Composing / Arranging / Songwriting

Just what should you expect when engaging a professional arranger or orchestrator to work on your own production? We find out from some of the best in the business...

Rhythm is a multi-sample playback interface with an eight–step sequencer and five–channel mixer. It is the brainchild of games developer Gil Carmel...

We conclude our series with an overview of arrangement techniques and a peep into the world of big-band brass.

A simple, catchy tune with a funky rhythm may be all you need to create a highly commercial horn hook — but harmony is also an essential ingredient in brass arrangements.

The second in our four-part series deconstructs funk licks, discusses the implications of using live players and explains how to get more expression and feel into your sampled brass arrangements.

This new four-part series explains all you need to know about creating brass arrangements for a range of genres.

SuperMegaUltraGroovy Capo Touch

Chord Detection App For iOS

Capo Touch is the iOS...

You have the skills and the gear, but how should you tackle your first sound-for-picture projects?

The dazzling world of South Korean pop music confuses many Westerners — but Denmark's Thomas Troelsen has become one of its leading producers and songwriters.

In the final part of this series, we develop a basic chord sequence into something more elaborate.

Audio files to accompany the article.

In part two of this series, we explore more simple ways to spice up your chord sequences.

Once an expensive and futuristic dream, the technology for Internet‑based collaboration is now available and affordable — and more practical than you might think.

Audio files to accompany the article.

Bored of the same old chord sequences? In this short series, we explore some simple ways to spice up your piano chords.

As a songwriter, I write, record and master on my beloved Boss BR8 (I'm soon to updgrade, possibly to the Tascam DP32). Would...

This month, our engineer gets roped into the writing and arrangement process as he tracks cello parts in a living room.

From a delicate shimmer to an earthquake tremor, harmonics, tremolo and trills can add vibrancy and drama to your string arrangements. Find out how to make the most of them in this SOS masterclass.

The second part of our string-arranging series ventures into more dramatic musical territory, and explains how to manipulate orchestral string articulations when creating MIDI arrangements.

No matter how good the latest, greatest orchestral sample libraries may now be, you still need to develop your arranging skills if you’re to create convincing string parts in any genre. In this first article in a new series, we explain how to get started.