Film production

Music video production

A visual idea that stands on its own even without the song: concept, shoot, VFX and HDR colour grading, vertical cuts for the release.

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A visual idea that stands on its own even without the song

Concept

Storyboard and visual rule

Frame 1

opening, motif
camera movement
light

Frame 2

first chorus
camera movement
light

Frame 3

turning point
camera movement
light

Frame 4

recurring image
camera movement
light

Frame 5

climax
camera movement
light

Frame 6

closing image
camera movement
light

The video does not illustrate, it adds a layerTwo or three visual directions with a drawn storyboard, the final one chosen with you and the label.

Post-production

VFX, colour and HDR

SDRBrightness range (nits)

approx. 100 nits

HDR, Dolby Vision

1000 nits and above

VFX and compositingin our own studio

Colour grading10 and 12 bit, monitor calibrated yearly

Dolby Vision HDRon supported phones and TVs

SDR versionfrom the same colour grade

The intended image on every deviceBrightness values illustrate typical mastering levels.

What makes a music video work?

A strong visual idea that holds up even without the song. The video does not illustrate the lyrics, it adds a second layer: a story, a visual rule, a recurring motif that makes the viewer watch it again.

We present two or three visual directions with a drawn storyboard, and from there we develop the final concept together with you and the label.

The first frame belongs to the feed

Today a music video does not live on YouTube alone: the first frame has to stop the viewer in the Shorts, Reels and TikTok feeds too. That is why we write the opening separately and compose the image so it works in a 9:16 crop as well.

For the weeks around the release we cut short vertical excerpts with the chorus or the strongest image, so the song spreads on short-form platforms too.

VFX, colour and HDR in our own studio

Editing, VFX and colour grading are done in our own studio on 10 and 12 bit monitors calibrated every year. We also work in HDR: with Dolby Vision grading the video is displayed with a wider brightness and colour range on supported phones and TVs.

The SDR version is made from the same grade, so the viewer sees the intended image on every device.

Video directions

The song and the budget decide which direction is right. Often two of them blend.

performance

The band or the artist performs the song, in a strong location and in strong light.

It looks simple, but the visual rule matters most here: camera, light and editing in one system.

story

A short story that does not illustrate the lyrics but adds a second layer.

With a character, a script and a storyboard, like a short film.

concept

One visual idea that runs through the whole video: a rule, a motif, a trick that makes people watch it again.

Few locations, lots of preparation.

animated

Animation, VFX or a blend of both with filmed footage.

The right choice when the world of the song cannot or should not be filmed. Colour grading and VFX are done in our own studio.

What we deliver from a music video

The versions needed for the release. The exact list is fixed together with the concept.

Version	Format	Where
Music video	16:9, SDR and Dolby Vision HDR on request	YouTube, streaming
Vertical excerpts	9:16, between 15 and 30 seconds	Shorts, Reels, TikTok
Cover image and stills	on-set photos	YouTube, streaming, press
Lyric version	with subtitles	lyric video, social

Shooting with our own equipment

Equipment

Camera, lenses, sound, light

Camera and lenses

Sony FX3, Sony A7 IV
Atomos Ninja on-set monitor
Angelbird backup recording
Zeiss Batis 18, 25, 40, 85, 135 mm
Zeiss vintage 20, 35, 50, 85, 135 mm
Sony 16-35 and 24-70 mm
ND, polarizer and Pro-Mist filters
Rig, tripod, car and table top rig

Sound

Sennheiser G4 sets
with broadcast standard microphones
Rode shotgun microphones
Rode lavalier mics
Hollyland Lark lavalier mics
Dynamic studio microphones
Sennheiser HD25 monitoring headphones

Light

4 × Zhiyun Molus X100 RGB Pro
3 × De Sisti Magis 650 W halogen
Godox RGB LED tubes
Ulanzi RGB LED tubes and cubes
Softboxes in every size
Reflectors of every type
Additional lighting

For photo: Hasselblad H3D medium format, Sony A7 IV, 2 × Godox AD200 Pro, Godox system flashes

Our own camera, lenses, sound and light on every shootFootage is recorded to dual memory cards with Angelbird backup recording. Separate rig and support for car shoots and table top work, plus a mobile photo studio.

What we shoot with

Sony FX3 and Sony A7 IV cameras, the full Zeiss Batis range (18, 25, 40, 85, 135 mm) and Zeiss vintage range (20, 35, 50, 85, 135 mm), Sony 16-35 and 24-70 mm, ND, polarising and Pro-Mist filters, Atomos Ninja monitor with Angelbird backup recording. Sound: Sennheiser G4 and Rode kits, Hollyland Lark wireless mics. Light: four Zhiyun Molus X100 RGB Pro, three De Sisti Magis 650 W, Godox and Ulanzi RGB LED.

We work with our own equipment on every shoot, so image and sound are produced to the same standard whether we are filming in an office or on a factory floor.

Post-production

Color and sound in our own studio

Calibrated 4K monitor OLED and LED, 10 and 12 bit certified calibration every year

Rec. 709sRGBHDR10Dolby Vision HDR

4 master workstations128 GB DDR5, 12 GB GPU, 2 TB SSD, 40 TB HDD, replaced every two years

Blackmagic DeckLink 4K Extreme 12Gmonitoring card

Solid State Logic and Universal Audioaudio interfaces, SSL UF8, UF1, UC1 controllers

Genelec 8030, 8050, 6010three studios, acoustics measured by a sound engineer

Apple MacBook Profor field work

Sounds and looks the same on TV, phone and laptopWe check color on a calibrated monitor and sound in a studio measured with instruments.

Editing, colour and sound in our own studio

We work on four master workstations (at least 128 GB DDR5, 12 GB graphics card, 2 TB SSD, 40 TB HDD) and on 4K, 10 and 12 bit monitors that are certified and calibrated every year to the Rec. 709, sRGB, HDR10 and Dolby Vision HDR standards. Sound is mixed on Solid State Logic and Universal Audio gear, on Genelec monitors, in a studio tuned by a sound engineer.

Footage is recorded to dual memory cards and kept in three copies in two separate buildings for as long as the agreement requires. Raw footage is handed over on separate request.

Films we made

Commercials, TV spots, brand films, employer branding videos and music videos in one place. Use the filter to browse the categories separately.

What do you get with a music video?

Concept

Two or three visual directions, one of them developed into a full storyboard.

Pre-production

Location, cast, costumes, set, permits.

Shoot

In the studio or on location, with a crew that fits the concept, over one or two days.

VFX and colour grading

In our own studio, on calibrated monitors, in Dolby Vision HDR on request.

Vertical cuts

Short excerpts for Shorts, Reels and TikTok for the release.

Stills

On-set photos for the cover, the press and the release posts.

How much does a music video cost?

The price of a music video is decided by the number of shooting days, the location, the crew, the cast and the amount of VFX. We send a quote based on the concept. The boxes below show what the two most common forms include.

Music video

Concept and storyboard
Pre-production
One-day shoot

Custom pricing

Music video with HDR and VFX

Everything in the music video
Two-day shoot or several locations
VFX and compositing

Custom pricing

Oloren Hub

Video feedback down to the second

You watch the edit in Oloren Hub, right next to the post. Write down at which second you would change what, we upload the new version, and the conversation, versions and approval stay in one place until the video goes live.

Versions in orderEvery new cut arrives as a new version, older ones stay viewable.
Every format9:16, 4:5 and 16:9 versions on the same post.
Goes live after approvalThe approved video goes live at the set time on Reels, TikTok or YouTube.

Video approval and feedback in Oloren Hub

Equipment and data security, raw footage and backup

Every shot is recorded to two memory cards at once, and on the day of the shoot it exists in three copies, two of them in separate buildings. Fire, water or any other damage cannot take the footage.

We work with our own equipment: Sony FX3 and A7 IV cameras, Zeiss lenses, broadcast grade sound and light. Editing and grading happen in our own studio on 10 and 12 bit monitors calibrated every year.

Three copies, two buildingsMaster workstation, our own NAS backing up with hashes over encrypted VPN, and a mirrored second master at another site.
Secure handoverFinished work arrives through an independent business cloud, which is one more backup.
Raw footage on requestStored as agreed, included in the price with an annual contract. Raw footage is handed over on request.

Frequently asked questions: music video

How long does it take to make a music video?

From concept to delivery typically a few weeks, the shoot itself one or two days. The exact deadline is fixed in the quote.

What does Dolby Vision post-production mean?

HDR colour grading: the video is displayed with a wider brightness and colour range on supported phones and TVs. The SDR version is made from the same grade.

Is there a vertical version too?

Yes, we cut short vertical excerpts for the posts around the release for Shorts, Reels and TikTok.

Who comes up with the concept?

We propose two or three visual directions with a storyboard, and we develop the final one together with you and the label.

Do you use AI in music videos?

If the concept calls for it, yes, for locations, backgrounds or effects, under editorial control. Details on the AI content production page.

Request a quote for a music video

Send us the song, the release date and your idea, and we will get back to you with a quote. Work starts after the agreement.

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Tools we built ourselves

We built this software and use it every day ourselves.

Oloren

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Music video production