Orchestrator recommendation?

[tmasten]

So...I got the greenlight to get some themes orchestrated for the project I am working on, and I need some advice/help on getting the music from the world of MIDI to the orchestra. I need someone who is a copyist, but can also help flesh out some of the arrangements as necessary and get everything printed and ready for the conductor. Anyone have any recommendations?

[LHall]

Where do you live and work?

[tmasten]

Where do you live and work?

Southern California

[Mills2k]

Well... I'm not exactly a professional or anything, but if you want a pretty, professional-looking full score and parts from your MIDI file, I could throw that together for you as a favor. If you're looking for orchestration though... don't look to me :D

[Daryl]

This is a vey difficult question to answer as it depends how much your budget is. Tell us what you are looking to spend and I'm sure that someone will be able to give you some recommendations.

FWIW for those kind of jobs I charge £12 per bar.......

D

[Jeff]

...also, how large an ensemble? My last Lucas Arts project was for 90 pieces and the orchestration fee was $80 per page (not including the copyist). A smaller group would cost less to orchestrate.
JM

[wilx]

This is a vey difficult question to answer as it depends how much your budget is. Tell us what you are looking to spend and I'm sure that someone will be able to give you some recommendations.

FWIW for those kind of jobs I charge £12 per bar.......

D

£12 per bar?! You must be loaded!

Come to think of it - why not just do it yourself? Print out the parts in Logic/ProTools or save as a MIDI file, import into Sibelius & add the necessary articulation, dynamics etc...?

[LHall]

Come to think of it - why not just do it yourself? Print out the parts in Logic/ProTools or save as a MIDI file, import into Sibelius & add the necessary articulation, dynamics etc...?


Here's why. There's a huge difference between doing a midi score and preping it for live orchestra if you don't have experience with traditional orchestration. There are issues of instrument range, balance, playability, ect that come into play that you never have to deal with in the virtual world.

Yes, you can find out the ranges, etc, but you have to remember that when you're paying 50 players to by the hour, you can't afford mistakes. One little error - like a French Horn part that isn't transposed from concert, can cost a huge amount of money plus make the orchestra seriously doubt your credibility.

So, tmasten, you're doing the right thing by getting help on this first project. If I lived closer, I'd talk to you myself, but I'm in Nashville. You'll find plenty of eager orchestrators in LA I would imagine.

[Jeff]

why not just do it yourself? Print out the parts in Logic/ProTools or save as a MIDI file, import into Sibelius & add the necessary articulation, dynamics etc...?

Some people are great composers but are not comfortable with notes on a page. Don't get me wrong, I love these guys and would like to meet more of them.

[josejherring]

I can do what you ask and I live in Los Angeles.

Both services orchestrating and music preparation(copying) are union regulated though so just make sure that you have it in your budget or you may have to do that yourself like I do.

If you want to talk further just email joseherring@yahoo.com

Cheers,

Jose

[tmasten]

Here's why. There's a huge difference between doing a midi score and preping it for live orchestra if you don't have experience with traditional orchestration. There are issues of instrument range, balance, playability, ect that come into play that you never have to deal with in the virtual world.

Yes, you can find out the ranges, etc, but you have to remember that when you're paying 50 players to by the hour, you can't afford mistakes. One little error - like a French Horn part that isn't transposed from concert, can cost a huge amount of money plus make the orchestra seriously doubt your credibility.

So, tmasten, you're doing the right thing by getting help on this first project. If I lived closer, I'd talk to you myself, but I'm in Nashville. You'll find plenty of eager orchestrators in LA I would imagine.

I probably could do most of this myself, but having not done this type of work in many years, I fear wasting time and money and am willing to pay to make sure things run smoothly. I know which instruments transpose and I have all the charts for ranges, but there are still tons of elements that I have not mastered. I am worried about proper dynamics, proper string harmony spread across the sections, adding proper flair via arpeggios, runs, and crescendos, etc. There is a lot that could potentially go wrong and quite frankly it makes me nervous. I know I will be given a tight budget so I have to try and avoid as many mistakes as possible. One way to do that is to have clear, concise, well prepared arrangements for the orchestra and conductor.

[Daryl]

£12 per bar?! You must be loaded!



Why? This is probably less than a builder chages per hour and it does result in a Sibelius file ready for part printing.......! Anyway, who's to say that I get any work :>))

D

[White Noise]

The basic British Music Writers' Council's rates
for 2005 are as follows:

Category A (up to 6 players): £3.42 per bar
Category B (7-14 players): £3.97 per bar
Category C (15-27 players): £5.12 per bar
Category D (28-60 players): £5.68 per bar
Category E (60+ players in a conventional ensemble): £6.84 per bar
Category F (60+ players in an unconventional ensemble): £7.39 per bar

Commercials, Jingles, TV Idents are 100% extra.