Film Music Composition and Audio Production Services

The Process

Get a free quote

Commissioning music shouldn't be hard. Well, at least I don't think it should be. That's why I've developed a streamlined approach to making the whole process that much simpler. Everything starts with an email, a phone call, or an internet submission of my free quote request form. After that, I consider all the information provided and come up with a quote, or bid if you will. There are several important pieces of information that I will need up front, all of which are included in the online quote request form.

1. A point of contact: email, phone, etc.
2. What do you need music for i.e. film, game, mixing, scoring, etc.
3. Start date
4. End date (more important of the two dates)
5. The package you need
6. A lengthy, or short, description of the project itself i.e. what are you making, what are your goals, who is your target audience etc.

With the above information, I will get to work on providing you with a quote.

If you left out anything pertinent to my bid, I will be sure to contact you via the means you requested to obtain it before spitting out any figures.

I will provide you with a quote within 48 hours from the time you contacted me. That bid will be good for 30 days from the date it was created and sent to you. This gives you time to analyze your options and think about it for a while. If you decide to use me for your project and like what you are seeing, then we move on to step two.

Sign an agreement

You will be provided with an agreement which outlines all the stipulations of the commission. If there are any important bullets you want put in there, let me know ahead of time. I always want to ensure you feel you are being treated fairly. This agreement will reflect the previously agreed upon price and layout the time tables and other important factors of the job. The agreement serves to protect both parties and after being signed both parties will obtain a signed copy of the agreement. After the agreement has been signed, you will be required to pay the 40% retainer fee / deposit before work begins on the project.

This 40% deposit goes toward the total price of your project and you will not be invoiced any additional charges until the total cost of time actually worked on the project reaches the retainer amount! This usually creates a nice buffer to focus on the project itself and not billing.

Receive specifications

This is the point where you send any and all required files, specifications, cue sheets, and artwork (if required) related to your project. Film projects usually require the following items up-front:

1. A digital copy of the film saved in the Quicktime movie file format (Important: please indicate the FPS rate of the movie when sending it)**
2. A cue sheet: it doesn't have to be anything fancy, but if you provide sound fx or voice dialog you want mixed in and synched, I will need it to ensure the time lines up. It is also useful for conveying any specific time-based musical requests such as important points in the film you would like to emphasize etc.
3. Dialogue, SFX, etc. in .WAV or .AIFF file format, if they are not attached to the movie before hand

Send me anything and everything else you think is important to accurately represent your project musically.

I can rip and edit audio separate from Quicktime video files. However, it is very important to indicate (even though my software detects it automatically), the FPS of the finished / locked film.

Final Cut Pro

Starting in May 2012, I will begin using Apple's Final Cut Pro which will greatly enhance my compatibility with your early video clips, project files, and more!

DropBox

I also use DropBox as an alternate method of storing and moving your project's files if you are not comfortable with FTP or my online Client Portal.

Tracking Phase

By far the most intensive phase and usually the longest. This phase is where we work out your approval of the basic overall sound and motif. I demo early mixes for your approval and once you are satisfied with the basic sound and instrumentation we move on to the mixing phase.

It is important to note, that the tracking phase involves very little mixing and polishing, so the demos will be very basic versions of their future selves. The end product will be much more polished and items such as volume, stereo imaging, and more will all be dealt with after the basic composition is created.

Mixing Phase

Now that you have approved the overall sound and direction of the actual music, this is where I start refining the sound quality of the mix and begin preparing the track(s) for public release. I also demo mixes for your approval before preparing them for delivery.

Post Production and Delivery

The final beautification of the sound and export to a loss‐less audio format. At this point I invoice the remaining fees associated with the total creative rate and deliver your project files.

Your approval of the work at each stage is necessary for the project to move ahead. I encourage you to read the FAQ regarding clarification on key points.

The Client Portal

Throughout the whole process you will be able to log-in and view the progress of your project via your personal client portal. Everything is available in there: audio and video demos, invoices, time tracking, and a place to download your files. Along side the client portal I use FTP and DropBox as additional options to gain access to important files. The client portal is secure and keeps everything related to your project in one place. I am very flexible and I like to make use of digital technology to reduce the time and costs incurred from mailing media back and forth.

You will be assigned a unique username and password to access your personal client area after the agreement is signed. The login information and FTP details will be in the initial agreement, which you will keep a copy of. The signed agreement will also be available as a digital PDF in your client area.

If you have additional questions, please be sure to read the FAQ or email me directly. I am always available to assist you! Your satisfaction is my number one priority!