Film Scoring Labs

The Film Scoring Department offers a comprehensive program of study in the scoring of music for visual media and the application of synchronous technologies commonly practiced in the motion picture and television industries. A dedicated set of classrooms, labs, and a scoring studio complex offer students the opportunity for hands-on study in the areas of film music composition, conducting, MIDI sequencing, and digital music editing. All student scoring assignments involve live performance in the studio and/or the use of extensive sample libraries.

The technical resources available to students majoring in film scoring include the following:

A central classroom/lab facility, which supports all technology-related courses. This facility contains multiple Mac-based DAWs with integrated MIDI, digital audio and video, and SMPTE synchronization, all of which provide hands-on experience during classes and regularly scheduled, individual lab sessions. All DAWs support Digital Performer, Pro Tools LE, Logic Pro, Reason, Kontakt 2, Waves-Platinum, and GPO. Each workstation also includes a tandom PC running GigaStudio 3 and an array of orchestral and nonorchestral sample libraries, including VSL, East West, and Spectrasonics.

A self-contained scoring studio complex where students conduct live ensembles in the performance and recording of their scoring assignments. The scoring complex has dual recording/mixing control rooms, two linked DAW lab rooms, and a "live" studio equipped with video projection for conducting to picture with PCs running Auricle film scoring software. Control rooms are fully integrated digital audio/video postproduction suites, featuring DigiDesign's ProTools HD hardware and software, and a Genelec 5.1 Surround Sound monitoring system. The scoring studio complex supports a diverse mixture of live and/or preproduced scoring materials for synchronization in postproduction film, television, and video formats.

A 40-seat theater/classroom with video projection and 5.1 surround sound, a fully equipped classroom for advanced course work and two DAW/screening rooms where student scoring assignments are reviewed and evaluated, one on one, with department faculty. All labs, classrooms, and production/mix control rooms are linked within the department via a dedicated fiberoptic SAN hosting all production source video and student-generated audio. The department has an extensive VHS/DVD library of feature films and work prints that are utilized throughout the curriculum.

In addition to course work at Berklee, extracurricular opportunities exist for students to score independent films from local colleges (Boston University, Emerson College). This provides realistic and creative collaboration between students pursuing careers in film production and Berklee film scoring majors. Under departmental supervision, over 200 student films have been produced within the film scoring facilities. Lasting professional relationships have been formed and maintained beyond graduation. Many of these films have won major festival awards, playing to national and international audiences.

For more detailed information about the film scoring facilities contact the Film Scoring Department at (617) 266-1400 x2440.