Cinematic Orchestral Programming (Synthestration) [TUTORIAL]

We’ve all been inspired by powerful and emotional orchestral cues. Especially when they are perfectly paired with an unfolding scene on a big screen. They can empower us, bring us to tears and unsettle us.

And as composers, who doesn’t want a piece of that action?

But is it really possible to create a cue that brings that same sonic power and emotion when you don’t have access to world-class orchestral players playing in beautiful spaces? Is it really possible to produce a track in your DAW that is almost as good as the real thing?

You Better Believe It!

Cinematic Composing’s Orchestral Programming course will unlock the critical elements you need to help you raise the quality and realism of your mock-ups to the next level. And it will begin happening from the very first lesson! This practical and comprehensive course will show you exactly what’s needed to produce a track in your own DAW that can match it with the pros.

Meet your trainer

Marc Jovani, Composer, Teacher, Cofounder of Cinematic Composing

☼ Based in Los Angeles. Has composed soundtracks for more than 50 movies
☼ Has provided music for major studios such as NETFLIX, Amazon, Lionsgate, Syfy, FOX.
☼ His movies have been distributed internationally on leading, nationally broadcasted television channels, including Lifetime (USA), TF1 (France), the Hallmark Channel (USA), Canale 5 (Italy), Antena 3 (Spain), HBO (USA) and more.
☼ His music has been recorded in major studios: Warner Bros (Burbank), EastWest (Hollywood), and others.
☼ Co-founder of Cinematic Composing (2016) with more than 10.000 students and growing
☼ Berklee College of Music: Composition & Orchestration teacher at Berklee (2010-2016)

What You’ll Learn

Real instruments vs Samples

Discover the differences, how to overcome the shortfalls and how to take advantage of the benefits.

Using Dynamics, Balance, and Panning

Showing you the tricks to ensure your finished track is full of life and realism.

Layering

How to distribute your musical ideas.

Kontakt Set-up

Understanding how to best utilize keyswitches and use midi controllers to record dynamics.

Orchestration for Samples

You’ll discover the Go-To synthestration techniques (also referred to as arranging for samples), and how these techniques differ from traditional orchestration. You’ll save tons of time and boost your production abilities, making your orchestral music sound stellar. These techniques apply across the board, no matter what sample libraries you’re using.

The curriculum

Explore Orchestral Programming (Synthestration)

Confidently orchestrate and synthestrate your music. Produce professional-sounding orchestral mockups.
Available on your Personal Computer, Tablet & Smartphone.

Become efficient at composing. Imagine musical ideas and produce them quickly with samples, without the overwhelming, paralyzing, “what-sample-should-I-load-for-this-to-sound-realistic?” feeling… even if you’re starting from scratch.
Learn the synthestration techniques that will make your samples sound like the real orchestra.
Set up your perfect system that will make you stay in the creative flow and be efficient at producing orchestral mockups.
You’ll learn the differences between writing for real instruments and writing for samples and how to breathe life into your arrangements with dynamics, balance, panning, using keyswitches, and EQ.
You’ll discover how to write for different sections of the orchestra, how to use sketching patches, how to distribute your musical ideas and the power of ensemble patches.
You’ll also learn some tricks to overcome some of the more challenging tasks like sequencing for fast strings and how to blend different orchestral sections that can sometimes be problematic.
At the end of this course, you’ll have a proven composing workflow and you’ll be able to compose and program the music that you love fast and effortlessly without struggling with technical overload.
Let’s write great music!

Modules included in this course

MODULE 1. Synthestration. Tactics For A Good Sound

Introduction:

Difference – Samples & Real Orchestra

Writing Dynamics

Orchestral Balance – Part 1

Orchestral Balance – Part 2

Balance – Bonus Video

Panning

Layers: Distributing your Musical Ideas

Volume: 7, 11, Kontakt, Audio, Gain, etc

Keyswitches

Equalization

MODULE 2. Part 1: Arranging For Samples, Techniques Compilation

Introduction:

Ready-to-go Tracks: configured and pre-routed

Getting a Tight & Powerful Orchestral Sound

Orchestrating Percussion Beds

Sequencing a Percussion Bed

Ensemble Patches: benefits and when to use them

Sequencing Long Strings

Sequencing Trumpets

Horn Patches: for an epic cinematic sound

Tremolo Strings

Low Staccato Strings: for an epic cinematic sound

Tips&Tricks – Strings and Beyond

MODULE 3. Part 2: Arranging For Samples, Techniques Compilation

Introduction:

Strings Measured Tremolos/Staccatos

Sequencing Fast Strings – Three Approaches

The Timpani, as a main orchestral percussion instrument

Blending Orchestral and Percussion Parts

Blending Choir and Orchestra

Compressing Velocities. The easy way

Is importing MIDI from the score editor to sequencer a good idea?

Sketching in your Sequencer

Tips&Tricks : Dealing with Complexity

Composing ala John Williams / Alan Silvestri – Common Synthestration Mistakes

Bonus: Q & A

MODULE 4-BONUS. COMPOSING WORKFLOW – EFFICIENCY