Where to start when writing music?

Our in-house composer, Homay, gives priceless tips and tricks for beginner music makers, shares her favourite libraries to get started with, and writes a composition that you can download the midi for, and allow you to take a closer look.
For more information and the midi download click here - www.spitfireaudio.com/beginne...
Like and subscribe for more content like this.
Recommended Sample Libraries:
Originals Orchestra - www.spitfireaudio.com/origina...
Albion ONE - www.spitfireaudio.com/albion-one
BBC Symphony Orchestra Core - www.spitfireaudio.com/bbc-sym...
BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover - www.spitfireaudio.com/bbc-sym...
Featured in this video:
Gear List:
- An entry level computer - 8gb RAM
- DAW - Digital Audio Workstation (Logic, Cubase, Protools, Reaper)
- Headphones
- Midi keyboard
- Faders - for expression and dynamics for realism
- Sound card - a good later purchase
- Converter

[@spitfireaudiollp]

Let us know your tips for people composing for the first time.

[@smguy7]

I start with ideas on my Syntakt and then seeing how I can then get my Digitone involved. For keyboards I use my Korg Modwave, Wavestate and Opsix for extra layers. I started my musical life as a violinist and cornetto player in Renaissance and Baroque music ensembles.

[@TazzSmk]

record everything, even if just practicing, you never know what sparks of creativity you could miss ;)

[@dfreeman120]

The honest answer is anywhere. No rules in my opinion. Don’t think

[@hansmemling2311]

this feels more like an ad than a lesson in composition for screen.

[@DaveandhisDeathbeanie]

Literally just do it

[@PeterTMusic]

I would say really learn how the frequency spectrum works. It not only helps you understand mixing, but you can also make even stock stuff sound really good. It also helps you understand orchestration and why certain doublings and orchestration styles exist Also, recreate pieces you can get the scores of. That way you start to get a feel of how to write for the orchestra

[@spitfireaudiollp]

Great advice, thanks for sharing!!

[@TazzSmk]

I'd say equally important being microdynamics (transients, per-note expression) and macrodynamics (music sections, instrument sections)

[@Grid21]

Can I suggest an edit on this video? When I started out doing this kind of thing, I looked as many free libraries as I could. I feel that you guys should have suggested free Libraries, like LABS for example, instead of jumping to Albion One, which is $450. And also, most people can't afford Kontakt right out of the gate. In future, you should suggest more free stuff for people are starting out, because if they decide that composing music isn't for them, buy into this field, they will have regret because it's something they no longer can use or want to use.

[@jimrogers7425]

Likewise, I also thought about Kontakt and how much there is to learn, over and above everything else. Since Spitfire have their own player, BBC SO Discover, since it's free, then the Originals libraries, are both wonderful places to begin... because they BOTH utilize the Spitfire player. Then add to that much, if not ALL of the LABS series would make for a very good starting point with little cash outlay to begin. However, it won't be long before all of this starts to be the "needle in your arm", but at least it's a healthy way to spend money!! 🙂

[@timgrunewald8615]

That was the one thing that I noticed in the video as well, that BBCSO Discover was a "flash in the pan." I was also disappointed that it is free was not mentioned. I get it, you are trying to make money by selling the other products. Also, BBCSO Discover does not require Kontakt. BBCSO Discover is a great marketing tool to try before you buy. For me, it was the path to purchase BBCSO Core.

[@Grid21]

@@jimrogers7425 My biggest gripe with BBC SO discover is you can't turn off simple things like the reverb, etc. I actually didn't start with SpiteFire anything and started with free stuff built into FL Studio or did a little Google searching to find free stuff. So I wish they had mention that some times DAWs come with really good sounding stuff to start out with.

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

This is a Spencered video and there for showing you free stuff is not in her interest.

[@Grid21]

@@HOLLASOUNDS OK, but in that case, it defeats the point of helping new composers out. For that matter, maybe I should be the one to make a better version of this video instead.

[@Saeedathar]

Labs instruments are the best to start composing they have some amazing sounds

[@DomTristram]

BBC Discover is a great product. I always point people to it if they want to try an orchestral library, and they often go on to Core (like I did!), something they might never have done without the cheaper version to try first.

[@IHBable]

Discover and originals are Indeed a good starting point. :)

[@8CountAudio]

Homay does outstanding sample library demo videos-such an inspiring composer and artist

[@mahkyb]

Homay is like a rock star! Love her videos. I'd love to see more of these involving composition and how different libraries are used.

[@some2l9]

I appreciate this being walkthrough'd as I never did find such a guidance from the ground up. She seems to have retained a knowledge of what it's like just getting your foot in the door. Homay seems awesome.

[@spitfireaudiollp]

Glad it was helpful!

[@AndromedaX8]

Thank you Homay, great video! My very first library was Originals Intimate Strings and I still love it and use it all the time. After that my first full orchestral library was BBC SO Core and I still think it's one of the absolute best libraries to get started with orchestral writing!

[@gotmoresoul]

Hell yeah--new Spitfire vid with Homay...I can breathe again.

[@bryandavies6074]

Homay's presentations are great - she always 'cuts to the chase'.

[@PaPawGOT]

Nice tips! I have been sucking up all the information I can get to learn more about composing. As an older beginner, I find this information invaluable. There is so much out there that it is hard to nail down what will work for you and can be very overwhelming.

[@rodterrell304]

Great segment Homey, enjoy your content with Spitfire.

[@spitfireaudiollp]

We have more to come from Oliver and Paul in the next month!

[@DaveToneMusic]

Wonderfully simple and comprehensive introduction. Bravo!

[@user-zq7vr3ym9d]

Great video. The subtle changes in velocity and tempo from the midi keyboard performance really add realism - something which is much harder if you draw the notes manually.

[@bassManDavis1953]

Wow! Homay! What a fantastic piece of tuition, so well explained and I love the way you encompassed what you need to get started? You have set my inspiration wild and just can’t wait to try out all the brilliant advice you have put across. Much peace and love to you Gary

[@TNT-km2eg]

Boom !

[@olegkazanskii]

Amazing! Homay, thank you very much for sharing your tips and recommendations! I will continue to follow your video reviews.☺️

[@Lamberilio]

Great video! Homay always brings it to the table! I believe that there's nothing more important than strong foundations in harmonic and melodic knowledge. Everything comes after that. If the harmonic progression and the melody are good, the rest is icing on the cake.

[@therealmattmann]

Great info for someone just getting started...and great music as always. Thanks Homay!

[@galreg2002]

I can't remember when was the last time I learned so much in so little time.

[@spitfireaudiollp]

Glad this helped!

[@Markplaysmusic]

always an excellent video with Homay sharing her talents.

[@cristianomello9424]

Wow! These are very good tips and explanations! Also, Spitfire samplers sound amazing! Very realistic and natural

[@mr.chisels729]

Great recommendations Homay! Thanks for a great vid!!

[@joychristie]

Wonderful and great session

[@BEYONDFILMS2022]

You are great human being! Thank you!

[@gilles31]

Merci beaucoup Homay ! 😉

[@creatingspacesproducer]

Great explanation, thank you for sharing!

[@ahoughton]

Homay! Nice to see you doing a video like this again! Great stuff! One tip I would share is don’t be scared to just record…it’s software….you can do it again and again as many times as you want!

[@user-gp5cf8og4s]

short, but impressive and effective video! thanks~!

[@Sonar37]

Excellent video with great suggestions for gear and sound libraries.

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

Reasons orchestra sound bank served Me for over a decade.

[@786itube]

Excellent presentation. Most helpful & inspiring. Thank you

[@spitfireaudiollp]

Thank you!!

[@CybreSmee]

Excellent, thank you so much!

[@henrik5284]

Would it be possible for you guys to include the MIDI for the demos we can listen to for each library? It would be a great thing to learn from programming-wise.

[@pierrenuancescontroller6817]

Thanks Homay for using one of my Nuances controller !

[@timotoki9046]

Homay ❤Great Teacher Great Musician.

[@arnoczkyzoltan6158]

Unbelievable! Wow! Thank you!

[@Yer_Da_]

She's amazing!

[@franslemaire-micado]

Great info-video . Always helpful to learn again some details are hearing the tips . Thank you and nice presented.

[@hadiramoficial]

Siempre me ha gustado Spitfire pero con Homay me súper encanta.

[@chadr1003]

Really enjoyed your tips here, I'm a guitarist and trying to write other instruments in my songs, either parts on demos or final tracks!🤘

[@SergeSNS]

Homay is brilliant!!!!!

[@GBRLMGR]

I'm in love with Homay since always!!! She's a perfect ANGEL!!! 😍😍😍😍😍❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@JJaxxon]

❤ Another more heart was needed here

[@zurueckerfinder-ausderkris8829]

Thank you so much!!!❤

[@colinowenuk]

Blumin' marvellous. The older I get, the more I appreciate young talent.

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

She's about 30 odd.

[@pauldritsas6047]

Absolutely epic!! Thank you. xxx

[@FeloniousMyronius]

New subscriber. I've been dabbling with orchestral instruments in my beats. I like how real everything sounds.

[@Franck_Hoffmann]

So good! ♥

[@RafaelCastilloE]

Thank you so much, you are the best, from Costa Rica

[@JoelCMusic]

Thanks for your sharing!

[@arinin77]

Thanks a lot for the informative video content!

[@pjdahmen]

Thank you for the Great tutorial!

[@jaromakosz]

Very useful information for the beginners thank you😊

[@bchi521]

Thank you so much for this video, I had no idea this all out there.

[@vanadiumstudio5770]

Great start ❤

[@CraigFranklinmusic]

Excellent video. Thank you. I do have the free Spitfire BBC SO. I am a guitarist and can only play basic keyboard. However, I have been satisfied with being able to add just enough orchestral background instrumentation. Very inspiring.

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

I play stuff in now but at first I just draw everything I'm midi and some very nice results come out and essentially that was just built on over time like Lego and I just go back to that over and over. Ones you found cords progressions that work then you always have that midi to use or spark new ideas.

[@stephfiore2119]

Interesting, thanks 😊

[@blueser100]

Having the faders and knowing how to use them makes a big difference. Would be great to know the specific brand and price of the fader equipment being used.

[@kundelstein]

Great video!

[@grobinson9352]

Thank you much.

[@tomharding1322]

Great video team ❤

[@spitfireaudiollp]

Thanks Tom! 🥰

[@christoroppolo8742]

I love your method 👽

[@krudler406]

love it! sounds very Basil Poledouris 🔥

[@seva-m]

Thanks for sharing these valuable insights for beginners! I'm on a limited budget as I start my music composition journey. Could you offer some guidance on what equipment or software should be the top priority for someone with budget constraints? What should I invest in first to get the best results?

[@Athlone_Tamilan]

I don't know anything about music.. but its a wonderful piece of sound i heard today !! thanks

[@DevanSabaratnam]

Great video - thank you for the very useful tips. I am really curious about that MIDI fader controller that you are using - looks really nice, with really long throw faders. Is it a custom designed one, or is it available off the shelf?

[@HarryDDTee]

its called 'nuances controller'

[@rolsound]

Great music and sound❤👋

[@LucaRicciComposer]

Start by learning how to play the piano, which is widely used to compose, both using pencil and paper and with virtual instruments. Then, learn music theory, learn counterpoint, harmony, orchestration, and analyze tons of music. Learn how to interpret and create music forms, learn how tonality works both in chord progressions and in the macro-structure of the piece. Learn how the various instruments works and how to write idiomatic passages. Those are the best tips for beginner composers

[@danilojr.gatchalian1935]

Can you make another sample of Albion Neo for Documentary Style music? Great video Homay I appreciate it.

[@briandavis7596]

Great video! How about a part 2 for expanding on your Round Off Tips?! Cheers!

[@spitfireaudiollp]

We have 2 more videos coming over the next month or so, make sure you're eyes are peeled for those!

[@logenninefingers3610]

thank you for your great video! I would at this point in the production get stuck on the timing technicalities and the structure of the different sections of the song. For instance, what you just played how do you make it fit the grid to have a solid verse section? how do you establish the bpm now that you didn't play with a metronome? if there are any other videos that discuss this I'd be super happy if someone could point me in that direction. Thanks!

[@jordanpetersmusic]

Great job! Question, where can you buy that desk you are using? Thanks 🙏

[@prestonshark]

Very helpful tutorial. Which fader do you use?

[@HarryDDTee]

its called 'nuances controller'

[@TonyRush]

This is super helpful! Thank you for the video. May I ask what kind of expression faders you're using? I'm specifically asking about the small one with the woodgrain case. Thank you in advance!

[@westheartmusic]

Thanks for this - really helpful presentation - interested to hear your thoughts on scoring templates. The template you are using here looks really uncluttered - is that deliberate - do you have a template theory that you’d recommend ❤

[@benjaminsit1474]

Nice video! Spitfire Audio sample library is a good resource. BTW, can you please tell me where can I buy your studio desk? Does it come with the piano keyboard tray?

[@OrKestrAlan]

Thanks a lot, my best regards

[@markoconnell804]

Nice that my clavinova contains all of this within the instrument.

[@lukexruggiero2063]

I am in love with this woman ❤

[@jm6734]

Really great video 👍🏻Please make a Spitfire songwriting alternative template to the BBCSO - Logic - for your other excellent instrument and libraries for making electronic/pop/ambient music. It would be fantastically helpful to have a professional starting point -suggesting EQs, pans and FXs for musicians working with different genres.

[@mlykke]

This is awesome! But the thing I really wanna know, is which skills I need to learn to be able to use that equipment to compose like you demonstrated?

[@WinItReigns]

A Level 2 video would be cool Articulation variations and such

[@spitfireaudiollp]

We have something coming in the next few weeks with Oliver. Keep your eyes out for that.

[@Historyisnotwas]

Homay- awesome tutorial, very well done and informative! What is the brand name of the main Midi keyboard controller you are using? It would be the one below the desk. Thanks- all the best to you?

[@ghisellini194]

Molto brava,complimenti

[@dafingaz]

Gems!

[@rafaelhernandez5550]

Nice video, what kind of midi controller fader do you use? look great. Thanks

[@IXXVIIVII]

I heard the piano melody at 11:58 initially solo with other orchestral instruments and KEPT solo instead mixed in with all the full spectrum of instrumentation. The issue with blending, even if it’s blended well, it leans into generic sounding scores. With so many tools available and seeing how the busiest of composers use their own farm of samples AND THEN add virtual libraries, the language becomes diluted. The only way to really rise above is go you own way, developing the sonic universe and dialogue from the basic elements that provoke emotion. Reason being the instruments of the orchestra have been the same for centuries. The rhythms and harmonic elements were there millenia before and it’s an unspoken genetic language we know within our cells

[@t-man5323]

Awesome. i am noob. know nothing. i am a bit disappointed that she doesn't start with a piano sketch to map out the idea and orchestrate from it. but this is still very useful and crazily encouraging to develop your own style. it appears the sequence is: chord progression > notes following chords > melody on top > accenting moments. but how does she decide key and chords or bpm etc? stuff like that.

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

Well I actually think She is way over complicating this for telling newbie how to compose. Here's the truth, you dont need a keyboard, or any 3rd party sound library just your DAW, a good one is Reason because it comes with orchestra sound bank, and many realistic instruments and useful ones. It dont ha e to he new to me good, I find the Stings preset on one of Reasons oldest devices to still be excellent for sting composition. I didn't really have a clue when I first started I just draw in midi with My mouse and within less them 3 months was making some very good composition of stings and piano. You can hear a but of this in My music for the Queen vid. In that video I play in some stuff but everything else was drawn in midi no keyboard was used.

[@chris60036]

Great video. I’d really like to know why I need an external sound card though if anyone cares to let me know. Also - any recommendations for control faders also appreciated

[@BrickBee]

Thanks for he video Homay! What brand/model is the fader box sitting on your desk? Is it Nuances?

[@alexmoonyay]

this track reminds me of Basil Poledouris work like the Conan soundtrack. Very nice

[@paulysguitarjournal]

I’d like to see a video introducing how to use faders appropriately. Maybe with some practice exercises to get use to the idea.

[@pascalpereira3773]

Do we know what faders she is using?

[@gitarman666]

Was waiting for just the slightest shadow of Timpani in this micro comp

[@serhiihunt]

Thank you very much. Would you please tell which faders you are using on this video?

[@pierrenuancescontroller6817]

it is a Nuances controller ;-)

[@nutella_drifter]

What brand is the fader you used in this video? I've been looking for such a small unit which would fit on my tiny desktop at home.

[@jalfa1]

Hi Homay, I enjoy your work and I am teaching myself how to compose thanks to you and the other terrific composers at Spitfire. I was wondering which midi, dynamic fader controller you use in this video? Thanks for your help. If your staff would offer another online camp or curriculum for composing, that would be amazing! Also, would it be possible to get any feedback from you or others in your staff for any compositions that I have put together? Thanks. Jim

[@ugo7145]

Compliments. Is it possible to know the brand of the SSD rack under the monitor? Thank you

[@spitfireaudiollp]

It's a Blackmagic multidoc 👍

[@chrisw1462]

A Sound Blaster AE-5 that plugs in to a computer PCIe bus is a Sound Card. External USB boxes are NOT - they're Audio Interfaces.

[@gitarman666]

Do the faders and associated controllers offer control over the long, short, staccato, Picado, ect.. articulations?

[@jloiben12]

I start with the chords like 90% of the time. The only time I really don’t is when I start with a sample

[@KRACHDUFE]

You should try to start with a melody first, I find it interesting as well. Then you can try to find the chords that best fit the melody you have in mind

[@paulysguitarjournal]

Different people start at different points. I know some people who start out with a melody and create a beautiful piece of music, but I know others like myself that start with chords. It’s good to know both ways. If it’s easier to start with chords, by all means start with chords.

[@coolborndj]

Try to start with a pattern of single notes too (not necessarily a bass line). It's really helpful because then you can change the chord flavour throughout the track

[@GrowYourPotential]

Гармония очень сильно ограничивает вас и заставляет работать в определенных рамках - это сужает ваши возможности и потенциал. Да, начинать с мелодии намного сложнее, но плюсом является то, что вы совсем неограниченны в ваших возможностях.

[@80ssynthfan48]

@@coolborndjcan you be more specific? Do you mean something that is a pattern but not a melody, or an arpeggio?