ORBYT – Experience
Crafting the Sound of ORBYT
For a new animation by Juan Behrens, I had the honor to compose the original music and sound for the digital launch of ORBYT, a brand-new theatrical experience in South Korea.
The challenge: create bespoke music and sound that feels cinematic and heroic, while adding a new layer of complexity to the orchestral sound. The audio needed to elevate the visual narrative and instantly draw visitors into the world of ORBYT the moment they land on the website.
I have been working with Juan for over 10 years. Because we know each other so well, having previously collaborated on projects like Deep Thoughts, working with the Metropole Orkest for the Animation Reel, and on the latest Illumina animation, we share a strong creative shorthand.
Juan’s visual style is incredibly dynamic, so when he approached me for the ORBYT website animation, the goal was clear: the sound needed to be just as tactile and expansive as the visuals. We wanted the audience to feel the scale of this universe before they even step foot in the physical venue.
Finding the Sonic Identity: A Universe of Theaters
The core concept of ORBYT is that it acts as a universe of theaters. The composition process started by writing a central musical theme. I wanted a strong melody that could be woven as a theme throughout the entire track to create a highly coherent sound and subconsciously enhance the underlying concept.
Once the main theme was established, I built a traditional orchestral foundation around it. However, to truly capture the essence of ORBYT, I needed to take this foundation in a different direction. I took that orchestral sound and processed it with Paul Stretch a granular synthesis plugin: sampling the recordings, pitching them, and manipulating the audio grains to create new sound. To be able to facilitate this technique I’ve worked at 96 kHz, 32 bit for maximum resolution and pitching abilities. Listen to the excerpt of the original sound grain below.
By combining these manipulated acoustic sounds with ethereal vocals, the score gained a cinematic and modern edge that perfectly fits the ORBYT universe, moving it far away from a standard orchestral score.
Sound Design & The Digital Experience
Music dictates the emotion, but sound design grounds the animation. Every movement needed a sonic counterpart. Because this score was designed specifically for the website experience, the mix had to be punchy and clear, translating well across different devices from laptop speakers to high-end headphones, while maintaining the cinematic feeling.
While this specific score was crafted to bring the online animation to life, it firmly sets the stage for the physical world of ORBYT.
Seeing (and hearing) the final piece come together is always the most rewarding part of the process. The ORBYT animation shows what happens when animation and sound are developed in perfect sync.
Experience the project and immerse yourself in the world of ORBYT below and via www.orbyt.theatre
If you want to read more about the visual design process, make sure to check out Juan’s breakdown of the project on www.juanbehrens.com
