Today, we’re going to be talking about stems.

This topic was sparked from a great conversation I had with a Bootcamp student a few weeks ago.

(I’m sure he’s reading 👋)

You may already know that media composers are often asked to split their track into stems: individual groups of instruments that “sum” to the total full mix when combined.

In some cases, this additional step can feel frustrating...

It can often be overwhelming to see big-name film composers with massive setups and thousands of dollars worth of gear.

But here’s the good news:

You don’t need all of that to start getting paid to make music. ❌

Here’s what my setup looked like in 2016:

I’ve got a laptop propped up on a wooden board on a dual keyboard stand, sitting in-between my Yamaha HS5 monitors (which I’ve had my whole ...

Today’s video shoutout goes to Simon Passmore, a fantastic composer and mockup wizard who I’ve had the pleasure of working with on several projects!

Simon has some tips in his newest video that are almost too good to be free. But free they are, so enjoy 😄

I especially love his suggestion of practicing a VST before recording it. VSTs are a lot like learning new instruments unto themselves, and...

With just one week left until my Orchestral Mockup Fundamentals course release date, I thought I'd share a little preview from the course itself.

Here's a few strategies I use regularly to perform winds, brass, and strings using just modulation from a MIDI fader:

Some key takeaways:

• Phrase the dynamics of your lines in accordance with the rising and falling of your melody
• Give winds and b...

The hunt for great orchestral colors can be so captivating that sometimes we forget about all of the wonderful colors that exist outside of orchestral music.

I want to share with you some of my favorite instruments from around the world that I’ve used over the years in my music. I challenge you to find one that sparks excitement in you, and use it in a piece of your own 🙂

Dulcimer/Santoor (Per...