY for...

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Emmanuel Obiejemba
  1. For demo purposes only, AI voices is not bad.

    2. Words or music first? I've never written words before music, it's always either music before words or both words and music together. Even when writing

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Ville Hilden

I’m in the same camp, although I suspect both methods have their advantages.

Emmanuel Obiejemba

Yeah, Ville, absolutely they both have their advantages

Kerry Kennard
SoundPaint sounds

A lot of soundpaint sounds are really great!

Check out this new violin sound.

I downloaded a $15 - 20 guitar sound last week. 

KK 

https://youtu.be/onQiqvKoKpo?si=MF_LUBcu9Qv4fWaI...

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Toluwanimi David Matthews

Hey there,

Posting if interested.

A Nigerian - born musician based in AUSTRALIA. Started making music six (6) - seven (7) years ago in New Zealand in 2018. Since relocating to Australia, D.MATTHEWS has...

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Mark Gosney

Hey Kerry! I have been watching the 8dio guys work on the SoundPaint engine over the past couple of years and it sounds pretty amazing. Have you used any of it in any of your work?

Kerry Kennard

Mark Gosney -

I think I’ve used the basic piano in one of my works. Its reverb is really good!

Sometimes it’s a bit interesting to figure out the interface you mention. I’ve watched a video from Sound...

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Mark Gosney

I’m wondering how well it works as a vst running in VEP..

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