SOFTWARE RECOMMENDATIONS

DAW (Required): Logic Pro OR Cubase OR Digital Performer OR Pro Tools OR Reaper OR Equivalent 

(Pro Tools is industry standard for recording/mixing purposes, though is not as common as a sequencing DAW.)

Optional: Vienna Ensemble Proand Keyboard Maestro (Mac)

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

The tech side of this industry can be quite daunting. To help narrow down the choices, it’s important to ask yourself the following questions:

• What do you like? What kind of sounds do you enjoy hearing and creating? What kind of music do you enjoy writing?
  • Much of your writing starting out will be to smaller films and projects. You want to be able to create the sound of smaller ensembles, soloists, interesting textures (synth or orch), pulses and drones, and even sound design.

• What is your budget?
  • $300 Range
    • Selection of micro-libraries for broad use cases, like Spitfire Originals.
    • There are also lots of free libraries out there. Just about every major sound library company has something for free on their website, and many are often samples of their larger libraries.
    • There are also communities like the Pianobook community which offer free sample libraries, created by its users from around the world.
    • Built-in sounds of DAWs have gotten drastically better over the past decade, so don’t be afraid to explore what you already have available in your DAW.
    • A microphone is all you really need to create your own samples!
  • $600 Range
    • For super orchestral focused: Spitfire BBCSO Pro
    • For super modern focus: Spectrasonics Omnisphere
    • Modern with strong orchestral textures and ensemble lines: Omnisphere + Spitfire Originals
  • $800-$1200
    • Native Instruments Komplete 13 Ultimate Collector’s Edition (Komplete upgrades and crossgrades are usually 50% in the summer)
      • This will cover all your major bases (orchestral, synths, percussion, drum kits, loops, basses, guitars, pianos, world instruments, textures, sound design, etc.)
      • Also gets you Kontakt 6, which is the industry standard and needed to run 80% of all sample libraries out there.
    • Omnisphere + BBCSO Pro
      • Super strong western orchestral instruments and synths (arguably stronger in these areas than K13UCE)
      • Not quite as versatile and universal as Komplete Collector’s Edition.
      • Keep in mind Omnisphere is more than just standard/classic “synthesizer” sounds. It also includes tons of cinematic textures and effects.
  • $1500+
    • Lots of choices here. We recommend you go to the different software websites, listen to their examples, and see what you like.
      • Native Instruments (Komplete)
      • Spitfire Audio (Albion, BBCSO, Originals, LABS, Abbey Road One, and others)
      • ProjectSAM (Symphobia, Swing!, and others)
      • Orchestral Tools (Berlin Series, Metropolis Ark, TIME, Big Band Horns, and others; can also do a la carte purchases with OT)
      • Cinematic Studio Series (Cinematic Strings)
      • Spectrasonics (Omnisphere)

• In addition to sound quality, here are some other questions and factors to consider:
  • • • How will it fit into your current workflow?
      • Is the library’s interface (GUI) easy to use? Or will there be a steep learning curve? Are you willing to learn it?
      • Does the library rely on key switching?
      • Does it sound good right out of the box? Or is extra processing and mixing required?
      • Do you have control over the amount of reverb or processing? Or is reverb and other effects baked-in to the sound?
      • Are there multiple mic positions to choose from? Mic positions allow you to tailor the sound for smaller or larger sounding projects.