Tom Clemes

An idea can come up anytime. To me it often happens as I listen to music. I start by work out a beat or a short jingle. Then I use synthesisers and sound effects that I connect through a mixer. Many times I sit for hours at the synthesisers to find the right sounds. First I select the drums, then the bass, and then more drums. Finally I end up with a sequence of 5 to 10 seconds that is repeated over and over again. This is the cornerstone of the music.
This foundation determines the pace and partially also the mood of the music. I then add some type of theme or jingle. The details are brought in at last. When all building blocks are in place I concentrate on the arrangement and the dynamics, i.e. the variation in loudness. I start softly and end loud. At this stage I often notice that I have too many details in the sound picture and I have to remove sounds.
When I’m satisfied with the arrangements I record it on a PC with recording software. Then comes the mastering phase with the finishing touch and amplification of loudness of the whole piece. Finally a CD is burnt: The piece of music is ready.