Course · Trailer
Hybrid Trailer Music
Massive hybrid trailer cues, from first sketch to a punchy final mix.
- 23 lessons
- 13.9 hours of video
- All levels
- Lifetime access
- Watch online, any time
No matter how many trailers you watch, your hybrid tracks don’t sound like the ones on screen. They take ages to finish, if they get finished at all, and the mix ends up muddy when it should be big and punchy.
Hybrid trailer music isn’t just orchestra with some synths on top. It gives both a new character and a new sound, and the hard part is making them feel like one track rather than two that ended up in the same file.
There’s almost 17 hours of it. We start by building your hybrid palette: synth washes, booms and rumbles, broken pianos, dirty strings and big hits. Then I write a full cue from scratch, starting with a sketch made from hits and building through pads, pattern and a lot of layering.
Writing fast has always been one of my strengths, and a big part of this course is getting your inner critic out of the way so you sketch quickly and actually finish.
Then Taz Mattar takes you through session setup, signal flow, mixing and stems, so the finished track sounds as big as it should.
By the end, you’ll be able to
- Sketch a hybrid trailer track in minutes
- Use advanced layering to make orchestra and synths feel like one sound
- Create your own sounds so your track stands out
- Build tension, anticipation and release that hits like a Hollywood trailer
- Mix and master hybrid trailer music to the same standard as the pros
At a glance
Techniques you’ll learn
- three-act structure
- minimal material maximalism
- synth wash layering
- boom and rumble design
- riser construction
- custom hit building
- dirty string layering
- New York compression
- broken piano sound design
- pad-based landscape sketching
- sketch-first composition
- parallel compression
Write music for
- movie trailers
- TV promo spots
- video game cinematic cutscenes
- action film underscore
- publisher trailer music libraries
- epic title sequences
Influences we look at
Hans Zimmer · Two Steps from Hell
What composers say
I love watching Richard explain his process WHILE he is composing and producing. It has given me some clarity on the things I need to focus on while producing stuff. I like melodies, harmonies and sounds but I often don't know what a track needs. Watching Richard has helped me figure that stuff out.
As a result of Rich's course, my work is of a much higher quality, and I am so muchfaster. I think my structure is way better - pace too.
From this course, I realized that hybrid trailer music is not just a genre combined with orchestra and synthesizers, but it's a genre that gives both types of music a new character and a new sound. Not just that, Rich also shares his ways to structure and layer a track, which I believe would help a lot while organizing sounds and instruments and creating new ideas.
I've loved learning how to sketch fast, taking an overview rather than getting bogged down with detail. Watching how a track is created and seeing how someone with so much experience goes about writing.
Richard's teachings will open a whole new world of creative possibilities for you, the aspiring trailer music composer.
What’s inside
- Welcome to the course
- Welcome to the course
- What is Hybrid Trailer Music?
- Your hybrid tools
Synth washes, booms and rumbles, futuristic tones, broken pianos, dirty strings and hard hits.
- Synth Washes
- Booms and Rumbles
- Rise of the Robots
- Broken Pianos
- Dirty Strings
- Hit 'em Hard
- Hybrid track from start to finish
From template and hits through rises, pads, pattern and layering to prepping for the mix.
- Create Your Template
- Sketch using Hits
- Fill Your Sketch with Rises and FX
- Shape the Landscape with Pads
- Introduce Your Pattern
- Layer Your Ideas
- Layer Your Ideas More
- Give them something to remember you by
- Prepping for the Mix
- Mixing masterclass with Taz Mattar
Session setup and signal flow, mixing fundamentals, your questions answered and creating mix stems.
- Session setup and Signal flow intro
- Session setup and Signal flow main
- Mixing Pt.1
- Mixing Questions Answered
- Mixing Pt.2
- Creating Mix Stems
- Bonuses
An hour-long masterclass on sketching a cue in minutes, and a sample pack of 50+ custom hits and impacts only available with the course.
This is for you if…
- Your tracks take ages to finish, if they get finished at all
- Your music doesn't sound as good as what you hear on trailers
- Your mixes are muddy and lack clarity and punch
- You're a seasoned producer who wants to sharpen your workflow and mixing
It’s not for you if…
- You want something short. This one is almost 17 hours
- You'd rather write delicate, acoustic music. Try Neoclassical Strings or Cinematic Piano
Who’s teaching
I’ve written music for ads since 2007 and movie trailers since 2011, and went full time in 2014. My music has been used on over 100 campaigns, including Captain America: Civil War, Glass Onion, WandaVision and The Conjuring 2, and I’ve won eight awards along the way. Since 2017 I’ve taught thousands of composers how to do the same. More about me.
Questions before you buy? Email [email protected].
Questions
Is this for beginners or experienced producers?
Both. Beginners get a full process for writing hybrid trailer music, and seasoned producers get insights into mixing and workflow.
Do I need to be able to use a DAW?
Yes. You need to be able to use a DAW so you can follow along with the videos.
Do I have to use Logic?
No. Use whichever DAW you like, as long as you know how to use it.
How long is the course?
Almost 17 hours of video, with companion PDFs and guides.
Can you guarantee I will get a placement?
Of course not. The composers who get work are the ones who put the hours in. They also happen to be very nice people (industry secret).
How long do I have access?
Forever. It's a one-time payment, not a membership, and you get all future updates and new lessons free.
What if it's not for me?
Within 30 days of registering you can ask for a full refund, as long as you haven't accessed more than 30% of the course (not counting anything public or in the Welcome module).
Hybrid Trailer Music
Almost 17 hours on hybrid trailer music. Build your sound palette, write a full cue from scratch, then mix it in a masterclass with Taz Mattar.
Not ready yet? Start with the free path
The free learning paths cover the same ground in article form. Work through one first and come back when you want the full walkthrough.
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