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## Chunk 1

# The 2-Step Template for Film Composing

## Introduction

This comprehensive guide will help you create a professional orchestral template for film composing. A well-designed template allows you to:

1. Start composing immediately with hands on keyboard
2. Improve your sound through automated mixing and mastering
3. Provide structure to your composing workflow, especially for film scoring

The template we'll build uses free libraries (though you can substitute your own) and will enable you to deliver professional-quality stems for dub mixing.

## Part 1: Template Theory and Philosophy

### Why You Need a Template

A template serves three main purposes:

1. **Speed**: Having instruments loaded and ready allows you to begin composing immediately
2. **Sound**: A good template elevates your music by automatically handling mixing, avoiding frequency stacking, adding depth, controlling dynamics, and enhancing your sound
3. **Structure**: An organized template facilitates faster export of stems for dub mix

The template follows the 80/20 rule: setting up 20% of critical elements to achieve 80% of professional results.

### Front End vs. Back End

Your template has two components:

- **Front End**: The visible part where you compose (tracks, instruments, MIDI data)
- **Back End**: The behind-the-scenes routing system (groups, stems, effects) that handles mixing and mastering

Some composers prefer starting with a blank project and loading instruments as needed. Others use a small set of "sketching patches" for fast composition. Still others prefer a fully-loaded template. All approaches are valid, but all benefit from a well-designed back end.

## Part 2: Building Your Template

### Template Structure Overview

The signal path in your template follows this hierarchy:

1. **Tracks**: Individual instrument tracks (100-400+)
2. **Groups**: Collections of similar tracks for mixing purposes (10-30)
3. **Effects Groups**: Reverb and processing busses
4. **Stems**: Major sections (typically 6) for final output (Orchestra, Percussion, Synths, etc.)
5. **Master**: Final output

### Level 1: Setting Up Tracks

Start by downloading BBC Discover Orchestra (free from Spitfire) and its template.

At the track level, we need to:

1. **Balance**: Ensure consistent volume levels across instruments
   - Use gain rather than volume faders (-5 to -15dB typical)
   - Test with consistent velocity (~90) and expression (~90)

2. **Panning**: Adjust stereo imaging
   - Use stereo combined panner for better control
   - Narrow each instrument slightly to create more space
   - This is one of the most effective ways to gain clarity

3. **EQ**: Remove problematic frequencies
   - Apply high-pass filter at ~36Hz to all tracks
   - Cut muddy frequencies (typically 180-300Hz) by 1-3dB
   - Different articulations need different treatment (long notes often need more cutting)

4. **Saturation**: Add cohesion
   - Apply subtle tape saturation to all tracks
   - This helps glue sounds together and adds warmth

### Level 2: Setting Up Groups

Create groups for similar instruments:
- Strings High Short
- Strings High Long
- Strings Low Short
- Strings Low Long
- Woodwinds Short
- Woodwinds Long
- Brass Short
- Brass Long
- Percussion High
- Percussion Mid
- Percussion Low
- Keys and Others

At the group level we:

1. **Set up compression** (especially for percussion)
   - Multi-band compression with 2:1 ratio
   - Maximum 3dB reduction
   - Fast attack, medium release

2. **Add character enhancement**
   - Use S1 Imager to widen strings
   - Add tube saturation to brighten strings (Black Box plugin or EQ)

3. **Set up reverb sends**
   - Create short, medium, and long reverb auxiliary tracks
   - Short gated reverb for percussion
   - Plate reverb for metallic percussion
   - Mid reverb for most instruments 
   - Long reverb for strings and emotional elements

### Level 3: Setting Up Stems and Mastering

Create stem groups:
- Orchestra
- Percussion  
- Synths
- Keys
- (Others as needed)

Apply mastering plugins to each stem:
1. **Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor** (or similar gentle compressor)
2. **Tape saturation** (J37 or similar)
3. **Exciter/brightness** (Fresh Air or similar)

For export, configure your DAW to print effects into stems so they match the master.

## Part 3: Fast Composition Tools

### Sketching Patches

Create combined instruments for quick composing:
- Full Orchestra Long Notes
- Full Orchestra Short Notes
- Strings Long Notes
- Strings Short Notes
- Brass Long Notes
- Brass Short Notes
- Woodwinds Long Notes
- Woodwinds Short Notes
- Orchestral Percussion
- Low Sub-bomb
- Piano
- Choir

Tips for creating sketching patches:
1. Stack appropriate instrument sections
2. Balance volumes (strings ~-6dB, woods ~-11dB, brass ~-8dB)
3. Apply EQ to prevent muddiness
4. Create modulation assignments (e.g., mod wheel for dynamics, CC2 for choir volume)

### Pre-Orchestrated Performance Patches

These save you time by combining common orchestration techniques:

**Brass Patches:**
- Epic Horns (12 horns + trombone + marcato overlay)
- Epic Trumpets (similar approach)

**String Patches:**
- Ensemble Strings Sustain (with controllable warmth)
- Low Strings Sustain
- Strings Tremolo (with sus-to-trem transition)
- Violins 1+2 Section Legato
- Violins in Octaves 
- Staccatos in Octaves
- Low String Staccatos (with added definition)

Look for "performance patches" that capture musicians' actual playing styles rather than static sustains or shorts.

## Part 4: Film Scoring Setup

For film scoring, add:
1. **Video track**
2. **Dialogue and temp track** audio channels
3. **Music stem** group as final output for all musical elements
4. **Markers** in linear mode to follow the scene

Match the timecode to the video and set frame rate appropriately. Allow one bar before music starts for setup.

## Composition Examples

The guide includes three composition examples:

1. **Love/Positive Emotions**: Slower tempo, major chords, lyrical melody
2. **Action/Mid-Intensity**: Driving pulse with motivic elements
3. **Suspense/Tension**: Dark harmonies, dissonant intervals, textural elements

## Conclusion

A well-designed template transforms your composing workflow, saving time and improving your sound quality. Start simple and let your template evolve as you develop your unique sound. The most important aspects are the routing structure and signal processing chain, which allow you to focus on creativity while maintaining professional sound quality.

Remember the template is just a tool - it should adapt to your workflow, not force you into a specific working method. As you compose more projects, you'll refine your template to match your specific needs and style.