Halo Last Stand - Behind The Music

[HELLSPAWN1973]

can you please make a tutorial about scoring trailer like that and explain how to synch you composition to the movie, the project-tempo, fps of the movie, etc.? whats a must in the beginning of the work, and so on. would be great!

[TheMightyCookieShow]

You truly are talented friend. I hope and wish you all the success one can achieve.

[TheKey1987]

really amazing good piece, but in my opinion the trailer sucks. The music totally owns the images that are not comparable with the soundtrack you did.

[gskowal]

it would be awesome if you could make a cubase tutorial , how you set up drums and other instruments...

[dida900c]

great,thanks for the video

[ConforMIDI]

Hey thanks for the video... I think your viewers would appreciate your video more if you put what instruments you were using and just keeping Kontakt open so everyone knows what's what.

Also, I'm not sure if you're aware, but REAPER also has support for viewing "ghost notes". In fact, it's available in almost every modern DAW (I suppose Abelton being an exception?).

Anyway, I really appreciate your contribution to the community!

[MariusChamberlin]

That obstinate script for albion seems VERY useful. Do you know if EWQL Symphonic Orchestra (PLAY) or Hollywood Strings has something similar?

[dazexus]

@MariusChamberlin Albion is the only library that has a build in arpeggio however you could try the midi effect called 'Kirnu' it does something similar.

[DMRedScore]

Great work Mr. James! Very big and epic Song. You have a lot to say! One question:What kind of Taiko (or whatever) Library did you use to get that big boomy sound? Thx for sharing your experiences with us!

[dazexus]

@DMRedScore A combination of Cinesamples Drums of War and Albions Big percussion patches.

[LordMangaka]

Hey Dan Awesome work! I really like all your vids! i hope you can make more soon!

I also work with cubase but i really have no idea how to configure it like that, all the instruments separated in color ect. Can you give me a tip on how to configure cubase like that?

Thanks and keep the good work!

[nemesisnick66]

looks complicated so much stuff to keep track of

[TEMAOHI2787]

What sample set do you use for cymbals? Does it have "Swells"?

[dazexus]

@TEMAOHI2787 I use Nine Volt Audios Cymbals and yes, it has tempo synced swells.

[360viper117]

@dazexus May I get a quick overall opinion from you on Cubase? you know like what made you switch over to it and what you like about it and stuff and stuff :)

I would appreciate it

[Janxtes]

Can you do a video on how to right a melody for a scene, not so much how to approach but more so on how to write it so that it sounds good?

[KCJacksonMuz]

Hey Daniel. If you are experimenting with new DAWs try out Studio One. I think it's better than Cubase. I have both.

[IIPHOXII]

best tutorialI can find on YT

would like to see more - stick with Cubase :)

[colaresmusic]

It's amazing how you manage to insert that many different emotions in this piece! Your channel is one of the reasons I started my own audio portfolio youtube channel kind of thing. I'm still battling around with orchestration and mixing. But I hope that by studying your work I can improve mine!

[jarhead4214]

6:45 gave me the chills.

[CFHHATEPH34R]

Such a great composition, but I really didn't like the trailer. Awesome job!

[organix69]

very nice work on this trailer. I always like your melodies. Easy, not too complex, but very effective.

In the trailer itself I think, your music was mixed too far in the background and looses a bit of its great feeling.

The nice ostinatum feature of albion could become the reason for buying it to me, it sounds really good. :-)

[DaneGraphics]

You sound like... the Geico Gecko... O_o

[ComposerMikeC]

another great vid, thanks for sharing. may I ask which reverb you've used here, artsacoustic or Spaces?

[CelGaming]

Epic, fucking epic. Better than Hans Zimmer. I said it. I believe it. I know it's true. Can I be your fan girl Daz?

[TchaikovskyLover]

Hy Daniel !I have one question about this track ! In this stage of recording process the samples are with their own built-in reverb? or you tweaked with Quantum leap spaces or arts acoustic reverb ? About your question i heard the spicatto ,then the dynamics of the choirs overwrite a bit the spicatto without muting and falling back on the spicatto again! Great as always !

[dazexus]

@TchaikovskyLover Each sample library is different but I normally use ones that have a stage preset (which has the sound of the hall they were recorded in burnt into the samples) then run them through an instance of ArtsAcoustic Reverb.

[MattZildjian]

what do you think of cubase? have you moved to it permanently?

[dazexus]

@MattZildjian I am actually loving it. I am not sure I am comfortable enough to say I am 100% Cubase yet...but it keeps impressing me! At the moment I use Ableton Live as a Rewire slave INTO Cubase. Duel Wielding is the best of both worlds ;)

[Tm0g762]

This is really great thanks for the video! In your next video could you talk a little about the chord/harmonic progressions you use?

[dazexus]

@Tm0g762 Sure I will try to include more of that in future vids ;)

[Tm0g762]

@dazexus That's awesome thank you! I appreciate that you take the time to read your viewers comments!

[soultochul]

Great Video. Thanks for all.

I wonder your composition process.

At first, melodic construction? or harmonic progression? at the same time?

and

Do you think of musical theory?

For example, mode? chord scale? nor only your intuition?

[dazexus]

@soultochul I normally start with either a Piano or String sketch to get the right kind of tone I want for the track, then once I have a skeleton I fill it out with proper melodies and harmonies. Of course I sometimes start completly differently but it all depends on the track!

[lilmissmusic2012]

I love watchn these vids :D

[nicromis]

I missed your accent. Thanks for the video! :D

[TchaikovskyLover]

"i can't remember ! Fuck ! aaaa Yeah " 35:49 Great man ! You are the best ! :)

[djmigra]

Awesome job!!! 

[mizodoss1]

YOUR ARE JUST PLAIN AWESOME AND A GREAT TEACHER!! THANKS SO VERY MUCH :)

[TheForestHedgehog]

Realy nice! All is in perfect balance.

[BillieNat]

Great, as always ! Very pedagogic, and very useful, like the others. It's always a pleasure to see your videos because it's funny, instructive and nice.

I agree with the ear following lines, and it's working well with the choirs/spiccato thing.

And also, it's surprising that you moved to cubase, do you still use Ableton for Sound Design ?

Hope to see more videos from you soon !

[dazexus]

@BillieNat Yup Ableton Live is still a big part of my setup, although Cubase really does impress me :)

[HereticNub]

mexican

[ventoux56]

Great! I would have loved to see how you managed effects like Reverb in this piece, though :)

[dazexus]

@ventoux56 I apologise for not covering that in this video. The main reason is I have gone over reverb so much in my previous vid. I will make sure to mention it all again in future vids though ;)

[jmanders1]

Impressive work! Thanks for the in depth look at it!

To answer your question about the focus in the choir and spiccato part: I do feel that my focus changes the way you intended (spiccato->choir->spiccato...)

Are you making a living of your music now? I really hope so. You are very talented!

[dazexus]

@jmanders1 Composing is my job now...although I wouldn't say I make a living from it yet ;) I do ok :D

[jmanders1]

@dazexus Thx for the reply :) Good luck with getting more work!

[jarhead4214]

@dazexus I'm assuming you work around 40 hours a week composing? If you don't mind me asking, what is your average income?

[Andronizer]

@dazexus I absolutely agree with the person above and hear the vibe the way you created it. You`re great man!

[macronencer]

Nice video! Particularly interesting to see how use use Omnisphere, and the attention you pay to the subtleties of simple drones. I like that kind of perfectionism.

[WestyMusic1]

A fantastic insight of a composer! loved the video, thanks for uploading!

[Patrick19702210]

Why changed to cubase ?

[dazexus]

@Patrick19702210 It has features that are more geared towards composers such as a score editor, dedicated mixing window etc If Ableton gets more composer friendly I would have no problem moving back in that direction!

[myrddin021]

nice, didn't expect you to use cubase

[kfir26]

Thanks for the tutorial !!

why don't you open a blog about composing?

i will defintly read it!

[dazexus]

@kfir26 Haha I have thought about making a blog however I am terrible at explaining what I mean, in text format. So instead I make these videos which I think helps get my point across easier ;)

[maxpanchoo]

why cubase?

[ixayfzb5]

Once again, a masterpiece!

[bjokkor]

impressive work.. and again thanks for your free tutorials i realy learn a lot of it!

[samwise8472]

I love how you don't just make music just to sound epic.. You want feeling and emotion to be felt by the people who listen to it. Very good.

[battlegraarl]

gassy

[lifecrysis1307]

@battlegraarl @HereticNub LOL YOU 2.

[trebilicious]

So weird seeing you use Cubase!

[bjokkor]

@trebilicious it's a good daw :) like any other daw is good.

[Swidhelm]

Very cool video! Very cool piece as well. Makes me want to download some trailers and just practice. Thanks for taking the time to make a vid like this! Cheers.

[TheIppieki]

nice piece of work matey keep up the good work

[pianosand]

Awesome! Thanks for taking the time to make these vids!