Scoring To Picture: Day One

Christian Henson demonstrates how to approach scoring to picture.
Get your pack here: bit.ly/thebenchassets
Learn more: www.spitfireaudio.com/editori...

[@carlstephenkoto619]

This is like being your intern (without having to pick up your dry cleaning). Looking forward to more!

[@CuNimb]

I can't think of something more helpful for a musician looking to get into scoring for picture. Thank you so much Christian for putting your time into this. It is great to see that the CH blog mentality is affecting the SA channel as well!

[@LeeBlaske]

Great tip on downloading files sent to you ASAP and checking them. I've only had a couple of situations where there the deadline was a long way off, I waited to download (tied up with other projects), and then downloaded a short time before the deadline and the files were messed up. But when that happens, it's super embarrassing, and you really don't want clients thinking you haven't spent much time at all on their important work. But I've got an even better story... I was once in the middle of finishing a project and had been up for about three days with no sleep. Went to the session in the morning, and everything was fine. Got home in the middle of the afternoon. I had another project to finish scoring for the next day, but fortunately it wasn't too complex. It needed maybe six hours of work. So, I decided to take a nap before I started on it, because I really needed one. I woke up about 7PM and looked at the clock on the wall. It was the time of year where the light at 7AM and 7PM were about the same. The session was supposed to be at 9AM, and I thought I had slept through the entire night and it was already 7AM with no time to finish the project and get to the studio (it was a project that involved a number of people and clients). I frantically called the producer and his wife answered the phone. I started profusely apologizing about not having the scores ready, etc., etc. While speaking to the producer's wife, I gradually realized that it was 7PM, not 7AM, and that I had plenty of time. She must have thought I was out of my mind.

[@HalValla01]

"That's why we're in sync and looking lovely" The most British thing I've ever heard

[@grateful4068]

Now I just need to find all the settings in Cubase. This was very helpful. Both the Spitfire channel and his personal channel are great assets, for those getting started and pros alike.

[@huntersharris]

Very helpful as always, I would love to see more content like this! Thanks for sharing!

[@normansole6856]

I've begun to start each days session with a video from your good self, Paul or other members of the Spitfire crew. Some music producing pals always started a session, listening to great tunes. I find your videos do the same for me. Watching and listening to your scoring advice is like listening to a bit of Stevie Wonder before a session ;) It just sets the day off in the right way... Cheers geezers nOrm x

[@PatrickLenkMusic]

19:34 oh man, that was so relieving when you mentioned that you get frustrated about the new version. I was sitting here, cringing and telling myself: "Gosh, would I hate that change which destroyed all the work". Good to know, that it's part of the game and not me being unable to be professional :D

[@HimanshuKumar-xx4dh]

Please make more of such content. First time I feel confident in tackling Orchestration, else I am usually intimidated just by all the available bells and whistles and call it quits.

[@BluesAndTheEdge]

This is immeasurable in terms of impact on workflow and film scoring process. Thank you for your generosity.

[@JustinSchipper]

Love this. Is there any chance these or others like them could be made available again? Would love to be able to practice scoring to picture!

[@peterholt5326]

Thanks Christian! As a composer looking to get into scoring for picture, this is perfect. Your willingness to share ideas and to assist newcomers into the business is refreshing and admirable. Bravo Sir! This is one of your best ever vlogs.

[@edwardpatrickwhite6679]

This is a great wee intro for those just starting out Christian! Nice one. Hearty back slap etc. It’s brilliant what you and Paul are doing for our community. When chasing the cut, music that feels unmetered, or has a lot of rubato is of course easier to reconform to changing picture. It would be interesting to see what happens when the Director’s boyfriend (or girlfriend) suggests something less oblique/sparse/swimmy felt piano/scandie etc but instead wants something with a defined beat/groove/strong sense of tempo and meter - “like the temp” - but where the cut remains fluid. Once a strong pulse is introduced, it can be much more tricky to yank musical moments around transparently by changing tempo and meter. Editors tend to fudge this when re-conforming their temp tracks to picture - overlapping waveforms etc) but specific moments must still be hit and in a musically comprehensible fashion from the composer’s perspective. This is where it gets tricky. I am personally fond of the Zimmer inspired “cheeky” 3/8 bar to catch up to a hit point. Some how the 3/8 bar sits between two measures of 4/4 in a manner that is quite musical. And orchestras seem to get it. We can also fudge tempo by 1-2 bpm every bar over a longer period of time. What tricks/strategies have you got up your sleeves when music must be reconformed but there is a strong sense of pulse in the music?

[@vicesquadpunk]

After 30+ years professionally in guitar based music, and now taking baby steps in keyboard based music you sir, are my hero.... I totally understand your inner talent, your hard earned craft and aesthetics. I'm not a keyboardist much to my dismay but I truly take so much from your videos. Much love and respect 🙏

[@MusicalWizardryMarcoIannello]

Thanks for this video, Christian, it is absolutely educational to see how you approach writing to picture from the beginning to the end (well, sort of the end). Please, keep making this sort of films, thank you

[@nicknewman7848]

I'm really enjoying your videos. You have cornered the market in easily digestible information and humility. It's a breath of fresh air

[@sandralevysmith4511]

Super fun to watch, I have scored to picture for many years and love hearing you put words to so many of my thought processes. Thanks for all the great videos!

[@semanticsamuel936]

Blimey how is it that I just discovered this channel today?! This is an absolute goldmine. There are plenty of channels out there about how to write music, there's stuff on theory, there's stuff on mixing a finished recording and the like, but there's very little on the pragmatics of writing something in a real-life setting. Which cuts do you hit? How do you translate frame rate to BPM and bars? What do you do when you compose a nice piece of music and then the editor starts mucking around with it? You can't get precious about this sort of stuff. Really helpful and revealing. Thanks!

[@helloworldstudios412]

This is the first time I have actually seen someone work with the reel in this manner and I am sure it is nothing new to the industry. Great tutorial!

[@felixdreiser]

Thank you! The Spitfire community is just great and your dedication towards it is outstanding! I gave it a shot!

[@RicardoHenriqueDeSRaymundo]

Thanks a lot! It's always fantastic to watch a pro in action !

[@gesslr]

Totally wonderful that you folks did this. Thank you!

[@MarioTorre]

Yes, do more, please! One of the most useful insights so far, thanks!

[@klassik68]

Thanks for the insight. Much appreciated! Loved the Harbeth factory video. Its great content in its simplest form. Thank you

[@ChrisMHall]

Another great video. Really inspiring to see you work. Thank you Christian

[@TheAdamMalcolm]

I really need to start taking notes when watching your videos Christian! So many little nuggets of gold

[@briannolan]

Brilliant to get the opportunity to actually see "it" happening (whatever "it" is)! This is a great resource, and I'd love to see you doing more of this!

[@ChrisLodyMusic]

Fantastic, this is incredibly helpful. I’ve been doing a little work scoring a short film recently which is my first attempt and it went well but any scraps of advice I can pick up like this for future projects is golden. Fingers crossed there are future projects! Thanks so much.

[@shamieharvey3517]

Great video. Really good that you're sharing the session too to let other people practice. Really is great to see you guys exposing this side of composing for the likes of us!

[@caryeddy6928]

I found this fascinating and a great learning experience. Looking forward to more content like this. Thank you!

[@somedood6621]

Brilliant work, please make a day two.

[@dhunsawaar]

This is absolutely wonderful. Especially the insight of gauging the tempo of the visuals is gonna stay with me forever. Really wanted to understand that. Thank you so much.

[@Asahibug]

Better than what anyone has told me at my university!!! Please do a day 2!!!

[@timotewb]

Fantastic! Definitely keen to see more content like this in the future!

[@ncc19825]

Very nice! Its always good to see the maestros in action! I've learned a lot for sure!

[@alejandronieto576]

Thanks for your generosity Christian, from Buenos Aires.

[@KKMcK1]

Thank you Christian. Not only are your videos informative, but they are really very fun thanks to your personality and character. Real for real! Usually, I write lyrics, first, find the music in the lyrics, and then once the song cycle is complete, I write screenplays to them. I have over 2 dozen screenplays/soundtracks so far (sitting in a box). Having said this, I have always wanted to compose to picture. What a fun challenge! Please do more of these on different themes (light/dark). Thanks again!!!

[@benalarid8485]

Thank you for this resource. Providing Video resources like this can be so helpful in the early stages of learning.

[@John-ye2pm]

Thanks Christian for these great videos!

[@AndreasvanHaren]

Great video as always. Finally learned how to use Tempo Operations! Very helpful to see how you adjust the music to the new video. Thanks, Christian!

[@Submersed24]

I liked the way the reverb went up at the last picture that he did the first time lmao. He is really good at nailing what he wants to play on piano and knowing exactly what he wants to get at when scoring. I can't seem to make my mind up with the possibilities and it makes the outcome worse

[@kobebaeyens751]

I loved watching this and learned a lot. Thanks

[@ErnestoComposer]

Brilliant stuff Christian!

[@ManchesterMusic]

Excellent, excellent video. Only thing I'd add would be to make sure you ask the directors/producers/(your contact) if the footage sent over is 'Picture Locked' or represents the 'Picture Lock'. Can't tell you how many times I'm composing to something that eventually gets tweaked after all the cues are mixed.

[@stevedavis2954]

That's what music editors are for.

[@henryreinach5662]

This was so helpful! I'd love to see more of these

[@josephinelange1730]

Love this, super helpful. Also really like the three films to practise with. Thanks so much.

[@charliemcgrain]

Great watching your work flow. Thanks so much for this content.

[@fiddlefolk]

This guy is really great at explaining his craft.... thank you

[@epicon6]

Composers are undervalued. Without a score there's no emotion and the composer can affect so much of the story telling and structure the whole film.

[@COLDMKULTRA]

Splendid stuff Christian ... an excellent example to all budding composers. The initial "concept" was in your mind very quickly (this cannot be easily taught ... if at all) The technical stuff ... well, this can be taught, with a steep learning curve ... but you clearly illustrate how the technical side of such projects demands extreme creative flexibility. To many, this would be mind bendingly impossible. Thank you for your educational and honest insight ... respect!

[@markoticamusic1274]

Really nice and helpful video! Thanks!

[@Stallagmite]

I love the clarity of the process...so good how you keep things focused I could really use more of that...I kept hoping the D7 chord would be dropped though heehee.

[@leakso1]

Hey Christian, I've always been fascinated about how music can change a movie/TV show. For me it's just as important and in some cases more so than the dialogue. I love sound, I create my own music, mainly dance music as a way to cope with my depression and stress, I'm not good enough by any means to sell my music, it's just a way for me to think of somthing else that I can loose hours in, without having to think of my depression triggers. I've been thinking a lot lately about trying to do this as another creative outlet. In fact, yesterday, I was thinking at work "were could I get a movie or somthing to download to have a go at this" . I use ableton live lite 10 (main daw), and also recently studio 1 (trying to learn currently). I can't afford to upgrade ableton just yet. I have an uno synth, a rythm wolf drum machine, and a Boog model D (on Christmas day). Various soft synth and fx. I am now really looking forward to downloading this video and having a go with it. Thanks very much. Ps, I'm recently a subscriber to ur stuff, u are by far my favourite creative based channel on KZbin. Keep up the good work.

[@erichoodmusic5810]

🔊Thanks for sharing how you approach scoring. This was very informative!🔊

[@GuyTallo]

Golden videos. Thank you!

[@joe.gallowaymusic]

Love this idea! Please do more of these :)

[@harrymartinunderwater1496]

I absolutely love these sessions. You work fast by using some keyboard shortcuts - is it ever possible just to mention your keystrokes when working with the DAW? (I know it's not a logic tutorial, but it's so helpful to pick up the shortcuts you use too). Wonderful session!

[@SCOREWIZARDSMUSIC]

This is really great, very helpful!

[@Shareef2610]

thanks for sharing we will keep watching.

[@jazminedukes3276]

Thanks for this! Amazing!

[@jaredforthmusic]

This is so helpful! Great job with this video

[@basswolf86]

Amazing! More stuff like this! Great to see how you work with your timeline in logic, always something my ocd brain has been rigid to. Would love to know more about timeline and event manipulation, if not from yourself another source of knowledge!

[@JayKay0245]

Thanks for this. Really interesting, really helpful!

[@ChristianThon]

Wow, that's really helpful! Thank you so much!

[@ToreGThomassen]

Great video as always 👍

[@prootesen]

Amazingly insightful

[@ALLGOOD_MUSIC]

Thanks for another great video.

[@immuziconline]

Thank you so much, really helpful.

[@riberto123]

very nice and helpful tutorial

[@MeditationZen]

Hey Christian just reaching out to say ur my fave channel on KZbin at the moment. Mainly cos u get it about the music and writing thing. I find it deeply respectful of the craft that you put so much into you videos and I have subscribed and been back for more. I am sampling my two pianos this weekend just so I can immortalise them a lil bit... one is an absolute shitbox while the other is a smooth groovy one. I’m kinda late to the piano book thing and piano too (at 43) but I’ll send it to you anyway. “SkankyJoe” will play forever!

[@franm6569]

Thank you. Very helpful

[@cornodk]

Very educational. Thanks.

[@unclebass5]

Thank you so much. Much to learn. Some technical (Logic) parts are beyond me today-Events window, time codes etc. Any suggestions where to learn more basics? Please keep doing these tutorials!

[@jammusique]

Very instructive!!

[@nigelworwood8530]

Having done sound and edited pictures ... A cut is motivated by something not some random hack, the movement of the waves, dialogue or your track. I would go for your track. Give the editor a call. P.S, You won it for me.

[@nobbynose4254]

so so valuable thank you

[@eggenify]

Woow... this is very helpful ! thank you

[@jaikumarsivalingam]

Thank you, CH...

[@shaynegreen]

Very good. Thank you!

[@EskimoCreamKing]

Would like to see you do a mixture of this and the Eurorack now

[@MeashaNicks]

This is the best ! Please more :)

[@pjcerto1074]

Thank you for this, Christian. I really found it fascinating and all your time and effort is very much appreciated. I will look forward to more of the same. . . . . . a bit cheeky, l know - even for a Yank!

[@DanielVega-ny7cl]

More videos like this one!

[@GypsyBlws]

Amazing!!

[@vRoMe0]

“ I didn’t win the pitch”, classic Christian!! 😂😂

[@richarddunn367]

7:20 I´d really would love to hear more of your thoughts on major being ominous, and the chord progression you chose for this cue. What makes major ominous? Is it actually the contrasting with other less stable chords in a major key, like minor and diminished for example? There is a f sharp dimished in your cue I believe, so maybe thats the driving force? Really great video, thanks for doing it. Cant wait for more!

[@goreybeydagi]

It's amazing to watch you while working on a picture. It's illuminating as always. May I ask you; are you planing to arrange an online workshop or masterclass in the future? If it happens that I will be first in the line :)

[@Bfredproduction]

Do you think you can recreate the link ! Its expired !?

[@RTsTracks]

Hi Christian I've been watching your videos and they are really helping , infect I have nearly watched all of them. Love what you are doing it is super interesting. I am going to use your labs and some samples from piano book to score this, can I send you the finished article for some feedback ?

[@lukewakeling6691]

Hi Christian, great videos! Any chance of getting the pictures re-uploaded?

[@yebot]

Love the videos, Christian. Of course, I recognize Santa Monica beach here. I live a short 5-minute walk from that bloody t-shirt.

[@aequus1band]

You always have such a great approach to educating even us novices, thank you Christian. I am a ProTools user so forgive my Logic illiteracy. Why don't you set markers where the scene changes are and have visual cue points as it scrolls? One of the commenters already said Logic will do that automatically. I know you said locking is 3rd most important, but wouldn't it also help with your anticipation and visually setting your grid while finding tempo? Just interested why you chose to guess and wait instead of shifting either to match your start point. Thanks for everything you do!

[@eross21]

i love this kind of video. if you can explain how you decide on a tempo that would be perfect. Also, when beginning the melody, where do you start? is it completely random, do you you have a scale of key you start in. how do you go about righting percussions to picture? keep up the great videos!

[@LeeGee]

I can't find such videos anywhere. Most videos are about technical things one can work out our read in a manual. It's the creativity that interests me.

[@adrianbankswestwood]

Surely you'd win your own pitch, Christian!? Haha! Thanks for another great insight to scoring to picture.

[@charlesgaskell5899]

I love the sense of slightly tongue-in-cheek-ness of the new amazing TV murder-mystery Scandi-noir series, called... . . . "The Bench". Did you ever discover why someone had left behind a bloody shirt randomly on a bench? Serendipity!

[@MichelSchallenberg]

Hmm, would be cool to have a plugin that analyzes the video and looks for cuts, then produces an audiofile with myabe a click sound where the cuts are. So you could hear and see cuts.

[@goreybeydagi]

Sounds good :)

[@isaacramirez8475]

You can create a marker tracks set in logic that does exactly that. Analyzes your clip and give you visual representation of where all the cuts are.

[@blackskullxandy]

Isaac Ramírez woah what exactly is this function called and where do I find it? Thank you

[@MichelSchallenberg]

meh, i'm on cubase :( but good to know!

[@isaacramirez8475]

Just open the global tracks (Press "G") Click on "Markers" and click on "Create marker sets from scene cuts/changes". :)

[@sonicindustries227]

Excellent - really good. Sounded like Una Corda keys a bit

[@DatAnydeks]

I really appreciate your honesty and expressing the WAY you are thinking. To me, this comes before the technical stuff. Excellent teaching ... not to necessarily write beautiful music, but rather utilizing sounds to tell the story. Thanks, Christian ... you’re a genius, and also generous taking time to freely share such valuable insights. Although you didn’t ‘win the pitch’ it’s hard for us not to like your work. Cheers.

[@pjdahmen]

Great .

[@nghtfall]

Thanks for this great video! The download seems to not contain the video files anymore though which is a bit of a bummer