Craft Realistic Orchestral Mockups with Confidence
A focused, practical course to help you perform and mix expressive, professional-sounding orchestral mockups—without the overwhelm or tech headaches.
What You'll Learn...
Terms, Tools, & Setup
Demystify mockup jargon, get your tools dialed in, and set up a project workflow that supports creative momentum.
MIDI Realism
Master expressive VST performance—whether you're using a breath controller, a fader, or just your mouse and keyboard.
Production Realism
Learn how to mix, balance, and refine your mockups so they hold up against live recordings—no overthinking required.
I thought I already knew the basics, but Zach turned my world upside down. Enrolling was the best decision I've ever made.
— Alexandr Sosorev
“If you want to compose for a living, master your mockup chops.”
That’s what Star Wars: The Clone Wars composer Kevin Kiner told me in 2018.
I didn’t listen—at first.
I kept tweaking, layering, hoping better plugins would fix the sound. But it wasn’t until I got serious about the fundamentals of realism that everything clicked. Clients noticed. Budgets got bigger. And I finally stopped cringing at my own work.
In the media industry, production is king.
You can have incredible ideas—but without mockup chops, nobody hears them clearly.
I made this course to help you bridge that gap—and sound like the composer you already are.
Course Curriculum
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1👋 Before You Start
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2🎓 The Basics
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3🖥️ Setting Up
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4🎚️ MIDI Performance & Programming
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5🎻 Programming in Action
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6🎧 Production Workflow
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7🎉 Congratulations
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8🎁 Bonus Content & YouTube Videos
Bonus Content
Bonus Videos (2+ Hours)
Uncut composing sessions, student Q&As, and MIDI files to keep the learning coming.
Study Guide & Bonus Resources
Downloadable PDF or Notion dashboard with quick links, screenshot guides, articulation tips, and workflow diagrams to accelerate your mockup mastery.
What Students Are Saying:
This course is one of the best investments I've made in an area of music making I've struggled with for a very long time.
— Steve Winkler
I can't recommend this enough for anyone looking to produce better orchestral mockups.
— Marc-Antoine Gagnon
5/5 stars! I learn more with every watch, and always find something new inside. Thank you for your dedication!
— Jürgen Hochfeld
I thought I already knew the basics, but Zach turned my world upside down. Enrolling was the best decision I've ever made.
— Alexandr Sosorev
Zach's course has been very beneficial—especially for creating realistic mockups with CC data. Highly recommend.
— Jason McCall
This course not only helped me make better sounding mockups, but also helped streamline the process.
— Shirleen X
I was stunned at how much exclusive content is available. This is an exceptionally valuable course and well worth investing in.
— Heather Buhler
The condensed approach to this course allowed me to walk away from with both knowledge and practical action steps.
— Aron Pedersen
Zach covers more useful material and strategies in this one class than I've found in any textbook. Can't recommend enough!
— Stephen Berkemeier
Meet Your Instructor
Zach Heyde is a full-time composer for media with over a decade of experience scoring for film, animation, and games.
His music has been featured by clients like DreamWorks, Netflix, Tencent, and Private Division, and he’s known for combining emotional clarity with professional-level orchestral mockups.
Beyond composing, Zach mentors musicians who want to finish more music, reconnect with their creative voice, and build sustainable artistic careers—without burning out or selling out.
Through his YouTube channel and educational programs, he’s helped thousands of composers master the skills that schools rarely teach: how to share your work confidently, get hired, and actually enjoy the process.
FAQs
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No—it’s self-paced video content. You’ll get lifetime access to all lessons and resources.
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If you’re already writing in a DAW with VSTs and want to level up your realism, this course is for you.
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Any DAW (I use Logic), a MIDI keyboard, and ideally a CC controller like a fader or breath controller.
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No—this is about mockup production, not composition or orchestration. But it will help you make your ideas sound real with the tools you already have.
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Yes. You’ve got 14 days to request a refund if it’s not a fit. Just reach out to me directly via email.