Case Study: Atomica Music/Dark Horse Music

What Was Required:

Production Music for TV and Media across the world, requiring broadcast quality music that is adaptable and instantly usable for producers and filmmakers.

For production music I work to a brief sheet which gets sent out for either a single track or full album. This could either be a quick discussion about a client who has contacted the publisher with specific music needs, or about a gap in their library.

As soon as the requirement is identified and concept set, a brief sheet is put together to keep on track and set the work. These always contain track requirements, delivery details, and reference tracks alongside any other additional information the publisher might need.

Scott is a wonderful publisher and an all round great guy, his requirements are simple, provide top quality music for his clients and ensure his library contains a wide range of relevant music.

Here is an example of a recent request for production music off the back of a previous successful project.

The Brief:

“Not sure if this is up your alley, but we have been asked by a production company to create an original group of tracks for a True Crime Program which will be producing 50 episodes this year (and likely many more in the future). The music we provided them will establish the new sound for the program and should see a lot of use throughout the season. I am providing detailed briefs below for the 3 specific genres they are asking for.”

INTENSE HORROR

These tracks should be primarily orchestral and can include some sound design. Musical hits and stabs are good to include. Do not use SFX ( known sounds such as knives/swords/guns etc).

The two best words to describe the goal here are Intense and Chaos. Tracks should not have a drum/rhythm part that runs throughout although use of rhythm in sections is fine and also fine to use drums for impact hits and emphasis. No structured melodies.

These tracks will be used for scenes including violent murder, stabbing, etc. They should fit with scenes of intense fear and knowledge of an imminent violent end.

INVESTIGATION

These tracks are to cover scenes where detectives are at their desk or later at the crime scene looking over evidence, then questioning and interrogating suspects. Not too intense but serious and studious. Avoid faster tempos and dated synths. Rhythm beds are important here but avoid well known Spectrasonics rhythm loops (old and overused content). INV_EX1.mp3 is probably the most accurate mood, tempo and vibe EXCEPT for the distorted guitar.

TENSION

CSI at a newly found crime scene (dead body), or a couple arguing/fighting and it might turn bad. Dark and Unsettling. Some tracks can maintain the same level of tension throughout. Others might increase a bit as the track moves on. Tracks should have a slight element of darkness. Whether throughout , or sprinkled in.

Behind The Music:

Before booking any project I listen to the references and allocate time requirements up to the delivery date. For this project I was able to accommodate 3 tracks for each genre required, blocking out 1.5 working days for writing each track and preparing any recording session files. An extra day for adding any live recordings, checks and edits, and another 0.5 - 1 day before delivery for final checks. Total time allocated was 3 weeks.

Reference tracks were downloaded rather than streamed; to avoid having to go back to a publisher if a link expires. Each reference was analysed and a plan is written in words as to key features of each track.

I then plan out the structure of each of the tracks I am going to provide, what happens when and as much detail of each. If a notated sketch score is required this is when I would drop this in, for this project however, it wasn’t required and I was able to immediately set an instrument template for the project to ensure consistency between tracks.

As I dedicate a lot of time to planning stages and what is going to happen in each track. The writing stage is then fairly painless as I just need to follow the plan. I try to write each track out as a whole then go back and polish each layer as this keeps the whole track in perspective rather than finessing one element at a time, which can lead to tunnel vision.

Once each track is written, my template is premixed will only need adapting to the parameters of the track, and contains routing to batch export each STEM in parallel with file naming set up for the publisher. This way as soon as I have finished writing, I can mix to the delivery specs, click export, and be confident that the rendered files are to the publisher requirements.

For me, the writing element is done and then follows listening to each stem both in isolation and in context, making notes for any editing. This includes checks for production quality, pops, clicks and artifacts as well as ensuring every part is correct and clearly balanced within the mix.

It is important that every single file is up to a competitive quality in the production music world as publishers don’t tend to want to get into a back and forth with reviewing work. If a track doesn’t work for them or their clients it just gets rejected.

Delivery requirements for Atomica are fantastic for composers. I have to create, record, and produce the music in its entirety, ensuring the quality and clarity of titling/file organisation is up to standard, and that each track is delivered as a full mix alongside STEMS to their delivery specs sheet. Atomica provides the Mastering Engineers to create the submixes (ensuring everyone of their tracks is consistent), they create the album including graphics, register the tracks and organise the meta data.

The publisher’s job is then to sell licences of the music to their clients to synchronise to their projects.

What They Said:

That’s great. Glad to have you on this project. I thought it was a good fit for you! Much appreciated. And thank you for your hard work on these!

Scott Meath - Atomica Founder/Partner

Link to my work with Atomica: Click Here

Listen to example tracks for this project:

Dark Secrets - Detecting the Unseen

Murderous Intent - Fear Paralysis

Horror Stories - Blood Officially Curdled