Vol 1 & 2: Orchestrations

42 instrumental combinations explored, with 84 examples.

Included in every recipe:

Video for step-by-step walkthrough

Hear the orchestration, see how to recreate it—short videos show which instruments to combine, using whatever libraries you happen to have.

PDF desk reference for details

Included comprehensive written guide unpacks every step, with tips for getting the most out of your samples—keep it handy as a cheat-sheet as you compose.

Concert-pitch scores for reference

Full scores lay bare every note of every track—for study, mockups, or checking your transcriptions. Shown at concert pitch for easy reading.

MIDI files for experimentation

For your own sandbox experiments—MIDI files are included for every example, so you can import straight to your DAW or notation program.

Inspiration for whatever library you have

VSL. Spitfire. Cinematic Studio Series. Orchestral Tools. Cinesamples. EastWest. Sonuscore. NI Symphony Series….it doesn’t matter. As long as you have woodwinds, brass, percussion, choir & strings, you’re good to go.

Example videos

Recipes also include detailed PDF desk references, scores and MIDI files.

Vol 3 & 4: Cinematic spices

The harmonic ingredients that add the magic.

Manipulate emotions. Summon worlds.

Break out of your harmonic comfort zone

You’ve heard these tricks in countless film and game scores—see them unpacked, with multiple examples for how to orchestrate each technique.

Example-packed, fully narrated videos

More than 2 hours of walkthroughs and illustrations in each volume, with loads of fresh musical examples to explore, in a brisk, fully narrated format.

Transformations for your own orchestrations

Work with the example orchestrations, or use the spices to transform orchestrations of your own.

Download MIDI files and experiment (Vol 4 only)

For your own sandbox experiments—MIDI files are included for every example in Volume 4, so you can import straight to your DAW or notation program.

examples of Elevated Majors

examples of Lydian Terraces

examples of Sidecar 5ths

examples of Augmented Wormholes

…plus 10 other orchestrated examples in Vol. 4

examples of Dislocated Tethering

example of Harmonic Splats

examples of Bisected 10ths

examples of Serial Parallel 5ths

examples of Contrails

…plus 12 other orchestrated examples in Vol. 3

Start cooking

Volume 1

Recipes 1-21
The original collection

Volume 2

Recipes 22-42
Emotions & scenes

Volume 3

Spices 1-6
Cinematic harmonies

Volume 4

Spices 7-10
More cinematic harmonies

The Icon Project

Super clear icons for
orchestral templates

About the Orchestration Recipes Chef

Philip Johnston is one of music education’s best selling authors, known for presenting complex ideas in simple, engaging formats. Classically trained, he has a Masters Degree in Music from Indiana University and has recorded for Warner Music as a pianist/composer.

Philip has been working with orchestral sample libraries since the Gigastudio days. (You can still hear some of Philip’s Gigastudio demos at VSL’s website—created in 2003 on a PC that has worse specs than your phone…it’s all about the recipes, not the gear)

Email Philip