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Audio Artist Academy

2k members • Free

9 contributions to Audio Artist Academy
Custom trailer work
Hi everyone🖤, I had a quick question for those of you who have experience with custom trailer works. I recently delivered a custom cue through a library for a big film project, and I was wondering what the typical timeline is to hear back from the client about whether the track has been selected or not. In your experience, how long does it usually take before you get a response? I imagine it can vary quite a bit depending on the project, but I’d be curious to hear what timelines you’ve typically encountered. Thanks in advance for any insights!!🙏🖤
0 likes • 10h
@Alex Pfeffer Perfect..😂😂 Thank you Alex Sensei!🙏🏻
Advice needed - Plugin setup modern orchestral trailer music
Hi all, I have started composing orchestral music and want to produce an album of 10 songs. I have finished 2 songs with Cubase 15 Pro, the EastWestwood library (with Beyond the Storm template), and used plugins like Neutron, Ozone and Aurora reverb to create the modern trailer sound. I heard that my song sounded very orchestral, which is good, but I wanted to make it more "modern trailer like". However, I realized that this is hard and I have no experience as music engineer. So I need advice on how the setup all the usually plug ins, so that I can focus on "composing music", which is my strength and less on "mixing", which just is not my focus. I saw that Alex is offering a template for Cubase 14, which has all the plugins established. Is this template like very well organized so that I can focus on composing music, or is it a start and it would need a lot of tweaking per song? Would the plug ins from the template work with my available tools? Thanks a lot. Luka
1 like • 28d
Hi, First of all, I’m probably not the best person to speak about templates, since I personally don’t use them, not because they’re bad or anything like that, just because I’ve always preferred building my own workflow from scratch. As I’ve mentioned in other comments before (hopefully I’m not getting repetitive🙏🏻😂), what really helped me was diving into production and mixing techniques from electronic genres like bass music (DnB, dubstep, techno, etc.). In those worlds, sound design, compression, sidechain, transient shaping , stereo movement… everything is pushed to the extreme. Studying how those producers control punch, clarity, and impact completely changed how I approach “modern trailer” sound. For me, the modern trailer aesthetic isn’t just about orchestral libraries or reverb choices, it’s often about how aggressively and intentionally the low-end is controlled, how dynamics are shaped, and how contrast is created between elements. That mindset shift made a big difference. Regarding templates, I think they can absolutely help you focus more on composing, especially if mixing isn’t your main interest. But in my opinion, they’re usually a starting point rather than a final solution. You’ll probably still need to tweak things to fit your own material and taste. If your goal is to spend more time composing and less time engineering, a good template can definitely save time. But I’d still recommend gradually learning some core production concepts, even just the fundamentals of compression, EQ balance, and low-end control, because that’s often what makes something feel “modern” rather than just orchestral. Just my two cents, based on what worked for me.🖤
Trailer cuts?
So I was talking to good ol ChatGPT earlier tonight and had asked it about strategies for contacting publishers. It mentioned using cut versions of my music and that got me thinking as I don’t think I’ve heard of doing that before. Part of its reasoning was my track are too long (2:30-3:00, doesn’t seem too long to me 😂) and people make their decisions within the first 10-15 seconds. I know that’s true. I recognize it’s a bot so I’m skeptical to put all my eggs in that basket. So naturally I came here to see what people think about sending different versions in a demo reel. Would love to hear any feedback in this area as I’m still working to get my first placement!
1 like • Jan 27
I actually made a similar post in this community some time ago, asking “What Makes a Good Email Pitch to a Trailer Library?” (if you’re curious, here’s the link: https://www.skool.com/audio-artist-academy/what-makes-a-good-email-pitch-to-a-trailer-library?p=ccc45435). Thanks to the really insightful advice I received there, I eventually managed to get in touch and start working with a few labels (even though I’m still waiting for a solid placement, lol 😅) Based on my (still small) experience so far, I’d say immediacy is probably the most important thing. An email that grabs attention right away, with a link that instantly opens your track(s) and makes them easy to listen to (SoundCloud works great for this, in my opinion) Personally, I don’t think sending 15–30 second demos is a good idea. It doesn’t really show your full potential. Imagine hearing an amazing 15-second climax, but having no way to understand how it was built because there’s no intro or build-up. I also doubt many labels would take the extra time to reply, asking for the full track, then listen again and decide, especially with how busy they usually are. If your music really hits, the label will want to listen to it! They only need quick and easy access to the full picture.😂
Mixing your Epic Tracks
Hi everyone, I was wondering if any of you have a preference of where to start when mixing your epic trailer music. I was also wondering if you had specific db targets for your instruments, particularly for the big drums. Thank you all in advance🙏. Happy composing!
0 likes • Oct '25
When it comes to mixing, my workflow usually starts with the low-end of the big climax sections. I pay close attention to the sidechain relationships between instruments to keep the low-end clean and powerful. For example, I almost always layer a sub-kick under my trailer hits (typically targeting around 20–140 Hz) and apply a multiband compressor on the hits bus to tame only that same range by about 4–5 dB. I do something similar on the low percussion bus, and for low synth basses (if present), I’ll use a dedicated sidechain compressor triggered by the sub-kick and fine-tune the ducking very precisely. This approach gives me near complete control over the low-end, providing a stable foundation to build the rest of the mix around. Once that area feels tight and controlled, I can shape the remaining elements with much more confidence. It might sound a bit intricated, but I just love experimenting with this kind of stuff. 😄
What is your approach when combining elements from different music genres in one track?
I’ve been writing tracks for my Aether Audio project that combine various elements from different elements with orchestral trailer music (from metal, rock and indie, EDM to world music) so I wanted to know what’s you approach in terms of composition (melody, harmony, structure, etc.) and mixing (panning, EQ, levels, etc.). In terms of composition, I try to separate the track into two “mixes” so that there is one “orchestral” version and one “other genre” version.
2 likes • Aug '25
I absolutely love combining different genres, it's probably my favorite part of writing, especially when it comes to trailer music. When I blend styles, I try to highlight the signature traits of each genre. For example, in an orchestral-rock/metal track, I’ll usually write a punchy, aggressive guitar part that really carries that raw energy. On the other hand, with an orchestral-EDM, I love creating contrast between a gritty, distorted low-end and more elegant orchestral elements, like flowing string phrases or ambient brass textures. That said, my main goal is always to support the trailer and never distract from it. So I aim for simplicity and immediate impact: writing parts that are clean and effective, without being too obvious. I like to think that if someone’s watching the trailer and suddenly, without realizing it, nods their head and thinks: “Whoa, this music’s awesome!” 😂😂 When it comes to mixing, my workflow tends to start from the low-end. I find that shaping the subs, kicks, and bass elements (Pulse, Braams, Hits ecc.) early on gives me a solid and controlled foundation to build on. Once the low frequencies are locked in, it’s much easier to place all the mid and high-end elements around them without things getting muddy. I also like to play a lot with stereo placement and panning to create a wide, full sound that helps the track hit harder and feel more immersive. I’ve never personally tried separating the mix into two “mixes” as you described, but I find that mixing is such a personal process, and everyone develops their own approach based on their sound and goals. Really cool to hear how you tackle it!
1-9 of 9
Riccardo Lambertucci
3
33points to level up
@riccardo-lambertucci-5711
28 years old composer and sound designer crafting trailer and sync-ready music with a modern, high-impact edge.

Active 10h ago
Joined May 31, 2024
Italy
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