When I began creating The Call of Raven’s Hollow, my goal wasn’t just to write music that sounded cinematic or expressive—it was to create something that felt alive.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the course of my career, it’s that nothing breathes life into a piece of music quite like a real orchestra.
I’ve been fortunate to hear my music recorded by live players before—on big band Christmas albums, video game scores, and more.
But those sessions were always in service to someone else’s vision.
This time, it was mine.
Naturally, I knew how expensive it would be. Between orchestration, notation, and recording costs, working with Budapest would cost about $1/second of studio time.
And I had just 25 minutes to record 3 tracks.
There was no room for error.
The night before, I rehearsed the session in my head—over and over. I imagined how the players would handle each section, what I’d do if we fell behind, how I’d adapt if something went sideways.
It felt like planning a heist: every second had to count.
I barely slept.
At 9am, I rushed to the studio, coffee in hand, adrenaline already kicking in. And then—
They called my name.
The string players raised their bows.
And we began.
What followed was one of the most meaningful, fulfilling experiences of my musical life.
The Budapest Scoring Orchestra brought these tracks to life with such nuance and soul.
(And somehow, we got all three tracks done.)
Even better: they gave me permission to share the entire session—not just highlights or edits, but the raw, uncut recording from start to finish.
If you love watching music come to life in real time—and want to experience the rush of a live orchestral session—you’ll love this.
👉 Watch it here: Live Recording w/ Budapest
See you inside Raven’s Hollow. 🖤
—Zach
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