How to build the “perfect” orchestral template (from scratch)

Since I started composing orchestral music 8 years ago, I’ve gone through many versions of my template and learned a lot along the way; often through trial and error. In this video, I want to bring all of that together and show you how I would build my orchestral template today.

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Orchestral Composing for Beginners – https://link.leo-brennauer.com/orchestra
Get my Free PDF Guides – https://link.leo-brennauer.com/freestuff
Join our Discord Server – https://link.leo-brennauer.com/discord
A Beginner's Guide to Home Studio – https://link.leo-brennauer.com/beginn...

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Other Resources/Plugins from the video:
🔌 Get Cubase: https://link.leo-brennauer.com/cubase
📽️ Shortcut Video:    • 25 Cubase Shortcuts every Composer should ...  
🎚️ https://link.leo-brennauer.com/highre...
🔌 Seventh Heaven: https://link.leo-brennauer.com/ls_sev...
🔌 KHS Gain: https://link.leo-brennauer.com/khs_free
🔌 Little Plate: https://link.leo-brennauer.com/st_lit...
🎁 Free PDF Guides: https://link.leo-brennauer.com/freestuff

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🛠️ GEAR I USE 🛠️
some links are affiliate

FULL GEAR OVERVIEW
🌍 https://leo-brennauer.com/mygear

the music software
🌍 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/cubase

the midi cc volume controller
🌍 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/mcceu

the midi keyboard
🇪🇺 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/mkbeu
🇺🇸 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/mkbus

the interface
🇪🇺 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/itfeu
🇺🇸 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/itfus

the headphones - open back
🇪🇺 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/hpoeu
🇺🇸 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/hpous

the headphones - close back
🇪🇺 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/hpceu
🇺🇸 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/hpcus

the shortcut controller
🇪🇺 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/scceu
🇺🇸 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/sccus

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🛠️ BEGINNER GEAR RECOMMENDATION 🛠️

midi keyboard recommendation
🇪🇺 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/rmkbeu
🇺🇸 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/rmkbus

headphone recommendation
🇪🇺 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/rhpceu
🇺🇸 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/rhpcus

interface recommendation
🇪🇺 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/ritfeu
🇺🇸 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/ritfus

speaker recommendation
🇪🇺 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/rspkeu
🇺🇸 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/rspkus

microphone recommendation
🇪🇺 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/rmiceu
🇺🇸 https://link.leo-brennauer.com/rmicus

background music for videos
🌍 https://share.epidemicsound.com/0je5ku

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📚 Chapters:
00:00:00 Ochestral Template
00:01:23 Project Setup
00:02:00 Adding first tracks
00:06:06 Adding tracks & track order
00:08:27 Articulations
00:16:55 Keyswitches
00:23:08 Integrating other libraries
00:26:31 Volume / gain staging
00:30:14 Reverb
00:37:04 Grouptracks
00:41:03 The solo trick
00:43:01 Sample / track delay
00:46:26 Special announcement
00:47:49 Reference tracks
00:49:18 Testing the template
00:51:54 Speed orchestration challenge
00:57:33 Give away announcement
00:57:58 Layering
00:57:37 Microphone positions
01:00:36 Get my template


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✉️ Business inquiries: [email protected]

💐💐 Sponsored, but honest:
This video is sponsored – but here’s how I handle that. Before I say yes to anything, I let the company know that I’ll have full creative control: no edits, no influence. If they’re not okay with that, I don’t do it. Simple as that.

If they do agree and we start working together, they may see the video shortly before it goes live – but only to flag factual mistakes, like incorrect statements or technical errors. Whether or not I make changes is entirely up to me. My opinion and any critical parts of the video are never up for discussion. So everything you’re seeing reflects exactly how I feel about it.

If one day that kind of honesty can’t be combined with the financial side anymore, I’ll stop making these videos and go back to my old "offline life". And hey – the fact that you’re watching this very video and reading this text is proof that it hasn’t come to that. At least not at the time I made this video :)

💐💐 Affiliatelinks:
Some links are affiliate links. If you buy something, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

© 2025 | Leo Brennauer | Peiting | Germany