Thursday March 11 , 2010

Scoring and Composition

Music can breathe life into any multimedia project, be it film, video, interactive game environments, planetarium shows or the theme for your new podcast. Futurescale can work with you to find the right sound for your project, whatever it may be.

  • ActionAs tempting as it may be to buy royalty-free stock music and simply insert it into the scene, it won't  have powerful effect that comes from a custom score. When we score a scene, we analyze it, extracting every 'hit-point' and approaching it with just the right energy and feeling.
  • ThemesThe music you use for your audio or video podcast's intro and outro is pretty important. It needs to be unique and recognizable. The intro shouldn't go on for ages, but should put the listener quickly into the frame of mind that you desire before hitting them with the content. The outro might go on a bit longer, and be played in the background as you deliver your credits and shoutouts to your sponsors. It shouldn't detract from what you're saying and should make the listener want to sit through those promotional bits because its a great theme.
  • GamesTying specific musical themes to each location in a virtual world not only sets the scene emotionally, but it also helps fix the player's spatial memory within the environment. Typically several channels of sound will be running that layer the 'spatial themes' with sound effects and other musical cues such as the introduction of variations based on the user's having been in the location before, their virtual health, and score or level.
  • DomesThe planetarium is an extremely unique acoustical environment. Bass becomes muddy, highs can easily be lost or become sibilant and locations around the dome can sound completely different. Scoring a planetarium show and getting an acceptable mix is an extremely challenging business. But still, Jupiter must sound majestic; Jovian!

Audio Feedback

"The Border is ridiculously good man - some full throttle business and a classic sample too.

Amazing work all round... dope musicianship, sequencing and production skills. Such detail too. Proper music."

— John Gardiner - Dark Horse Pugilists

 

Musical Examples

Audible Brand

Podcast Theme