8-bit music theory Archives

How to Transcribe Music: The Ultimate Guide

December 8, 2023October 26, 2018 by Matt

A step-by-step tutorial on how to transcribe music What you’ll have by the end of this post: The best music transcription software and tools A step-by-step guide to notating music by ear Techniques for analysis from Gordy Haab and 8-bit Music Theory A handy checklist for transcribing music In this blog post, we’ll go over … Read more

Learning to Compose Game Music through Musical Transcription

October 18, 2018 by Matt

8 ways transcription helps you compose better game music If you want to compose game music for a living, you need to be well-versed in almost every genre of music. Video game music is not so much a genre, but an umbrella term of every musical genre adapted to the specific medium of games. Koji … Read more

How to Write Music for Tabletop RPGs: Composer Interview

April 22, 2024

Note from Matt: The following is a guest post from Composer Code reader and partner Tomas Ortola. Enjoy! In 2019, Evie Segal, Tomas Ortola Stange, and Zak Kaye all met and became friends while studying composition at Berklee College of Music. In early 2020, they took advantage of COVID lockdowns and started a Dungeons and ... Read more

Best Microphones for Vocals: Elevate Your Voice with These Picks!

April 28, 2023

The following is a guest post provided by Rowena Morris Every singer knows that the right microphone can make or break their performance. With so many options available, finding the perfect match can be overwhelming. But worry not, we’ve compiled a list of the best microphones for vocals to help you make an informed decision. ... Read more

The Sound of Cinema: Exploring the Best Cinematic Kontakt Libraries (2023)

April 11, 2023

Discover the best cinematic Kontakt libraries for music production and scoring, featuring top choices and honorable mentions, plus tips for selecting the perfect library to elevate your projects.

Best Kontakt Libraries: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Sound Palette (2023)

April 4, 2023

Discover the best Kontakt libraries to elevate your music production game! Explore our top 10 picks, suitable for various genres and budgets, and unlock your full creative potential.

2023’s Best Vocal Plugins: A Guide to Producing Professional Vocals

January 11, 2023

This post is the ultimate guide to the best vocal plugins for 2023. We'll go over the different types of plugins and how they can help you create professional-sounding vocals.

The Locrian Mode: A Complex Darkness

January 6, 2023

The Locrian mode is arguably the darkest of the minor modes. It's essentially a natural minor scale with a lowered second and fifth scale degree (in addition to the existing ♭6 and ♭7 in the natural minor scale).

The Ultimate Guide to Using Reaper Plugins for Music Production

January 1, 2023

If you're brand new to music production and you're looking for an inexpensive way to get started, this post on using Reaper plugins is for you.

Minor Keys: Not Just for Sad Music

December 28, 2022

“If there’s one thing I really love… it’s sad music.” Danny Elfman, film composer Imagine, if you will, a world without minor keys – a world without sad music. A world in which every song was happy, upbeat, poppy, and chipper. There’s no room for feelings of heartbreak, longing, or regret – only bouncy joviality. ... Read more

The Mixolydian Mode: A Major Scale with Attitude

December 15, 2022

The Mixolydian mode is a raunchier version of the major scale commonly used in rock, blues, and jazz. Here's how to use it in your own music!

The Ionian Mode (the Major Scale)

December 13, 2022

The Ionian mode is another name for the major scale. Here's how to build it and use it in your compositions!