STRING TECHNIQUES: From Bow to DAW — Live Strings for Modern Producers

STRING TECHNIQUES: From Bow to DAW

Live Strings for Modern Producers with Emer Kinsella & Jesús Florido

Whether you're scoring a film, producing a record, or writing your first string arrangement — this workshop shows you how live strings actually work in the studio.

Two working violinists from different traditions break down how the instrument functions in modern recording — from classical technique and extended textures to electric violin, pedals, and post-production shaping — while guest speaker Dave Wood (Pixar, Warner Bros., Andra Day, Dua Lipa) shows you how to capture it all.

This is not a lecture. It's a working session with live demonstration and practical breakdowns.

THE WORKSHOP: 3 MOVEMENTS

1️⃣ The Instrument

Classical tone, bowing, and articulation (Emer Kinsella) · World and cross-cultural phrasing, electric violin, and pedal processing (Jesús Florido) · Extended techniques — harmonics, sul ponticello, textures · When acoustic wins vs. electric wins

2️⃣ The Sound

Mic placement for strings (Dave Wood) · Recording acoustic vs. amplified setups · Capturing nuance vs. texture · Live demo: MIDI mockup → live performance → mic comparison

3️⃣ The Integration

Layering live strings with MIDI · Post-production processing — reverb, compression, saturation · When to commit vs. keep it raw · Q&A: writing for strings, communicating with session players, live vs. samples

TECHNIQUES YOU'LL SEE DEMONSTRATED

• Classical bow articulation and tone shaping
• Extended techniques (harmonics, sul ponticello, col legno, pizzicato effects)
• Electric violin + pedal processing
• Layering acoustic strings with electronic effects
• Post-production string processing inside a DAW
• Mic placement for both acoustic and amplified setups

YOU'LL LEAVE UNDERSTANDING

• How to write parts musicians won't hate
• When live strings outperform samples
• How to mic them properly the first time
• How to expand your string vocabulary — from pure acoustic tone to processed, pedal-driven textures

FEATURING

Emer Kinsella — Classical and cinematic violin, composition, and DAW sound design

Jesús Florido — World and cross-cultural traditions, electric violin, pedals, and live electronic processing

Dave Wood (Guest Speaker) — Producer, audio engineer, guitarist. Credits include Pixar, Warner Bros., Andra Day, Dua Lipa, and more. Owner of Lucan Sound Studios.

INCLUDES

🍹 Outdoor reception

Limited to ~50 seats.

Whether you're creating for the stage or the studio, understanding modern string techniques expands your sonic palette.

Presented by Emersion Music

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

First Entertainment Credit Union, 6735 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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