Scoring!!!

[Vum]

I haven't done a lot of scoring to picture, but what I've done in the past involved me giving sheet music to musicians and recording their performance. As a favor to a friend I'm doing the score/soundtrack to a "B" movie with a very small music budget - somewhere around $1,000.

Can anyone recommend a sample library (VSL, Garritan) for me to use? I use both Logic and Pro-Tools.

The movie is about Vampires and most of the music heavy-metal related.

Thanks a lot guys. We shoot in September.

PN

[Vum]

I should probably mention that I am looking to go the software route because with all the processes involved with recording and rescoring scenes, mastering, and also recording the soundtrack "live", I want to keep as far under budget as possible. This is why I don't mind using the budget on software that I'll be able to use again and again.

Thanks

[jhorsley]

The professional sound libraries such as VSL and East West Orchestra sound great. There are lots of threads on GS about this that should give you plenty of info.

I don't recommend the virtual orchestra score. Even the most expensive samples (which blow your budget out anyway) are not going to replace the real thing.

I would recommend scoring the picture with a combination of live instruments that you play, and perhaps a few choice samples that sound relatively authentic (a hybrid approach). Don't attempt to go for a big hollywood orchestral score with synths because the results will almost certainly let you down if you really want the music to be expressive.

I'm writing this post from the Sundance Film Festival, and for what it's worth, many of the short and lower budget films I've seen here used music in very unique ways, and are often just one instrument.

So I say, if you have wine taste on beer budget, you end up with the worst wine when you could have had a great beer!

If you are curious, here is a link to a film that you can view for free on itunes, called "HUG". I scored it, (sound designed it and mixed it too) and it's screening at the festival this week. The budget was on the low side, so an orchestra or even chamber ensemble was not an option. I played bass, percussion, synths in reason, and a few ww samples here and there.

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/M...20079&s=143441

Just my view on things, and I hope it's helpful.

Best of luck with the project!

Joachim