Glasgow – A Music Melting Pot
At 10% of the population of England, the country it crowns, Scotland punches way above it's weight with it's internationally renowned musical exports.
How (& why) We Created A Monster
Make your idea a reality before it becomes a bad idea.
Using Controllers With Our Plugins
An article and video demystifying control issues in your DAW.
A Synth To Fall In Love With: “1986”
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Ferris Bueller
Composing Challenge – Paris (CLOSED)
Les Parisiennes
We’re Building Something…
Please bookmark this post to keep abreast of this exciting new development, chapter and project that we’re starting.
Adventures In Sound – Paris
Exploring Paris Through Music | Chopin, Debussy… and Hidden Synths | Adventures In Sound
Impossibly Quiet, Absurdly Beautiful
The beauty of sampling is the ability to achieve the practically impossible whilst still sounding organically believable.
Icky Bass
A filthy new addition to our Vaults library.
Vaults Composing Challenge – Glass Beaker (CLOSED)
Getting over ‘Temp Love.’
Network Dispatch January ’26
The Network Dispatch email from January 2026
Starting A New Commission
Who was it who said “poor preparation makes for piss poor performance”?
Glass Beaker
It doesn’t take expensive instruments to make unique music.
Living The Dream
Christian uncovers what he got wrong for most of his career, and how he looks different now on the definition of success.
Vaults Composing Challenge – Tuned Gongs (CLOSED)
Let’s herald in the new year with a gong!
NAMM Composer Breakfast
Fancy breakfast on us?
Recording Gongs & Admitting Defeat
The return of the vlog, and with it, some candid truths.
2026 On The Hill
We have all sorts of incredibly exciting plans for 2026, here’s a sneak of what to look out for.
Xmas On The Hill
We’ll be working hard this xmas to provide much needed (or nerded) escape, ideas, inspiration for 2026 and a place to hang on these long cold nights.
Network Dispatch November ’25
The Network Dispatch email from November 2025
Dulcet Vocal
Bring some true magic to your music with Dulcet Vocal, the ethereal, captivating little sibling to our iconic Dulcet Voice library.
Winter Solstice Composer Walk
It’s that time of year again! Come join us for a cold brisk stroll and a hearty warm pint on us. Make new friends, network, moan and celebrate!
Network Dispatch October ’25
The Network Dispatch email from October 2025
Writing Music To Picture
Paris France, the evening of the 28th of December 1895, a congregation is gathered and seated, the lights are dimmed and the first public performance of a moving picture, a film, a movie, commences. A clattering new contraption called a cinématographe. Why did the Lumiere Brothers, the godfathers of film, instictively know that music was required. That the audience gathered would feel, that without music, something would have been absent, even if this absenteism was at an exhibition of something they had never witnessed and therefore had no comparison, no prior experience of. Why do we need music to picture.
Harmonium
This month, we bring you the bellows of the harmonium. Experience the timbral complexities and harmonic layers of this gorgeous and, dare we say, quaint instrument in our latest Vaults drop.
Overdrive, Distortion, Fuzz – Is there A Difference???
In this video Christian & Theo retread the past and look at the unusual ways in which guitarists and bassists and engineers created saturation from the jazz age to the modern day.
20th Century Orchestral Music – A Definitive History
An absolutely brilliant documentary series by the BBC that explains why all the bonkers music happened in the 20th century.
What Are Blagsheets?
Blagsheets, academically researched, peer reviewed, human-made and free for all.
Network Dispatch September ’25
The Network Dispatch email from September 2025
Rhythm Machine
A vintage drum machine with more pop-heritage than you may expect. It’s time to get the hairspray out, puff up your shoulder pads and holla “OH VIENNA!”.
How To Program Strings
A string programming masterclass by an Ivor Novello and BAFTA nominated film & TV composer and someone who has made string samples, for quite literally everyone.
A Creative Sanctuary in the Scottish Highlands | Studio Tour
A creative haven in an inspiring wilderness.
Master MIDI In Minutes
Download a free blagsheet (basically a cheatsheet) that accompanies our recent investigation into the history and inner workings of MIDI.
Network Dispatch August ’25
The Network Dispatch email from August 2025
Touring Townshend Studio University of West London
An Aladdin’s Cave of Sound
Lo-Fi Strings
With vaults there are usually no strings attached, but in this case there definitely are in this tool for those of us who like our strings unrefined, fully adulterated through a knackered cassette tape with just a pinch of wobble.
Network Dispatch July ’25
The Network Dispatch email from July 2025
Relaunch Campaign Book
Contemporaneous sketches, wireframes, ponderings, musing and planning for our site and brand relaunch.
Glass Strings – THE RETURN
With all sorts of new features available for FREE to existing customers we discuss the re-introduction of our orchestral workhorse.
Vaults Composing Challenge – Bridge Guitar (now closed)
A fresh approach to the pluck?
Bridge Guitar
A novel way of treating guitars pioneered by LA luthier Rueben Cox and featured on hits by Perfume Genius, Wilco, & Taylor Swift has been faithfully recreated here as part of our ever-growing Vaults range.
The Most DANGEROUS Place On The Planet – LOG#201
…if you’re a massive music-gear-head-spendaholic. Our trip to Luni – Pisa – Italy in all it’s gory detail.
Crow Hill Xtras
Have you seen our extras YouTube channel?
Network Demos – Pocket Strings
Demo tracks featuring Pocket Strings made by you!
Composing Challenge – Pocket Strings
Can you string together something daemonic?
Network Dispatch June ’25
The Network Dispatch email from June 2025
ORIGINS (pilot) – A New Series
Here’s a pilot for a new series we’ll be rolling out. Longer-form in-depth dives into stuff we take for granted, stuff we think we know. A look back to first principals so we can apply better principals to our creative futures.
Summer Solstice Composer Walk
Thanks to everyone who came from as far afield as Italy and Brazil!!!
Crow Hill at Superbooth
Join the Crow Hill team on our first trip to Superbooth.
Welcome Back – #LOG200
Season Two Begins!
Composing Challenges – An Introduction
Opportunities to experience real-world composing challenges.
Film Making GONE WRONG 10 ‘Best’ Films
Time to grab a stiff drink and a banana, it’s gonna get ugly.
Music Making GONE WRONG – 10 ‘Best’ Films
It’s time to push back your sofa from the wall, you may need to take salvage there.
The 10 Best Films About Film Making
My top ten watching list of films about film making. When, despite adversity, it comes together. Also a list to warn you what you may be getting into!
The Top 11 Best Films About Making Music
A list that we will get shouted at for it’s omissions (and probably admissions). Tell us what would be your top 11 (spoiler in the title there)
The Greatest Book About Audio Engineering EVER
A relic from the golden age of British Broadcasting for you to download and enjoy.
The Greatest Book About Synthesis EVER
You may be surprised by this. But the experts point to this as THE ONE. So download and enjoy.
Network Profile – eleri
A series of profiles of network members.
Network Dispatch May ’25
The Network Dispatch email from May 2025
Mic Hall Of Fame
Our definitive list of microphones that have defined recorded music over the last near-century.
The “HUB” Archive
An archive of our previous iteration of our resources hub.
Venom Trailer Rescore
Our toughest composing challenge yet?
Network Dispatch Apr ’25
The Network Dispatch email from April 2025
SEAHORSE SOUND – Coalface #003
The coolest studio in the world?
The Boot Cave
Thanks so much to Reverb for producing a film with Bootsy Collins that is sure to become a valuable historical relic for future generations.
Network Dispatch Mar ’25
The Network Dispatch email from March 2025
Acid Synth
Never before has a piece of technology so underwhelmed it’s original purpose AND defined the future of electronic music like no other piece of kit.
FOTRP Audio Brand
A paid commission to audio brand our podcast
The Orchestral Cheat Sheet
This is what we’ve been waiting for! In a glance, on a single sheet, from a single source. A complete rundown of all the need-to-knows for all the commonly used instruments in a standard symphony orchestra.
Network Dispatch Feb ’25
The Network Dispatch email from February 2025
Venom – Campaign Book
A glimpse behind the curtain of how we develop an aesthetic from mood board to GUI. Click on the link to download the .pdf.
Solo Bodhran
Who knew a small celtic drum could do this?
Network Demos – Storm Cello
Demo tracks featuring Storm Cello made by you!
Network Dispatch Jan ’25
The Network Dispatch email from January 2025
Storm Cello – Campaign Book
A glimpse behind the curtain of how we develop an aesthetic from mood board to GUI. Click on the link to download the .pdf.
Master Musical-Modes In Minutes
The mysteries of musical modes explained with a free reference resource for you to keep with you at all times.
Mallet Piano
Never before has a piece of technology so underwhelmed it’s original purpose AND defined the future of electronic music like no other piece of kit.
Network Dispatch Dec ’24
The Network Dispatch email from December 2024
Orchestral FX
Never before has a piece of technology so underwhelmed it’s original purpose AND defined the future of electronic music like no other piece of kit.
Master Modular Synthesis In Minutes
The mysteries of modular synthesis explained with a free reference resource for you to keep with you at all times. There is nothing to fear, it’s just voltage!
Network Dispatch Nov ’24
The Network Dispatch email from November 2024
Wavering Choir
Never before has a piece of technology so underwhelmed it’s original purpose AND defined the future of electronic music like no other piece of kit.
Network Demos – Glass Strings
Demo tracks featuring Glass Strings made by you!
Network Dispatch Oct ’24
The Network Dispatch email from October 2024
Amp Bass
Time to make your sound more brown.
Network Dispatch Sep ’24
The Network Dispatch email from September 2024
Network Dispatch – Introduction
What is the Network Dispatch and how can you get involved?
Network Demos – Nocturnal Gestures
Demo tracks featuring Nocturnal Gestures made by you!
Network Dispatch July ’24
The Network Dispatch email from July 2024
How I Became A Film Composer
Christian’s first 10,000 hours.
Teacher Who Traded Glocks For Synths
An incredible story told by an incredible woman, Jean Allison.
Network Dispatch June ’24
The Network Dispatch email from June 2024.
People Who Can Taste Music
How Does Sound Taste? Alice Allen delves into the fascinating world of Synaethsesia.
TAKE THAT – Coalface #002
A one off, access all areas with TAKE THAT to see how this coalface works. An arena show where the heartbeat is a laptop and a DAW that you will never guess.
BISHI – A Private Audience
Artist, composer, producer, technologist and broadcaster Bishi joins us for an in-depth interview.
DOT ALLISON – Rare Exclusive Interview
Join us for a rare and exclusive interview with critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and composer Dot Allison as she takes us through her remarkable career.
Network Demos – Dulcet Voice
Demo tracks featuring Dulcet Voice made by you!
Dulcet Voice – Campaign Book
A glimpse behind the curtain of how we develop an aesthetic from mood board to GUI. Click on the link to download the .pdf.
Network Dispatch May ’24
The Network Dispatch from May 2024
The Flying Pianos of WW2
This mini-documentary tells the incredible story of the Victory Vertical Pianos.
Network Demos – Vertical Piano
Demo tracks featuring Vertical Piano made by you!
Network Dispatch April ’24
The Network Dispatch email from April 2024
Orchestral Programming – The Secret Weapon
In this video Christian discusses why we all rely so heavily on a device that isn’t, at any industrial level.
“How I Made The Top Gear Theme”
In this video Christian talks about how he went about making the theme for BBCs Top Gear 22 years ago!
Hannah Peel – Adventures In Sound
Alice Allen sat down with the critically acclaimed and award-winning composer Hannah Peel to discuss a range of topics.
Network Demos – Small String Gestures
Demo tracks featuring Small String Gestures made by you!
Patsy Reid – Adventures In Sound
Alice Allen sits down with the incredible Scottish fiddle player and producer Patsy Reid.
Network Demos – String Murmurations
Demo tracks featuring String Murmurations made by you!
ANDY GRAY – Coalface #001
Legendary music maker Andy Gray tell us how he rebuilt his studio following a terrible disaster.
Reading Music – What They Never Told You
In this video we try and explain a different way of looking at music notation.
About Us
We are a small but highly-experienced team of composers, software developers, sound designers and visuals artists and creators.. based in Edinburgh, Scotland. We conceived of The Crow Hill Company to embody and offer you what we like to think of as ‘A Love Letter To Music Makers’ …
LOG#013 – Insouciance
/ɪnˈsuːsɪəns,ɪnˈsuːsɪɒ̃s/ noun; casual lack of concern; indifference.
LOG#012 – Making A Logo By Mistake
Kinda horrible to ride this rollercoaster again. Motivation is so key when pushing through doubt and despair. But both of those are just about the worst tonics for motivation which is why having a team soldiering on can be a potent form of motivation. The team. Common goal. At least we tried goddammit.
Log#011 – Let The Sampling Commence!
The day the money started pouring out of my bank account, whilst stuff was going south elsewhere.
Log #010 – Minimum Viable Product
Hindsight is a cruel arbiter of the past. Sometimes reading this journal is painful. But reflection is a crucial way of learning lessons which I’ve always believed are way more valuable long-term than the transitory nature of success.
Log #009 – Splosh!
Pinch nose, close eyes, jump!
Log #008 – The Exploding Lawnmower
Turns out explosions are actually quite boring.
Log #007 – Hand To Mouth
Can you build a music tech business on T-shirts?
Log #006 – The Pivot
When you wake up with a bad idea.
Log #005 – Day One
We get cracking.
Log #004 – A Simple Plan
Jabba The Hut sleeping…
Log #003 – Armageddon
“What could possibly go wrong?”
Log #002 – The Portobello
Our very first entry going back to the very beginning of our story. Starting with a diary that goes all the way back to 2022.
Log #001 – Prologue
A little bit of context before we get cooking.