Producing an Epic String Arrangement from Score
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Tutorial 1
Introduction
3:48Marcus gives you a brief introduction discussing the intent behind the series.
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Tutorial 2
The Game Plan
11:53Marcus now reveals the track that will be used for the duration of the series, and discusses the approach he will be taking for incorporating the Notation / Score into his DAW project.
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Tutorial 3
Notation Workflow Tips & Best Practices
10:33Marcus discusses some basic workflow tips and suggestions that can help streamline the process when dealing with Notation based score in your productions.
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Tutorial 4
Notion 101 For Producers
11:17In this video, Marcus demonstrates some basic functions such as navigation shortcuts, and selection / editing techniques that producers should familiarize themselves with when working with Notion.
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Tutorial 5
MIDI & Notation Software
7:41Marcus demonstrates how to send over MIDI data from Notion to PreSonus Studio One with the seamless integration between the two programs.
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Tutorial 6
Importing MusicXML into Notion
10:36Learn how to import a MusicXML created by another notation program, into Notion, in order to edit and tweak the score further before incorporating it into your production.
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Tutorial 7
Importing & Attaching Audio in Notion
12:24Marcus demonstrates how to import / add a rendered mix-down of an audio file into Notion, in order to have the production mix sitting in the same project as the Score.
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Tutorial 8
Adding 3rd Party Virtual Instruments & Plug-In
10:49Learn how to add & enable both 3rd party virtual instruments & plug-ins within Notion.
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Tutorial 9
Articulations vs Playing Techniques
4:05Marcus discusses the fundamental differences between how Notion interprets playing techniques vs articulations and how this affects keyswitches and Rulesets.
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Tutorial 10
Creating a Ruleset in Notion
13:51Learn how to create a custom Ruleset in Notion, that can be used to interpret Articulation Keyswitches when working with 3rd party Virtual Instruments.
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Tutorial 11
Adding Humanization in Notion
15:51Marcus demonstrates some basic techniques that can be used to add a layer of humanization to score, such as randomizing velocities and note on/off positions.
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Tutorial 12
Sending the Score to Studio One
3:19After completing all the needed work in Notion, Marcus sends over the complete score along with the 3rd party virtual instrument presets, to Studio One.
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Tutorial 13
Tweaking the Rough Mix
5:11In this video, Marcus sets up his rough mix in the DAW, as well as some basic routing and effects.
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Tutorial 14
Editing the Keyswitches
15:37In this video, Marcus demonstrates how to edit the keyswitches that were sent over from Notion. In addition, he also discusses some general workflow tips for working in the MIDI editor.
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Tutorial 15
Adjusting the Velocities
14:09Learn how to tweak and adjust the velocity levels in your DAW to achieve an appropriate and realistic balance between the dynamics of the MIDI vs your production.
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Tutorial 16
Layering & Adding Additional Virtual Instruments
13:58In this video, Marcus demonstrates how to use alternate virtual instruments to add as an additional layer, to help add width and character to your production.
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Tutorial 17
Creating Huge Sounds from Individual MIDI Parts
9:35Learn how to use larger preset patches within your virtual instruments to create massive orchestral layers by borrowing MIDI elements from different tracks.
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Tutorial 18
Dealing with Trills
15:58Marcus outlines some tips on how to deal with creating trills with virtual instruments that do not have a trill keyswitch articulation.
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Tutorial 19
Expression & Modulation for Added Realism
9:09Learn how both Expression & Modulation can be used to program an added layer of realism into your MIDI string performances.
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Tutorial 20
Logic Pro X Workflow
4:29Learn how to use the built in stock EXS24 content within Logic Pro, to flesh out your MIDI into a realistic performance.
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Tutorial 21
Pro Tools Workflow
6:16In this video Marcus demonstrates how the stock Virtual Instrument AIR Xpand! 2 can be used to layer in additional sounds by borrowing MIDI information from different tracks.
Studio guru Marcus Huyskens gives you an in-depth look at how to take a string arrangement composed in notation software and bring it to life inside your DAW using virtual instruments and more. Shot with Presonus Studio One and Notion, the ideas can also be applied to any DAW and score software!
Marcus begins by welcoming you and discusses the intent behind the series, and reveals the track that will be featured. You'll then get workflow tips and suggestions that will help when dealing with notation based score in your productions.
Next, Marcus shows how to get the MIDI data from your notation software into your DAW, as well as how to import a MusicXML file created by another notation program and tweak it further. Marcus then imports the audio mix into Notion to develop the score further, and adds 3rd party virtual instruments for further sonic choices.
Moving on, you'll explore articulations and playing techniques and how they affect keyswitches, followed by how to add humanization to your score, and see how to export the score along with its virtual instruments into the DAW session.
Mixing is next, and Marcus shows how to set up the rough mix as well as basic routing and effects, and then shows how to adjust velocities to create a realistic balance between the dynamics of the virtual instruments and the rest of your production.
You'll also see how to layer and add additional VIs, making parts sound huge by creating orchestral layers, using expression and modulation continuous controllers for added realism, and lastly, videos on using Logic Pro X and Pro Tools stock virtual instruments when working with score.
See the individual tutorial descriptions for more info. If you want to learn about taking a string arrangement that was recorded in a notation software program and moving it into your DAW for the final production, this is the series to watch... Checkout "Producing an Epic String Arrangement from Score" today!
Reviews
Submitted 3 months ago
Excellent Course
This course shows some very interesting workflows, as well as, a more advanced use of Notion 6 as it relates to integration with Studio One 3. The only aspect that bothered me as a composer, was the VST instantiation which used all treble clefs. The alto and bass clefs which were correctly translated from the Sibelius MusicXML file into Notion 6 were somehow changed when the Kontakt 5 was used instead of the stock sounds in Notion. The result was a very sloppy score. (This may sound like nitpicking, but it is elementary in score notation to use the proper clefs for instruments that play in the alto and bass clefs.) Nevertheless, the music is beautiful, and the recorded performances were top notch! The engineering was professional as well. I would really like to purchase the final product. The artist has written a very inspiring composition. Bravo!!! Thank you Groove 3 for offering this excellent course.
I am a: Professional
1. When did you start dabbling in music?
I started playing piano at around 5 years old, after which point I switched to the Guitar at around age 10. I was pretty lucky, as my parents had quite a nice selection of records, spanning across multiple genres, that I could listen too. I would sit by the record player with headphones on, and close my eyes, and imagine myself playing along with them. I listened to much "older" music than the current music my age group was listening to. I continued to play the guitar and by 16, had developed some pretty decent chops, and was playing lots of local jazz clubs & restaurants with a couple friends. However after the birth of my first son, I took a break from gigging, and made the transition to the other side of the glass. However, I still rely on, and draw upon my abilities as a musician all the time, as I feel that an engineer, producer, or mixer, with a decent understanding of music, tempo, groove, theory, and genres, is a step ahead of the game.
2. What training have you had?
Pretty much 23 years of locking myself in a chair, and working diligently on my craft. Over the years, Ive also had had the great pleasure of working with other fantastic engineers, being able to pick their brains, observe and sponge in all the information that they offered. I still maintain, that you can learn more from a couple weeks, or even a couple days working with a seasoned pro, then you can in a year or 2 of school. Although I was set on going to audio engineering for school, my parents insisted on me going to school for business marketing, which didn't really work out, as I spent most of my time cutting class and going to my older sisters media arts classes, offering up myself as an actor, or voice over actor, (whatever they needed) for all of their student productions, so that I could learn more about audio/video production. It wasn't quite an audio engineering per se, but it was a close second!
Although Ive never had any formal education, I can recall my early "lessons" from my father, of cutting tape, and working with analogue gear. Being given tasks, like recording music from a record to tape, then cutting the tape, to make edits. The process of gain staging, EQ, fader riding, compression, adding reverb, etc etc. Also most importantly, my lessons in understanding the psychology behind getting the best performance from your artist/talent, which I was able to comprehend, and which I still keep with me, and use to this day.
3. When did you get into recording?
By about 11 years old, after listening to countless records in awe, I became interested, (or maybe even obsessed) with the whole recording process. When I badgered my father enough, he eventually dusted off his old TEAC 3340 reel to reel, an old mixer, and a spring reverb for me, that had been meticulously stored and well taken care of. Needless to say, It was pretty much game over from that point on. I fell in love with the notion of being able to capture a moment in time, a performance of art, and preserving it. In the very beginning, I spent most of my time re-recording old records, and singing and playing over top while tracking them, playing around with different microphones, then began a crash course in the basics.
In a sense I was very fortunate, as in addition to being a producer/camera man, my father was a pretty savvy audio engineer, who used to record/mix the music for all his documentaries / productions he worked on back in the day. So, at a very young age, & before the times of the “Mbox" and portable interfaces, little did I know, that I was receiving some very thorough training that became the foundation of my craft. As i grew more comfortable with the gear, I started inviting other children over to my "studio" (parents living room-LoL) who were in bands, so that I could record them. My parents were pretty supportive, often allowing me to use this area, and make noise to do something I enjoyed.
Fast forward a couple years to high school, As my band was looking to get some gigs, I was able to record our own demo's to hand out to clients, and continued to work on my craft, eventually opening up my first studio in 2002. From there, everything else is pretty much history.
4. People you have worked with/for?
The majority of my work has been on the Indi scene music wise, working with local talent, and also internationally as a mixer for various clients in different genres. In 2010/2011 I shifted my efforts, and began working on ad spots, both writing, and recording/mixing with different composers, which eventually brought me down the path of actually developing my own set of sample libraries for composers to use in music production, and television/film/games. This has really opened up some doors for me and expanded my cliental into areas I would have never imagined. I continue to work with talented artists, and composers on various projects, in addition, I also do some voice over work for different audio brands.
5. Why are you so good at training people?
Tough one to answer, but, i'd like to think that I teach people the way that I prefer to be taught. Which is building a foundation of knowledge, then adding to it in stages, with clear steps. I try to stay on point, and simplify a process down to its core level. I find that in general, there are a lot of tutorials that leave you scratching your head sometimes. I try to avoid that. Ive often had friends say to me, that I simplify things, so if thats the case, then I hope I can continue to do so.
Products by Marcus
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tutorial videoAccusonus Regroover Pro Explained
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tutorial videoExponential Audio NIMBUS Explained
Exponential Audio, makers of the highly acclaimed PhoenixVerb, have done it again, with NIMBUS, their next generation world-class DAW Reverb plug-in. Follow along with studio guru Marcus Huyskens and learn all of its features as well as how to use it on your tracks!
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tutorial videoiZotope Neutron 2 in Action
Studio guru Marcus Huyskens pulls back the curtain and shows you what using iZotope’s Neutron 2 mixing tool is all about. See this amazing mixing assistant in action, in a real-world mix session. You’ll then be able to tackle your own mix sessions with success!
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tutorial videoPro Tools 2018 Explained
Studio guru Marcus Huyskens presents an in-depth video series designed for the beginner to intermediate Pro Tools 2018 user! Learn Pro Tools Native or HD from the ground up, all the way to exporting your masterpiece, for all the world to hear.
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tutorial videoProducing an Epic String Arrangement from Score
Studio guru Marcus Huyskens gives you an in-depth look at how to take a string arrangement composed in notation software and bring it to life inside your DAW using virtual instruments and more. Shot with Presonus Studio One and Notion, the ideas can also be applied to any DAW and score software!
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