SoundByteWorks is commissioning original music for a visual-media scoring project combining documentary-style storytelling with cinematic/game-oriented musical language. The music must support the picture and narrative without competing with dialogue or narration.
The project is divided into approval phases. Phase 1 is the initial sample/creative-direction stage and consists of the first four assigned cues. Once those cues are reviewed and approved, the composer continues with the remaining assigned cues using the approved musical language as the reference point.
This portal is the single source of truth for the project. Any picture files, cue sheets, references, revisions and final delivery instructions provided here should be treated as the current project materials.
WELCOME
Please read this page completely before beginning work. The goal is to make the assignment understandable without requiring a long email chain.
1. FIRST REVIEW
• Read the Creative Direction and Cue Workflow below.
• Download and review every file made available in the project sections.
• Watch the supplied picture/reference material before composing.
• Check cue timings, narration/dialogue and any notes attached to each cue.
2. PHASE 1 — FIRST FOUR CUES
Create the first four assigned cues as the initial scoring sample. These cues establish the musical identity, balance, pacing and production quality for the rest of the project. Do not complete all remaining cues before Phase 1 feedback unless specifically instructed.
3. CREATIVE PRIORITY
Music should remain subtle, emotionally effective and supportive. Narration/dialogue must remain the main focus. Avoid arrangements that become unnecessarily busy, overly loud or distracting beneath spoken content. Use dynamics, orchestration and frequency balance carefully.
4. AFTER APPROVAL
Once Phase 1 is approved, continue the remaining assigned cues in the same approved direction. Maintain continuity in instrumentation, tone, sonic palette and overall mix character unless a later cue specifically calls for a different treatment.
5. DELIVERY
Use the Submit Deliverables area at the bottom of this portal. Include clear filenames and a short note identifying the cue(s) being submitted. If revisions are requested, submit the revised version with an incremented version number.
6. QUESTIONS
If a musical or technical instruction is genuinely unclear, keep the question specific and reference the cue name/timecode. Project communication should remain in writing so decisions and approvals can be tracked accurately.
Read the complete portal, review supplied picture/reference files and confirm that the assignment is understood.
Compose and submit the first four assigned cues for creative-direction review.
Apply consolidated feedback until the initial musical direction is approved.
Complete the remaining assigned cues using the approved Phase 1 direction.
Submit approved final masters and any requested alternate versions or stems.
CREATIVE DIRECTION
The score should feel cinematic, controlled and intentional rather than constantly dramatic. Its purpose is to reinforce emotion, pacing and atmosphere while preserving clarity of narration and story.
Core approach:
• Compose original music specifically to picture and cue intent.
• Keep spoken narration/dialogue clearly dominant whenever present.
• Prefer subtle development over continuous large musical gestures.
• Build emotion through texture, harmony, pulse, restraint and carefully chosen instrumentation.
• Leave musical space where the story needs breathing room.
• Avoid generic stock-music construction, excessive repetition and unnecessary melodic competition with narration.
• Transitions should feel natural against picture edits and scene changes.
• Where tension or momentum is needed, build progressively rather than starting at maximum intensity.
Consistency:
Once the first four cues establish the approved sound, use them as the tonal and production reference for the remaining cues. Individual scenes may differ emotionally, but the project should still sound like one coherent score.
CUE WORKFLOW
1. Review the picture from beginning to end before composing.
2. Read the cue-specific notes and identify the intended emotional function.
3. Mark important dialogue/narration passages, scene changes, reveals, transitions and end points.
4. Compose to the supplied timing rather than forcing an unrelated pre-existing structure onto the scene.
5. Check that musical accents serve the picture and are not overused.
6. Mix the cue so narration/dialogue has sufficient space.
7. Export a review version using the required filename format.
8. Submit through this portal and wait for approval/revision notes before treating the cue as final.
PHASE STRUCTURE
Phase 1: first four assigned cues — establishes creative direction.
Phase 2: remaining assigned cues — follows approved Phase 1 direction.
Final delivery: approved masters and any additional requested deliverables.
Do not assume a cue is final merely because it has been submitted. A cue becomes final when it is explicitly approved.
TECHNICAL DELIVERY STANDARD
Unless a cue-specific instruction overrides this section, use professional broadcast/visual-media delivery practices.
Review submissions:
• WAV preferred for high-quality audio review; MP3 may be included only as a convenience copy.
• Use the same sample rate as the supplied production picture/audio where known.
• Avoid clipping, limiting damage or excessive master loudness.
• Leave sensible headroom.
Filename convention:
Project_CueName_V01_ComposerName.wav
Example: Documentary_MainTitle_V01_JSmith.wav
Revisions should increment the version number: V02, V03, etc.
Final materials may include, when requested:
• Full stereo master.
• Music-only master.
• Alternate version(s).
• Stems grouped by practical musical families.
• Correctly named final files matching the approved cue list.
Do not upload session files, sample libraries or unrelated working files unless specifically requested.
DELIVERABLE CHECKLIST
Before submitting a cue, confirm that:
• The cue starts and ends at the intended picture points.
• The emotional direction matches the brief.
• Narration/dialogue remains intelligible and musically unobstructed.
• There are no accidental clicks, pops, clipped peaks or missing audio.
• The filename contains the cue name and version number.
• The submission note identifies what changed if it is a revision.
For Phase 1, submit the first four assigned cues together where practical so they can be reviewed as one creative-direction package.
For later phases, submit completed cues according to the current milestone instructions. Do not replace approved files with differently named versions without clearly identifying the change.
REVISIONS & COMMUNICATION
Feedback may cover composition, timing, instrumentation, intensity, arrangement, transitions, mix balance or narrative support. Revision notes should be applied to the specific cue while preserving elements already approved.
When receiving feedback:
• Read the full note before making changes.
• Preserve approved musical ideas unless the note asks for replacement.
• Reference exact timecodes where useful.
• Submit revisions as a new version rather than overwriting your local previous version.
Communication should remain concise and written. If you need clarification, identify the exact cue, timecode and instruction that is unclear. This keeps the production record organized for both composer and project team.
PROJECT HANDLING
All non-public project materials supplied through this portal should be treated as confidential production materials. Do not publish, distribute, publicly stream or use unreleased picture/audio/project files for promotional purposes without written permission.
Only use third-party musical material, samples or assets that you are legally permitted to use in commissioned commercial work. Do not include copyrighted music recordings or uncleared material in the score.
Any project-specific ownership, licensing, fee or contractual terms are governed by the signed agreement for the commission. This portal provides the working creative and delivery instructions and does not replace the signed agreement.
Project-specific picture, cue sheets and reference files will appear here when supplied by the project team.
Upload review cues, revisions or final deliverables here. Use clear filenames with cue name and version number.