VSL Studio Chat with Danny Elfman

[@allendean9807]

If i could sneak into a cardboard box, in the corner and just watch him work, I’d peacefully got to jail after i got caught....

[@olilea5522]

Elfman: 'and ye then i just showed this to Tim as one of my short little demos' *literally creates some of the most captivating and mesmerising film music ever created*

[@dean107]

love the bladerunner pfp

[@rollogic2988]

Danny is one of my 5 top best composers today. I can usually tell it's him without even seeing the credits. Fantastic work.

[@flowerpunkchip]

Living composers? Please name me the other 4. Would love to hear new good music.

[@reedrichards1961-F4]

@@flowerpunkchip don't know his but mine is Hans Zimmer: Man of Steel, BVS, Inception and Interstellar, didn't mention dark knight trilogy becuz although it's good it's pretty backgroundy. Tom Holkenborg: Godzilla VS Kong, Zack Snyder's Justice League, and I've heard the recent Mad Max as well, James Newton Howard: Unbreakable, John Williams: you know this one already I assume but surprisingly he isn't retired from scoring, Michael Giacchino: a good bit of his music is backgroundy but his work on Star Trek and The Batman and Spider Man Homecoming and Far From Home are pretty memorable

[@chosenundead9740]

Mine are: nick arundel, marty odonell and Mike Salvatori, danny Elfman, Tchaikovsky, John williams and motoi sakuraba. I can appreciate Mozart and Bach for their historical impact but there music is inferior to many later composers as a result of advancement in music as well as just smarter people overall.

[@nickavenoso7851]

@@reedrichards1961-F4 In terms of film composers my favorites are Danny Elfman, Hans Zimmer, Michael Giacchino, Bear McCreary, John Williams. I like Holkenborg as well.

[@reedrichards1961-F4]

@@nickavenoso7851 how could I forget Elfman! Sorry. I should have replaced someone on my list for Elfman. He's a genius. There's really too many good film composers to condense down to 5. Because now Benjamin Wallfisch(misspelled his name I'm sure but that's how it sounds), Ludwig Goransson, Dave Porter, Vangelis, Ennio Morricone and Howard Shore come to mind.

[@oregonhighroller5178]

I fall asleep to Danny's music almost every night. Haunting and lovely!!

[@darrenhirst9900]

Alice sounds a little like Charlie and the chocolate factory. He's brilliant and I love all his creations.

[@michaelmckenzie317]

Danny's Spider-Man score was the best.

[@winstonvkoot]

is

[@marcschndr]

With james horner's score

[@MJballer97]

Michael McKenzie no Edward scissorhands best by far

[@akinoyuki8058]

Difficult to say really.. I'd say Batman (the 1st) would be my personal best, but I love Beetlejuice, Sleepy Hollow and Spiderman so much as well... really, Danny Elfman is my favorite composer. Been since I was 10 and watched Beetlejuice in theaters.

[@lukeskywalker6809]

His Batman score is the best.

[@X2factorforjustice]

I love how Danny uses choir, so epic and open! Legend

[@BeachAndSnow]

He seems like such a cool guy and is extremely good at what he does. Seeing him in concert at the Royal Albert Hall was a spectacular experience!

[@erin1427]

I think it's interesting how the lead singers of the two most popular 80s counter culture new wave bands, Danny Elfman of Oingo Boingo and Mark Morhersbaugh of Devo, became successful and unique composers. :) I love their stuff, both the film scores and band!

[@sym-bionicwaffle7737]

Yes!! Absolutely!! I'd come up with a more intelligent way to agree with what you're saying, but adding two exclamation points seemed to be the only way.

[@Richard_Nickerson]

And Hans Zimmer was a key player in 80s bands

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

Mothersbaugh wrote the theme song for Rugrats.

[@TengoUnaGata]

Now Trent Reznor from NIN and Jonny Greenwood from Radiohead

[@leahtheanimationfan40]

Alice in Wonderland is my favorite thing he's done. It's so beautiful, mysterious, and epic. His music is one of the biggest reasons I love that movie

[@JosiahFickinger]

I like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory better

[@oliverbaba1882]

it's very soothing listening to him. he should also narrate audiobooks

[@jmm1233]

Danny is Legendary

[@SamGarbettMusic]

I love the fact that we can see him get totally lost in the music he's created when he hits play and his world comes alive.

[@AnnikaRosesmith]

What an amazing human. Mr. Elfman, you are incredible

[@EASTSIDEDELI]

I wish there was a TV station that played stuff like this all the time. A mixture of composer work flows, live session recordings, interview's, and masterclass teaching a technique or creating a cue for different types of project's.

[@danielkemble]

I am totally at a consensus with his words on musical trends.

[@simonroberts6865]

I LOVED Danny's score for Burton's remake of Planet of the Apes! The fact that Jerry Goldsmith won an Oscar for his atonal score for the original movie must have focused Danny's imagination. I thought the opening sequence in 3/4 (because Apes would "march" using one of their front arms as well as their back legs) was such a simple yet clever idea. Pure genius!

[@iceomistar4302]

Um Jerry never won an Oscar for Planet of the apes,

[@chibiprussia5574]

He is brilliant!

[@asiagrassi506]

it's magnetic how Danny explains all this.

[@caiogracco9129]

Sweet and gentle Danny.

[@JimA-pp2nu]

more like gay and swishy

[@aurelliusmaximus6123]

Jim A on which you seem to be an expert.

[@rickytoddbotelho9555]

When I was a kid Oingo Boingo was not one of the choicest bands playing but I always thought they had a distinctive sound that nobody else could duplicate. There was the talking heads and Dave Bowie and a lot of other Sioxxe and the banshees etc. But I saw Pee Wee's big adventure and thought wow that was one of the best soundtracks I've ever heard. Little did I know Dan would be one of the greatest influences between ears and one of the greatest composers of all time..

[@ariana.m.lamark]

God Danny Elfman is the true definition of genius.

[@alexkije]

not necessarily

[@JimA-pp2nu]

not really

[@PrinceWesterburg]

I know a couple of people who know him and they say he doesn't or didn't read music manuscript

[@david_a_uno]

He really is an incredible composer.

[@travdogfilms5675]

Yeah he’s so tight

[@patmarram]

My sentiments are mutual. Its beautiful to listen to wonderful music composers that create wonderful master pieces that have the ability to change peoples inner feeling of music. I agree, I do stand in AWE

[@lisaparker4688]

You said it! Danny's music completely changed how I hear music and how it makes me feel. I remember walking out of the theater after my 1st viewing of Edward Scissorhands, with that music filling my mind and soul, feeling like I was floating on a cloud. NEVER had I been affected by ANY music like that before. If Danny is the "Angel of Music", then I am his "Christine".

[@TheNetNauts]

Danny Elfman is the GOAT, tied with John Williams imo

[@micah3823]

Love this, I could listen to him talk about this all day. I wish I could sit down and drink a beer (or many beers) with him and chat shop.

[@Wp913]

huge fan...........

[@leewarren]

What a fantastically talented guy! Looks like he’s working in MOTU Digital Performer.

[@JayP-Music]

I agree... can't beat the real strings IMO. p.s. Favourite Danny Elfman scores have to be Beetlejuice and Edward Scissor Hands.

[@danielwallace4965]

he voiced jack (singing) from the nightmare before christmas

[@YoungBlaze]

so he uses the Vienna Symphonic Strings for Mock up? but they still sound good

[@martinlauzier2722]

Elfman is a Genious

[@JimA-pp2nu]

your spelling is "Genious"

[@angrycollector7012]

Danny elfman is Bach of the film industry

[@JayKay2676]

spider man para mi es el mejor trabajo de Danny

[@themeparkenthusiast169]

What an incredibly clever creator! A true genius!

[@jwelch5742]

Danny Elfman won an Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition for The Batman Theme from Batman (1989 film), 2 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music - Desperate Housewives Theme: Season 1 and Outstanding Music Direction - Danny Elfman's Music from the Films of Tim Burton.

[@KSfan4ever]

Wow, what an amazing guy! A true creative genius! Thanks for posting this wonderful video, and thank you to Vienna Strings!.

[@meh11235]

Absolutely appreciated, still!

[@Bernhardrieder]

yeah, that's awesome ! Danny is also my absolute favorite composer. Didn't know he was using VSL Studio plus my home countries Vienna Symphonic Library. Just great inspiration and music with lot's of passion ! Just love it ! Thx for sharing this video !!!

[@SJCMARK]

I could listen to him talk for hours.

[@oregonhighroller5178]

The absolute best around

[@lukeskywalker6809]

Danny Elfman should have won an Oscar for Alice in Wonderland.

[@isuriadireja91]

Alice in Wonderland..??? F that. His Batman 89 score deserved ALL the awards it didn't get or even nominated.

[@myhandleisnttaken]

Spider-Man and Charlie and the chocolate factory

[@budmb2]

@@isuriadireja91 tbf, the Last Crusade came out the same year

[@isuriadireja91]

@@budmb2 yes, so...?? why's that fair..? John Williams also got another nomination for Born on the 4th of July that year..so, IF you truly wanna be fair, the academy should've nominated him for just one of of those works and given that one other slot to Elfman for this MUCH DESERVING work that HAS become the best known original score than any of those nominated that year. TBF...The Last Crusade didn't really have any new stuff that really distinguished itself from the score to Raiders of the Lost Ark. then there's another slot given to the score to The Fabulous Baker Boys..which is a nice score..but, it's NO WAY in the same league as Elfman's work on Batman.

[@budmb2]

@@isuriadireja91 I’m with you on Batman being a good score. It’s one of my favorite movie scores of all time, but Last Crusade is tied with it for me. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r17bcotsaKZnpc0

[@akcel1211]

One of my favorite composers

[@michaelmattice4986]

Very enjoyable and inspiring! Thanks so much for sharing:)

[@toynazi]

The breakfast scene in Pee wees big adventure is bad ass! This guy is a backdoor genius.

[@jdw99]

+Charlie & snoopy Yeah I still like some of his early scores the best. Peewee's and "Back to School" are as great!

[@devarodgers4676]

wonderful

[@lx4342]

my idol

[@midge2112]

Great interview! It was so interesting to see how he works and develops concepts.

[@lnkd70]

DE is brilliant.

[@VFXCommander]

I only know him as the legendary composer behind Spider-Man.

[@xrrrismickey]

The sound on this channel is very good, no surprise

[@robertm346]

Low-key more amused than I feel that I should be by his surveillance monitor in the background. Talk about fighting for your 'alone time'.

[@bryanb7632]

Agreed!

[@mummifiedgoose]

it's so he can keep n eye out for the crazy fangirls like me trying to sneak into his studio :D

[@yenee94]

thank you for the video

[@TheSillySteveShow]

What an excellent & remarkable inspiration this video is, Thanks so much for the upload, it's a good interview !

[@MrLaurizio]

Very good.

[@YoungBlaze]

he probably did the freakin simpsons theme on a Calculator thats how awesome he is!

[@KingUDERZO]

+YoungBlaze Of Chitown why?:D

[@YoungBlaze]

+KingUDERZO just to prove hes danny elfman

[@ralphtrout5587]

from a previous interview with Elfman........he got the job....came up with it in the car on the way home....recorded track soon as he got home............then sent it in.....

[@firestepher72]

He has said in an interview that he thought up the whole Simpsons theme in the car on the way home. Then he recorded it as soon as he got to his studio.

[@bedlamvideo9588]

My man.

[@gabrield.cstoica1832]

Dany very good composer...

[@sprkymrt]

Really enjoyed this!

[@deepchocolate9794]

Danny is a genius

[@obezijana]

Thanks Danny! I love Family man OST.

[@tensuitengu7695]

sick work man !

[@andysummersthxcinemaandmyc7748]

4:08 I wonder if that tune he was hearing in his wasn't from a previous disney tron legacy 2009 as I'm kinder hearing it my head as well.

[@dancurran8977]

Just another day in the genius salt mine.

[@ronlobomusic]

Great info!

[@SakiLuvzRocco143]

so cool!!

[@j2musicstar]

alice this was a great composition

[@cyriledon6810]

And still one of my many hero❤😂🎉

[@TimDurkan]

great interview!

[@GoemonLovesFujiko]

Im jelly for his celli

[@alpenglow4243]

I’ve always loved his work, ever since the Pee Wee movie.

[@MrGorecki]

Ok Danny security man lol

[@darrenhirst9900]

I absolutely loved the music in the film and it suited the film so well. But its the wrong Danny Elfman 😂 The Vienna strings sounded gorgeous and they are a credit to the film.

[@Metalpazallteway]

I'm with you Danny....!! Homogeneous sound is an artistic Killing music trend. Temp tracks are bogus for me although sometimes if it fits I do hang on to it.

[@milosmakovsky6110]

How is it possible that you have samples of the orchestra in mono?

[@simonthebard9512]

I've watched this video thousand times and I wonder why Elfman audio tracks are recorded with camera microphone...

[@godslave666999]

Pretty striking how he looks like Dominic West from "The Affair" Tv serie even his voice is almost identical !!!

[@daphnegold1052]

Cool❤

[@issiewizzie]

Very educational and enlighten

[@jtapp2222]

What keyboard does he use for those synthetic voices on this demo?

[@mariomj4535]

You should do one of these with Nick Arundel from the Batman Arkham games

[@djradrick]

I love how he refers to cellos as celli

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

The Vienna Symphonic Library logo is the Saturn Black Cube 😳

[@javierzubizarreta2933]

Very inspired.

[@dynamicalan]

Hi Danny Elfman, Do you use just specifically some VSL Instruments such as the Cube or Synchron Series? Thank You, Alan Warrick

[@didalutron]

Great

[@ernestogasulla7763]

You would think he showing his sequenced demos alongside the final version should kill the old stories that he doesn't write his own arrangements.

[@AA-zq1sx]

He just doesn't write them with a pencil on lined sheet music paper. Apparently in the music world "purists" aka snobs, look down on any composer who doesn't know how to write the music down with a pencil, but plays it on the piano into a computer instead. Danny explained in another interview they mockingly refer to composers like him as "hummers", as before computers, he'd work with an arranger and hum each part of the tune to them. Luckily he used those snide remarks as fuel to prove himself, and thank goodness the world has his gorgeous music because he didn't give up! My personal favorite is the Batman Returns soundtrack... hauntingly beautiful.

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

@@AA-zq1sxBut he does know how to write it down on paper. He taught himself in the 70s by listening to Duke Ellington and writing the notes down. He was maybe lazy about writing the notes for his Oingo Boingo songs down though.

[@Theocidestudios]

Hey, can someone tell me where I can get that thing Danny has, just under his mouse is?

[@jdw99]

+Lucas Toledo A mousepad?

[@nogoogleplus]

+Lucas Toledo yeh i noticed that right away too....anyone know what that is? I must have it

[@sonnic1995]

it's just an ergonomic mousepad... or did i miss something? can't even tell if this whole thing is sarcasm lol

[@emilnilsson8535]

Anyone know what kind of midicontroller Danny is using here?

[@ViennaSymphonicLibrary]

...looks like an Avid Artist Mix DAW-Controller...

[@emilnilsson8535]

Vienna Symphonic Library Great! Thanks!

[@Souliban]

+Vienna Symphonic Library And the Midi Keyboard?

[@ViennaSymphonicLibrary]

+Souliban It's a Kurzweil

[@Souliban]

+Vienna Symphonic Library thank you

[@mastershake4237]

This man is the Harvard professor of film scoring

[@HesamSeyedMousavi]

Here's an unusual sound comparison between full orchestra and chamber orchestra size. > Vienna Orchestral Strings vs. Dimension Strings, CineStrings, and Mural Strings ..........

[@CategoricalImperative]

He has a look on his face like “this is my private life, get me out of here!”

[@SteveBlues87]

Danny Elfman has a unique individual sound, I can recognise his music without knowing who composed it. Same with people like John Williams, James Horner (RIP), Hans Zimmer etc. All have unique individual sounds and that's why directors use them over and over. Tim Burton mostly always uses Danny Elfman and his unique sound matches perfectly with the obscure worlds that Tim Burton creates, and I can imagine how hard it would be for Danny to work with a different director who doesn't know him as well as Tim does, and to say "Hey I like how this temp music sounds in this scene, can you make something like that?" People like Danny Elfman and the above mentioned, they should have complete creative control over the score, trying to tell them how to make their music is like telling somebody how to portray their personality.

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

All of his music has an ADHD crack baby quality to it

[@aldomania]

Oingo Boingo

[@rolanschneider5182]

I'm here because curious and always try to find the creators of the products that interested me. Soundtracks from the movie hulk in the list of special songs :)

[@dannycrook8466]

what composition program is he using? anyone? thank you!

[@nogoogleplus]

+Danny Crook digital performer

[@jwd0808]

Elfman also uses EastWest/Quantum Leap and various other libraries.

[@DisgracedOBGYN]

Digital Performer 3 in Classic Mode in OSX Tiger on a PowerPC Mac. In the year of our lord 2014. If it works, it works!

[@NeilRaouf]

temptrack-love is fatal....

[@dstill212]

What is the software he is using at 3:40 ???

[@SuSh0xka]

Looks like is Digital Performer, and from the look at the apple logo in the top left side of the screen it seems that he is using a pretty old version of OSX, and probably a pretty old mac (maybe 2005 PowerPC or early Intel). So you don't need the latest technology to do amazing things :D

[@araisannanoda3688]

He should make a collab with Ryuichi Sakamoto

[@DavidMac8Six8]

What program is he using?