I start with ideas on my Syntakt and then seeing how I can then get my Digitone involved. For keyboards I use my Korg Modwave, Wavestate and Opsix for extra layers. I started my musical life as a violinist and cornetto player in Renaissance and Baroque music ensembles.
I would say really learn how the frequency spectrum works. It not only helps you understand mixing, but you can also make even stock stuff sound really good. It also helps you understand orchestration and why certain doublings and orchestration styles exist Also, recreate pieces you can get the scores of. That way you start to get a feel of how to write for the orchestra
Can I suggest an edit on this video? When I started out doing this kind of thing, I looked as many free libraries as I could. I feel that you guys should have suggested free Libraries, like LABS for example, instead of jumping to Albion One, which is $450. And also, most people can't afford Kontakt right out of the gate. In future, you should suggest more free stuff for people are starting out, because if they decide that composing music isn't for them, buy into this field, they will have regret because it's something they no longer can use or want to use.
Likewise, I also thought about Kontakt and how much there is to learn, over and above everything else. Since Spitfire have their own player, BBC SO Discover, since it's free, then the Originals libraries, are both wonderful places to begin... because they BOTH utilize the Spitfire player. Then add to that much, if not ALL of the LABS series would make for a very good starting point with little cash outlay to begin. However, it won't be long before all of this starts to be the "needle in your arm", but at least it's a healthy way to spend money!! 🙂
That was the one thing that I noticed in the video as well, that BBCSO Discover was a "flash in the pan." I was also disappointed that it is free was not mentioned. I get it, you are trying to make money by selling the other products. Also, BBCSO Discover does not require Kontakt. BBCSO Discover is a great marketing tool to try before you buy. For me, it was the path to purchase BBCSO Core.
@@jimrogers7425 My biggest gripe with BBC SO discover is you can't turn off simple things like the reverb, etc. I actually didn't start with SpiteFire anything and started with free stuff built into FL Studio or did a little Google searching to find free stuff. So I wish they had mention that some times DAWs come with really good sounding stuff to start out with.
@@HOLLASOUNDS OK, but in that case, it defeats the point of helping new composers out. For that matter, maybe I should be the one to make a better version of this video instead.
BBC Discover is a great product. I always point people to it if they want to try an orchestral library, and they often go on to Core (like I did!), something they might never have done without the cheaper version to try first.
Thank you Homay, great video! My very first library was Originals Intimate Strings and I still love it and use it all the time. After that my first full orchestral library was BBC SO Core and I still think it's one of the absolute best libraries to get started with orchestral writing!
Nice tips! I have been sucking up all the information I can get to learn more about composing. As an older beginner, I find this information invaluable. There is so much out there that it is hard to nail down what will work for you and can be very overwhelming.
Great video. The subtle changes in velocity and tempo from the midi keyboard performance really add realism - something which is much harder if you draw the notes manually.
Homay! Nice to see you doing a video like this again! Great stuff! One tip I would share is don’t be scared to just record…it’s software….you can do it again and again as many times as you want!
Wow! Homay! What a fantastic piece of tuition, so well explained and I love the way you encompassed what you need to get started? You have set my inspiration wild and just can’t wait to try out all the brilliant advice you have put across. Much peace and love to you Gary
Great video! Homay always brings it to the table! I believe that there's nothing more important than strong foundations in harmonic and melodic knowledge. Everything comes after that. If the harmonic progression and the melody are good, the rest is icing on the cake.
Start by learning how to play the piano, which is widely used to compose, both using pencil and paper and with virtual instruments. Then, learn music theory, learn counterpoint, harmony, orchestration, and analyze tons of music. Learn how to interpret and create music forms, learn how tonality works both in chord progressions and in the macro-structure of the piece. Learn how the various instruments works and how to write idiomatic passages. Those are the best tips for beginner composers
Would it be possible for you guys to include the MIDI for the demos we can listen to for each library? It would be a great thing to learn from programming-wise.
I play stuff in now but at first I just draw everything I'm midi and some very nice results come out and essentially that was just built on over time like Lego and I just go back to that over and over. Ones you found cords progressions that work then you always have that midi to use or spark new ideas.
Excellent video. Thank you. I do have the free Spitfire BBC SO. I am a guitarist and can only play basic keyboard. However, I have been satisfied with being able to add just enough orchestral background instrumentation. Very inspiring.
Awesome. i am noob. know nothing. i am a bit disappointed that she doesn't start with a piano sketch to map out the idea and orchestrate from it. but this is still very useful and crazily encouraging to develop your own style. it appears the sequence is: chord progression > notes following chords > melody on top > accenting moments. but how does she decide key and chords or bpm etc? stuff like that.
Well I actually think She is way over complicating this for telling newbie how to compose. Here's the truth, you dont need a keyboard, or any 3rd party sound library just your DAW, a good one is Reason because it comes with orchestra sound bank, and many realistic instruments and useful ones. It dont ha e to he new to me good, I find the Stings preset on one of Reasons oldest devices to still be excellent for sting composition. I didn't really have a clue when I first started I just draw in midi with My mouse and within less them 3 months was making some very good composition of stings and piano. You can hear a but of this in My music for the Queen vid. In that video I play in some stuff but everything else was drawn in midi no keyboard was used.
Having the faders and knowing how to use them makes a big difference. Would be great to know the specific brand and price of the fader equipment being used.
Great video - thank you for the very useful tips. I am really curious about that MIDI fader controller that you are using - looks really nice, with really long throw faders. Is it a custom designed one, or is it available off the shelf?
Number 1, first and foremost, have live audio reference of an instrument virtuoso for you to program your library instruments to. You can buy the best libraries and spend thousands only to sound terrible if you don't know how to program.
I heard the piano melody at 11:58 initially solo with other orchestral instruments and KEPT solo instead mixed in with all the full spectrum of instrumentation. The issue with blending, even if it’s blended well, it leans into generic sounding scores. With so many tools available and seeing how the busiest of composers use their own farm of samples AND THEN add virtual libraries, the language becomes diluted. The only way to really rise above is go you own way, developing the sonic universe and dialogue from the basic elements that provoke emotion. Reason being the instruments of the orchestra have been the same for centuries. The rhythms and harmonic elements were there millenia before and it’s an unspoken genetic language we know within our cells
Thanks for sharing these valuable insights for beginners! I'm on a limited budget as I start my music composition journey. Could you offer some guidance on what equipment or software should be the top priority for someone with budget constraints? What should I invest in first to get the best results?
Really great video 👍🏻Please make a Spitfire songwriting alternative template to the BBCSO - Logic - for your other excellent instrument and libraries for making electronic/pop/ambient music. It would be fantastically helpful to have a professional starting point -suggesting EQs, pans and FXs for musicians working with different genres.
This is super helpful! Thank you for the video. May I ask what kind of expression faders you're using? I'm specifically asking about the small one with the woodgrain case. Thank you in advance!
"Where should you start when making music?" As long as you have the right equipment to make the music you want to make, start where ever your inspired. I make music on my own and with a friend. On my own: I usually start with guitar since I have always been a guitar player. Come up with a basic melody, record it with a simple drum track. I'll do that until I have am entire song done. Then (my teacher says) "LAYER LAYER LAYER", so I'll add small nuances. I make lofi type instrumental music so adding more is great. Then after I have the basic guitar and drums down, I'll work on both vocal melody and small things in the song. Then lyrics. I'll edit as I go. Then once I have a skeleton version of the song, I'll listen 200 times and edit, take out, add in, and revise the song about 100 times before I'll say it's finished. With my band: he'll send me a drum and bass track. I'll add in my guitar, piano, synth and that will basically be the melody. Then send it back to him and he'll come up with vocals and lyrics. We'll talk about what works and what doesn't. Revise another 100 times and put it in the "closet" and work on othe rmusic. Then when we have a bunch of songs done (maybe 5 or 6) we'll listen to them all, figure out what works with the vibe of the album and what doesn't, and we'll revise again each song until we have a full album. 👍👍
After you have the basics… Open your mind, just remember that the blank page is not daunting but a moment where EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE the exciting start of an interesting, potentially amazing journey. Follow your instincts, listen to your inner voice and just go. It doesn’t matter if you play with one, two or ten fingers because the music is in your head, your heart and the medium you choose to transport your ideas is just that, nothing more than the conduit between you and what you create.
The one who wants to start composing and spend money in hardware and digital stuff should be sure he has something to say . If you watch Paul mc Cartney composing, he starts with a simple guitar trying to put some melody on lyrics and afterwards some chords, and, finally arrangements.
Hi Homay, I enjoy your work and I am teaching myself how to compose thanks to you and the other terrific composers at Spitfire. I was wondering which midi, dynamic fader controller you use in this video? Thanks for your help. If your staff would offer another online camp or curriculum for composing, that would be amazing! Also, would it be possible to get any feedback from you or others in your staff for any compositions that I have put together? Thanks. Jim
If my ears are telling me the truth, the string shorts include flattened sixth but the melody has a natural sixth. Is there a resource where I can learn about that? Really helpful tutorial, thanks.
As obvious as it may sound, it's important to point out that before you try delving into the world of composing you need at the very least a grasp on how to actually write and arrange music in the first place. It's very easy to think you can just buy the computer and software and dive right in without understanding the fundamentals of how music works, although you will realise soon enough when you hit a creative brick wall that this is the case....great instructional video though thanks
@@maidenthe80sla Yes indeed.... technology is now at the stage where you can churn out a "Join the dots" form of music unfortunately, but it's always going to be less than satisfactory, that's hilarious what you said about song contests going on for months ha ha..... music takes many years of learning and dedication to produce professional results and anyone who thinks (Or tries to tell you otherwise) is lying and usually trying to sell you something.....thanks for the reply btw.
Homay, I'm curious about something I notice in your demo. It clearly shows Logic having the metronome click as on, yet I could not discern the click sound. What's the story? Oh yeah, your on-the-fly composition work is really nice here.
You should try to start with a melody first, I find it interesting as well. Then you can try to find the chords that best fit the melody you have in mind
Different people start at different points. I know some people who start out with a melody and create a beautiful piece of music, but I know others like myself that start with chords. It’s good to know both ways. If it’s easier to start with chords, by all means start with chords.
Try to start with a pattern of single notes too (not necessarily a bass line). It's really helpful because then you can change the chord flavour throughout the track
Гармония очень сильно ограничивает вас и заставляет работать в определенных рамках - это сужает ваши возможности и потенциал. Да, начинать с мелодии намного сложнее, но плюсом является то, что вы совсем неограниченны в ваших возможностях.
thank you for your great video! I would at this point in the production get stuck on the timing technicalities and the structure of the different sections of the song. For instance, what you just played how do you make it fit the grid to have a solid verse section? how do you establish the bpm now that you didn't play with a metronome? if there are any other videos that discuss this I'd be super happy if someone could point me in that direction. Thanks!
Homay- awesome tutorial, very well done and informative! What is the brand name of the main Midi keyboard controller you are using? It would be the one below the desk. Thanks- all the best to you?
Nice video! Spitfire Audio sample library is a good resource. BTW, can you please tell me where can I buy your studio desk? Does it come with the piano keyboard tray?
