Twenty Thousand Hertz The Secret Soundtracks of Movies & TV
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Nov 5, 2025 Join Casey Emmerling, a supervising producer and vintage music expert, alongside Grace East, a producer and sound designer from DeFacto Sound, as they dive into the fascinating world of vintage production music. They explore the golden era of the '60s and '70s, revealing how obscure tracks became staples in films, TV shows, and even hip-hop. Discover iconic themes, the genius of composers like Keith Mansfield, and how Tarantino revived forgotten gems. This deep dive unveils soundtracks that shaped our media landscape but often go unnoticed.
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How Library Music Was Designed
- Production (library) music is composed to be versatile, cheap to license, and tailored to briefs like “music for a fugitive on the run.”
- Composers churned out tracks daily and relied on usage to get paid, shaping broadly appealing styles.
Fast, Brief-Driven Recording Sessions
- Composers and session musicians recorded multiple tracks per day with minimal rehearsal, following briefs like ‘music for a spaceship.’
- They relied on versatility and popular styles because payment depended on placements.
The Snail-Mail Workflow Of Libraries
- Libraries pressed a few hundred LPs and mailed them to editors and studios, who picked tracks by listening and then ordered master tapes.
- Filmmakers used these tracks when they couldn't afford original scores or needed filler music quickly.