Composition: Film Scoring 1 (Online)

Students should have some knowledge and experience with Logic Pro or similar DAWs (FL Studio, Pro Tools, Ableton, Cubase, etc.)

Students will be asked to provide details of their experience in the online booking form which will be reviewed by the teaching staff before being accepted onto the course.

We may reach out for further details at a later date to ensure this course is the right level for your current experience.

Computer

Windows or MacOS computer. Any reasonably modern machine will run REAPER and the sample libraries in this course. For sample-heavy work, more RAM and a larger SSD make a real difference – 16GB RAM and a 500GB+ SSD is a comfortable baseline.

MIDI Keyboard (61 keys minimum)

61 keys is the working minimum for film scoring – you need the range for orchestral parts and enough keys to play with both hands.

• Novation Impulse 61 – semi-weighted keys, aftertouch, pads and faders. Widely regarded as one of the best keybeds at the price; the controls feel a little dated but the keys are excellent. Recommended pick.
• Arturia KeyLab 61 MKII – full-sized keys, extensive controls, solid build with wooden side panels. The choice if you want lots of knobs, faders and pads alongside a good keybed.
• Nektar Impact GX61 – budget Simple controls, good keybed for the money, USB MIDI only and no aftertouch. Fine for getting started.
• Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S61 – semi-weighted Fatar keybed, high-resolution display with deep integration for NKS libraries. Expensive and light on controls, but the keys and screen are excellent.

If you already own a weighted 88-key digital piano, that works too – just check it has USB MIDI.

Note

If your keyboard lacks a sustain pedal, budget for one – a sustain pedal is close to essential for piano and string parts. PianoDreamers recommends the Korg DS-1H (supports half-pedalling) or the cheaper Nektar NP-2.

Headphones

Here are some recommendations – all are suitable for detailed scoring work.

• Beyerdynamic DT 770 (closed-back)
• Sony MDR-7506 (closed-back)
• Sennheiser HD 600 or HD 650 (open-back)

Closed-back (DT 770, MDR-7506) blocks outside noise and avoids bleed if you record with a mic. Open-back (HD 600/650) is more comfortable for long sessions and gives a wider soundstage, but leaks sound.

Other headphones can also be suitable but they should be wired rather than Bluetooth.

Software Guide

Everything below is free to download and use. Work through it in order: install the DAW first, then the sample libraries, then synths and effects as you need them.

1.   DAW

The software we will use to write, arrange and mix everything in this course.

• REAPER – https://www.reaper.fm/

2.   Sample Libraries

Your orchestral and cinematic sounds. The first three are the core orchestral foundation – install these first and get comfortable with them before adding more. Everything here runs in a free player (Kontakt Player, SINE, Synchron or Spitfire’s own), so no paid sampler is required.

Kontakt Player (needed for the Fracture Sounds Blueprint Collection) – https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/samplers/kontakt-7-player/

Orchestral Foundation

• Spitfire Audio – BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover – https://www.spitfireaudio.com/bbc-symphony-orchestra-discover
• Orchestral Tools – Berlin Free Orchestra – https://www.orchestraltools.com/berlin-free-orchestra
• Vienna Symphonic Library – free instruments – https://www.vsl.co.at/en/Free_Instruments
• ProjectSAM – The Free Orchestra – https://projectsam.com/libraries/the-free-orchestra
• Versilian Studios – VSCO Community Edition – https://versilian-studios.com/vsco-community/
• Orchestral Tools – SINEfactory – https://www.orchestraltools.com/sinefactory

Textures, Hybrid & Modern Scoring

Modern film scoring goes beyond the orchestra. These add atmosphere, depth and hybrid layers.

• Spitfire Audio – LABS – https://labs.spitfireaudio.com/
• Heavyocity – Foundations – https://heavyocity.com/collections/foundations
• Fracture Sounds – Blueprint Collection – https://fracturesounds.com/product/blueprint-collection/

Cinematic Effects & Orchestral Power

Instant impact for trailers, transitions and dramatic moments.

• Film Crux – Free Braaams – https://www.filmcrux.com/free-braaams

3.   Synths

For hybrid scoring, pulses and sound design. Both are full-featured and free – no paid add-ons needed.

• Surge XT – https://surge-github.io/
• Vital – https://vital.audio/ (requires a free account signup)

4.   Effects

Mixing, saturation, reverb and character. You do not need all of these – start with a reverb, a compressor and a saturation tool, and add more as your mixes demand.

Plugin suites (many plugins in one download):

• Airwindows – https://www.airwindows.com/
• Analog Obsession – https://www.patreon.com/analogobsession (free Patreon signup)
• Kilohearts – Essentials – https://kilohearts.com/products/kilohearts_essentials
• ChowDSP – https://chowdsp.com/
• Venn Audio – Free Suite – https://www.vennaudio.com/free-suite/

• Fuse Audio Labs – https://fuseaudiolabs.com/
• Ignite Amps – https://www.igniteamps.com/

Reverbs & delays:

• ValhallaDSP free plugins – https://valhalladsp.com/
• TAL-Reverb-4 – https://tal-software.com/products/tal-reverb

Compressors & EQ:

• TDR Nova – https://www.tokyodawn.net/tdr-nova/
• Xfer OTT – https://xferrecords.com/freeware

Saturation & character:

• Softube Saturation Knob – https://www.softube.com/saturationknob
• Slate Digital Fresh Air – https://slatedigital.com/fresh-air/
• Sampleson Overheat – https://sampleson.com/overheat.html

This course is suitable for students aged 16+, with experience of DAWs and who are already completed and introductory level of making music, film scoring or composition. Students should be keen to learn and plan to attend all classes.

*If you are under the age of 16 and are interested in taking part in this course, please email shortcourses@rcs.ac.uk, as we may be able to accommodate learners aged 14+. 

David Simpson

David R Simpson is a composer, creative technician and educator from Glasgow, Scotland. With a background spanning a wide range of genre and experience, his work combines innovative subtlety with the immediacy of pop sensibility.

With over 25 years of experience as a composer, David’s work has featured on Netflix, Amazon Prime, the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky as well as CBS, NBC and ABC in the US and numerous other international networks. Most recently his music was featured on Tom Basden’s
award-winning sitcom, Here We Go, for BBC One.

Other commissions include music for the BAFTA-nominated Dennis The Menace & Gnasher (CBBC), Justin Long’s The Real Stephen Blatt (Amazon), Pulcinella-nominated animation series, Wendy (ZDF) and BAFTA winner, The Walking Wounded (BBC Two).

In addition to his composition work, David has had considerable involvement in the spheres of live and recorded music, having worked with CHVRCHES, Lauren Mayberry, First Aid Kit, Zara Larsson, Hayley Williams (Paramore), Matt Berninger (The National), Marshmello and Karine Polwart as a performing musician, musical director, sound engineer and technician.

As an educator, he particularly enjoys bringing a hands-on approach to participants’ projects, fostering an atmosphere of welcoming discussion and openness. Previously, David has taught at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the University of the West of Scotland, the University of Strathclyde, the Edinburgh College of Art and for leading software developer, Ableton.

This course will run online on Saturdays for 10-weeks from 23 January – 27 March 2027, 10:30am – 12:30pm.

The course fee is £220 which is the equivalent to £22 per session, and can be paid in full or in instalments before the course end date.