Emulating film composers

[Passmore610]

Hi,

I've started a project (purely for practice purposes) to rescore a short logo introduction in the styles of different film composers. I'd really like some advice on the two I've done so far (Zimmer & Elfman - probably the easiest to copy the style of).

Not too sure about the muted horns in the middle of the Elfman, felt right at the time but now not so much. Are they too loud or should they be gone completely? Thanks in advance!



In case that link doesn't work:
https://soundcloud.com/user-913982413

[FriFlo]

Nice! I'd call it Batward with the Scissorhands. ;-) I am not sure the Simpsons quote in the end is really necessary ... it just opens another can of worms and is to literal. But maybe the beginning is also directly derived from some Elfman work - I just cannot place it anywhere directly ...

It just loosely reminds me of this (around 01:15):

https://youtu.be/zICOQzbWuT8?t=75

[Passmore610]

Nice! I'd call it Batward with the Scissorhands. ;-) I am not sure the Simpsons quote in the end is really necessary ... it just opens another can of worms and is to literal. But maybe the beginning is also directly derived from some Elfman work - I just cannot place it anywhere directly ...

It just loosely reminds me of this (around 01:15):

https://youtu.be/zICOQzbWuT8?t=75

Ah excellent, as far as I know in all honesty it hasn't been copied from anything, just had the sound of high ww and arpeggiating strings in my head, plus the usual Elfman harmony tricks.

The Simpsons thing was meant to be a tiny little wink of respect (the simpsons theme is probably his best work in my opinion...), but if it's cheap/unnecessary I'll definitely remove it.

The muted horns okay then?... Does the whole thing work as it is?

[FriFlo]

The muted horns seem fitting to me. I think for a logo it should be somewhat longer and build a bit more to a climax, but that would of course depend on the length of the logo animation. However, if you can control it, I would do it a bit longer. The end with the celeste and the Simpons quote doesn't work for me. To much unrelated stuff thrown at me at the end. I just wonder ... why? I hope that helps.

[Passmore610]

The muted horns seem fitting to me. I think for a logo it should be somewhat longer and build a bit more to a climax, but that would of course depend on the length of the logo animation. However, if you can control it, I would do it a bit longer. The end with the celeste and the Simpons quote doesn't work for me. To much unrelated stuff thrown at me at the end. I just wonder ... why? I hope that helps.

I think you're right. So just ending on that last chord better? I'm afraid the video is only about 14 seconds haha. Thanks very much for the help!

[FriFlo]

So just ending on that last chord better?

Yes! Regarding the Zimmer version ... I am no expert, but I heard Headshot is a huge fan! Maybe he can help!?

[Passmore610]

So just ending on that last chord better?

Yes! Regarding the Zimmer version ... I am no expert, but I heard Headshot is a huge fan! Maybe he can help!?

Haha, I'd rather not have to do any more on that one thanks... Horns + string ostinato + percussion + BRAAAM = bingo

[Headshot]

That's cool, convincing stuff

Danny Elfman : you should decrease the mid frequencies on the choirs (a lot I think) - put the trumpets at the right (the muted horns are perfect)

Hans Balfe : the final braaam sounds very narrow (mono ?), it must be wider :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g9eJRd0cXM&ab_channel=MFVmusicforvideo-CinematicProductionMusic

[Passmore610]

That's cool, convincing stuff

Danny Elfman : you should decrease the mid frequencies on the choirs (a lot I think) - put the trumpets at the right (the muted horns are perfect)

Hans Balfe : the final braaam sounds very narrow (mono ?), it must be wider :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g9eJRd0cXM&ab_channel=MFVmusicforvideo-CinematicProductionMusic

This is super helpful thanks, and really fascinating - I have absolutely no idea where to begin with mastering and so far this is all done with a modulation wheel & just listening. Will get digging into some YouTube tutorials.

Newman, Morricone and Horner next on the list... working my way up in terms of difficulty!



Forgot to ask sorry - what does "wider" mean and how do I do it??

*Edit - never mind! As it turns out 90% of the samples you linked are on a D (what are the chances) so I just used one of those. Thanks again

[Passmore610]

Two more pastiches added (Newman and Horner).

https://soundcloud.com/user-913982413

They're uploaded now so I hope they're not too shabby. The Horner one was originally going to be the 80s sort of war/space ' danger theme' stuff, but I couldn't come up with the ideas to get it to work for a clip less than 20 seconds long, so I went for the Titanic/Braveheart/Beautiful Mind language instead.

In listening to both composers on repeat for the last few days, I'm not entirely sure I rate Horner that highly... really find Newman's stuff quite original and intriguing though.

[Headshot]

Newman is a more subtle composer than Horner.

You imitated both idioms perfectly. The mixing of the Horner logo can be greatly improved by equalizing each instrument and choosing a more appropriate mic position in some cases because the sound is muffled, it lacks air.