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Hi, (this is about cinematic composing) I've been on many composer forums and I keep coming across this problem: - people underestimating the power of good sounding content or not being able to get the sound quality they want. so I'll give some tips on how to get this done: - where do I find good sounding sample libraries? I find the library's from heavyocity, output sounds, cinesamples and native instruments a good place to start. they are expensive though. they all require Kontakt 5. Don't underestimate free sample libraries. they might work just as good as professional libraries! - how do I mix them in a track? every single sample library is different and has a different sound. choose the ones you like most and maybe layer them with others to get the ultimate sound. make sure when you make certain articulations, that you use the samples designed for this. (example: when strings need to do spiccato don't use legato samples.) if not, the track will sound very unprofessional and cheesy. this sounds really stupid that I say this, but I've come across this mistake dozens of times. don't underestimate dynamics. I tend to do this as well. if you have your melody's and chords ready and you have a decent sample library, they will sound pretty normal without dynamics. this is just something to mess around with. keep in mind that dynamics improve your track dramatically. so try something. if you use a keyboard that has a modulation wheel, try some stuff out. make sure that the panning of all instruments is correct to your liking. if all instruments are in one place it will sound unprofessional and unrealistic. make sure there is a good variety of places where the instruments are placed. choose reverb and other effects individually per section. this gives you maximum control over the sound. - synthesizers synthesizers are a great help when it comes to building your sound. they can be used to boost a certain section of the orchestra or to give a feel to your track that organic instruments cannot accomplish. - live playing when you have the chance to play something live, take it. playing something live is in almost all cases easiest. if you are a bit of a musical person the dynamics will go automatically. just import your recording, put some reverb and EQ on it and done. if you are a string player, you might use autotune to make sure your notes are all spot on. I hope this was helpful Cheers! p.s. I've got a track attached that I created under 20 minutes or so, to show you what synthesizers do to the sound of a track. (Don't mind the ending though. it sucks.)

Geen dank! You are very talented.

Hartstikke bedankt voor je advies! ik ben het helemaal eens met je punten! Ik zal hier zeker rekening mee houden bij de volledige compositie!

Welkom bij de club! It is lovely! The topic ''dreams'' is very present in your composition, so do not worry about that. I like the tremolo in the strings (if I am right) from the beginning, because this creates a sort of mysterious atmosphere. When the brass comes in, this atmosphere makes place for a more heroic, epic theme. I suggest you stop the tremolo from that moment, because it then becomes a bit too repetitive and disturbing for me. An idea: This long C that was first played in tremolos by high strings can then be taken over by some lower strings playing arco to support the brass. The second part reminds me of some Asian film music. Probably because of the harp (or guitar). This theme is dreamy as well, because the music echoes. I like how you use double stops in the viola. Finally, the third part. In my opinion, this is the most wonderful part. It has a vivid mood and the 'dialogue' between the powerful brass and the smooth strings is splendid. The drums create even more epicness. However, the end came way too fast for me: a sudden low drum and all music is gone. That is a pity and you should make the end more smooth. Furthermore, the idea of ''dreams'' did not came out that nice like with the previous two parts. It rather reminds me of a great adventure than a restful dream. In conclusion, I think you have done very well and you may be proud! Goed gedaan!

Dude is this live or do you just have an incredible sound library because if so please hook me up hahah ;)

I don't think there are any manuals to know what to do. But, on the other hand, I don't think either you need lots of years to reach a good level. Of course, you never stop studying music. Perhaps, in your case, you should focus on the scales of each chord. That includes what notes are chord notes, what are tensions, and what are avoid notes. You start with major mode and its seven chords-scales. In melody, to be sure, you put chord tones and tensions in strong places, and every note you want, including avoid notes and crhomatic ones in weak places. What are strong points? The beginning of the measure, an also the beginning of every division of the measure. Also, a tone followed by leap or by silence becomes a strong note... Well, there are many things about this. And besides, when you know the essentials, you can break the rules and make other things supposedly "wrong". Being self-taught is hard, many times you don't know if you are right or wrong, if you don't have anybody to tell you. But being self-taught is also a challenge.