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FSMO magazine has a regular column that deals with this
subscribe, DAMMITT
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What technology is used by today's film composers?
It's been many, many years since I was composing with technology - using Cubase software and a Korg X5. If I was starting all over, do you have any recommendations for the input device (keyboard), the software for notation and sequencing, and quality orchestral sounds?
While I'm sure that our most successful composers have access to equipment and technology that cost tens of thousands of dollars, what is being used by composers with more modest budgets?
Perhaps the most important characteristics for me would be "ease of use." While I want software that has the depth to notate and play back more sophisticated music, I don't want input that is so clunky with key pressing and menus that I retreat back to paper and pencil. Of course, I also want a quality sound. One of the downsides of writing orchestral music is never hearing your work performed. It would be nice to hear my compositions and say, "Wow."
Thanks for any recommendations that you have!
Here are a few suggestions:
DAWs
Digital Performer 9: Excellent for marrying music to picture and is the most frame accurate sequencer out there. Cons- a little old schoo, in its GUI for some (I'm close to 50 and have been using technology in music since the '80s). The notation is basic but it's rhythmic interpretation is the best out there when it transcribes realtime entry.
Cubase 8.5: excellent layout and workflow. VST3 has the lowest impact on CPU so you can get a lot of tracks without a lot of power. Cons- notation editor is better than DP but still not as elegant as it could be compared to say....
Logic X- widely used and works very well with all plug ins. Notation is a big part of this interface though I would say it's workflow isn't as streamlined as Cubase. Cons- Mac only
Honourable mentions: Studio One ver 3
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Orchestral Libraries
East West Hollywood Orchestra: comes in three versions starting at $299 for strings winds percussion and brass. From the quality to price standpoint almost impossible to beat. Delivers that Hollywood sound though the player called Play you have to use with the sounds is reputed to be finicky and a resource hog. East West current has a deal for their Gold version for $329 which gets you more articulations and instruments
CineSamples- starting with CineSYMPHONY lite at $399 this developer also has a great sound though pricier than east West. I will say their limbs sound a little deeper and livelier especially the percussion which is thunderous!
Project Sam: Orchestral Essentials 1 and 2. These libraries are more section based than individual instrument. While they do include some solo instruments they mainly focus on ensembles and sometimes groups playing together in unison, their philosophy being that layering sampled sections doesn't sound as convincing. Project Sam is especially good for trailer and game music.
Vienna Symphonic Library: they pioneered the sampled interval method which makes legates sound very realistic. While their sound and demand on a computer is good some find the samples to be more classical sounding hand not ballsy enough for film music.
Honourable mentions: spitfire Audio Albion series, Orchestral Tools Metropolis Ark
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notation programs
Notion- personally as a purely compositional tool this program is the best. Fast, intuitive and has built in sounds which cover almost any articulation you can think of and all you have to do is put the marking above the note and the program will automatically play it. Sonically it's not on the level of the libraries mentioned above but Notion also hosts those libraries and has some good templates to optimize their playback. Also if you are an iOS user, Notion has a version available for the iPad and iPhone which works beautifully with the desktop version. For what you get this program is a steal - and it hosts video so you can score movies with it.
Sibelius- since Avid took over and kicked all the original creators to the curb, the future of this program isn't too clear. It's still awidely used in professional circles because of its speed and ease of use. It also comes with a 40gb library but k have to say it's not great considering its footprint. I've used it but generally only for finished scores to give to orchestras.
Finale- the most flexible notation program out there. Comes bundled with Garritan Personal Orchestra, which has also made strides to being better sounding but still lacks a lot of realism and expression. For publishing and engraving purposes however Finale is still king and widely used in Hollywood.
Hope these help! Check out their respective websites where you can find out more about them.
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Actually, thanks for the reminder that I should be a subscriber.