bcnsound

14/06/2024

A fantastic and eye-opening day at Transperfect with Jaime Puig of Dolby and his team, mixing in Dolby Atmos for the first time.

We created a 3D explosion of the main titles song from the feature film Yo No Soy Esa by Maria Ripoll. From the soundtrack album that will be published by Sony when the film comes out this autumn. The songs music production style evolves as the song unfolds (90s-2020s) … now we were able to use the Atmos mix to create an ambient and immersive 3D space for the song, getting bigger, wider and deeper as the music unfolds.

Jaime is an expert on Atmos, having worked for Dolby for 30 years and was even involved in balancing the new Beatles track. Having him help learn this astonishing new way to mix music was like a masterclass!

Before starting, we talked about the potential for this technology and listened to a few mind-blowing Atmos mixes, including an orchestra playing John William’s theme from Jurassic Park. It was the most realistic recreation of an orchestra I have EVER HEARD. I really, truly FELT I was in the hall where it was recorded. I could FEEL the concert hall all around me.

Today my brain is still hurting from the almost scandalous paradigm shift that Atmos implies - aside from the 3D music possibilities, Atmos actually means a transfer of final final mix control to the playback systems. WHAT?? But in theory it allows mixers to create ONE mix that works for every circumstance - whether it’s tiny earbud headphones, home cinema systems, a car, or a massive immersive cinema system. The decoder knows what it’s playing on, and adjusts the mix to translate the mixer’s vision to that system….That’s the theory anyway…the jump from Stereo thinking to Atmos is nuts.

Time will tell if this becomes the new standard format.

I don’t see endless use cases, and I imagine many end users may shrug and the sometimes incremental improvement in a mix, but when its done right and heard right, like that orchestral recording - well…

IT IS MIND-BLOWING.

Thanks to: Marc Sala Romaguera ingeniero de mezclas
Jaume Puig Soporte de mastering Atmos for this Amazing experience!!

06/05/2024

the score to Poor Things is totally bonkers. brilliant. Weirdest film score I ever heard.

24/04/2024

for my rare music DJ friends

The Lonely Beat focuses on post-War 45s inspired by images and clichés of the mid-century American city. It is a world populated by an array of artists: Hollywood arrangers, obscure jazz musicians and exotic torch singers; Latin quintets and mambo-crazy R&B vocal groups; instrumental rock ‘n’ r...

15/01/2024

This is a brilliant, highly enjoyable breakdown of iconic hiphop tracks and where the samples come from. Hats off to the people that made this, thats a labour of love...

Make the next iconic hip-hop flip 🔌 https://tracklib.com/hiphop50years💎 Get a collection of 50 records previously flipped by hip-hop LEGENDS — that you can...

28/07/2023

DE IMPERIO, another masterful animation by Alessandro Novelli will premiere at Locarno Film Festival this August. Once again I had the absolute pleasure to help him realise his vision through the music and sound design, with my favourite collaborators.

Once again it's a powerful, metaphorical audio-visual poem about power, control, politics, meaning, the follies of society, unintended consequences and more. All without a word of dialogue!

This time, being the final part of a Trilogy (The Guardian, Contact and now De Imperio), I really wanted to create a deep sonic connection across all three, just like Alessandro has done visually with his team.

What is amazing for me working with Alessandro is the freedom and trust he gives me to explore what we can say with the film through sound and music. I got to work with some of my favourite collaborators to make it happen - Sasha Agranov on haunting Cello layers, Aleix Puig for his soaring Violins, Xavi Lozano on "whatever he plays becomes a flute", Jonathan Darch for the amazing Sound Design and Dani Zacarias for the Dolby Atmos 3D sound mix extravaganza, with help from Jaume Puig of Dolby. A Dream team for me. Not to mention a wee cameo for Luka Peros as one of the giants.

Once I saw that the story revolved around a strange, labyrinthine space I realised this would be perfect for Dolby Atmos, and pushed to make that happen. If you get a chance to hear it in Atmos, I highly recommend it as the sense of space and direction is central to the narrative power of the sound design and the relationship between the characters.

For the music, I dug back into the free-style recording session I did with Sasha Agranov way back in 2015 for The Guardian, where I created a cut and paste collage in a strange, atonal style to create that score. ( It was a session rich with amazing, long improvisations -typical for Sasha, who is a monster improviser - and some of them fitted so perfectly on long parts of the film that I ended up deciding to share the composer credit with Sasha.)

For De Imperio, I went back and picked out many of the unused ideas and started to layer them into the new film. Then I asked Aleix Puig to come in and record new violin material on top to really connect it all together.

For the middle, colourful, trippy section I got my favourite wind instrument player Xavibufa, who could probably make you cry on a film score playing a damn potato with holes in it (im not joking), and he brought in his "steel police barrier turned into a baritone flute". What a sound he gets out of that thing!

For the sound design and mix, I teamed up with my new favourite film collaborators, Jonathan Darch and Dani Zacarias, and together we weaved a 3D soundscape that is probably more important than the music itself. Jonathan took my sound design sketches and turned them into cinematic joy, with masterful ideas to create just the right level of emotion, action and humor for the dozens of characters on screen, large and small, none of whom speak but they all should be understood. No easy task!

Then Dani weaved his 3D magic in Dolby Atmos. We have spiders running over your head, giants stepping off screen and thundering off into the distance off to your right, muffled voices of tiny characters in distant, claustrophobic rooms and immersive soundscapes with rain on the horizon.

All in all, an utter joy to work on, once again. Sorry for the long post but Alessandro's projects are like little diamonds on my timeline and I highly recommend you watch them... I can't wait to do the next one!

30/12/2022

Buenos recuerdos de un festival Blanc tremendo este año! Un placer colaborar en los títulos y promos y este video con mi musica. We're better together :)

13/09/2021

Proud to present my film scoring course that I created in collaboration with Domestika. Out now.

I show you how to explore music as a tool for storytelling by conceptualizing, developing, and producing a score. We work through a film together as I pull apart own process apart from start to finish.

I show you how to reimagine your own music, whatever the style, as raw material for building up a film score, and I go through how to collaborate successfully with directors.

https://www.domestika.org/en/courses/1873-music-production-for-films/simon_smith

For me, composing for films is a process that reveals the power of music - it evokes feelings that words and images alone cannot, and helps to bring a story to life.

I am a musician, composer and music producer and I specialise in composing for film and television. My music can be heard in cinemas as well as on platforms like Netflix and Amazon.

I hope students get as much out of the course as I did creating it. I've put as many tried and tested, hard-earned tips in there as I could!

Explore music as a tool for storytelling by conceptualizing, developing, and producing a score for the big screen

12/09/2021

20/03/2021

Here is the opening credits to Guerra De Likes from Maria Ripoll, the film I scored recently, featuring lead vocals from Carla Gimeno from The Crab Apples.

It's an unashamedly silly, larger-than-life comedy about influencers in Mexico, that had me laughing even when I'd seen it 1000 times.

creditos iniciales de la película Guerra De Likes de Maria Ripoll, 2021

07/03/2020

Violinista Lisa Bause vino a grabar ayer para un tema con Sergi Boal, un placer total. Mil ideas, talento infinito y muy buena onda!

25/11/2019

Reconciliation Project - Olec Mün (Official Teaser 1)

Olec Mün came to the studio to record this lovely album of piano music, a reconciliation project from the heart...a real pleasure to record and mix for Olec

Grandson of four refugees from the 2nd World War, Olec Mün goes back to Germany and Austria, 80 years after exile. 4 piano pieces, each one inspired in Olec ...

15/11/2019

SIMON SMITH - British Film Composer based in Barcelona

we just updated our other website focused on my film scoring work. Behind the scenes pictures, case studies, making of videos, the manifesto...take a look!

http://www.simonsmithfilmmusic.com

Simon Smith is a film composer from the UK and based in Barcelona. His work includes scores for award-winning films with Spanish director María Ripoll and the documentary Take The Ball Pass The Ball about golden era of Barcelona FC under Pep Guardiola.

03/11/2019

bcnsound's cover photo

03/11/2019

It was a pleasure to be invited to Berklee Valencia to take part in a panel for the students about sync and work for film, some great conversation about everything from license deals to stemming out your work properly. Top tips all round

Thank you so much Vanessa Garde, Paul Pacifico, Viktorija Pilatovic, and Simon Smith for talking to us about publishing deals, sync opportunities, as well as tips and tricks and what to expect when stepping foot into the industry! Moderated by Maxwell Moya Wright

27/04/2019

Take The Ball Pass The Ball - Soundtrack Making Of

feliz de haber recibido varios emails directos de fans de football que han visto Take The Ball Pass The Ball y disfrutaron la banda sonora. Hasta un fan de Real Madrid me escribió para felicitarme por la música!

Aqui tienes un making-of de la banda sonora.

El documental se puede ver ya en amazon prime

A short film about the making of the music for the feature-length documentary Take The Ball Pass the Ball, the definitive story of the greatest football team ever…

18/10/2018

Take The Ball, Pass The Ball: trailer for documentary on Barcelona's Guardiola years

Soooo pleased it's finally here - Watch the trailer for the definitive documentary about Pep Guardiola's Barca FC team that beat them all...

I mixed the film and composed the score, a dream project with Duncan and the fantastic team at Zoomsport, who made the whole thing happen by sheer hard work. Out in cinemas in november!

Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Xavi and many other top footballers have shared their reasons as to why they believe Barcelona are the greatest football club in...

05/10/2018

bcnsound

bcnsound

Music for another fun commercial project...an "epic" film score sound for Libera Lo Que Sientes (Let Out What You Feel) for Cruzcampo, a tongue in cheek advert for Cruzcampo, directed by Alvaro Brechner and produced by Sal Gorda.

It's been a while since I did an orchestral piece so it was fun.

14/07/2018

Watch: How Wong Kar-Wai Paints with Cinematic Color

Watch: How Wong Kar-Wai Paints with Cinematic Color

Acclaimed Chinese director Wong Kar-Wai uses his frame like an artist's canvas.

06/07/2018

Blanc Festival me invitaron a hablar sobre mi trabajo y motivaciones ayer en la Fabrica Moritz para el evento Movistar Artsy, a lado de varios grupos musicales y también el diseñador Gerard Marin, que habló de su trabajo para varios festivales musicales. Super interesante.

Gracias chicos!

05/06/2018

CONTACT by Alessandro Novelli - Animation Film @ Brooklyn Film Festival

Contact, a fascinating short by Alessandro Novelli that I scored last year, is going to be on at the Brooklyn Film Festival 2018. With the wonderful voice of Mel Seme.

Cast & Crew, Contact Info, Trailer - Synopsis: Between reality and fantasy, a woman's inner journey awakens her consciousness.

29/05/2018

Cruzcampo “Libera lo que sientes” – Spot Completo

Music for another fun commercial project...an "epic" film score sound for Libera Lo Que Sientes (Let Out What You Feel) for Cruzcampo, a tongue in cheek advert for Cruzcampo, directed by Alvaro Brechner and produced by Sal Gorda.

It's been a while since I did an orchestral piece so it was fun.

Después de tantas noches sin dormir, intentando encontrar el sentido de la vida, ha llegado el momento de que liberes lo que sientes. con...

23/05/2018

Reebok x Huntsman Flexweave Collaboration

You wait around for a fun advertising project and several come along at once. Right off the back of the Adidas video last week, Reebok had a piece that needed some dark electronic music too.

Nike, we expect to hear from you soon!

Reebok and famed Savile Row tailor Huntsman & Sons teamed up to create a custom suit made from Flexweave for Reebok athlete Brandin Cooks

18/05/2018

Run to Rise - adidas. Leo Messi

Just finished the music for this Adidas piece, early rising runners in Barcelona. Randomly featuring Jordi Alba and Leo Messi. Looks like they are early risers too.

Makes me want to go running down to the beach more often! Thanks to Toby at Thirty Two Music for bringing me in on this one

Llega SolarBOOST, la revolución del año en calzado de running. Con Messi y otras estrellas del Barça como embajadores

17/11/2017

LIGHTS - 光

Alessandro Novelli me invitó a crear otra banda sonora para LIGHTS, su ultimo corto animado, donde explora otra vez temas de miedo, deseo y otras partes profundas de la mente humana.

Esta vez una historia tan sencilla como potente explorando la perdida de inocencia, el proceso de conformarse a presiones de sociedad y mas. Te deja pensar.

Otra joya de proyecto con Alessandro.

"A new born light enters the world, but slowly begins to adapt, to fit in, conditioned by expectations, until the light fades away slowly and it's too…

19/03/2017

CONTACT

CONTACT

¡Estamos felices! C O N T A C T ha sido seleccionado a competición oficial en Festival international du film d'animation d'Annecy.

No podríamos empezar de mejor modo el recorrido por festivales.
Enhorabuena a toda la crew!

https://www.annecy.org/programme/index:film-20172343

03/10/2016

Basil Hogios Music

Our collaborator Basil Hogios has been nominated in Australia for Best Soundtrack Album for an indie film he scored, listed amongst film score heavyweights...well done and good luck dude!

http://apraamcos.com.au/news/2016/september/2016-screen-music-award-nominees-announced/

Its an honour to be nominated for Best Soundtrack Album for the feature film "All About E", among the industry's finest composers. What makes it particularly sweet is that All About E is a true cult/indie film, shattering gender and ethnic stereotyping, made with love and hard work despite being unsupported by traditional funding and distribution means. I want to thank the musicians who played with me on this music, Vangelis Loulis, Dimitris Vouros, Heather Lindsay, James Tawadros, and Jonathan Dower for letting me make the music in his home studio in Sydney. Lovingly completed in Barcelona at bcnsound.

APRA AMCOS

Title: All About E
Composed by: Basil Hogios

Title: Only the Dead
Composed by: Michael Yezerski

Title: Sherpa
Composed by: Antony Partos

Title: The Dressmaker
Composed by: David Hirschfelder

15/07/2016

acabado de ver que lo hemos ganado! mejor banda sonora en un cortometraje para The Guardian (ver post abajo). un Music and Sound Award, London!!! http://www.masawards.com/int-2016-best-comp-winners

30/06/2016

The Guardian

The Guardian

Annecy International Film Festival 2015 - Official Selection / Arizona Film Festival 2015 - Official Selection / CIFF 2015 - Royal Reel Award - 2015 / River Film…

30/06/2016

Nuestra banda sonora para The Guardián de N9ve ha sido nominado en los Music And Sound Awards 2016 en Londres! Gracias Sasha Agranov por la colaboración!!

15/06/2016

TUTORIALS

Tutoriales interesantes por compositor de Mad Max Fury Road, Deadpool etc...

Intro Video Personal introduction from Tom Holkenborg about the “Studio Time with Ju**ie XL” tutorial series. The series will give aspiring composers, producers, and musicians a rare glimpse into the inner workings of a Hollywood composer. The tutorial topics will range from technical advice, such a...