New synth challenge -- scoring a silent film!

[ManFromGlass]

A good challenge for sure. But if you include a bit of sound design used in a musical way you might find your music has more impact when it is there. Or not!

Are you creating a Logic song for each cue you do? Or are you using 1 master song to write in?

[Ben Asaro]

A good challenge for sure. But if you include a bit of sound design used in a musical way you might find your music has more impact when it is there. Or not!

Are you creating a Logic song for each cue you do? Or are you using 1 master song to write in?

Yes, each cue is a separate session.

[Martin Walker]

I'm really looking forward to hearing some (or indeed all) of this when it's finished, as it's a fascinating project!

Martin

[Ben Asaro]

A good challenge for sure. But if you include a bit of sound design used in a musical way you might find your music has more impact when it is there. Or not!

Sorry, I got called into a work call earlier and wanted to respond to the first part of your post but had to run!

My thinking is not too far off from yours in that regard, as there will be some ambient/drone/soundscape cues as well, it won't just be a collection of 2 minute synth jams.

[ManFromGlass]

One other thing, Ben. The film doesn’t have timecode. But if you have a Master song set up correctly with the film and you always make your music sections from this Master then the final mix of each cue, if done as bwav, can always be automatically lined up in the Master at it’s correct start time with the handy Key Command - Move Region To Recorded Position.

[Ben Asaro]

Oh, that’s great to know! Thanks!!

[Ben Asaro]

Started work on Scene 3 last night, and my first long cue at about five minutes. Feels great to stretch out with some filtered noise and an ominous Lyra-8 drone!

[Ben Asaro]

One scene left to the first act! Once it’s done I’ll make a mock up of what I have thus far and see how it flows.

[ManFromGlass]

Happy to give feedback if that could be useful.

[Ben Asaro]

Happy to give feedback if that could be useful.

Thanks, that's very kind of you. I'll keep it in mind.

[Ben Asaro]

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!

[Martin Walker]

Since I started setting up the JV-1080 as a single Berlin School synth

You've just blown my mind!

Martin

[Ben Asaro]

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.

[Ben Asaro]

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!

[Ben Asaro]

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.

[Ben Asaro]

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!

[Michael Johnson]

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.

[Ben Asaro]

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!

[Ben Asaro]

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!

[IAA]

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