Writing For The Real Orchestra, should I study Logic SCORE or books..... Options

[tokyoroland]

In the not-to-distant future, I may have the opportunity to score a film using a real orchestra. Now, I took a theory class at my junior college last semester, and I know the basics, but when it comes to writiing for the real thing, I am completely new.

My question is, should I rely on the comprehensive SCORE section of Logic platinum to automatically write it FOR me, just paying attention to recording... provided that I learn the whole SCORE section first, so I can detect errors...

Or should I go the traditional way, and read books on HOW to write for the orchestra, all of the different instruments.. because I dont know...if I give a printed score from Logic, will the orchestra play it different than I envisioned? Will I sound completely different, even if, in the future, I am using superb software instruments like Vienna and Spectrasonics?

All advice is welcome!



- jeffro

[Artist]

As far as getting excellent scoring (so the performers aren't going, why the hell did he notate it like this, urgh. damnit. - and messing up because of it) I'd use sibelius.
It's very good for helping you to notate your pieces properly.
It will also tell you the limits of each instrument, e.g. the notes will be red if they are too low for a flute to play, brown if they are difficult to play (no hemi semi quavers at 220 bpm thank you very much).

You can write the piece in logic.
Export as a midi file.
Import in Sibelius.
Fix all small problems created between importing/exporting, so that your sibelius version sounds like the logic version.
Sibelius' scores are far superior to Logic's.

This post has been edited by Artist: Tue 2 Mar 2004, 20:57