Diving into separate parts/stems like drums or pulses would be awesome. Including some mixing techniques - unless you're making it as part of your upcoming course.. ;)
Terrific! great. I just added my email to your list. I need to understand how to make the percs so solidly bright and on your face without messing up the whole mix behind :-)
I would love to see what libraries and synths you used for this piece! I'd also love to see what you did regarding layering, for example, brass and synths.
I like how Alex is describing much of his music as "actually very simple" while at the same time using so many tracks that I can't even count them. Let me show you one of _my_ Cubase projects with 4 tracks in total; then you'll see what simple music really looks like :D
Hahaha, I am really sorry about this but when I say simple, I always want to bring across that I can be way more complex and then again, that even when having less tracks, the arrangement can sometimes be too complex or sophisticated, which is actually not necessary in trailer music :)
@@AlexPfeffer I always end up with a ton of tracks but then I end up with writers block because moving them around when I change my mind about some part takes so god damn long 🤬
@@AlexPfeffer Soo.. ich finde solche Videos immer sehr motivierend sich doch nochmal an ein Stück zu setzen auch wenn man eigentlich super demotiviert ist. Wie ich schon sagte, das Stück klingt sehr episch und der Sound sehr voll. Ich finds persönlich immer am schwersten die Frequenzen abzustimmen. Welcher Filter wohin und solche Sachen. Find das Video auch so hilfreich wie es ist, das wäre nur ein möglicher Gedanke. Ansonsten vielen Dank für die Mühe, ist wie immer sehr sympathisch!
Thanks for your insight and explaining creative decisions. Looking into making trailer music at the moment. Are there any essential libraries you suggest for drums or fx?
@@AlexPfeffer thanks! Devastator series is exactly what I'm looking for. Any other companies you recommend to check out other than Keepforest? I've only heard of Heavyocity. Thanks! Do you do your own sound design too?
Awesome combination of sounds in the intro. Amazing composition! 🤯 I know trailer music shouldn't be too complex... but i'd love to see you coming up with a piece in multiple time signatures! 🤯🤯
That is the Rodecaster by Rode. I got it because I didn't want to deal with all the routing into the DAW or using stuff like Voicemeeter or vsts inside OBS. Something that is just there and working :)
Thanks for this tutorial. I already have bought another trailer music course but I am interested with yours because you explain things very clearly and your perspective would be useful for sure. Looking forward to get that email for the start of the new course. Subscribed to that mailing list! Keep it up Alex!
Thank you so much! I will go over that with one of the tracks. Mixing a track is always a bit just one receipt but most of the time not adaptable on other tracks. Will go into full detail in my course of course :)
2:09 hat mir besonders gut gefallen. Schickst du solche Tracks fürn Album weg um gemixed und gemastered zu werden oder machst du das auch selber? Falls ersteres was kann man da so an Ausgaben fürn 2-3 Minuten Track rechnen? Sehr schöne Sache!
this is really so incredible and informative, thank you so much for making and sharing, you're amazing Alex! was just wondering how you made the signature signal type sound?
Hi Alex Thanks for the tips, they are very helpful! can you say something more about trailer music, in terms of administration, do you first find a publisher and then register the song on your P.R.O. and send it to exclusive libraries, I think a lot of people are interested in that process? I'm working on an album for trailer music, and when it's finished I don't know the best way to market it, so if you can tell me more about that or some guidance, I'd really appreciate it! thanks and keep up the excellent work!
Hey, the usual way is you prepare a great demo reel with like 3-5 tracks and send it out to trailer or production music companies. When accepted, you will get the a brief of the style you have to write. Once you are done and the album will be released, typically the company will put in your PRO data and everything. This is nothing you have to deal with. The hard part will be to get accepted. Having a full album can be of advantage too but prepare for rejection or the company needing a different style.
I have a question for you! How were you able to write for Two Steps from Hell? I noticed that Øivind Rosvold also composed a few tracks for them. Are they needing more composers to help with the work load or something? Thank you!
Wow amazing track!! Production is KILLER! Well done. For interest sake about your trailer course, how will yours be different to what's on offer at the moment?
Thank you Gavin! Regarding the trailer music course, I want to share my point and experience about what worked and didn't work for me. So far, I didn't take any of the available courses, so I can't say what's inside those.
What does is it mean, to write an album for TSFH? I thought they were quite capable on their own :D Thx for your breakdown. I never thought this little breaks in the track being useful for trailer editors. Im still debating with myself whether they actually excite me, because Ive heard this trailer formula on a thousand different tracks
Hahah, great comment! Yes, I agree, we all know this from thousands of different tracks. Then again we are hearing I-IV-V on blues and II-V-I on Jazz since years :)
Awesome content Im learning a bunch! Im a noob at this and a goal of mine is to create my trailer like composition. so having a template like this will help a lot. I will look into your patreon and video online class to explore more. Cheers!
Hey and thank you. What exactly sounds different? It should be the exact same version but please keep in mind that there is compression going on on YT compared to the original.
@@AlexPfeffer ah okay that could be possible! In my opinion the UA-cam version sounded less clearer especially when hitting high volume e.g. percussion hits.
Amazing and so glad I have discovered you Alex. Fascinating and so generous of you to share your skills to help others. I do have one initial question having just started looking at creating Trailer music. Which plugin or sound pack would you say has the best Braams? The ones you use are so great and just like the movies but the ones I have so far are not quite as smooth and perfect :-) thanks again
@@AlexPfeffer thanks Alex I mean I don’t mind paying the £359 as I’m sure it’s worth it for breakout but I already have some of the other plugins to get the shape of my tracks right and I’m going to do your course and have done another course for Trailer writing THEN I think the investment would pay off :-) I’ll go check their site to see if they still sell the original. Have a good day !
I Love your videos Alex, keep doing them! One small and a little bit weird question - is the tempo 79 bpm has a specific meaning? Because I usually find myself with rounded tempo - 70,75,80 so I was wondering why 79. Keep it up!!
If I may suggest something NEVER work with tempos like that, absolutely never. The simple reason is that no trailer cutter will be able figure out a tempo like this and if you have to cut in a session with such a weird tempo things can get really messy, especially when they have to use additional loops or tempo synced stuff. Always keep the tempo to numbers without adding something behind the comma.
@@AlexPfeffer I think he does not mean a number with something behind the comma, but rather uses comma's to give you a few examples of tempos he uses. I think he means he uses a tempo such as 70 or 75 or 80 (more simple numbers) while you use 79 here. I think he is curious why you use 79 instead of 80 for example?
@@PowerRedBullTypology Lol, you are right, I have seen that as timecode/tempo for some reason. I think there is a difference at some point between 80 and 79 because it is one beat less. Of course, I am not sure if that means something for the track in general, but at this moment I felt it was the right tempo.
Hahaha, if I would be a ghost writer for anyone I would have kicked me out of business and violated my contract with any of these videos. So, no I am not a ghost writer, my album was published by Two Steps and my name is in the credits on the Extreme music website.
I found your video about signature sounds very useful, explaining each one of the elements of the intro, I would also find interesting an explanation about the parts of a piece like this one now - elements, libraries, processing, compressing, eq. I tried to identify the instruments in the main part - were they basically an orchestra (and choir, of course), added to the synth elements of the intro?
Thank you! Well, it's not that I just add stuf to the synth element of the intro. It depends where the track is heading. Sometimes I leave out instruments and add new ones, sometimes the structure changes and everything moves into another direction, then sometimes something comes back. So as you can see in the arrangement and as I explain in the video, the signal sound comes back in the lower bridge part before the end and then AFTER the ending part again. It is not that everything is constantly playing.
Thank you! Well, I wrote an album for Two Steps from Hell as I already did in 2012 with Solaris. I am not part of Two Steps from Hell but had the opportunity to write for them.
@@AlexPfeffer Definitely didn't know that, sorry! I thought they just make their own stuff without any external inputs. How can I reach and write for them if you don't mind asking?
@@AlexPfeffer Thanks Alex for replying :) Yes, I did but it seems their contact is ONLY for merchandise and orders lol. Thanks a lot Alex. Don't bother! It was very kind of you to reply actually.
@@Ahmad-Mounir44 No worries, but questions like these are always a bit like: Let's try to use this springboard to reach something while skipping the hard work. My advice would be, write great music, get visible out there, get in contact with people and do proper and healthy networking, then and only then things start working out! Good luck!
I'm probably late to the party and have just discovered this gem of a channel, but do you happen to discuss the plugins/ processing done in this or similar tracks? I may be wrong but trailer music can feel pay to win where if you can afford 12 different $500 kontakt libraries you can sound like Hans Zimmer or TSFH. Would love any insight on this as I would love to be wrong about it being pay to play xD Incredible content and LOVED the composition!
Thank you so much. Not on my computer right now but I should have a video by going over the processing in another video. However I also have a full course on trailer music that goes into detail about everything in over 100 videos. Anyway, I think you will the video within the time range of this one here. Thanks again!
@@SheldonTam All tracks have been written and released already. It is an industry album available on Extreme Music for licensing, so no public release.
I usually just use the stuff that I found most using. I had all kinds of templates, spread upon several machines, up to 1000 tracks and then smaller ones. Working with huge templates is cool but sometimes I lose the focus and I end up using not more than 20% anyway.
@@AlexPfeffer yes, exactly…but there is a downside to it as well - when working with smaller template composer is used to work with the same instruments all the time, when the template is bigger at least you can find something interesting that you forgot you have :)) Btw, Reaper has very nice options for managing this issue - you can setup to hide non used tracks in the project and stuff like that. But still, you are right - by having big template the creation process is slower and one can easily lose focus
@@DjorMil.CineMusic Yep, there are so many options. Every DAW has some function to hide stuff. In Cubase I have a shortcut for show tracks with data and show all tracks. Therefore it is never cluttered. For me, the organization aspect is what I don't like with a huge template. Loading times, then a lib changes or gets an update and each lib used is a chance to run into trouble too. Then even with a 1000 track template I always found something missing, so I sat down and thought about the stuff I always use and just got these set up ... if I need anything I can still load it up :)
One question, if you are allowed to answer and wanna talk about it: Do the TSFH albums pay good? Like was it worth it for you, and how often are the tracks used?
@@AlexPfeffer Of course I would! No question about that. :D (Actually my goal is to even work on public albums of TSFH some day but that's another story) But id still like to know if it's worth it, financially because I'm not that much into the trailer music bussiness, and I mean specifically if doing a label album for tsfh is worth it. Like how often do the tracks get used compared to other big labels. Also sorry for writing with 2 different accounts xD
@@FabianSchock Fabian, I would say if you want to get into trailer music, you may want to accept any gig possible and don't think (at least in the beginning) about being selective when it comes to big labels. If you really WANT to write trailer music for big labels, you will get there sooner or later. It is all a matter of sticking to it, being consistent, and working on it. However, all the big trailer labels probably get hundreds of emails and applications monthly. Also if you want to work for trailer music or license music in general, I recommend that it not only matters to work for big labels but also that you write tons of tracks for them ... but again, this could be a problem because if you get the chance to write for a big label, it is not that you can release 10 albums every year. Even if I would tell you precisely what would be worth it or not, things could change next year. The best thing I would recommend is to start somewhere, try to get into the industry, do it for 3-5 years and then see what works best and what does not ... and even IF you notice a pattern, then again, it may be different the following year. To sum it up, if you want to get into it, don't ask if it is worth it to write for 2 Steps or any other big label, but make it work, get what you can, and write as many tracks as possible and then keep doing that for at least 5 years. Once you get around 300-500 tracks, you may be able to make a living from it. Of course, things could be different if you get to work on customs.
@@AlexPfeffer Thank you for the tips and the detailed answer. To be honest I didn't ask if tsfh would be worth it for me for example, because just as you said, when getting into it, you should take every job. I meant if it was worth it for you, since you have been in the industry for much longer, but then you already answered that there are no long term patterns so thanks! :) idk whether you do this kind of stuff for individual viewers but if yes: could you possibly tell me what you think of my track "Elysium" which is meant to be an emotional trailer track?
@@FabianSchockYes, for me, it was totally worth it, financially and in regard to everything else too. I do reviews, yes, but currently, I don't have time to do it. You can check out my Discord community and post it over there in the self-promotion channel.
Let me know if you got anything specifically we should take a look at ... and thanks so much everyone!
The panning and the final mastering . What library did you use . How did you get this contract
@@RichardBoyer yes Mixing and mastering would be great 👍🏻👍🏻
Diving into separate parts/stems like drums or pulses would be awesome. Including some mixing techniques - unless you're making it as part of your upcoming course.. ;)
Terrific! great. I just added my email to your list. I need to understand how to make the percs so solidly bright and on your face without messing up the whole mix behind :-)
I would love to see what libraries and synths you used for this piece! I'd also love to see what you did regarding layering, for example, brass and synths.
I like how Alex is describing much of his music as "actually very simple" while at the same time using so many tracks that I can't even count them. Let me show you one of _my_ Cubase projects with 4 tracks in total; then you'll see what simple music really looks like :D
Hahaha, I am really sorry about this but when I say simple, I always want to bring across that I can be way more complex and then again, that even when having less tracks, the arrangement can sometimes be too complex or sophisticated, which is actually not necessary in trailer music :)
In Alex' defense, this is not that many tracks compared to what I have seen from some other trailer/epic composers :D
@@tosvus I agree. There are people going absolutely nuts with over 100 tracks :)
@@AlexPfeffer I always end up with a ton of tracks but then I end up with writers block because moving them around when I change my mind about some part takes so god damn long 🤬
that's a great example of how structured Alex works. Thanks for the scoring tips!
Great video on your arrangement and (most importantly) thought process. Thanks, Alex.
Great video Alex! Thanks 😊
Thank you!
Thank you so much Alex - Very interesting - Great work Congratulations !
Thank you so much, Alberto!
really nice track and love hearing about the process!
Epic and entertaining. Thank you!
No thank you! :)
Wow! Alex, das klingt mal wieder großartig! Gratuliere dir herzlich zum Gig! 👍😃
Danke Dir!!
Great track and video. I'm definitely interested in your trailer course!
Thanks mate! :)
Totally awesome! I can't wait for the course!
Thank you David!
Thanks Alex,great video..helped me a lot to understand my mistakes,great explanation and easy to understand.Love your work !!
Congratulations on getting this amazing gig Alex. Looking forward to seeing what you've got with your trailer music course. 👍
Thank you, Paul!
Can't wait for that course! Gonna be great Alex!
Thank you so much!
Great track and video, Alex! Thanks brother
Thanks so much bro! Really appreciate!
Alex: You are an excellent instructor! Thank you so much. I am learning so much by watching you work!
Great video and breakdown, thanks for posting it!
Thank you for checking it out!
Wow what a treat Alex, fantastic track and great video , Thanks for sharing the tips. And hey congratulations :)
Thank you so much!
Hi Alex, vielen Dank für den kleinen Blick "hinter die Kulissen". Ich muss sagen, solche Videos oder Live-Composing finde ich am interessantesten.
Sehr sehr gerne, vielen Dank für dein hilfreiches Feedback! :)
Great clear examples of structure, thanks
You deserve all of that!
Good luck for your future!
Thanks so much! Same to you! :)
Excellent track! Thanks for sharing
Thank you for commenting! :D
Thanks Alex! Already liking the video before watching it, I know this is gonna be good!!
Hey Thomas, haha thank you so much!
Excellent video. So concise. Really helps me get started.
Thank you so much!
Awesome breakdown Alex! This is such a great track. Congratulations on landing such an exciting opportunity as well!
Thank you so much, Chris!
Wow, what an honour to write the intro track of a TSFH Album. Great track and very helpful video, as always.
Thank you much ... and yes, I am so happy I was given the opportunity.
Great stuff Alex! much appreciated!
My pleasure! Thank you, Piotr!
Really great video. Keep it up 👍
As usual sounds absolutely awesome! Congrats! And can´t wait to hear more from the trailer music course.
Thank you Jarkko!
amazing! great track, congratulations for the new album !
Thank you so much Javier!
Thank you Alex for this great video. Fantastic track.
Thank you William!
Simply EPIC! As always :) And yes, I'm really interested in that course too
Thank you, Martin! :)
Thank you for an amazing video - if you don't mind me asking what are the choir/s you're using?
It's all Strezov Storm Choir Ultimate. Thanks!
Thank you for sharing.! Alex , Love the track , very intense 👍🏻👍🏻 great work as usual.!! Very inspiring.!! 🙏🏻
Thank you so much Pablo!
Ich lasse grad mein Like da, werd mir das später noch in Ruhe anschaun. Der Anfang vom Video klingt auf jeden Fall schonmal sehr episch!
Vielen Dank dafür! :)
@@AlexPfeffer Soo.. ich finde solche Videos immer sehr motivierend sich doch nochmal an ein Stück zu setzen auch wenn man eigentlich super demotiviert ist. Wie ich schon sagte, das Stück klingt sehr episch und der Sound sehr voll. Ich finds persönlich immer am schwersten die Frequenzen abzustimmen. Welcher Filter wohin und solche Sachen. Find das Video auch so hilfreich wie es ist, das wäre nur ein möglicher Gedanke. Ansonsten vielen Dank für die Mühe, ist wie immer sehr sympathisch!
@@JustMusicV2012 Danke Dir! Da kommt auf jeden Fall noch viel mehr :) ... gibt ja noch weitere 9 Tracks auf dem Album :D
Thank you!
Thank you for the insight Alex! Great track and epic production!
Thank you so much! Really appreciate! :)
Thanks for your insight and explaining creative decisions. Looking into making trailer music at the moment. Are there any essential libraries you suggest for drums or fx?
Thank you! Do you mean specifically drums or Percussions? Definitely Devastator by Keepforest would be among it.
@@AlexPfeffer thanks! Devastator series is exactly what I'm looking for. Any other companies you recommend to check out other than Keepforest? I've only heard of Heavyocity. Thanks! Do you do your own sound design too?
So many elements here to replay. Congrats Alex.
Thank you so much!
Moin Moin ... looking forward to here more news about the online course! Just subscribed to your newsletter.
Awesome, thank you!
This sounds so great!! Thank you for this insight 👌 looking forward to check your upcoming course!
Thank you Janko! I appreciate!
Awesome track - and you're as gifted a communicator as you are a composer. Thanks, Alex.
Thank you so much!
Very good ! 😃
Thanks!
@@AlexPfeffer 🤗
right in da face, well done Alex!!!!! it's a WOW
Haha, thank you! :)
Awesome track Alex! Always quality production in your music. Top notch!
Thank you so much Mattias! Means a lot!
Yo, this is pure gold! Massively appreciate the detailed insight!
Hey Shaheen, thank you so much!
Thank you for the helpful tutorial and well done
Thank you Paul!
Bra you are a genius
awesome track. love it. poweful !
Thanks man! :)
I am here and listening with my ears wide open Thanks
Thank you for checking by! :)
Awesome combination of sounds in the intro. Amazing composition! 🤯 I know trailer music shouldn't be too complex... but i'd love to see you coming up with a piece in multiple time signatures! 🤯🤯
Hahah, you may want to look around for "Protostars", not a trailer track per se, but a demo for Musical Sampling Trailer Brass :)
great job
Alex, what the hell is that controller on the right with 8x faders 8 pads and a screen on top? Never seen that before. Thanks.
That is the Rodecaster by Rode. I got it because I didn't want to deal with all the routing into the DAW or using stuff like Voicemeeter or vsts inside OBS. Something that is just there and working :)
@@AlexPfeffer No wonder i couldn't find this under daw or video controller. Thanks.
Very nice Music, i have to watch it ones more 🇩🇰
Haha, thank you! Be my guest! :)
Thanks for this tutorial. I already have bought another trailer music course but I am interested with yours because you explain things very clearly and your perspective would be useful for sure.
Looking forward to get that email for the start of the new course. Subscribed to that mailing list!
Keep it up Alex!
Awesome, thank you!
Love that noise you call 'AR Signals'
Thanks! Base sounds comes from Artifact Reanimate by Audio Imperia. Great library! :)
Sounds great!!!Choir just amazing!!!🔥🔥🔥👍👍👍
Thank you! Just one patch of Storm Choir Ultimate by Strezov! :)
The track I prefer from this album!!
Wow, thanks so much! Glad to hear that!
Is that a mini arcade machine in the background?!! #wantone! Sounding awesome as ever, my friend!
haha yes, it is! Thank you!
hi Alex, it would be awesome if you could do an in-depth video on how you mixed this track! Such a great work
Thank you so much! I will go over that with one of the tracks. Mixing a track is always a bit just one receipt but most of the time not adaptable on other tracks. Will go into full detail in my course of course :)
2:09 hat mir besonders gut gefallen. Schickst du solche Tracks fürn Album weg um gemixed und gemastered zu werden oder machst du das auch selber? Falls ersteres was kann man da so an Ausgaben fürn 2-3 Minuten Track rechnen?
Sehr schöne Sache!
Danke Dir! In diesem Fall hab ich das komplette Album selbst gemixt und gemastert. Kommt drauf an wo du mastern lässt.
this is really so incredible and informative, thank you so much for making and sharing, you're amazing Alex! was just wondering how you made the signature signal type sound?
I used a signal sound from Artifact Reanimate by Audio Imperia and processed it a bit. Thank you so much!
Thanks Alex for this incredible information. I would very much like to know about the final mastering bus.
Check my new video! :)
Awesome. It would be great to get a list of the sounds from the track names (not abbreviated).
Hey Alex! Great that TSFH gave you permission! Will we get any more of these?
Thank you ... and yes, ... definitely! :)
@@AlexPfeffer Looking forward to it!😄
thank you for your great work. my fav track was manhunter 😁
Hi Alex Thanks for the tips, they are very helpful!
can you say something more about trailer music, in terms of administration, do you first find a publisher and then register the song on your P.R.O. and send it to exclusive libraries, I think a lot of people are interested in that process? I'm working on an album for trailer music, and when it's finished I don't know the best way to market it, so if you can tell me more about that or some guidance, I'd really appreciate it!
thanks and keep up the excellent work!
Hey, the usual way is you prepare a great demo reel with like 3-5 tracks and send it out to trailer or production music companies. When accepted, you will get the a brief of the style you have to write. Once you are done and the album will be released, typically the company will put in your PRO data and everything. This is nothing you have to deal with. The hard part will be to get accepted. Having a full album can be of advantage too but prepare for rejection or the company needing a different style.
@@AlexPfeffer Alex thanks a lot!
I have a question for you! How were you able to write for Two Steps from Hell? I noticed that Øivind Rosvold also composed a few tracks for them. Are they needing more composers to help with the work load or something? Thank you!
Working hard on my musical skills + building relationships and being able to promote myself correctly.
Wow amazing track!! Production is KILLER! Well done. For interest sake about your trailer course, how will yours be different to what's on offer at the moment?
Thank you Gavin! Regarding the trailer music course, I want to share my point and experience about what worked and didn't work for me. So far, I didn't take any of the available courses, so I can't say what's inside those.
What does is it mean, to write an album for TSFH? I thought they were quite capable on their own :D
Thx for your breakdown. I never thought this little breaks in the track being useful for trailer editors. Im still debating with myself whether they actually excite me, because Ive heard this trailer formula on a thousand different tracks
Hahah, great comment! Yes, I agree, we all know this from thousands of different tracks. Then again we are hearing I-IV-V on blues and II-V-I on Jazz since years :)
Awesome content Im learning a bunch! Im a noob at this and a goal of mine is to create my trailer like composition. so having a template like this will help a lot. I will look into your patreon and video online class to explore more. Cheers!
Thank you so much! Glad I could help! :)
Great video and congrats Alex! Is this version already mixed? Because the final release sound a little bit different.
Hey and thank you. What exactly sounds different? It should be the exact same version but please keep in mind that there is compression going on on YT compared to the original.
@@AlexPfeffer ah okay that could be possible! In my opinion the UA-cam version sounded less clearer especially when hitting high volume e.g. percussion hits.
@@janus8159 Jep, that could be. There is always some algo at work ... so the files are definitely not lossless :/
Amazing and so glad I have discovered you Alex. Fascinating and so generous of you to share your skills to help others. I do have one initial question having just started looking at creating Trailer music. Which plugin or sound pack would you say has the best Braams? The ones you use are so great and just like the movies but the ones I have so far are not quite as smooth and perfect :-) thanks again
Thank you! If I would have to mention one it would be Devastator 😀
@@AlexPfeffer ok great that’s next on my list ! Thanks
@@AlexPfeffer just to check do you have Devastator Breakout Pro? thanks I only ask as there are a lot of versions :)
I actually don't I have the original one plus the Warzone but the initial release should be enough for some decent Bramms@@paulg3388
@@AlexPfeffer thanks Alex I mean I don’t mind paying the £359 as I’m sure it’s worth it for breakout but I already have some of the other plugins to get the shape of my tracks right and I’m going to do your course and have done another course for Trailer writing THEN I think the investment would pay off :-) I’ll go check their site to see if they still sell the original. Have a good day !
I Love your videos Alex, keep doing them!
One small and a little bit weird question - is the tempo 79 bpm has a specific meaning? Because I usually find myself with rounded tempo - 70,75,80 so I was wondering why 79.
Keep it up!!
If I may suggest something NEVER work with tempos like that, absolutely never. The simple reason is that no trailer cutter will be able figure out a tempo like this and if you have to cut in a session with such a weird tempo things can get really messy, especially when they have to use additional loops or tempo synced stuff. Always keep the tempo to numbers without adding something behind the comma.
@@AlexPfeffer thanks!
@@AlexPfeffer I think he does not mean a number with something behind the comma, but rather uses comma's to give you a few examples of tempos he uses. I think he means he uses a tempo such as 70 or 75 or 80 (more simple numbers) while you use 79 here. I think he is curious why you use 79 instead of 80 for example?
@@PowerRedBullTypology Lol, you are right, I have seen that as timecode/tempo for some reason. I think there is a difference at some point between 80 and 79 because it is one beat less. Of course, I am not sure if that means something for the track in general, but at this moment I felt it was the right tempo.
6 bars in to the listen and you get a Like, man this is cool!
Haha, thanks so much Robin! Means a lot! :D
So you're a ghostwriter for TSFH? Nice :-)
Hahaha, if I would be a ghost writer for anyone I would have kicked me out of business and violated my contract with any of these videos. So, no I am not a ghost writer, my album was published by Two Steps and my name is in the credits on the Extreme music website.
I found your video about signature sounds very useful, explaining each one of the elements of the intro, I would also find interesting an explanation about the parts of a piece like this one now - elements, libraries, processing, compressing, eq. I tried to identify the instruments in the main part - were they basically an orchestra (and choir, of course), added to the synth elements of the intro?
Thank you! Well, it's not that I just add stuf to the synth element of the intro. It depends where the track is heading. Sometimes I leave out instruments and add new ones, sometimes the structure changes and everything moves into another direction, then sometimes something comes back. So as you can see in the arrangement and as I explain in the video, the signal sound comes back in the lower bridge part before the end and then AFTER the ending part again. It is not that everything is constantly playing.
Hello, I see that you no longer use Studio One, is it for a specific reason?
I still use Studio One, but it depends, during the time I wrote the album that I started writing around Jan 2020, I used Cubase.
@@AlexPfeffer Thank you
Great job indeed, Alex! but I still don't get it. Are you working for TSFH or is there something I am missing? :)
Thank you! Well, I wrote an album for Two Steps from Hell as I already did in 2012 with Solaris. I am not part of Two Steps from Hell but had the opportunity to write for them.
@@AlexPfeffer Definitely didn't know that, sorry! I thought they just make their own stuff without any external inputs. How can I reach and write for them if you don't mind asking?
@@Ahmad-Mounir44 open Google, type in Two Steps from Hell, click their website and find the contact information.
@@AlexPfeffer Thanks Alex for replying :) Yes, I did but it seems their contact is ONLY for merchandise and orders lol. Thanks a lot Alex. Don't bother! It was very kind of you to reply actually.
@@Ahmad-Mounir44 No worries, but questions like these are always a bit like: Let's try to use this springboard to reach something while skipping the hard work. My advice would be, write great music, get visible out there, get in contact with people and do proper and healthy networking, then and only then things start working out! Good luck!
Great video.
Thanks man!
Nice!
Thanks man!
@@AlexPfeffer no problem!
I'm probably late to the party and have just discovered this gem of a channel, but do you happen to discuss the plugins/ processing done in this or similar tracks? I may be wrong but trailer music can feel pay to win where if you can afford 12 different $500 kontakt libraries you can sound like Hans Zimmer or TSFH. Would love any insight on this as I would love to be wrong about it being pay to play xD
Incredible content and LOVED the composition!
Thank you so much. Not on my computer right now but I should have a video by going over the processing in another video. However I also have a full course on trailer music that goes into detail about everything in over 100 videos. Anyway, I think you will the video within the time range of this one here. Thanks again!
Hey Alex, so you are now a member of Two Steps from Hell along with Nick Phoenix and Thomas Bergersen?
Haha, no :) All I did was writing an album for Two Steps from Hell.
@@AlexPfeffer Cool! Are you composing all tracks for the entire Chaos Theory album? When will it be released? Thanks!
@@SheldonTam All tracks have been written and released already. It is an industry album available on Extreme Music for licensing, so no public release.
Bring this man to 10k UA-cam subscribers!!
Haha, thanks, hopefully happens this year :D
How did you create a template with 60+ tracks?! I need to filter more...Its like throwing out old stuff from the house, takes forever...
I usually just use the stuff that I found most using. I had all kinds of templates, spread upon several machines, up to 1000 tracks and then smaller ones. Working with huge templates is cool but sometimes I lose the focus and I end up using not more than 20% anyway.
@@AlexPfeffer yes, exactly…but there is a downside to it as well - when working with smaller template composer is used to work with the same instruments all the time, when the template is bigger at least you can find something interesting that you forgot you have :)) Btw, Reaper has very nice options for managing this issue - you can setup to hide non used tracks in the project and stuff like that. But still, you are right - by having big template the creation process is slower and one can easily lose focus
@@DjorMil.CineMusic Yep, there are so many options. Every DAW has some function to hide stuff. In Cubase I have a shortcut for show tracks with data and show all tracks. Therefore it is never cluttered. For me, the organization aspect is what I don't like with a huge template. Loading times, then a lib changes or gets an update and each lib used is a chance to run into trouble too. Then even with a 1000 track template I always found something missing, so I sat down and thought about the stuff I always use and just got these set up ... if I need anything I can still load it up :)
@@AlexPfeffer nicely said! Btw, very nice video, thanks!
Holy crap
Thank you!
One question, if you are allowed to answer and wanna talk about it: Do the TSFH albums pay good? Like was it worth it for you, and how often are the tracks used?
If you would get asked to write an album for Two Steps, would you do it?
@@AlexPfeffer Of course I would! No question about that. :D (Actually my goal is to even work on public albums of TSFH some day but that's another story) But id still like to know if it's worth it, financially because I'm not that much into the trailer music bussiness, and I mean specifically if doing a label album for tsfh is worth it. Like how often do the tracks get used compared to other big labels.
Also sorry for writing with 2 different accounts xD
@@FabianSchock Fabian, I would say if you want to get into trailer music, you may want to accept any gig possible and don't think (at least in the beginning) about being selective when it comes to big labels. If you really WANT to write trailer music for big labels, you will get there sooner or later. It is all a matter of sticking to it, being consistent, and working on it. However, all the big trailer labels probably get hundreds of emails and applications monthly.
Also if you want to work for trailer music or license music in general, I recommend that it not only matters to work for big labels but also that you write tons of tracks for them ... but again, this could be a problem because if you get the chance to write for a big label, it is not that you can release 10 albums every year.
Even if I would tell you precisely what would be worth it or not, things could change next year. The best thing I would recommend is to start somewhere, try to get into the industry, do it for 3-5 years and then see what works best and what does not ... and even IF you notice a pattern, then again, it may be different the following year.
To sum it up, if you want to get into it, don't ask if it is worth it to write for 2 Steps or any other big label, but make it work, get what you can, and write as many tracks as possible and then keep doing that for at least 5 years. Once you get around 300-500 tracks, you may be able to make a living from it. Of course, things could be different if you get to work on customs.
@@AlexPfeffer Thank you for the tips and the detailed answer. To be honest I didn't ask if tsfh would be worth it for me for example, because just as you said, when getting into it, you should take every job. I meant if it was worth it for you, since you have been in the industry for much longer, but then you already answered that there are no long term patterns so thanks! :)
idk whether you do this kind of stuff for individual viewers but if yes: could you possibly tell me what you think of my track "Elysium" which is meant to be an emotional trailer track?
@@FabianSchockYes, for me, it was totally worth it, financially and in regard to everything else too. I do reviews, yes, but currently, I don't have time to do it. You can check out my Discord community and post it over there in the self-promotion channel.
No, I didn't just listen to this song 10 times in a row. Why do you ask? ;)
Haha, thank you!
u work for two steps from hell?
Yes I wrote two albums for Two Steps.
@@AlexPfeffer are they public albums like archangel battlecry or vanquish?
No, just industry releases on Extreme Music catalog. @@StormtrippyMusic
thats wayy cool bro
What would this sound like if you played it on the piano? (Ahem)
The same as if you would play it on a banjo or kazoo. Like shit. Sorry, maybe it don't get this question?