Video Monday :: How to Collect International Royalties

SoundExchange is the largest global neighboring rights organization, with agreements covering 87% of the neighboring rights market outside the US. These agreements allow us to collect and pay artist/rights owner royalties when their music is played in countries around the world. To take advantage of this service, you must be a SoundExchange member and complete Read More …

The Instrumentalist vs. The Musician Mindset

The trap References are meant to guide, not dictate Easy to slip from “informed by reference” to “forcing mix to match reference” Two mindsets Instrumentalist: only hears own part, copies reference note for note, ignores that arrangement/tracking/instrumentation differ, boosts highs just because reference curve is bright, ends up harsh/brittle Musician: hears whole piece, knows where Read More …

The Week I Switched DAWs

I had a few short pieces finished. I was into a  fourth: “Haunted House”, and the music was already set in my head.  The hard part was never going to be the writing or figuring out the melodies, chords, whatever.  The hard part was getting a video file into Ableton without it choking. I spent Read More …

Video Sync on a Budget

A guide for film, TV, and potentially game composers who need two computers to stay together, without spending money you don’t have. The Problem Scoring to picture means your DAW and your video player have to agree on time, frame for frame. Studios solve this with dedicated video hardware. I’m not a studio yet so Read More …

A Monologue

BASS PLAYER – (always tuning the same string throughout) (not looking up) Go away. <beat> What? Go away. <Beat> What, a chick. Fuck No! A toy? (Stops tuning for a moment) I don’t need a toy. I do this. This note. Watch. (plucks, listens, winces, goes back to tuning) Almost. Almost, you hear that? No, Read More …

Adding Motion and Depth with Delay Effects

Pads are often used as an almost unheard glue, but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring  This is one idea to add a bit of motion. In the world of music production, adding depth and interest to your tracks is essential. One effective way to achieve this is through the use of delay Read More …