Created for Virtual Video Game Orchestra's mixtape album "VVGhosts," this whimsical yet spooky arrangement showcases custom synthesizer design and multi-track mixing. I designed two original synthesizers in Ableton: a theremin synth built entirely from scratch, and a chromatic instrument sampled from my childhood music box. The music box instrument was created by recording the original toy's limited melody and manipulating those few notes into a full chromatic range with applied effects, transforming a nostalgic sound into a playable instrument.
After recording the synthesized parts, I imported them into Cubase for audio editing and mixing alongside 31 tracks submitted by remote performers. These self-recorded tracks came from various recording setups—from cell phones to professional microphones—requiring careful alignment to a master click track. Final mix involved standard audio editing including pitch correction, EQ, and balancing to create a cohesive sound from diverse source material.
Tools: Ableton Live (synth design), Cubase (audio editing & mixing)
Self-produced conceptual piece created in Ableton Live, blending my custom music box instrument with dialogue from Charlie Chaplin's final speech in The Great Dictator and an instrumental stem from Disturbed's "Sound of Silence" cover. Working within a strict 2-minute time constraint, I edited the instrumental stem and strategically cut Chaplin's speech to match the rhythm and pacing of the track. Careful attention was paid to emotional alignment—matching hopeful phrases with major chords and darker moments with minor progressions to enhance the narrative impact.
Tools: Ableton Live (audio editing & mixing)
An original arrangement of the haunting mermaid song from Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, performed entirely with custom-sampled instruments and sounds. All audio elements were personally recorded and designed, including my childhood music box, kitchen utensil percussion, ocean field recordings, an acoustic guitar-based synth, and two synthesizers created from manipulated vocal samples. This arrangement was specifically designed for live looping performance, showcasing real-time layering and mixing capabilities.
Tools: Ableton Live (arrangement, sampling, live performance)
Educational parody addressing military operations security, set to the melody of "We Don't Talk About Bruno" from Encanto. I co-wrote the lyrics and handled the complete production process: recording vocalists in my home studio, arranging using VST synthesizers, and delivering the final mix and master. This project demonstrates end-to-end production capabilities, from concept and recording through final delivery.
Tools: Cubase (arrangement, recording, mixing, mastering)
Mixed for Virtual Video Game Orchestra's "Press VVGO" mixtape, this jazz orchestra arrangement required editing and balancing 34 tracks submitted by remote performers using various recording setups. Synchronized all tracks to a master click, applied pitch correction and EQ adjustments, and crafted a cohesive mix from diverse source material to capture the energetic, brassy character of the original theme.
Tools: Cubase (audio editing & mixing)