30 sec and stingers

[ronnie35]

Hello, Question It has been a few years since I had to do a 30 sec and stinger I need a refresher I am using logic pro x can some one give me a quick lesson to record a 30 sec and stinger

Thanks, Ron

[Paulie]

A 30 second edit should start and end sounding naturally, not abruptly. And, for ads, a "30 second" edit is actually 29.5 seconds, exactly. A stinger is usually 8-15 seconds, and has a solid button ending on a downbeat, no fades. I've noticed a trend where libraries are now asking for some sort of musical effect on the pickup beat for the stinger, something like a cymbal sweep or a short drum fill that leads into the full music.

Hope this helps.

[ronnie35]

Thanks Paulie. The problem I am having at the 30 sec point there is no chord there is just a period a stop iIF I GO OVER I end up going past the 30 sec is there something on logic x that can help me get it at 29.5
thanks, Ron

[AlanHall]

Ronnie,
Thanks for starting this discussion. As a relative newbie, I too have wondered about this.

Do working composers who target AD music simply 'bake in' a 30 sec (29.5) into their cues, so that it can be lifted out at will? I'd think this would be an elegant solution that saves much time in the long run.
Is it acceptable to time-compress a cut-down that comes in just a hair over the 29.5 mark in order to make it fit? As long as the audio quality doesn't suffer I'd think this too makes for a workable solution.

...hanging on to hear from the masters

[ronnie35]

Thanks I like that idea here is the exact wording from the library. 30 second and 60 second versions need to come to that length. A 32 second track is of little use to a producer creating a 30 second advert! A 30 second track can, however, by way of example, have its last chord struck at the 28 second mark with a couple of seconds to die away. You can be creative with these things, but please be aware of being strict with the track's length. So can I fade so it ends on the 30 sec mark?
Ron

[ochaim]

Thanks Paulie. The problem I am having at the 30 sec point there is no chord there is just a period a stop iIF I GO OVER I end up going past the 30 sec is there something on logic x that can help me get it at 29.5
thanks, Ron

in the case that at a bar starts at 30 sec, build the sting ending so it hits at around 28 sec or wherever they suggest. do this even if that last bar is not a full bar. rewrite/edit/modify the melody/rhythm/whatever so it fits but also feels natural.