Have you been itching for that cinematic sound to add to your music? Perhaps you you have a decent understanding of orchestration, but are looking to enhance it. Or Perhaps you have a great midi orchestral track, but would like to record it with live musicians. Spencer Creaghan of MASTR Studios can provide just that!
I specialize in creating orchestral arrangements crafted to the vision and songs they're written for. Having worked in many genres of music, including Pop, Heavy Metal, Musical Theatre, Opera, Electronic, and various styles of World Music, I have a deep understand of how to mold rich orchestrations around the Band's primary instruments, without getting in the way.
As a film composer, I also understand the nuances of cinematic writing of today. My knowledge of orchestral writing also branches into Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Atonal, Opera, and Musical Theatre writing, should you desire.
For Clients looking to have original orchestrations, I base everything I write off of your submitted tracks. Staying true to the essence of the source material, whilst providing that orchestral undertone you desire.
Should you have orchestrations in the works, but are looking to touch them up, I will work closely with you to fine tune the arrangements in keeping with your artistic vision, whilst also thickening up the sound.
If budgets for live musicians are tight, I use the highest level orchestral sample libraries to create hugely authentic sounding orchestras.
If live musicians are what you're after. My company, MASTR Studios, specializes in recording orchestral musicians for film, TV, video games, and records and can accommodate any ensemble size.
Send me a note through the contact button above.
Interview with Spencer Creaghan
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Analog = Live musicians! While we can make orchestral samples sound incredible, nothing beats the sound of live musicians bouncing off one another.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: Orchestrations that will please even the most stuck up classical music enthusiast!
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: I've had clients that want me to take their midi files and plop them into my orchestral libraries. However, the samples don't make a great sounding midi orchestra, but rather how you use the samples. We can make even the lowest quality samples sound great and even the highest level samples sound synthy. It all depends on how you arrange the instruments to fit with one another and the rest of the music.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What do you want the orchestra to do for your music? What is your reason for adding the orchestra? Star Wars or Star Trek?
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I like working with artists that bring something new to the table of their respective fields - and want something new orchestrally!
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I normally work with heavy metal acts, but my interest and knowledge of other music far extends that of metal.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Creating orchestration that is appreciated by both the popular and classical worlds.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: For bands and artists of all styles I bring that cinematic level of atmosphere that they may be craving. However, I've also worked with are looking for an orchestral or big band undertone to thicken up the sound. I bring this to the table as well.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I'll do my work with anything from a rough demo to the completed mix, so long as I can figure out the harmony and melodic direction of the tune. I then proceed to orchestrate the tune within Logic Pro X using high level Orchestral Sample libraries, which can take anywhere from 2-3 days depending on the complexity of the orchestration.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I constantly study the great orchestrations of, Conrad Pope, Igor Stravinsky, Dmitry Shostakovich, Pip Williams, and David Campbell. Away from orchestral music, I'm inspired by Devin Townsend, Tigran Hamasyan, Imogen Heap, and David Maxim Micic.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Generally, clients come to me asking to spice up their orchestrations. They have a vision, they have a lot of the right notes in place, but they seek my professional help to fine tune what they have. Creating a sound that is rich, thick, but still adhere's to their artistic ideals.
I was the Orchestrator in this production
- Composer OrchestralContact for pricing
- Full instrumental productionContact for pricing
- String ArrangerContact for pricing
- String SectionContact for pricing
- Pop-Rock ArrangerContact for pricing
- Programmed drumContact for pricing
- Mixing EngineerContact for pricing
- Turn around time depends on project demands.
- Typically 2-3 days to orchestrate a single song with full orchestra and choir.
- Strings or choir only takes 1-2 days.
- Up to 3 revisions
- East West/Hollywood Orchestral Libraries
- Cinesamples
- Logic Pro X
