Sound Design
Music and sound effects for film, web and live performance.
For many years I have produced sound design for film, media and live performance.
I've included here a few examples of my work as well as lists of instruments, recording gear and sample libraries I have available and with which I can design new soundscapes and music.
Mr and Mrs MacBeth of..........
In 2023 I was approached by Mark Hadlow, Artistic Director of The Professional Theatre Company in Nelson to write music for a new play by Gregory Cooper, Mr and Mrs MacBeth of Dodson Valley Road. Set largely in the dressing room back stage where the principal actors in Shakespeare's MacBeth are having a marriage breakdown, act two switches between the dressing room and the actors being 'on stage' in MacBeth. It's tragic, poignant, hilarious and heartwarming. I decided to use symphony orchestra programming, with synths and actual instruments as well as natural soundscapes as sound design.
Overture
This short overture features the BBC Symphony Orchestra as an epic foil to Mark's unepic entry!
Betrayal
Mr MacBeth imagines he is being cheated on and somewhat loses the plot!
Underscore
On the battlements as a storm brews, includes natural soundscape, synths, etc
Dance
Reconcilliation as Mr and Mrs work through to successfully perform the play.
Taonga Pūoro
I'm often approached to provide taonga pūoro recordings for kaupapa Māori projects, which I'm happy to do provided mana whenua have granted consent for me to be involved. Often these recordings are provided pro-bono or for koha.
Whakatū Marae Website
This sound track features a taonga pūoro soundscape to support an introductory video on the Whakatū Marae website.
Kupu Māori Writers Festival
I was approached to write music for media to support the inaugural Kupu Māori Writers Festival held in Rotorua in 2022.
Brook Sanctuary
Here taonga pūoro and natural sounds are used to support an exhibition of the Brook Sanctuary at the Nelson Provincial Museum.
Sky Whisperers
During the early 2000s, we created music for several films directed by Kathleen Gallagher of WickCandle Films. These soundtracks featured Richard Nunns playing taonga pūoro, Aroha Yates-Smith composing waiata and myself playing harp and flute. Here's four examples of our work.
Flute
This track features sampled pūkāea with celtic flute
Pūkāea
Here the pūkāea takes the lead with sampled pūkāea parts.
Kū
This arrangement features the single-stringed kū, with processed breath parts.
Harp
This track features harp along with processed taonga pūoro in support.
Instruments
Pilgrim Clasarch Harp (32 strings - gut)
Uillieann Pipes (Denis Crowley in D)
Terry McGee Irish Flute (in D)
Terry McGee Irish Flute (in C)
Terry McGee Irish Flute (in Bb)
Tin Whistles (variety of keys including low whistles)
Taylor 312e Acoustic Guitar
Maton FG100/6 Vintage Acoustic Guitar
Bodhrans
Epiphone 'Viola' Bass Guitar
Taonga Pūoro (full range)
Sequential Take 5 Synthesiser
Moog Mother 32 Synthesiser (x2)
Waldorf Rocket Synthesiser
Korg Minilogue XD Synthesiser
Korg MS-20 Synthesiser (virtual)
Recording Equipment
Microtech Geffel UMT 70 S Multi-Pattern Microphone
Sennheiser MKH8020 Omni-Directional Microphone (x2)
Sennheiser MKH8040 Cardioid Microphone (x2)
Sennheiser MKH8050 Hyper-Cardioid Microphone (x2)
Neumann SM69 Stereo Multi-Pattern Microphone
AEA N8 Ribbon Microphone (x2)
Beyerdynamic MC740N Multi-Pattern Microphone
Beyerdynamic M201 Dynamic Microphone (x2)
Shure SM7 Dynamic Microphone
AKG C411 Contact Microphone
UAD Apollo 8P Audio Interface
Focusrite ISA Two Pre-Amp
Sound Devices MixPre-10 8 Channel Portable Recorder
Tascam DR-100MKIII Stereo Portable Recorder
Neumann KH80DSP Monitor
Neumann NDH-30 Headphones
Neumann NDH-20 Headphones
Beyerdynamic D770 Headphones
Logic Audio
UAD and SSL Plug-Ins
Sample Libraries
Spitfire - Abbey Road Thematic Horns
Spitfire - Abbey Road Thematic Trumpets
Spitfire - Abbey Road Wonderous Flute
Spitfire - Abbey Road Grand Brass
Spitfire - Abbey Road Legendary Low Strings
Spitfire - Albion Neo
Spitfire - Albion V Tundra
Spitfire - BBC Symphony Orchestra (Professional)
Spitfire - BBC Steinway Model D
Spitfire - British Drama Toolkit
Spitfire - Contemporary Drama Toolkit
Spitfire - Fractured Strings
Spitfire - Heirloom (Emotional Ensemble)
Spitfire - Labs Gaelic Voices
Spitfire - Labs Uilleann Pipes
Spitfire - Labs Vintage Drums
Spitfire - Labs Hammered Dulcimer
Spitfire - Olafur Arnalds Composer Toolkit
Spitfire - Olafur Arnalds Evolutions
Spitfire - Olafur Arnalds Chamber Evolutions
Spitfire - Olafur Arnalds Stratus
Spitfire - Solar
Spitfire - Chamber Strings (Professional)
Spitfire - Solo Strings
Spitfire - Martin Ware Library
Spitfire - Originals Cinematic Frozen Strings
Spitfire - Originals Cinematic Pads
Spitfire - Originals Cinematic Percussion
Spitfire - Originals Epic Brass and Woodwinds
Spitfire - Originals Epic Choir
Spitfire - Originals Felt Piano
Spitfire - Originals Intimate Grand Piano
Spitfire - Originals Intimate Strings
Spitfire - Percussion Joby Burgess
Spitfire - Studio Strings
Spitfire - Studio Brass
Spitfire - Studio Woodwinds
Universal Audio - Ravel Grand Piano