Music can take many forms and can serve many different purposes. The process of writing and producing the finished track is usually quite systematic, but finding the right "hook" is a purely creative task.
While most of my work is produced using electronic instruments, some music might call for a singer, narrator or live musician, and these elements can be recorded and mixed seamlessly into the music.
This outline should help to clarify the development process, and to explain each step as I work with you to produce the music.
Does your project call for bold, captivating music that makes a connection? Submit your project description here.
The music production process typically begins with a phone conversation (or a few emails) about audience, context, and style considerations as well as the medium it's intended for (television, web, etc.).
We'll talk specifics: story, action, characters, style/genre, tempo and rhythm, instrumentation, and lyrics. If you have examples of music (or links to online samples) that appeal to you, these might help to give me a sense of the style and mood you're aiming for.
Unless you communicate a specific format (.OGG, .SWF, etc.) I'll produce the master recording as a 16bit/48kHz .WAV and/or 320kbps mp3 file.
During this phase I'll also offer suggestions about the structure of the music, style & mood, and adding vocals and/or narration.
It's important to have a finalized version of any visuals with which the music is to be heard as altering the music later in the process can sometimes prove to be difficult. Any written lyrics or narration script should be ready in final form before the recording session is scheduled. I offer lyric and narrative writing, as well as copywriting services.
Once we've nailed down a solid concept and I have whatever necessary lyrics, narration script or visual materials in hand, I'll begin writing the music (ETA: a few days to a week or more).
I'll post all or part of a rough cut of the music in a private web page for your feedback. We'll discuss the musical and lyric/narrative elements, audio effects, and the general feel of the music, and we'll make refinements and changes as needed. If the lyrics or narration have already been recorded, we might also discuss these separately or in conjunction with with the music.
If vocals were called for, the lyrics can sometimes be edited and tweaked while the early tracks are being laid down, and before the vocals are scheduled to be recorded. Editing narration during this phase is not always possible, as the underlying music is often written after the narration will have already been recorded.
The time necessary for completing this phase varies widely. A technically challenging 30-second track can, in some cases, take just as long as a simple 4-minute one. But in general terms a longer track will call for more time.
I'll continue to develop the music and provide regular rough cuts of its progress until it is polished and ready for prime time.
I'll post a master recording of the music online for you to double-check for any time discrepancies or quality issues that might need attention.
Once the track has been verified and approved I'll format an audio file for your purposes. I can also offer to provide a compressed version of the track (.MP3, .WMV, etc.) if you plan to use it on the web.
There are several delivery options. I can send the track via email (compressed), upload it to a website, or mail the finished master on CD.
Lastly, bear in mind that coordinating and preparing the information and materials for a music production is enormously time-intensive, so the deposit I request before I begin development is non-refundable. I'm a one-man show, so the deposit is also forfeited if for any reason you choose to halt the development process, or if development is stalled or is otherwise delayed by you for more than a year from the date on the invoice estimate.
I hope this information is useful to you and I look forward to working with you on your creative projects!
Last revised October 24th, 2007.
