Biography
Ros Stephen has a 1st class degree and PhD from Bristol University. She now lives and works in London as a freelance violinist, violist, composer and sound designer. Much of her music and sound design uses live strings. Her recent trailer placements include Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Downton Abbey: A New Era, Mothering Sunday, Disney’s Cruella, Mr Jones, HBO Image Promo, The Silent Twins, Scream 5, The Dropout and The Black Phone. Her sound design has been used in numerous trailers including Ms Marvel, The Inspection and Nope. Ros was recently nominated for a 2022 Production Music Award in the Best Contemporary Classical Composition category.
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Music Theory and Composition
How to Make Video Game Music (with a JRPG Town Theme Walkthrough)
Loop design, a complete JRPG town-theme walkthrough, and adventure and dungeon examples from The Legend of Otoe: how to write video game music that holds up.
Read article →ryan-leach
Music Theory and Composition
Anime Chord Progressions: 8 Classic Japanese Progressions Explained
Eight chord progressions behind anime and JRPG music: Royal Road, Nichijou, Just the Two of Us, Evangelion, the Mario cadence and more, with chords in C.
Read article →ryan-leach
Music Theory and Composition
Japanese Instruments: A Composer's Guide
The traditional Japanese instruments composers actually use — koto, shakuhachi, shamisen, biwa, and taiko: what they're called, how they work, and how to write for them.
Read article →ryan-leach
Music Theory and Composition
The Royal Road Progression: Japan's Signature Chord Progression
What is the Royal Road progression (IV–V–iii–vi)? Why it defines anime and J-pop harmony, how Japanese composers modify it, and how to use it in your own music.
Read article →ryan-leach
Music Theory and Composition
How to Write a Catchy Melody: 10 Tips for Film & Game Music
Ten practical melody tips with examples from Zelda, Mario and Jaws — simplicity, rhythm, repetition, contrast and the hook.
Read article →ryan-leach
Music Theory and Composition
How to Write Anime Music
Discover the secrets to writing music for animes: ranging from learning how to write melodies, harmonies, which instruments to use, the different styles you can try, and even how to highlight the storytelling itself.
Read article →ryan-leach
Music Theory and Composition
How to Write Cinematic Music: Instruments, Themes & Contrast
The building blocks of cinematic music — instrument roles, dynamic contrast, memorable themes and the composers to study. A quick-start guide.
Read article →adam-lukas
Music Production
How to Mix Orchestral Music: EQ, Reverb, Panning & Depth
A step-by-step guide to mixing orchestral music: mic positions, panning, EQ, two-stage reverb, compression with intent, and the mono check.
Read article →joel-dollie
Sound Design
How to Learn Sound Design: A Beginner’s Guide
This article is the perfect beginner guide for starting sound design, from key concepts like frequency, amplitude, and timbre to essential tools like DAWs and plugins.
Read article →simon-haglund
Trailer Music
How to Write Trailer Music: A Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to write trailer music: the act structure editors need, hits, risers and braams, hybrid sound, trailer styles, mixing, and how tracks get placed.
Read article →randon-purcell
