SOPP773: What Is Your Technical Composing Process?

·16 min·1 clip

Rin from the Netherlands asks Vidas and Ausra to reveal the exact tools and steps behind their organ compositions.

The episode begins with hosts Vidas and Ausra introducing a question from Rin Skalkvek in the Netherlands about their technical composing process. Vidas explains they use two laptops with Sibelius software installed, noting his is more powerful for video processing. He describes Sibelius First as sufficient for basic organ compositions like meditations and preludes, though it uses basic MIDI sounds, while Sibelius Ultimate offers a generic diapason sound. They connect compact MIDI keyboards for note input, with Vidas using a 37-note mini keyboard. After a break, Ausra shares that Vidas often composes in bed early in the morning, linking it to moon cycles. She contrasts her own process, sometimes writing on paper first, which she finds harder to transcribe later. Ausra prefers using a real piano or the small folding Korg NanoKeys keyboard, which is portable and has two octaves. They discuss using a numeric keypad for rhythms but note that Sibelius Ultimate's expandable on-screen keypad is now more comfortable. Vidas mentions trying Sibelius on tablets and phones, finding it less intuitive but useful for capturing ideas on the go. He highlights the PlayScore 2 app for importing PDF scores and converting them to XML for arrangements in Sibelius. The hosts reflect on technology advancing quickly, with Vidas noting an 88-note MIDI piano they rarely use now. They talk about improvisation features in Sibelius, though cleanup is time-consuming, and joke about future software reading minds. The episode ends with them encouraging more questions, mentioning their organ performance at a Vilnius University honorary doctoral ceremony, and signing off with their motto about practice and miracles.

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