Activity
Mon
Wed
Fri
Sun
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
What is this?
Less
More

Owned by Matt

The Sync Circle

65 members • Free

🎵 A Supportive Community for Composers Who Want to Finish Tracks, Find Their Sound & Get Into Trailer Music

Memberships

Skoolers

191.1k members • Free

Cinematic music feedback

103 members • Free

Audio Artist Academy

1.9k members • Free

Audio Artist Rise

105 members • $97/month

33 contributions to Audio Artist Academy
Trailer Tracks - 'Ending' Toolkit?
Hey Everyone! One thing I've noticed in my own trailer track creation for libraries is that I struggle to naturally think of a good way to end the final act of a cue. I generally go down the route of finishing up with a suspended chord that resolves, held over a long count and constant driving percussion. But it often takes me a while to think up the exact detail to execute that. I'm wondering, do you guys have any 'go-to' methods/tricks/endings that you use frequently in your tracks? If you have any references, I'd love to hear them! I'm really trying to make track endings second nature, but also to discover new variations to try out. Thanks!
1 like • 7d
@Simon Milner Thanks a lot, Simon! Really appreciate you taking the time to explain this in such detail - and to then make an example to illustrate it further! This really helps. I can hear now how this is a super effective method to try out. I'll be sure to give it a try on an upcoming cue to become more familiar with it. Thanks again! :)
0 likes • 5d
@Alex Pfeffer Thanks, Alex! This helps - I like to use the approach you've described; sometimes I find that when working in a minor key I have to adapt it slightly. But in that scenario, I really like using suspended chords and only resolving them at the very end of the phrase (or not at all!) :)
Favourite Piano VSTs?
Hi Everyone and Happy New Year! Just wondering what some of your favourite realistic-sounding Piano VSTs are? My go-to in trailer tracks is the Felt Piano from Spitfire's Olafur Arnalds Toolkit, but I need something a little less soft for a project I'm working on. I've been using Addictive Keys from XLN Audio for years in personal projects, but I'm not sure it quite has the realism I want/need for this professional project. Though interested if anyone disagrees! Let me know your thoughts! I'm hoping not to break the bank on another piano, but I'd love to have something that sounds super realistic to slot into my wider instrument collection (Nucleus, Metropolis Ark, Damage 2, Gravity etc) Thanks all!
1 like • 24d
@Mario Andreano thanks Mario! Definitely going to check out Noire :)
0 likes • 19d
@Simon Milner thanks Simon! I'm definitely going to check out that free trial :)
Relaunched My Skool Community!
Hi Everyone! Just wanted to share the news that I have relaunched my Skool community for 2026 with new tiers, classroom content and live calls! This follows a pilot programme last year with some of you from this community, in which you helped me refine what I wanted my community to be, and kindly shared testimonials of your experience working with me. I'm really excited to see where this goes next and wanted to drop a post to thank all of you, especially my volunteers and @Alex Pfeffer for giving me the tools and confidence to actually give this a try - especially at the end of last year when I was starting to have doubts about pushing on with this new phase of the community! It's just another confirmation to me that the Audio Artist community is awesome and so unique in the support it provides - it's a pleasure to be part of it and to be in all of your corners as you do awesome things on your journeys!
1 like • 27d
@Clemens Hackmack thank you Clemens! I look forward to hearing more about your community and exchanging things that have worked well for us both :)
Accepted to Libraries & Shoutouts!
Hi! Before the end of 2025, I thought I would take the opportunity to make some shoutouts when it comes to people in this community that helped me out on my journey when it comes to applying but also get accepted into two trailer libraries earlier this fall. First off, big thanks to @Andrew Hand who gave me great feedback on my early showreel version that I started to build and create during the summer. Thanks, Andrew :) But Andrew also got me into contact with @Matt McDonnell who offered me 1v1 sessions, when it comes to improving my cues even further, and also very valuable feedback when it comes to my upcoming showreel, and important things to have in mind when sending those application mails to the libraries. Besides that, we've also had great conversations about music and life in general :) Thanks Matt for taking the time, listening to different versions of my cues and giving valuable feedback, but also the support during the whole phase of "putting it all together". And last but not least; thanks to @Alex Pfeffer even though we've never spoken, since he's the man behind this community. Thanks to him I've gotten new knowledge but also inspiration. I wouldn't have found this group of fellow composers in the first place if it wasn't for his YT channel :) Thanks, Alex! I'm now in the work of finishing my first album (horror music), with one of the libraries. Twelve tracks were completed before Christmas, but I'll now go back and start making some revisions and changes here and there due to feedback, and then it's time to deliver those stems(!) Looking forward to what 2026 has to offer, and with that I want to wish you all a Happy New Year! Kind regards, Roger Bergström
3 likes • Jan 3
Awesome stuff, Roger! It's been a pleasure working with you so far and I'm so glad we met through @Andrew Hand and @Alex Pfeffer's awesome platform! Here's to another amazing year ahead!
Plugin Review: Heavyocity Ostinato Textures
Hi Everyone! Last week I purchased Heavyocity's new plugin, Ostinato Textures, and I wanted to talk a little about how I've found it so far. It does exactly what it says on the tin, providing you with instant string ostinato inspiration across simple, complex and triplet rhythms. First thing's first: it sounds great. You're given four mic presets to choose from for each ostinato category (Simple, Complex, Triplet) across each instrument (Violin, Viola, Cello). Each of the four mic presets (Close, Default, Full Mix, Wet) gives you a slightly different starting point that you can then tweak to your preferences as needed. The Ostinato patterns themselves are all really unique and wide-ranging - you'd be hard-pushed not to find some kind of spark of inspiration from any of them. What's more, they play in really nicely without any noticeable delay, and dynamics automation is easy thanks to the intuitive UI and CC mapping options. Additionally, you have the Texture Designer, which allows you to combine and blend up to three solo articulations to create unique, evolving textures. I've yet to really deep-dive into this feature yet, but it looks like a really powerful option to have across a variety of genres. I'm someone who finds themselves going back to their 'go-to' ostinato patterns too often, so this plugin is perfect for getting me to stray further afield, particularly when working on projects that are a little different than the traditional 'Epic Hybrid' cues. If you want to learn more about Ostinato Textures, check out the video below from The Sampleist, and if you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to reach out and I'll be happy to share more of my thoughts! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWvxKaAwTfM
1-10 of 33
Matt McDonnell
5
48points to level up
@matt-mcdonnell-2039
UK-based trailer music composer & founder of The Sync Circle

Active 6h ago
Joined Apr 16, 2024
Powered by