NEXT STEPS for composers - Improve compositions with these DOs and DON'Ts

A must-watch for anyone looking to improve their composing abilities and take their work to the next level.
In this video, OPW provides you with valuable insights into the Do's and Don'ts that aspiring composers can follow to enhance their music-writing skills. Additionally, Oliver takes you through a detailed analysis of one of his own pieces of music, highlighting key tools and techniques he uses.
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Recommended Sample Libraries:
Albion One - www.spitfireaudio.com/albion-one
Olafur Arnalds Chamber Evolutions - www.spitfireaudio.com/olafur-...
Chamber Strings - www.spitfireaudio.com/spitfir...
Studio Strings - www.spitfireaudio.com/spitfir...
Abby Road Two - www.spitfireaudio.com/abbey-r...
Harp Swarm - www.spitfireaudio.com/spitfir...
Alternative Solo Strings - www.spitfireaudio.com/alterna...

[@spitfireaudiollp]

What tips can you share with your fellow music makers to help improve their compositions??

[@mahkyb]

The Homay one was great and now this one is fantastic as well! Thank you so much for doing these for the more novice/intermediate composers. Keep going!

[@LucaRicciComposer]

Another tip to truly level up: If you're writing tonal music, keep in mind there's a hidden game of tension and release which has a psychological effect on the listener. Plan your song structure keeping in mind this🎶

[@westheartmusic]

Great presentation - thank you - maybe one on setting up a custom template for this kind of composition where there’s loads of tracks ❤

[@tylerskrovemusic]

I always love the evolution libraries :)

[@AudioAtmos]

Great presentation and very helpful. Thank you!

[@Scripture-Songs-That-Stick]

Love it. Thank you for sharing.

[@CarlosSanchezcsbphoto]

Very interesting and helpful video. Thank you very much!!!!!!

[@corrosive135]

Very helpful video. Thank you. As a beginner I often forget to program expression and dynamics

[@ckhowes]

Great tips! Thank you.

[@6stringbeats397]

The delay tricks are really cool.

[@BenMartinBox]

Thank you for sharing.

[@KristopherMichael7463]

Another great session.... I always take something from Thank You for taking the time

[@spitfireaudiollp]

Thank you for watching!

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

Thank you for the kind comment and it's a pleasure! O

[@sjm8931]

So motivating. Thank you!

[@spitfireaudiollp]

Glad this video has helped!

[@alanmooremusic]

Great presentation. I enjoyed this a lot and will employ the sine wave trick. Thank you! 👏

[@grgschfr8]

0:55 "Don't need to be a huge pianist, for this" "That's what she said!"

[@AndromedaX8]

Thank you for these wonderful tips Oliver! OACE is also one of my absolute favorites! :)

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

Stunning isn't it - thank you for your comment. Much love, O

[@patzumbrunn]

Thanx a lot Patrice

[@dafingaz]

I need to revisit OACE. It's been a while. :)

[@spitfireaudiollp]

It's a real gem!

[@WinItReigns]

Still need a video on articulations.

[@spitfireaudiollp]

Noted!!

[@stevesutube]

Great video 👍

[@spitfireaudiollp]

Glad you enjoyed it ❤

[@thomasgreer467]

Most helpful. I’m really inspired by your presentation. Do you have other videos with Spitfire or elsewhere?

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

Thank you Thomas, that's kind of you. I have a bunch of videos with Spitfire yes, keep your eyes peeled for new ones or perhaps you find the time to look for some older ones, there's great and inspiring stuff there. Not doing so much on my own channel, that's more for my own music. Happy to answer any questions you might have though. Best, Oliver

[@govannioften1148]

Wow

[@weitseng5301]

Thanks so much for the many helpful tips, Oliver. Do you layer different brands of string libraries together? Does that cause any phasing or panning issues?

[@iyanreed98]

Thanks OPW not only for the tips but for your own composer toolkits as well. Can you let us know who the last composer is that you mentioned after Alberto Iglesias. I'm not familiar with the name and the KZbin transcription did not transcribe it correctly. Looking forward to your future videos.

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

Hi there, thanks a lot for the kind words, I appreciate it. It's Ludwig Göransson :)

[@maxtofone]

Thanks for this informative video. May I ask what MIDI CC controller you are using in this video. Best regards, MaxT

[@ArtStractStudio]

Hey mate, not quite sure but it might be the Nuances Controller .

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

Thank you for your kind words - yes, as @ArtStractStudio says, it's a Nuances Controller, very beautiful piece of gear!

[@maxtofone]

@@ArtStractStudio Thanks a lot for your kind replay and the controller name, I think you are right he is using the Nuances Controller. Best regards, MxT

[@mindr_beats]

Hi Oliver, thanks for your presentation. Could you please give a link to the midi controller you're using or any other one that's being used by one of your colleagues at SA? Thank you!

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

Hi there, thank you for your comment - yes so that's nuancescontroller.fr/

[@Giannboy1]

Thanks so much for the tips! I have an unrelated question. What make of monitor are you using? I'm looking to up grade my system. Gianni♥

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

Thank you for your kind words Gianni - my monitor model is LG 34UC99-W

[@tyalexandercheng]

For what do you use the laptop sitting above the display? I'd love to know how I can utilize my laptop that I have connected to my display.

[@GO2CUT]

That wooden Fade looks wonderful! Is this free to buy somewhere?

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

It is a wonderful piece of gear, it's a Nuances Controller, you have to pre-order and wait for it, they're hand-made! O

[@AFLopes]

Made by Pierre with love. Have one myself. Wonderful feeling.

[@swessels]

Oliver, you make inspirational tutorials. Watching this video created composition ideas for me. Thank you.

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

Awesome thank you so much for your kind words - I'm also happy to read it's inspiring, that's the idea. Much love, O

[@thomasgreer467]

Wonderful. Do you mind sharing your computer screen size? It seems to be exactly what I’m looking for while I am retooling.

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

This is the model of my screen LG 34UC99-W

[@nesofearth]

✨🙏

[@jade8538]

Slightly off topic: Can I ask what monitor you're using? -- I'm in the market for a new curved monitor. Thx!

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

Hi there - this is the model I'm using: LG 34UC99-W thank you for watching!

[@music_creator_capable]

Good!

[@JostSchwider]

👍 - also for the YT algo! 😊

[@anecdotem]

What Slider Controller are you using?

[@giordanobruno7943]

there is no link below !

[@lowrater]

Love the hat.

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

thank you, it's from re-hats.com, made from recycled material.O

[@addd21323]

What's the modulation controller he's using?

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

I'm using Nuances Controller - a wonderful piece of kit!

[@GO2CUT]

I've literally have never seen anybody playing evolutions in staccato. what people do you know Oliver? ;-)

[@spitfireaudiollp]

We've seen it all! 😂

[@MaPa60]

Actually, I was inspired by that idea!

[@evanseesred]

I do remember a Spitfire video that talked about just using the beginnings of an Evo patch, essentially playing it like a Staccato! So it IS possible to do and have it sound interesting! @@MaPa60

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

haha..I did see it before - but you know, as I was dubbing the video I thought to myself 'man, that's kind of a cool sound' ;) But anyways, the message of it is to know your arsenal and what to use when how - so it's definitely not gonna work if you try to use the evos played staccato if you want to have a pumping action scene. But if we get philosophical you can probably argue that nothing sounds wrong or bad. Thank you for commenting and watching,O

[@kostiszi66]

The video has 666 likes atm and I want to like it but I'm scared hahahaha Great job Spitfire Audio 👌🏻🙏🏻

[@Banquet...]

No metronome playing the bass in... very cool

[@spitfireaudiollp]

Thank god for quantize!

[@AnnaMuzyka54]

You added "sine" to the bass. Where can you find it?

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

In logic it's the 'default patch' in its own sampler (formerly known as EXS24). Best, O

[@Zeisslermusic]

It's sad Albion one cost 449 euro and it's for beginners. I understand it's a huge work to make a pack like this but anyway it's a lot of money ❤ 🇩🇰

[@Grid21]

Additional comment, to 17:49, that "busy hihats" is distracting as a layer, and frankly, just adds to much noise. If I had heard this on Spotify with that annoying click sound, I'd be thinking it was a glitch in the recording. Not a good layer to add. I'm sorry, I hate to Nitpick, but guys seriously, this is the second video I have watched, where there are NOT good mixing, or laying skills and this is supposed to be a professional YT channel. I don't know, maybe I am expecting to much from a "demo" video, but there are some tips I'd add, and remove as "don'ts" including some virtual instruments.

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

Thanks for commenting, that's super helpful and insightful - I agree with you they might be distracting from the rhythm of the delays. If this were to go into a mix, I think I'd automate them differently, or perhaps add some filtering - what would be your tip to make them sit better (other than removing them)? Best, O

[@Grid21]

@@OliverPatriceWeder That's something I would have done too. I was taught in live sound that if you can't hear something, turn something else down. It's kinda like the instruments are "singers" and each "singer" has a part in the song and their time to step into the part and "sing their section" of sorts. Granted, if their meant to be layered, depending on the piece, then yes I could say you should blend them together. But if there is meant to be a "solo" part, then that's where level, effect, etc, adjusting comes in. Sorry for sounding so harsh, I am rather picky and OCD about perfect mixes, and if you expect people to learn something, you should always try to put some mixing effort into it to demomentrat a proper idea.

[@steph1918]

6:06: 'Nineteen harp players'. Nope. Nine.

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

well spotted - it's 18 players for the mandolin swarm. ha, still not 19, but closer ;)

[@Grid21]

Ok I have an issue with your mixing. At 10:59, you added all these delays, but the problem is, the main strings and bass, are to loud and you are losing definition if the single notes that's the melody. The proper way to do this, is lower the volume of the chord strings, so the melody can be heard easier. Basically, your main strings are over powering your melodies. I am disappointed that Spitefire didn't catch this, because in my experience with DAWs and live sound, this NOT how you mix different instruments and I expected better mixing techniques then this. In future videos, please double check your levels so that EVERYTHING can be heard. Also additionally, you could also had a 1 or 2 db cut in the mid range to high ranges of the stringed chords to allow space for the melody notes. EDIT: Also, your Delay is far to high to make any audible sense of the melody, and it quickly becomes very overwhelming. I think I personally could do a better job mixing the final composition.

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

Wonderful input here too, the OA swells are so beautiful I might have left them in too loud, though I turned them down as the tutorial goes along I believe. I've removed some of the 2khz range, is that what you refer to? Re Delay, I think the cello should sit an octave below, you are right there. It's not supposed to be a 'finished track' but rather some snippets of tips and tricks, but if you feel like it I'd love to see what you make out of it and perhaps take it into a full composition? O

[@Grid21]

@@OliverPatriceWeder I mean I guess I could, it sounded the piece could go somewhere for sure! I don't have near the same amount of virtual instruments, and I also work in FL Studio primarily, but if there is a raw MIDI file I could work with, I could try. Mind you, I am not advanced composer, but I have self-taught myself a lot in the last few years. Let me know, maybe we could work together on this actually and I could take it as a learning opportunity!

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

@@Grid21 Have a go if you like, here's the midi information of that short section: we.tl/t-pdP0ThgGC7

[@brendanvincent279]

Those basses out of tune bro... similar issues I've found in BBCSO Pro.

[@johnbaxter568]

Just another excuse for a tutorial promoting Spitfire instruments.

[@g.p616]

Fair enough.

[@v.esse.l7580]

That's a good way to sell

[@uw0tm838]

Lol? Is this april fools??? 😂😂

[@superblondeDotOrg]

Composing Tips and tricks for those who cant read music, what? All of these tips are textural, no wonder.