Mastering the Art of Rescoring: How to Transform Music for Trailers, Films, Games, and Commercials

Music doesn’t just sit in the background; it shapes the entire mood of a scene, a commercial, a game, or a film. The right score can turn a simple moment into something unforgettable, make a product launch feel like an event, or give a movie scene a new layer of meaning. But what if the original soundtrack isn’t quite right for your vision? That’s where rescoring comes in – a creative process that lets you rewrite the emotional script of any piece of media, be it a film, a trailer, a game, or a commercial.

Rescoring isn’t about mindlessly swapping one track for another. It’s a process of reading between the frames, catching subtle cues, and building a new musical landscape that feels like it was always meant to be there. For filmmakers, content creators, composers, and sound designers, rescoring is a chance to experiment, to learn, and to show what they can really do.

Why Rescoring Makes Such an Impact

Think back to a film scene that gave you chills, a trailer that made you rush to the cinema, or a commercial jingle you couldn’t stop humming. More often than not, it’s the music that makes those moments stick. A great score can turn gameplay into an epic adventure, make a product seem irresistible, or bring out emotions you didn’t even know were there in a film. But not every project comes with a perfect soundtrack. Sometimes, the music needs to be stripped away and rebuilt from the ground up to unlock its full potential.

The Creative Process

Rescoring is a bit like taking apart a clock to see how it works, then rebuilding it with your own custom gears. What can help you can dive into the process:

1. Watch and Listen (A Lot)

Before you start composing, play the video or film scene several times. Don’t just watch – listen closely. Where does the tension build? When does the energy drop? Are there dramatic pauses, key lines of dialogue, or visual reveals that need space? Jot down notes about timing, mood, and anything that jumps out.

2. Decide What You Want People to Feel

Every rescore starts with a feeling. Maybe you want to crank up the suspense in a film scene, add a layer of mystery to a trailer, or make a commercial more playful. Pick a style and set of instruments that match your vision. Or flip expectations – try scoring a dramatic film moment with minimal electronics or giving a comedy ad an epic orchestral treatment.

3. Break the Video or Scene Into Sections

Divide the material into chunks: intro, buildup, climax, and resolution. Sketch out what kind of music fits each part. This keeps your score from feeling random and helps the story flow naturally.

4. Start Composing and Layering

Now it’s your turn to play. Fire up your DAW and start laying down tracks. Try out different rhythms, harmonies, and textures. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Add sound effects or subtle ambiences if they help set the mood, which could be completely different in a film’s quiet moment or a game’s action sequence.

5. Sync Everything Up

Drop the video or film scene into your DAW and line up your music with the action. Make sure big moments hit right on cue and that the music supports the visuals without drowning out dialogue or effects. Tweak the mix until it all feels seamless.

Tools That Make Rescoring Easier

The right tools can turn rescoring from a struggle into a creative adventure. Here’s a closer look at what can really help, from the basics to some powerful extras.

Digital Audio Workstations

This is where everything comes together. A good DAW lets you load up video, write music, edit sounds, and line everything up perfectly with the visuals.

• Logic Pro is a favorite for many composers, especially those working on films and trailers. It’s packed with sounds and instruments, and syncing music to video is smooth and straightforward.
• Cubase stands out for its MIDI editing and tempo mapping. Many game and film composers love how easy it is to match musical changes to what’s happening on screen.
• Pro Tools is the go-to in many studios, especially for commercials and film post-production. It handles audio editing and mixing like a pro, and its video support is rock solid.
• Digital Performer is built with film scoring in mind. Organizing cues, working with multiple scenes, and handling big projects all feel natural here.
• Reaper is a budget-friendly option that doesn’t cut corners. It’s flexible, supports video, and can be customized to fit your workflow.
• Ableton Live isn’t just for electronic music. You can drop in video clips and quickly sketch out musical ideas, which is great for experimenting with new moods.

Music Notation Software

If you want to write out parts for real musicians or just see your ideas as sheet music, notation tools come in handy.

• ScoreCloud is almost like having a musical notepad. Play or sing your idea, and it turns it into sheet music instantly. It’s quick, intuitive, and works across devices.
• Sibelius and Finale are the classics. They’re powerful, detailed, and used by pros everywhere for everything from film scores to concert music.

Virtual Instruments and Sample Libraries

The sounds you choose can make or break your rescore. Today, you can have an entire orchestra or a world of synths right on your laptop.

• Spitfire Audio Albion One gives you those big, cinematic sounds-perfect for trailers and dramatic film scenes.
• Output Arcade is like a playground of loops and samples. It’s easy to find something fresh for a commercial or to add a modern twist to a classic scene.
• Native Instruments Komplete is a massive collection of instruments and effects. If you want variety, this bundle covers almost every style.
• EastWest ComposerCloud lets you "rent" a huge library of orchestral and world instruments, so you don’t have to buy everything up front.

Audio Editing and Sound Design Plugins

Once your music is in place, these tools help you polish, balance, and add that final sparkle.

• iZotope Ozone is a favorite for mastering, making sure your music sounds full and professional.
• Valhalla Reverb and FabFilter EQ are great for shaping your sound and adding depth.
• Waves plugins offer a bit of everything, from subtle tweaks to dramatic effects.

Video Recording and Editing Tools

Before you can start rescoring, sometimes you need to get your video ready. Maybe you want to grab a scene from a movie, record some gameplay, or just trim out the parts you don’t need. These tools make it easy to record your screen and edit your video so it’s set up just right for your music.

• OBS Studio is a free program that lets you record anything on your screen. It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. If you want to capture a film scene, a game, or even a YouTube clip as you watch it, OBS Studio gets the job done without much hassle.
• DaVinci Resolve is a video editor that’s also free and packed with features. You can cut out sections you don’t want, put clips together, adjust colors, and get your video looking clean before you bring it into your music software.
• Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the most popular video editors out there. It’s great for both simple and more detailed editing. If you want to add effects, text, or transitions, Premiere has a tool for almost everything.
• Final Cut Pro is made for Mac and is known for being fast and easy to use. It’s a solid choice if you’re working with film scenes or commercials and want to get your edits done quickly.

How to Extract the Music Track from Your Video Before Rescoring

When you want to add your own music to a film, trailer, game, or commercial, it’s important to first get rid of the original soundtrack. This way, your new score won’t mix with the old one, and you’ll have a clean base for your project.

There are different ways to do this: some people use desktop programs like Spleeter or iZotope RX, while others go for online stem splitters. But if you’re looking for the easiest and quickest solution, LALAL.AI is hard to beat.

LALAL.AI works right in your browser, so you don’t need to install anything. You can upload videos or audio files straight from your computer, phone, or tablet, no matter what OS you use. It supports lots of video and audio formats and uses artificial intelligence to separate music, vocals, and even specific instruments.

Removing the Original Music Track with LALAL.AI

1. Open the LALAL.AI website, use any browser on any device.

2. Pick what you want to separate. On the home page, you’ll see different options for audio separation. For rescoring, you’ll usually want to split the music from everything else (like dialogue), so choose the Vocal and Instrumental option.

3. Click the Select Files button and upload your video. LALAL.AI supports common video formats like MP4, AVI, and MOV, so you don’t have to convert anything first.

4. Let the service process your file. You’ll get one track with just the music, and another with everything else (like voices and sound effects). This usually takes just a couple of minutes, depending on the video length and size.

5. Preview the result. The service lets you listen to a short preview of the separated tracks before you commit. If you like what you hear, proceed to the next step.

6. Click the Split in Full button to process the whole video. Once the entire file is split, download the results. They will be available in the same format as your original file.

That's it, now you're ready to start your rescore! Bring the resulting file into your video editor and add your own music. Your new score will sound clean, with no leftovers from the old soundtrack.

Follow LALAL.AI on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Reddit, and YouTube for more information on all things audio, music, and AI.