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Acoustic and MIDI Orchestration for the Contemporary Composer: A Practical Guide to Writing and Sequencing for the Studio Orchestra
Get complete guidance on both traditional orchestration and modern production techniques with this unique book. With effective explanations and clear illustrations, you will learn how to integrate the traditional approach to orchestration with the modern sequencing techniques and tools available. You will discover how to bridge the two approaches in order to enhance your final production.
The accompanying CD includes a comprehensive and wide selection of examples, templates and sounds to allow you to hear the techniques within the book.
By covering both approaches, this book provides a comprehensive and solid learning experience that will develop your skills and prove extremely competitive in the music production business.
The accompanying CD includes a comprehensive and wide selection of examples, templates and sounds to allow you to hear the techniques within the book.
By covering both approaches, this book provides a comprehensive and solid learning experience that will develop your skills and prove extremely competitive in the music production business.
308 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2007
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September 15, 2019
I've read quite a number of books on the subject of orchestration. I have been composing for live musicians and using MIDI sequencing for the past 22 years; This is the first book I've come across, that covers, in detail orchestration for live musicians and for MIDI sequencing. It is not the best book for acoustic orchestration (for live musicians); the book by Samuel Adler The Study of Orchestration is probably the best and most comprehensive. However, for a detailed guide to MIDI sequencing, it is definitely the best.
The basic concepts of MIDI are described in detail, and my review will focus on the MIDI aspects. The techniques for orchestrating and sequencing each instrument are described. Techniques for making each MIDI instrument sound realistic are described in great detail. Even topics like panning, mixing, equalization and reverb are covered for each instrument family. Orchestration of vocal music is also covered. Online audio files demonstrate with lots of A-B examples how each technique can improve realism. I really appreciate the examples that show how a hybrid approach--adding a few live musicians to a synthesized composition--can increase the degree of realism.
While this book was originally published in 2007, the 2017 edition contains a lot of updates. This is important, because the surge in technology and the recent outpouring of new sample libraries have allowed composers to increase the realism of virtual orchestrations to amazing heights. This book covers not only sample libraries, but also various types synthesis, physical modeling and granular synthesis.
This book is useful for composers of live music. But it will be most useful for composers who specialize in virtual orchestration. I highly recommend it for all composers of media music.
The basic concepts of MIDI are described in detail, and my review will focus on the MIDI aspects. The techniques for orchestrating and sequencing each instrument are described. Techniques for making each MIDI instrument sound realistic are described in great detail. Even topics like panning, mixing, equalization and reverb are covered for each instrument family. Orchestration of vocal music is also covered. Online audio files demonstrate with lots of A-B examples how each technique can improve realism. I really appreciate the examples that show how a hybrid approach--adding a few live musicians to a synthesized composition--can increase the degree of realism.
While this book was originally published in 2007, the 2017 edition contains a lot of updates. This is important, because the surge in technology and the recent outpouring of new sample libraries have allowed composers to increase the realism of virtual orchestrations to amazing heights. This book covers not only sample libraries, but also various types synthesis, physical modeling and granular synthesis.
This book is useful for composers of live music. But it will be most useful for composers who specialize in virtual orchestration. I highly recommend it for all composers of media music.
Displaying 1 of 1 review