Getting the Most Out of Your Production Music
(6 min read)
For those of you who already utilize production music, here are a few not-so-secret secrets that will help you get the absolute biggest bang for your buck and make the largest impact with your campaign and clients when using our music.
For the uninitiated, perhaps this will show you why you should stop shopping at the McDonald’s and Sam’s Clubs of the production music world (we won’t name names) and try the farm-to-table restaurant on the corner (that’s us.)
aLTERNATE vERSIONS
You’ve found the track that matches the energy and vibe of your story… but you only need 30 seconds. Or maybe you just want the rhythm elements isolated from the track. Well, my friend, look no further than the Alternate Versions portion of each song’s page.
We commonly have alternate versions labeled NO-VOC and NARR.
NO-VOC means that the mix is exactly the same as the FULL version, but all the vocal elements have been removed.
NARR is a less busy mix than the FULL, usually removing not only many lead/lyrical vocal elements but also any thematic melody instruments, delivering a more sparse mix, perfect behind your voiceover or for subtle use in the background of your project.
This is an especially helpful resource when you’re in a pinch and don’t have time to edit or need a slight variation. While these aren’t available for all tracks, the lion’s share of our catalog has alternate versions like these (and more) at the ready.
And if you want to really get creative, take all the puzzle pieces and assemble them in any way you want… like playing with Lego!
Stems
In TV and Film, it’s standard practice to deliver separate mixes of music, dialogue, and sound effects. We’ve taken that concept and applied it to production music for quick and easy edits, and greater flexibility. Essentially a sub-mix derived from the full mix, stems will typically be divided up between groups of related instruments and tones.
Having these tools at your fingertips allows for incredible flexibility. You can tweak the dynamics and structure in seconds, making any last minute edit adjustments a breeze. And if you want to really get creative, take all the puzzle pieces and assemble them in any way you want… like playing with Lego!
We’ve got some exciting things in the works for our extensive catalog of stems, but if you want to get started using them now, simply shoot us an email and we’ll get you hooked up. And if you want to learn more about stems, click here.
UNIQUE PROPOSITIONS
Our offerings are not some random grab bag of disparate music. Each label has been carefully considered and meaningfully curated before it makes its way to our website. You’re not going to see 40 volumes of uninspired blues rock. You’re getting purposefully designed deep catalogs, each with their own unique proposition.
Selecting the right label can sometimes be a benefit in and of itself. Here are some highlights that can help you get the most out of your production music :
Modus Operandi - It can be tough if you’ve got a longer edit or project that requires more than a couple minutes of music, but you want to keep the same vibe throughout. Well, on all Modus Operandi albums, there are at least three tracks with the same key and tempo, making any transition to new thematic material seamless. Partner that with the alternate versions and stems, you can create your own masterpiece with these tools and take the sonic vibe that works with your story to the next level.
To give you an example of this concept, let’s take a look at Organic Exploratorium. Within this album, there are 4 combinations of songs with at least 3 tracks at the same tempo and key, all with similar thematic material and elements. This makes adding music to a 20 minute documentary easy. The tracks can flow into each other, ensuring that the score stays fresh without distracting from the content. It’s pretty amazing, and something you’ll find with all Modus Operandi albums.
UNDERscore - How long have you had to deal with production music cues that are the same quasi-song structure no matter how you want to actually use them in your programming?
While a typical library music track will have a few key points of emphasis, each UNDERscore track is structured with an intentional build, question mark, and ends with a good ‘ole stinger.
Clear accents, dramatic drop outs, and exclamation points aplenty… and all without pulling your audience away from the main narrative of your story.
Nearly all of these tracks have Alternate Versions that include those “tags” (or “stingers”) and 30 second edits.
There’s plenty more where these came from. Take a look at each of our production music labels here.
Related Albums/Playlists:
