Original music written to match with a video project.

Scoring to video

My version of the soundtrack for Spitfire's Stargirl Scoring Competition.
The challenge: "The school bus scene that Pinar Toprak has chosen goes from intense action to drama very quickly and you’ll have to handle both of them with care."
Instruments used:
BBC Symphony Orchestra by Spitfire
Cappricio by Sonokinetic
Equator 2 by Roli
Cloud Supply by Native Instruments
Omnisphere by Spectrasonics
Absynth by Native Instruments
Drumatic Creator by In Session Audio
Alchemy by Apple
Sample hit

video: https://youtu.be/TwkD9PwPebk

Stargirl Scoring Competition

This one is difficult to describe... Created using the Live Loops function in Logic as a starting point and then transitioning to a traditional Track function for finishing touches, this song includes many samples from odd sources representing traditional instruments. If you can come up with what genre this is, let me know.

Track details:
Frog Ambience from Geosonics by SonicCouture
Pigments by Arturia
Bras Rulers by Soundpaint
Juno 60 UDS by Soundpaint
Hybrid Cinema - Slams by Soundpaint
Bazantar by Soundpaint
Orchestral Companion Strings by Sonivox
Drum Kit and Drum Machine Designer by Logic Pro
Barbary by Soundpaint
Misc loops and one shots from my sample library

Video link: https://youtu.be/PGAuPjNRtBs
Soundpaint $15 off link: http://soundpaint.refr.cc/greggd

Earthly Delights

Gaia's Lament

Built on the foundation of Space Dust, Space Reveals Itself. I asked my good friend Brian Nutwell to add some guitar parts to this song and that led me to add synths, organ and drums to create this epic piece.

Technical details:
Background ambience - Elka-X by Cherry Audio
Moog Bass - Moog Model D by Moog Music
Space Choir - Equator2 by Roli
Misc. percussion bits - EZDrummer through DS Tantra
Guitar (right) - Stratocaster played by Unbard Gates
Guitar (left & solos) - Brian Nutwell
Strings - Solina V2 by Arturia
Hammond B3 - Vintage B3 by Apple
Moog - Moog Model 15 plugin by Moog Music
All arrangement, production, mixing by Unbard Gates
Mastered with Ozone 11 by Unbard Gates

Video link: https://youtu.be/jPKtCbX5pmg

Space Reveals Itself

As has become the norm now, I take a break between albums by working on an old Basement Practice Session from my old band KarmaLogic. The date code on this one is February 15, 2012. It was just 3 of us - myself on bass, Brian Nutwell on guitar and Dhanush Kondoth on iddekya. I had an isolated bass and guitar track, but the iddekya was miked and there is a ton of bleed with the guitar almost to the full recorded level.
Since I wanted to add drums and keyboards, I had to create the tempo map (and we are not very steady in this regard) and figure out the chords. Once this was done, some parts fit into the arrangement and some did not. Especially since I was treating the guitar with external effects and I was getting doubling from the iddekya track. This resulted in a reduced level on the iddekya and pulling it out on several occasions (sorry Dhanush). Look for the original recording soon to be posted to hear the full spectrum of instruments as recorded at this session.
Technical Details:
Guitar - Brian Nutwell
Iddekya - Dhanush Kondoth
Bass, sampled saxophones (Soundpaint) - Gregg Dennis
Drums, Synths, Piano - AI as directed by Unbard Gates
Arrangement, Production, Mixing and Mastering by Unbard Gates

Across The Sand

Across The Sand Remaster 2024

Inspired by a synthesizer patch for the new Korg Arp 2600, I just played what came to mind and sounded right disregarding tempo. The challenge came when adding other parts : ).
Track Details: 
High synth and background synth - Korg Arp 2600 
Faint strings - Arturia Mellotron V 
Bass drone and sparkly high dirty bits - Soundpaint Hybrid Emotions and ASMR 
Guitar - Fender Stratocaster 
Effects - Guitar Rig, Soundtoys 
All instruments, arrangement, mixing and mastering by Unbard Gates

Soundpaint referral link: https://soundpaint.refr.cc/default/u/greggd?s=sp&t=cp

August Came Late

Continuing in the ambient vein, this track takes you on a journey. Or is the journey suspended...

Technical details:
Soundscapes - Gunga Dune and Fake Vega from Native Instruments' Straylight, Android Chamber from Alchemy
Guitar Ambiences by Soundpaint
Bass - Lākland Jazz Bass
Chants - Future Cinema sample library
Voiceover - ISR Pharmaceutical Movie Clips sample library

Soundpaint referral link: https://soundpaint.refr.cc/default/u/greggd?s=sp&t=cp

Time Is Suspended

Written on an iPad during vacation, this was my first attempt at doing so and then taking the song home to my studio to finish it. I like the pulse, especially how it begins and how it ends.

Technical details:
Loops and beats from Logic Pro for iPad and Loopcloud
Ambience from Alchemy
Bass and pads from RetroSynth
Keyboards from Keyscape

The Hinges Of Reality

This experimental track is based on continuous sounds fading in and out over the course of time to create a dream-like, disconnected sequence.

Technical details:
Base layer - Augmented Strings by Arturia
Strange percussion - Atlas
Lead synth - GX-80 by Cherry Audio
Xylophone, ambient pianos, synths, bass synth - audio loops from my collection
Low undertones - Ashlight by Native Instruments
Guitar - Unbard Gates through Guitar Rig
Quotes and musings - Unbard Gates

Slightly Lost In Thoug

Slightly Lost In Thought

I found this old sketch I had done in 2022 using a couple of SoundPaint patches. I thought it would make a great interlude track for my ambient album.

Soundpaint referral link: https://soundpaint.refr.cc/default/u/greggd?s=sp&t=cp

Interlude Baby!

This song was written with a minimal number of tracks and tells a short story.

Technical details:
Arpeggiated synth and tings, Vocal - Box Of Tricks by Soniccouture
Percussion - Deep Pool by In Session Audio


The Blue Aura

This track begins as an orchestra piece, but then evolves into a jazzy jaunt through the countryside before settling into the end of the day.

Technical details:
Base Strings and Nervous Strings - Augmented Strings by Arturia
Piano - Noire by Native Instruments
High and Low Strings - Abbey Road One by Spitfire Audio
Woodwinds - Capriccio Woodwinds by Sonokinetic
Timpani and Cymbal - Lineage Percussion by Project Sam
Electric Piano - Stage-73 by Arturia using Logic AI
Bass - Ample Bass P-II Lite using Logic AI
Sax - 1980 Tenor Sax Spectralias
Drums - Blue Ridge Kit by Logic using Logic AI
Harp - Hybrid Harp by Toontrack
All sounds, performances, arrangement, mixing, production and mastering by Unbard Gates.

A Trip To The Country

I started this track with an atonal vocal effect that drifted between tones. This created an ambient noise bed that I then layered tonal sounds on top of, creating an unsettling chill groove. From there, I sent the track to Brian Nutwell to add his signature guitar work to, while I worked on some synth solos that might work. His guitar tracks came back and I did my usual re-amping and rearranging of the parts to end up with what you hear here - ambient rock?, heavy chill?. You decide.

Technical details:
Atonal vocals - Francesca by Soundpaint
Drums & Percussion - Deep Pool & Shimmer, Shake, Strike by In Session Audio
Synth pad - Pigments by Arturia
Bass - Studio bass by Logic Pro X AI
Waterphone - Imogen Heap Box of Tricks by Soniccouture
Guitars - Brian Nutwell
Lead synth - Pro Soloist by Cherry Audio
Everything but guitar, written, arranged, produced, mixed and mastered - Unbard Gates

Soundpaint referral link: https://soundpaint.refr.cc/default/u/greggd?s=sp&t=cp

The Key

The Key (featuring Brian Nutwell)

This track started with an ambient sequence from UVI. I then added 5-string bass and a Telecaster run through Guitar Rig played with an E-Bow (an electronic string actuator that can simulate bowing your guitar). A couple of light rhythm tracks and the song was done.

Technical details:
Pan flute sequence & high pad - Quadra Traveller & UVI Starter by UVI
Rhythm parts - KR-55C & CR-78 by Cherry Audio
Warwick 5-string bass
Telecaster played using an E-Bow run through Guitar Rig
Written, performed, arranged, produced, mixed and mastered by Unbard Gates

Walking The Colonnade

Here is a chord progression I've been playing and developing for quite some time. I applied it with a slow tempo and analog ambient sounds to establish the base of the tune. I then added solos over the progression, including a wonderful flugelhorn sample from Soundpaint for the first solo. Finally, I thought this one needed a real signature/icing on the cake final solo, so I brought in my good friend, Brian Nutwell to add guitar to take the song out. I think the results speak for themselves.

Technical details:
Rhythm track - Deep Pool by In Session Audio
Base pad - Model 15 by Moog
Secondary pad & string pad - OP-Xa & Solina by Arturia
Bass - Session Player by LogicX
Flugelhorn & whispers - Flugelhorn & Barbary by Soundpaint
2nd Lead - Ethereal Lead by Unify
Guitar - Brian Nutwell
Written, arranged, engineered, produced, mixed and mastered by Unbard Gates

Soundpaint referral link: https://soundpaint.refr.cc/default/u/greggd?s=sp&t=cp

Dreams That Sleep

Dreams That Sleep (featuring Brian Nutwell)

An old group recording from a 2012 basement rehearsal session. My old band, KarmaLogic, came up with this repetitive jam. I have taken the old recording of percussion (with bleed in the microphone), bass and guitar and added action strings, drums and synths to transform it into some kind of chase scene background music. This was the first and only time we had tried this jam and it was never meant to be an official song.

Technical details:
Iddekya - Dhanush Kondoth
Bass - Gregg Dennis (AKA Unbard Gates)
Guitar - Brian Nutwell
Synth - Logic AI with changes by Gregg Dennis
Strings - Action Strings 2 by Native Instruments
Drums - Logic AI
EFX - Gregg's sample collection
Arrangement, keyboard work, production, mixing and mastering by Unbard Gates

Rush To Martoh

A basement rehearsal from June 28, 2013 when we (KarmaLogic) had a guest vocalist sit in with us. This was all one take with a lot of mic bleed across tracks. A vocalist gives me a chance to stretch my production and mixing capabilities (especially 12 years after the recording).
From this base, I added a flute to accompany the vocalist, a pad, faint strings and percussion to create this remaster.

Guitar - Brian Nutwell
Djembe - Dhanush Kondoth
Vocals - Bavya
Bass and all other instruments - Gregg Dennis (Unbard Gates)
Arranged, mixed, produced and mastered by Unbard Gates

Thumbi Vaa 2025 Remaster

As I listened more to this track from my last album 'Hypnagogia', I realized that it could use an edit to make it more accessible and to the point. So this is the "single" version to complement the "album" version. It also allows the listener to get to Brian's amazing guitar solo much quicker than before.

Dreams That Sleep - Ra

Dreams That Sleep - Radio Edit

This is an early try-out of Thumbi Vaa (maybe the first) on June 28, 2013 in Brian's basement. You can hear the bass and guitar searching for their parts and trying out different approaches to the song as Bavya sings and Dhanush keeps time.

Djembe - Dhanush Kondoth
Vocals - Bavya
Guitar - Brian Nutwell
Bass - Gregg Dennis



Learning Thumbi Vaa

This is my entry into an online scoring competition. 8Dio challenged composers to use only one of their sampled instruments to score a short video. I chose an economical instrument named "Wrenchenspiel" (this is a homemade instrument like a xylophone made from open and closed end wrenches). This instrument only has a few articulations so it was a challenge.
Their were a lot of firsts for me: first time writing to video, first time exporting a scored video (this took an afternoon to get right) and the first time posting to YouTube. I would very much like to hear anyone's feedback and advice. It's OK, I have a thick skin.
8DIO Library used: Wrenchenspiel
Patch/Articulations used: Wrenmirror, Wrenchennail, Whrhodes, Wrhammond
As you can hear I used a lot of echo and delay processing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OiX8byMXk4&t=3s

Awakening

This is the score to accompany 8Dio's Score This: Constellations contest. The challenge was to (at least) use their Supercluster library to score the video they provided. I also played bass guitar a little on this.
Here is the video link:
https://youtu.be/KcWh2J-P8m0

Contest Entries

Watching

After seeing her future, Shayla takes comfort in nature and the simple things that bring joy.

Entered for a competition on Metapop.com. Remix of Jacques Greene's 'Serenity'.
Video: https://youtu.be/tnNBhs2AbrU

Serenity (Unbard's Short Mix)

A final Mystic shows Shayla her new future.

This chord progression has been running through my head and fingers for about a year now. It was time I did something with it. This track features electric guitar tracked live by me. This mix omits the third (dance) movement.

For the music nerds, this includes sounds from Skanner XT, Stratocaster, Vocalise 2, Magnetica, Rounds, Keyscape, Arturia Solina, Kontakt, Lacrimosa and misc. samples.
video: https://youtu.be/1nZBw3_rK9k

Buy on Bandcamp

Shayla's Rhapsody (Recital Mix)

Shayla's ordinary life is about to change as she sees visions of the future. Suddenly she is pulled into an alternative life.

This chord progression has been running through my head and fingers for about a year now. It was time I did something with it. This track features electric guitar, electric bass and lead synth tracked live by me. This mix includes the third (dance) movement.
Check out the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra4f6JRu4VU&t=1s

For the music nerds, this includes sounds from Skanner XT, Stratocaster, Vocalise 2, Magnetica, Rounds, Keyscape, Arturia Solina, Kontakt, Lacrimosa, Logic Drummer, P Bass, Roli Studio, Omnisphere and misc. samples.

Shayla's Rhapsody (Fourth Element Remix)

A Mystic from a future time makes an early effort to contact Shayla.

Metapop contest entry. Challenge was to use Sonokinetic's Ibrido Cinematica to score a film that was provided using a limited version of the software (12 sound sources). I added instruments such as bass, percussion and the main brass theme.
Must see with video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNTauoYahp0

Sonokinetic Trailer

Shayla's visions become erratic and threatening.

Here is my submittal for Spitfire Audio and HBO's Westworld Scoring Competition. 
https://youtu.be/2SDp7jAFsNY
The challenge was to download and score a scene from Westworld Season 3 to be judged by the show’s composer, Ramin Djawadi, as well as the creators: Jonathan Nolan, Lisa Joy, Executive Producer J.J. Abrams and the team at Spitfire Audio.
This is my first attempt scoring to something that has dialog and effects. It was eye opening to me how much I had to relegate the music to the background and fight my instinct to make it stand out (I still may not have done it enough. Also, this is the longest sequence I have ever scored.
I used Logic Pro, Logic's new Sampler, Kontakt, Roli, TAL NoiseMaker, ES2 and various sound effects.

Westworld Score

Shayla begins her awakening to new and happier thoughts.

I think this song is happier than my usual fare. It was built using the new features in Logic Pro X. That's me soloing on guitar and synthesized violin.
I hope you enjoy it!
Follow me on Facebook, Bandcamp and Soundcloud.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6tvxZPjc8Y

Summer Send

Shayla has a vision of trains taking her away from her troubled thoughts and toward happier surroundings.

I challenged myself to use only one library of sounds - Neutronics for Omnisphere and Unify created by ESC. No other sounds were used.
I used the new pattern feature in Logic to create this, again ending up with a fairly upbeat (for me) track.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbdTl6_bj60&t=1s

Something Neu

The Mystics make moves to contact Shayla and wake her from her visions.

I finished composing this song on Halloween. Spooky and trippy at the same time.
Details: The storm is a recording I made during hurricane Michael in 2018.
The drones are from Omnisphere.
Vocals are snippets from my sample library.
Background noises/percussion is Damage 2 by Heavyocity.
Bass and guitar is me (Warwick 5 string and Telecaster heavily processed)
Drums are Logic Drummer.
The keyboard part is a Dulcitone from Keyscape.
Video: https://youtu.be/aVhwkzsh8GI

House Of The Mystics

One of the Mystics shows Shayla several alternate lives as different women.

Using the Logic Pro Loop function, I created loops played live on my Roli Seaboard MPE controller. This accounts for the instrument swells and bends that can be heard. I'm actually bending a harp sound. Vocals are from software and played as phrases (not loops) by me. Same with the erhu (chinese violin) sound. Finally, I created the string section part in the middle playing each instrument section using the BBC Orchestra instrument from Spitfire.
Video on YouTube. https://youtu.be/MxF1wRu5EF0

Tales Of Spices, Sand And Silk

Home recordist playing anything. Live bass player.

Unbard Gates

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