New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!
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Re: New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!
Happy to give feedback if that could be useful.
- ManFromGlass
Longtime Poster - Posts: 6682 Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 12:00 am Location: O Canada
Re: New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!
Since I started setting up the JV-1080 as a single Berlin School synth, I now see where workstations come into play in media composition: everything in sync and in tune, and the speed in which you can work is so much faster than with the modular.
I’ve pretty much decided that for this project to succeed I am going to have to approach it using the same single-synth solution as the live rig.
The modular is perfect for making music where I can spend days or weeks setting up a patch, but it’s a real buzz kill for me to have to re tune and re patch just to start working, especially since my time to work on this challenge is limited. Having something already set up and ready to go will be a huge help, as well as keep the palette consistent.
I will give it a go tonight and see how I fare!
I’ve pretty much decided that for this project to succeed I am going to have to approach it using the same single-synth solution as the live rig.
The modular is perfect for making music where I can spend days or weeks setting up a patch, but it’s a real buzz kill for me to have to re tune and re patch just to start working, especially since my time to work on this challenge is limited. Having something already set up and ready to go will be a huge help, as well as keep the palette consistent.
I will give it a go tonight and see how I fare!
Re: New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!
Ben Asaro wrote:Since I started setting up the JV-1080 as a single Berlin School synth
You've just blown my mind!
Martin
- Martin Walker
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Re: New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!
Martin Walker wrote:Ben Asaro wrote:Since I started setting up the JV-1080 as a single Berlin School synth
You've just blown my mind!
Martin
HA! I know, changing horses mid race.
But it's hard to act on inspiration when it takes 45 minutes before I can even get in-tune notes from the modular.
Re: New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!
Switching up my approach was definitely the right move on this one. Using USB from my Mac to sync everything is making things move along at a much quicker pace, besides not having to faff around with tuning discrepancies. Having a palette of sounds ready to go also helps immensely. Overall, I'm very pleased with the workflow!
Revisiting the opening re inspired me to try a new compositional approach and as the opening credits are only about 30 seconds long it was also an exercise in being concise!
I typically break things out when I'm tracking, but in this case I'm just getting the balance right and recording Outputs 1 and 2 from the JV-1080 simultaneously (including effects). I like being committed to getting it right and then moving on.
The opening motive (FMaj - BbMaj - CSus4- CMaj - F) is simple and catchy and that V-I resolution at the end sounds great!
Revisiting the opening re inspired me to try a new compositional approach and as the opening credits are only about 30 seconds long it was also an exercise in being concise!
I typically break things out when I'm tracking, but in this case I'm just getting the balance right and recording Outputs 1 and 2 from the JV-1080 simultaneously (including effects). I like being committed to getting it right and then moving on.
The opening motive (FMaj - BbMaj - CSus4- CMaj - F) is simple and catchy and that V-I resolution at the end sounds great!
Re: New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!
Fired up the Lyra-8 for the next two scenes, hopefully I’ll be able to come up with something suitable today. If so, I’ll be caught up to where I left off prior to switching from the modular to the JV-1080.
Re: New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!
The Lyra-8 + sawtooth brass from the JV-1080 is a beautiful sounding combination. Glad I got the TU-3S, it made integrating the Lyra-8 shed loads easier!
Almost at the one quarter mark for the film!
Almost at the one quarter mark for the film!
Re: New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!
Following this thread! This is an idea I've wanted to execute for awhile now, too. Rooting for you and I can't wait to see/hear your work.
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- Michael Johnson
- Posts: 1 Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2020 3:45 am
Re: New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!
Michael Johnson wrote: ↑Sun Jul 18, 2021 2:00 pm Following this thread! This is an idea I've wanted to execute for awhile now, too. Rooting for you and I can't wait to see/hear your work.
Thanks! It’s still going strong, I had a small setback as I was trying to figure out how I wanted to do this, but now that I’ve got that settled, it’s full steam ahead!
Re: New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!
Time for an update!
A studio re-org put this on hold for a few weeks, but now that I have my modular set up for performance, I've been writing quite a bit of music and have found a way to kill two birds with one stone.
As I tend to write rather large pieces divided into sections, I am collecting the live pieces and using them to score the movie. My goals are the same: fill about 60 minutes of time with music; but as a live piece has different requirements from a film score, I will treat each section as it's own separate theme to be used (or reused if I'm setting up leitmotifs) where it fits the film better!
I'm really excited about this prospect and in having the same music being used in totally different presentations!
I think perhaps the most important/useful thing that I've got out of the re-org is a set palette of sounds; option anxiety had me doubting my choices and going back to the beginning over and over as I changed my approach. Now I have no choice: the sounds are what they are! This has forced me to get down to business and get on with it!
A studio re-org put this on hold for a few weeks, but now that I have my modular set up for performance, I've been writing quite a bit of music and have found a way to kill two birds with one stone.
As I tend to write rather large pieces divided into sections, I am collecting the live pieces and using them to score the movie. My goals are the same: fill about 60 minutes of time with music; but as a live piece has different requirements from a film score, I will treat each section as it's own separate theme to be used (or reused if I'm setting up leitmotifs) where it fits the film better!
I'm really excited about this prospect and in having the same music being used in totally different presentations!
I think perhaps the most important/useful thing that I've got out of the re-org is a set palette of sounds; option anxiety had me doubting my choices and going back to the beginning over and over as I changed my approach. Now I have no choice: the sounds are what they are! This has forced me to get down to business and get on with it!
Re: New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!
looking forward to this Ben!! Keep going! I envy your discipline having prevaricated over my own EP release….which I’ve now earmarked for Autumn rather than Summer I’ll be clearer on year soon
Re: New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!
I find that the only way I'm productive is if I'm tough on myself with deadlines.
In the words of Douglas Adams, "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.”
In the words of Douglas Adams, "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.”
Re: New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!
Good for you! I'm doing a lot of work on the house, but I've also been reorganizing and simplifying my studio, getting rid of things I don't use, prepping for what I figure is gonna be another lockdown winter. I hope to do better creatively this time. Maybe scoring a silent film would give me a project... I like to use material for multiple things too.
- resistorman
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"The Best" piece of gear is subjective.
Re: New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!
- Martin Walker
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Re: New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!
Okay, this project is officially on the second half, so I figured why not, I'll share a quick snippet with you all.
Please bear in mind that this is recorded live, no actual mixing has been done yet, and all the other not-ready-for-Prime-Time disclosures!
https://soundcloud.com/asfollowswriting ... lse-part-1
Please bear in mind that this is recorded live, no actual mixing has been done yet, and all the other not-ready-for-Prime-Time disclosures!
https://soundcloud.com/asfollowswriting ... lse-part-1
Re: New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!
Ben Asaro wrote: ↑Thu Sep 09, 2021 11:59 pm Okay, this project is officially on the second half, so I figured why not, I'll share a quick snippet with you all.
Please bear in mind that this is recorded live, no actual mixing has been done yet, and all the other not-ready-for-Prime-Time disclosures!
https://soundcloud.com/asfollowswriting ... lse-part-1
Wow - I just had a most wonderful experience while listening to this - I returned to the first post in this thread to remind myself that the silent film you were creating this soundtrack for was The Lost World, made in 1925, so I tracked down the film on YouTube and watched it (with the sound turned down) in sync with your music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJaXxY3citM
However, after the 2:30 of your Graviton Pulse Part 1 your music seamlessly continued with Something 3, just as the reporter fell into the office, and to my mind those two tunes followed the plot perfectly! Try it for yourself.
Strange or what? (and I assume that Something 3 ISN'T what you intended to follow on from Gravitron Pulse Part 1 - I shall feel very silly if this was the case )
Martin
- Martin Walker
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Re: New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!
LOL nope, that was a happy accident, Pink-Floyd-Wizard-Of-Oz moment!
When you mentioned the scene, I could see it in my head, I've watched the movie 100 times now lol.
When you mentioned the scene, I could see it in my head, I've watched the movie 100 times now lol.
Re: New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!
- Martin Walker
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