Media Composition - 100 Do's and Don'ts

[@DJLA]

Great episode! thanks mate.

[@MrMusic238]

I think I understand, so make sure you upgrade your operating system in the middle of a project?

[@Seaglass78]

I mean you would want the best, most recent OS for a project right? RIGHT?

[@jayros]

You understood wrong. You have to upgrade to a beta operating system in the middle of a project.

[@robindgordon]

LOL!!!! The best comment

[@soundproductionandadvice]

hahaha! Deserving of more likes.

[@Shiniobi]

Reading all these...dead haha

[@JeffDouglas_]

Those final 2 1/2 minutes are perhaps the most profound things you've given us in your 100 videos. Cheers Christian.

[@shakespearouac]

SpeaksForMe.

[@MKD371]

"Be yourself because everyone else is taken", great Oscar Wilde quote.

[@avenpigatt7841]

this man preaching, Lord have mercy. bless your heart Christian

[@pkos91]

I love this video because you know each sentence was hours, if not days of effort, leading to months, if not years of lessons learned!

[@spookydrums]

This must be one of the most inspirational and hilarious videos of this type and field that exist out there. I am grateful that people like you exist and are sharing insights and "mentoring" the community; in this "flood" of click-bait channels and videos of "How to..." "This is the secret of making killer music" "5 mistakes producers do" and all that sort of crap, there are few outstanding channels with human and organic content which truly share and inspire. So for this, again, thank you for existing and for inspiring!

[@paulobrandao8]

Dear Christian (after this video you shall let me call you like that). I'm a Brazilian producer and composer. Brazil is going through hard times. Sometimes, living here make me loose confidence on human behavior. Your 100th video was a big support on helping me to return to one of the most beautiful Brazilian characteristics: tenderness.

[@achillesamusic]

6:24 I'm so dead with that sequence

[@ohthefuture7618]

I usually don't watch these kinds of vlogs but this channel is just pure gold.

[@brittanyambrose1137]

As a music producer just getting out of college, this is one of my favorite videos on KZbin. Thanks so much for your insight, it's so so so valuable to a clueless 21 year old :-)

[@verticalvibemusic]

This will become a timeless classic! Henson at his absolute friggen fabulous best! Thank you Christian. Really just thank you for the time and love you put into your vlog. with much gratitude and respect. Peter

[@teilormusic]

As a person who experienced at lest a half of what was said on my own skin, watching this is a real blessing! Thank you Christian!

[@craigaspin]

Love this Guy, so down to earth and a real dude with experience, 👏🏼👏🏼🎹🎹👌

[@pdm67]

This is lovely Christian. Your channel is a jewel found on a windswept beach.

[@adityakalway1]

This channel is my new happy place on KZbin! Thanks Christian

[@crichtonmusic]

I watch this regularly. Helps a great deal.

[@christianrooversmusic]

I love your perspective on music. I always appreciate it!

[@Ben_Crido]

Absolutely sage advise. Not just for musicians and composers, for everyone in any career.

[@etsuviolin]

Such a good reminder to come back to. Thanks Christian! :)

[@joseph_deane_]

i watch this every few months. always great to watch i think.

[@nascen7]

I NEEDED to hear this... It has done nothing for my confidence or my imposter syndrome, but it literally covered everything else.

[@SergioValenzuela]

The right words, the right time. Thanks so much for this hilarious and inspiring gem.

[@peachhead1928]

There is so much wisdom in this 14:29sec.. That could be applied to all arenas of life and professions...this will become a new Fave.."Be yourself, Everyone else is taken" about knock me down.. Thank you so much..very inspiring..Cheers..

[@IsaiahGrande]

I will never be a film composer due to many reasons. However this content is still great for myself and everyone else. Please keep them coming!

[@downyc]

I just watched this, again, today. It's always an inspiring bit of counseling. Thanks, Chris!

[@simonpoole2352]

This is probably the single best video to watch for any composer at any stage in their career. Now i'm going outside for a run.

[@gtugland]

Wow! This is pure Gold, Christian!

[@MrMikeEdie]

Lovely view from Arthur's Seat.

[@FrancescoPirrone]

Met Christian at GMC 2015, nice man....and over the years even though I never bought any of the Spitfire Audio stuff I came back to some of the tutorials because they're really useful...... but tonight I really needed to hear the "don't kill yourself" bit multiple times because it really is crucial.....maybe you're working another job too to pay the bills and killing yourself, your relationships and all to make that music....or maybe you are freelancing full time for the first time ever and hadn't had a day off in months.....these things aren't good ideas and it's really important to treat yourself well and if you don't treat yourself well nobody will....your client won't respect you any more for killing yourself, it doesn't make you look successful or hard working or anything....you will just look stressed, tired and distracted.... thanks Christian, I really needed to hear this tonight...... 👍

[@garygimmestad4272]

I'm not a film composer but I've spent a lot of time in theater as MD, arranger, and composer. My resources have mostly been limited to piano-centered scores with drums and bass as luxurious additions. I'm well-versed in counterpoint and have always composed with an ear to make harmony the result of voice leading. So, when writing for piano I often imagine orchestral instruments or vox to create singing lines. But that's a very different beast from writing orchestrally from the git go. I'm retired now, and in the Covid bubble I've been experimenting with digital orchestration and creating short mockups in cinematic style. First off, your posts have been enormously helpful and I'm very grateful for the access to your experience. Thank you! In this initial bit of my learning curve, (contrary to your admonitions) I'm finding the computer to be a terrific place to compose. Placing orchestration (unavailable to me in my former career) in the forefront has dramatically changed how I think about musical gesture as a composer. My internal templates are developing over time and my ability to imagine orchestrally will increase, but for now I'm in a glorious sandbox - at the computer. The other related admonition which gave me a slight pause was, "Don't listen to film music." There's a tongue in the cheek with that one, so I take it as a caveat against the trap of imitative writing. Well, in my initial steps, I'm doing a lot of imitating in order to better understand, for example, how Johannson created such lovely, transparent but deliciously warm sounds. I'm writing a short piece which borrows from a cue in his score for "The Theory of Everything." I began with an identical orchestration but because of the diferences in the meter and trajectory of my experiment, I'm having to find my own answers to moving forward. I'm trying to push the evolution of imitation to personal sound in each attempt. Sorry I went on but perhaps it's of interest to others. Cheers!

[@myllerfilm]

Being a self employed creative for 27 years (not as a music composer) I have to say, this is the most profound, concise advise for everyone who wants to make it in any sort of creative business.

[@CharlieFisherMusic]

This is possibly the best video on our industry I've ever watched. Easily a 9+ on IMDB lol. Thank you Christian, so much tends to go unsaid. Onwards and upwards :)

[@CullenVance]

One of my favorite KZbin videos. I come back to it again and again whenever I’m feeling wobbly. Thank you so much Christian

[@nolli159]

Wow, I'm floored by how helpful and clear this is. A massive, massive thank you

[@MadkeimMusic]

Nice one ! I would love some more about "Don't listen to f***ing film music"

[@zachary4670]

madkeim music interesting point. Why is this something important?

[@Kaeilios]

@@zachary4670 If you listen to music , you're gonna be influenced by it subconsciously , so if you want to sound like you and not anyone else it's best that you stay away from music when writing

[@dex203]

@@Kaeilios film music is dumbed down and theres not much to learn from it in terms of what a real orchestra can do, now if youre writing some score with synths and thats what youre listening to then fine but most film music with orchestras just use them for long sustained notes and drones and comepletely boring uninspired chords

[@_indyana]

I think we have so much to learn from film music - I mean, the film music I listen to are mostly orchestras recorded live, such as the Harry Potter soundtrack. Gotta say, I was taken aback when he said that!! Film music is some of the best!

[@_indyana]

@schmidchrs yes, but what if what inspired them doesn't inspire you? what if what THEY created inspires you? if we all draw on the same inspiration, wouldn't THAT result in similar music being created everywhere? Music is heard and responded to differently by everyone, no matter how subtle the difference may be, and we should all listen to ourselves and focus on what inspires us. Of course, we should do this with a broad knowledge of musical genres so that we may THEN choose what inspires us.

[@4playpa769]

Made me think, smile, laugh, and restart a project. Perfect. Couldn't ask for more. Thanks!

[@chromaticsamples7788]

Christian, your channel is so much of what so many of us students out here look for to hear and understand in music. Thank you so much for your work into these videos, they have enriched my life and given me more structure to how to lead the next few years of my life to give my best attempt to become a media composer. -Alden

[@enifyako]

I'm going to have to construct a scheduler that reminds me to watch this video again every month or so. Hats off, this is so chock full of wisdom.

[@malcolmfrancis4543]

99/100. All excellent! The tax one didn't work for me. In America we don't have to do appreciation schedules anymore. You can write down the full value the year purchased. You can depreciate but......you know. Greed. Fear.Why not. etc. etc. Thanks!

[@powerbastion1083]

Thank you Chris - you are too generous in what you give

[@russell_szabados]

Thank you so much Christian. No matter how often one might have heard any or all of these tips, they’re all worth hearing again and again.

[@Lightweaverfilms]

"Do you really need to quantise that?. Did you click save?" 😂 Brilliant episode Christian.

[@suneasmussen2650]

Just beautiful

[@markusfuller]

Thanks Christian, Very true about operating systems, been there done that.

[@DZPianoMusic]

I typically save composing and career videos, to watch them later, when time permits. But something told me watch this NOW. It was spectacular. Entertaining, Engaging, and Inspiring. Christian, I thank you more than I can express ...

[@gregoryivesdolbyatmosmusic]

Thanks Christian! Finally joined. Had an issue with My Google Account, now fixed-:) Been there on this one you said. Enjoying life for sure and loving what i do! ALSO thanks for all of the wonderful libraries and good wisdom which confirms my beliefs!

[@russell_szabados]

I love this video. I come back around every few months and watch it again.

[@MrPlayerPerson]

The 100 Do's & Don'ts - Fantastic advice and it can pretty much apply to a lot of different disciplines and careers. Remember, "common sense" isn't very common anymore!

[@MarioLucianAndreano]

Binging your videos now, where the f... were all these absolutely awesome/inspirational/informative/entertaining videos when I was starting out as a media composer??? Now I'm getting back in the business so I truly feel blessed for having discovered this channel. Please keep doing videos like this!

[@BenTinker]

Happy 100 Mr Henson! Congrats! Thanks for sharing your valuable knowledge, it has helped me enormously. I can’t wait for the next 100!

[@getkilted]

The best video, on the best channel, on KZbin. No doubt. And definitely don't send emails after a Peroni or too (remember that one? Still makes me smile).

[@Dynasty62752]

"Be yourself, because everyone else is taken." Brilliant!

[@thobraa]

Great tips! Fantastic delivery! Not the least, genuine. New fan.

[@BenjiFlow13]

Very entertaining vid. Good wisdom and funny too. I watched it a couple times.

[@andrewwhitehouse1878]

Thanks Christian, amazing...

[@gnzleal]

Great video bro thanks for sharing your experience 👏🏽🙏🏽🤘🏽

[@JeffMarkeyMusic]

I really appreciate your candor and openness, Christian. Highly relatable and obviously a good dude. Cheers!

[@Pipe_music]

Gracias Christian por tu generosidad, es un gran tesoro este vídeo. Un gran abrazo y mis mejores deseos.

[@tumbee111]

Thank you for sharing you wisdom Christian! You're a truly a source of inspiration.

[@guillermodelnoche]

This is brilliant Christian “don’t upgrade your OS in the middle of a project” Henson! Cheers mate!

[@michaelmccarter-crellin8548]

Wonderful Christian. For the younger media composers just starting out, these are very helpful tips.

[@hypoidsound]

Mr. Henson...your my hero ;-) Fun AND helpful tips for the less heard/watched of us. Can’t remember how I ended up here, but glad I did!

[@BrunoBrugnano]

congratulation Christian !!! and thank you ......

[@PotentStudios]

Such an inspiration. Thanks for all the great videos!

[@brianstecklermusic]

Great as usual, Christian. Thanks!

[@Txemacabria_compositor]

Really enjoyed your advices, quite inspiring and honest, thanks for sharing

[@swiftbot]

Congrats on 100! Brilliant video. So happy this channel exists.

[@AL.N-music]

How can I give this a thousand thumbs up??? Awesome reminder to common senses that escapes a looot of us for reasons unknown.

[@0205666]

You are awesome dude! Thank you so much for all your great advice and insights !Stevie b passionate musicman and composer from hong kong

[@officialsimonharris]

Fantastic video Christian, so many great tips!

[@vroge3275]

Standing ovation :) Pearls of hard earned wisdom. Thank you.

[@cbewk]

Congrats, Christian! I often pimp your channel as a life coaching seminar for independent creatives as much as it is for composing. This is why. All of us appreciate all of the technical and non-technical advice. Cheers!

[@botulf4908]

This is simply one of the best advice “tutorials” ever! I’ve just managed to save up and buy the British Drama Toolkit, Spitfire Audio are the best company around, such a diverse group of people creating amazing tools.

[@halcyondaystunes]

Absolutely brilliant....So many things in there that I relate to and do but also tons of stuff I haven't thought of. Thank you for sharing Christian I am going to holding onto this video. As for your midlife crisis, you haven't stated your intros with "what is happening You Tube " So you are doing ok :)

[@jurymusic1]

Your generosity is unparalleled.Thank you so much I have watched every episode.

[@e.g.systems6146]

Congratulations on the 100th vid, and as always thanks for making me smile (several times) as you prove that the best advice always comes from people who have lived it first!

[@cathiltz]

This took an unexpectedly emotional turn, thank you for reminding me who an artist is and what they do. Thanks for the rest, good advice!

[@daveholt8208]

Great advice. Extremely funny. Loved it. Thanks Christian 😃

[@NedBouhalassaVideos]

Fantastic resource, excellent choice for number 100 - congrats! And THANKS!

[@vk3so]

Thank you Christian. Well said.

[@audioembassy]

A brilliant, honest, informing and inspiring channel Christian, thank you. I think I chuckled every single one of those 'don'ts' that I too have done.

[@philipcarroll7151]

Cheers...that was really useful. 4 yrs later...

[@benfrancemusic]

Love it Christian! Here's to many hundred more great vlogs!

[@cinematicamusic2578]

I really really love your videos!

[@jeanchile9117]

Wow. Love this one. Thank you for your contributions to this world of media composition and congratulations on all the success you have achieved.

[@eiqj19]

Great 100th video. Thank you for all the teachings.

[@antyja]

Thank you for 100 (?) fantastic videos. In my humble opinion this is the best channel on KZbin, thanks for sharing so much insight.

[@KristopherMichael7463]

This video is absolutely amazing!1 I am at a place where I really needed to hear this......I just want you to know how much you pushed me....God , Thank You!!

[@2112ZOZ]

Congrats, Christian. This channel has quickly become a "must watch" for me. So many great nuggets of wisdom in this episode and lots of laughs too. I appreciate that. Cheers, mate.

[@definitelymiami7978]

Great stuff! i would add, invest time and energy (maybe some money?) into a project management software program. Even if you're just working on your own, having a system to keep track of your notes, notes from others, templates (for invoicing) and task due dates. Some even have time tracking built in.

[@StephenGallagher101]

Gold. Thank you for your continued generosity, Mr Henson.

[@idletimerap]

These are all brilliant!!! But 60-80 are so close to home

[@markrussell6813]

Very good. Enjoyed that. Thank you.

[@galacticecho7027]

Hey, Christian, we actually happened to talk on the spitfire customer support chat not that long ago. I was looking at your Albion One pack for a business plan and you complimented me as being the first musician you had heard of doing such a thing. Anyhow, thanks so much for all the advice and encouragement. Your videos have been an inspiration for me to actually try and make some money at music. But, as to the last few minutes of your video where you are saying that you need to maintain a proper work-life balance so that your family can see you. Well, I have a family and I am wondering how it is that I should be keeping a healthy distance from my work when it sounds like so many folks in the industry seem to have a "work like a dog" mentality. This is something that seems to be a problem in many modern industries and I think the science bears out that this just doesn't work out for us as human beings, health-wise. It seems as if you can hamstring yourself pretty badly by having the mentality that you need to be there for your dependents. Or is it more that you have had an opinion change on this recently in your life and are working on trying to be different in an industry that largely finds dependents as inconvenient? Do I just need to be diplomatic about saying "No" to opportunities? It seems this hasn't generally hurt your brother in his ventures as a video game composer. Sorry, btw, I know that this is an "old news" post so to speak, but, it would be great to hear more on this. Thanks so much again, it is because of your encouragement and a generous friend who introduced me, that I have recently had an amazing opportunity to actually start talking with an established video game composer and start getting advice and begin my sojourn of networking into the industry. Merry Christmas and I hope the new year finds you and yours happy, healthy and refreshed.

[@JpgeersingNl]

Congrats and most of all, thank you Christian for being yourself! Looking forward for het next 100...

[@AlexBohlen]

a lot of lovely words! Especially the part with the beer & wine ;)

[@AdrianEllis]

Beauty! The Christian Henson difference: great advice offered by a foul-mouthed Poet Laureate. There's always at least one turn of phrase or metaphor that makes me laugh out loud. Timing on the advice re: stemming out before sitting on the beach couldn't be more timely. Thanks for 100 fantastic entries - and here's to many more!

[@DaveToneMusic]

Just had a re-watch of this and wanted to say thanks again for your wonderful work and the wisdom and simple humanity of the years of experience shared here. You're a good man, and that comes across first and lends credence and heft to your work. Thanks again!

[@nickvareymusic]

Christian you’re a legend mate, this was great. Thank you and thanks to the fella who recommended it!