gdp's Comments

alexpfeffer.net : The “atheist approach” on composing!

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:32:05 +0000

Hey Andy, in the end (and this may sound very technically) composing is not more than just putting melodies and chords together with rhythm. They are either more complex or very simple, ... so if you know about chords, melodies, scales and rhythm, why not trying to start together stuff you like? :) ... In the end you have a great advantage, you already know lots of music. Why don't you start analyzing on what every composer did to achieve this mood etc.? Besides that, is your stuff really boring, or do YOU ONLY think it is boring! ;)

alexpfeffer.net : arranging, mixing and mastering … or … about kings and cooks!

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 15:56:25 +0000

You're more than welcome man! Generally I compose, arrange and load samples/instruments to a certain point. Mostly when I feel I have too much MIDI going on and need a bit of a restructure. Then I render my individual tracks to audiofiles and before I start continue working, I make sure than I lower the faders down to like -6dB, -9dB or even lower. Just in case it gets too soft, I simply raise my volume knob on the soundcard :) ... by doing this I always make sure to get enough headroom going. Just think console! If you got too much going, the output starts distorting and clipping. Since most stuff is digital anyway and clipping is mostly prevented, one forgets about it easily (incl. me) ;)

alexpfeffer.net : arranging, mixing and mastering … or … about kings and cooks!

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 11:53:46 +0000

Haha, you're welcome, Manuel!

alexpfeffer.net : arranging, mixing and mastering … or … about kings and cooks!

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 11:53:34 +0000

Hey Bobby, thanks! One thing to get rid of this problem might be to sit down and do a one time intensive session of trying to find existing tracks of different styles representing your personal most awesome sound :) If you are done composing your own track, listen back to your reference track and compare the sound. Maybe there is an universal track which represents your personal favorite sound in every aspect. So if you compare your track with the reference, you might find that your track sounds much more bright or dull, thinner or doesn't have that much power or dynamic. Sometimes it might be just an easy one to simply raise some high frequencies or notch out a few muddy stems - sometimes it needs more tweaks. At the end of the day you gather nothing but experience and your sound will definitely improve and you get much more sure in what you do! :)

alexpfeffer.net : Epic Score

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 10:41:42 +0000

Hey mee, the tracks I did was: Hunted Assassin, Battle for Immortality, Legendary Forces ...

alexpfeffer.net : the little workshop: behind Herophobia

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 19:27:40 +0000

Dead Ron, thanks so much for your suggestions. I have reason why I stick to short tutorials. First thing is, I simply don't have much time to set up bigger tutorials. I would also have to do dump quite a few gigs to free some time and do longer tutorials. Even though, I sell them I hardly believe this could pay my rent if you know what I mean :) Second thing is. I like to not serve finished meals to people so they just have to eat it, burp and forget about it :) I like to tease people and try to suck them into the matter. The only true way of really getting it done is interest, focus and endurance. So if one takes all these little tutorials and puts 1+1 together, he/she might learn much more rather than showing how to create a full piece of epic music ... I would like to see people develop their own music, rather than just reprogramming the stuff of someone else :) BUT, ... you never now. Maybe I might consider it one day! :)

alexpfeffer.net : the little workshop: template talk pt. II.I

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 10:15:28 +0000

Hey, well, if you always or mostly stick with the same instruments and have to do prescoring or write sheets it makes sense. I personally see no advantage to use the expressions when not to take care of upcoming orchestra recording sessions. I mostly know the MIDI CC from all the instruments I am using, so it would be double work to set it up. Besides that it happens that I replace or exchange instruments and I would have to do it all again, so I'd rather stick with the normal CC stuff ... but surely, if you take the time and setup all the expression maps and stick with the same instruments for a longer time, it surely makes sense. To me the biggest advantage would be if you want to have the client have a preview while automatically taking care of preparing the prescore.

alexpfeffer.net : the little workshop: behind Herophobia

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 10:08:56 +0000

Hey Edgar, I will check this asap! For now, use this link: http://www.vimeo.com/1821997 Thank you for the heads up! Alex

alexpfeffer.net : American Idol and America's got Talent

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:58:20 +0000

Hey Eric, at this time I was using a custom choir library we recorded with Dynamedion a long time ago! :)

alexpfeffer.net : the little workshop: template talk pt. II.I

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 11:38:31 +0000

as for 1. yep right! :) as for 2. Yeh well, if you are running a machine with like 128 samples buffer, which is barely like 4ms to react, it is obvious that it would need something like 40% while using such amounts of Vsti's In general lots of people overestimate their machines. Your looks really powerful, but as long as you are not using dedicated slaves and realtime audio triggered via MADI or even MIDI stuff - it will always be there. I think in a few years we go as low as 1-2 ms. I always work at 1024 when it comes to huge orchestra setups, btw and I have no problem dealing with around 12-20ms of latency. 3. Can't say anything about it. I am on Mac and didn't really work with newer Windows systems yet.

alexpfeffer.net : Vanquish

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 03:58:49 +0000

Hey Pere, thanks again! ... well, these are simple staccato hits at the end. The reason why it is in total sync is, because the editors cut it to my music.

alexpfeffer.net : the little workshop: template talk pt. II.I

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 03:56:05 +0000

Hey EJ, thanks a lot for your interest! as for 1. I am still using the old fashioned way. MIDI tracks and VST channels. The reason is because if you set instrument tracks you are not able to go multitimbral, it is just one stereo output. Anyone correct me if I am wrong, but to be honest I didn't even bother to do some research :) 2. Well, if it's 40% and stays there I would say it is pretty much normal, although I have no reference on what machine, OS and latency you are on, but it rather sounds kinda normal to me. 3. Sorry, but can't say since I don't even know what you are using :) Could be everything! All I can say is, that I never experienced something like this, so maybe make sure to check out the appropriate forums and tech supports! Good luck! :)

alexpfeffer.net : Symphobia 2

Sun, 17 Oct 2010 07:28:20 +0000

Hey and thank you! Yes, the new album "The Dark Side of the Chant" is going to be released soon and I arranged two tracks for Frank Peterson. I will try to get into the process a bit as soon as I post the announcement!

alexpfeffer.net : Epic Score

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:55:38 +0000

Hey Manuel, first of all, thanks a lot! :) The credits you see on the Epic Score website are mostly trailers of these projects. Most of the time the film composer music hasn't even started to write a single note when the first trailer of the same movie already hit the cinema to present it. Then trailer and license music comes into play. If you check out trailer websites of upcoming movies, you most of the time never hear the actual filmscore being used in the trailer but music written specifically for trailers and advertising! Hope that solves your question!

alexpfeffer.net : Vanquish

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 07:07:57 +0000

Thanks Pere!

alexpfeffer.net : the little workshop: template talk pt. II.I

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:00:14 +0000

Tim, thanks a lot for your kind words! Yes, I know Maarten. Not personally though but we are in contact regularly. I also did a few demos for some previous libraries of ProjectSAM such as True Strike 2 and Harps etc. All the best to you too! Alex

alexpfeffer.net : the little workshop: template talk pt. II

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:18:23 +0000

Hey Tarek, I am sorry, but I am not really sure if I already replied to your question. There is no Cubase 5 64bit for MAC so far. If you use Logic 9 which is 64bit you can use as much RAM as you got in your system. If you use Kontakt 4 it doesn't matter anyway, since K uses its own memory server. Check the NI website for details.

alexpfeffer.net : the little workshop: template talk pt. II

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:14:53 +0000

Hey Christopher, thanks for your comment! As for VSL Woods I just use the legato patches from the solo woodwinds, so I have no keyswitches nor other VSL articulations going on. The ModWheel I use to control the dynamics.

alexpfeffer.net : American Idol and America's got Talent

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 16:11:57 +0000

Hey Pere, thanks a lot! Hm, I don't even know where to start. The overall process from the first note to the final master was definitely a lot of work. All I can say is that I first started with the orchestra, then rendered stems for strings, brass, woods and orchestral percussion and created a new session for all the additional trailer percussion, choir and rock elements. Then I rendered all to final stems and focused on the mix only. Last but not least the track was mastered.

alexpfeffer.net : American Idol and America's got Talent

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 16:08:56 +0000

Haha, thank you!