In this section, Ricky gives his own take on the many products and services that he’s come across in the music business. This includes reviews of instruments, effects, plugins, production services, online educational courses on marketing, helpful YouTube channels, as well as promotional tools and services.
Ricky reviews Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman Film Score Compositions Classes on Masterclass.com
Ricky’s Product Review on his Youtube video channel
In this video, Ricky shares his experience with two film score composition masterclasses from Masterclass.com. The first is with Hans Zimmer, the Academy Award winning composer from Germany. The second is with Danny Elfman, also a celebrated and prolific film composer from L.A. Between the two, these composers have generated over 250 film scores for Hollywood!
Ricky delves into the key differences and similarities between the two composers. How does their background and upbringing affect the kinds of film that they prefer to work on? Which great composers greatly influenced their style? What can we learn as songwriters and composers from these intriguing masterclasses? – both which Ricky highly recommends.
Some more key tips that Ricky learned from Hans and Danny includes how to work with directors, editors and orchestrators, how to overcome fears and frustrations, doubts and rejection. Time management is another key issue that Ricky covers, as this topic is covered in greater detail in the Elfman masterclass.
To access the Youtube video on the Ricky Molina channel, please click on this link.
Here is a timestamp outline for the video review:
0:01 Welcome and introduction1:43 Hans Zimmer background4:08 Early influences for Hans6:58 Some contrasts between the two composers8:53 The role of ostinati in Hans Zimmer’s compositions10:20 Hans Zimmer is a real team player and mentor to younger composers11:55 Ricky’s favorite Hans Zimmer film scores13:39 Repeating rhythmic patterns – the MC Escher – Philip Glass influence15:39 Danny Elfman background15:55 Great composers who influenced Danny Elfman20:19 Elfman’s history and working relationship with director Tim Burton21:10 Elfman collaborations with orchestrator Steve Bartek22:15 Ricky’s favorite Danny Elfman folm scores24:50 What these two film composers have in common26:50 Both classes come with course summaries – the Hans Zimmer workbook28:07 Key Points, highlights and take-aways from the two masterclasses36:50 A few misgivings about the masterclasses39:02 Ricky recommends that up and coming composers should resist working with loops39:40 In summary
I hope you enjoy the video. Please leave a comment under the video and please don’t forget to Like and Subscribe to the Ricky Molina YouTube Channel!
To purchase the book mentioned in the video by Douglas Hofstadter entitled Godel, Escher, Bach, please click on this link.
Thank you!
Godin Grand Concert HG Natural vs. ACS Cedar Natural vs. Cordoba Studio Negra electric nylon guitars
In this review, I talk about my experience with two Godin electric nylon guitars, as well as with the Cordoba Studio Negra. I returned my first Godin ACS Cedar Natural to Sam Ash music store primarily because of 4 reasons: discomfort due to the longer neck, the higher E-string slipping off the fretboard, the twangy sound of the instrument and the overly bassy sound of the lower strings. I was able to replace the Cedar Natural with Godin’s new Grand Concert HG Natural (model number 12817 wc), and now am very satisfied with it. The neck does not present any discomfort, there’s much less twangyness, no slippery slips off the fretboard, and significantly less bass and more natural sound. This guitar is an absolute pleasure to play! I’m still very happy with with my other electric nylon guitar, the Cordoba Negra (Studio model).
My only gripe with it is the somewhat higher action around the 12th fret (upper register) – I find it much more fatiguing to play than my new Godin guitar or my other primary jazz guitars – the Eastman AR 805 CE and the Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II. The live recording of Andalucian Prophecy can be accessed by clicking on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1iKR…
The studio recording of Andalucian Prophecy is available at the online Nimbit Music Store at http://www.nimbitmusic.com/rickymolin…
and on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/album/36xHJ0VA7iPQM8aFePSsfA
Please consider making a donation! Your support will help me continue to produce more music videos, educational tutorials and do product reviews for songwriters and musicians. To make a donation to support Ricky’s work, please click on this PayPal link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme2/rwiegs
Ricky Molina is Richard Wiegand’s stage name and highlights his mother’s heritage and ancestry from northern Spain.
Please like and subscribe to the Ricky Molina YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU8K…
Thank you!
Contact Ricky if you need original music in various genres and styles for sync, media, commercials or video games at ricky@rickymolinaproductions.com
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Ricky’s web site is at https://rickymolinaproductions.com
Thank you for watching and listening!
Epiphone DR-100
The Epiphone DR-100 is an incredible guitar for the money. I needed a straight-up acoustic guitar for simple strumming and light soloing for studio recording, and came across an old Epiphone in an antique shop in my neighborhood. The old guitar held its own in terms of play-ability and didn’t sound bad. So I decided to check out some Epiphones at a local Sam Ashe guitar store.
Epiphone DR 100 Acoustic Guitar
At Sam Ashe, I tried out a wide range of acoustic guitars – Yamaha, Gibson, Fender, Ovation, Martin, Taylor, Takamine – from $120 all the way up to $4,000. I spent several hours trying out many guitars, and was impressed with the low end Epiphone DR-100. It really plays comfortably across the fretboard, and it sounds great. In fact, after several hours of test driving acoustic guitars, I concluded that the DR-100 was just as sweet if not more than over half the guitars in the shop. The only guitars that beat it in terms of play-ability and sound were the high end Martins.
Choosing a guitar is a very personal matter. What works for one guitarist may not work for another, and every guitar has its own special character. Personally, I was not impressed at all with the Gibson acoustic guitars – I found them sounding quite muffled and their playability did not suit my hands. The same for the Fender acoustics. Taylor guitars are supposed to compete directly with Martin, but I found that none of them could beat the sound of the Martins.
There were two high end Martin acoustics that won the prize, as far as I’m concerned. One was about $3,900 and the other costed about $2,500. I wasn’t in the market for a high end acoustic, however, since I already have a pretty sweet Froggy Bottom guitar that I use for solos and “detailed” fingerpicking. As mentioned, I just needed a simple strumming and occasional lead acoustic that could hold its own in the studio as well as for playing at local coffeehouses.
I was extremely impressed with the DR-100. And at $129 on sale at Sam Ashe, you just can’t go wrong. I’ve owned a Martin D-18 for over 20 years and know a quality sounding guitar when I play one. This Epiphone reminds me so much of the Martin D-18 that I had.
Martin D-18
I’m also impressed at how far Chinese guitar manfacturers have come in terms of emulating top guitar models – on the acoustic as well as jazz and electric guitar front. Epiphone was wise in deciding to set up factories in China. The wood and fretboard work is exceptional, play-ability is quite comfortable.
I’d like to add a comment about how built-in pick-ups (inserted inside the soundbox of acoustic guitars) can really muffle the sound. I find that most if not all of them – even in the Martins – really distort the sound. You will lose a couple of hundred dollars right there in sound quality by buying an acoustic guitar with a built in pick-up system. Better to use a great mic in the studio to capture the sound. While this may not be possible for live performers, it is an important factor to consider for audiophiles, and if you’re on the market for an inexpensive but great sounding guitar, better to choose one without the built-in pick-up.
If you’d like to hear a short demo of the Epiphone DR-100, please check out my product review YouTube video on the Ricky Molina YouTube channel.
Thanks,
– Ricky Molina