Are you new to composing for sync, but overwhelmed by the jargon? In this episode, we sit down with Emmy-winning composer and sync expert Brad Hatfield to cut through the confusion.

Brad teaches Songwriting for Film & TV and Music Supervision at Berklee, drawing from decades of experience in the industry. From understanding contracts and ownership to knowing what to expect once your track is synced, this episode provides a thorough breakdown of sync licensing, publishing, royalties, and beyond.

We define essential terms such as ‘master recording’, ‘writer’ and ‘neighbouring rights’, and explain why getting your splits and agreements in order can make or break a placement…

We also explore what ‘useful music’ means for Film and TV, and how AI is reshaping the future of sync.

Whether you’re a songwriter, composer, or musician looking to break into sync, this episode will help you confidently navigate the production music world!

Chapters

0:00 Intro
3:38 What is Sync Licensing?
5:55 The three T’s: Term, Territory & Type of Media
9:14 What is a Publisher?
12:43 What is a Writer?
15:14 What is the Master Recording?
21:49 What is a Producer?
25:57 What are Mechanical Royalties?
31:01 What are Neighbouring Rights?
36:25 What is a Needle Drop?
38:45 What actually happens when a song is licensed for use in Film?
45:55 Writing ‘useful’ music and the importance of Outros
50:10 Why you should provide stems
54:00 AI and the future of Sync Music

Brad’s website - https://www.bradhatfieldmusic.com

Brad Hatfield Music Collective - https://www.bradhatfieldmusiccollective.com

#sync #syncliensing #syncmusic #synccomposer #composer #songwriter #productionmusic #librarymusic #filmcomposer #tvcomposer #filmmusic #tvmusic #synclicensing101 #productionmusic101 #neighbouringrights #royalties #publisher

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Italian composer, sound designer, and Sonora Cinematic founder Alessandro Mastroianni!

Alessandro shares how his career evolved from composing for Film & TV (including writing for Hans Zimmer’s Bleeding Fingers!) to diving into custom sound design and virtual instrument creation.
He takes us inside a recent recording session, where he captured impulse responses and the foundations for a new virtual instrument in a restored 19th-century church with a fascinating history!

We also explore the creative and practical sides of sampling, why your choice of sample libraries change the way you compose, and why quality of music matters more than a huge quantity of tracks.

Find out more about Alessandro’s work here - https://alessandromastroianni.com

Chapters
0:00 Intro
3:37 Recording in a church
6:30 Using impulse responses to capture space reverbs
10:59 Alessandro’s journey from composition to sound design
15:51 Creating sample libraries and the artistic process
19:04 Balancing usability with artistic expression in virtual instruments
22:44 Planning a recording session for a sample library
31:33 Soundbox vs Kontakt
37:32 Splitting time between composing and creating samples

#composer #sounddesign #samplelibraries #virtualinstruments #samplelibrary #filmcomposer #tvcomposer #sounddesigner #recordingsession

In this episode we are joined by incredible trumpeter and vocalist Mark Braud.
From growing up in a family of eight trumpeters to playing with music icons such as Harry Connick Jr., Dr. John and Foo Fighters, Mark is a true embodiment of the New Orleans spirit.

We explore Mark’s musical roots, exploring how his family’s legacy shaped his sound, his early days playing in school bands, and his leap into a professional career, even dropping out of university to chase his dreams.

Mark shares his insights on jazz improvisation, adapting to other musicians in polyphonic settings, and why soloing is like cooking - you need the right ingredients!
He also reflects on invaluable advice he received from elders like Lucien Barbarin, and his commitment to passing on that wisdom to the next generation through his work at Preservation Hall.

Chapters

0:00 Intro
2:29 Early musical life in New Orleans
6:51 Early training, NOCCA, and first performances
11:09 Leaving university for gigs and learning on the job
13:17 The art of New Orleans jazz and playing as a unit
21:12 Preservation Hall, it’s legacy, and leading the band
25:44 Teaching the next generation and sharing the tradition

Don’t forget to check out Part 2 where Mark tells us about his production music library Old Saw Music, performing on Broadway, and what he’s working on next.

Find out more about Mark here: https://www.markbraud.com

#neworleans #neworleansjazz #jazzimprovisation #jazztrumpet #improvisingtips