​ICE
CUT
MUSIC

HOW WE GET THE BEST RESULT

IceCuts offers 2 kinds of cuts:

A GUIDED CUT is when skaters don't have a specific plan for the track they have chosen and prefer to rely on my editing experience to get the job done. I GUIDE the cut. 

 

A DIRECTION CUT is when skaters collaborate and give me their preferred direction. The best cuts happen when we collaborate before I begin. Skaters may not know exactly what they want, but can tell me as much as possible, like for example, if there are sections of music you absolutely love or want included, if you know how long/short an intro/outro you need, if there is a particular requirement on speed. We collaborate and you have input for the direction of the cut.
 

I’ll review everything and shape a cut that works with:

• your skating level

• program choreography

• the structure of the music itself

Programs need a beginning, a middle and an ending. If something won’t work as expected (for example: fade endings, music that’s too big for the level, or sections that don’t structure well) we flag it early so we can adjust together. ​​Once we’ve agreed the direction, the process becomes about refining—not reinventing.

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REFINEMENTS vs NEW DIRECTION

 

Refinements/Adjustments are a normal part of the process.

This might include:

• shortening or lengthening the intro/outro

• adjusting transitions, or for example, making sure a specific part of music is the same length as your spin

• rebalancing timing or energy

 

However, occasionally a request changes the overall direction of the music. For example:

• using completely different sections

• changing the choice of track after the work has been started/completed

• restructuring large portions of the edit

• shifting the concept or feel

In those cases, it’s best handled as a new edit so the music can be built properly from the ground up.

I’ll always talk this through with you first.

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WHEN AND WHY DOES PRICING CHANGE

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Some tracks are beautifully written and recorded, and the edit almost cuts itself. These tracks have a great intro, nice build and a proper finish that can be used in the final cut. But editing is not always so straightforward.

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There are many ways to musically enhance your skating performance, which in turn can raise your points score, and help you become the winner you want to be.

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Here are the kinds of things that will take extra time:

 

• Good cuts include an intro and an outro (an ending.)  When the track(s) you send don't have parts we can use for beginnings and ends sometimes we have to re-build a section of the song/piece to create the intros and outros that you need for your performance. 

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• Key changes are great. They add lift, texture, build and used right they can really lift your performance. 
  One key change in a track is almost always usable.  However music that includes several key changes (think Disney music, film music, classical music) means editors have to find a way to flow through every change, incorporating them all into the track as we go. If we can't do that, it's usually impossible to use the written ending. This can increase the time spent on your cut because we either have to find a way to compact the modulations, or re-write the ending somehow - because a good cutter NEVER gives you a fade. . 
  Example: Listen to Mack the Knife from beginning to end and count the key changes. Frank Sinatra had 5, so did Bobby Darren, Robbie Williams had 4 (doesn't matter - you wouldn't choose his version anyways) and Jonathon Groff has 5. This means the story starts and ends in very different keys. 
   

• Manipulation of specific musical features to match moves in your program. Sometimes you you may want a feature timed to a specific place in your performance. Sometimes we find the features  that will give your coach a point of choreography for you.
   

• Tempo/mood changes are loved by many judges - they often help build the emotion or intensity of your program. They can be a little tough to handle and sometimes require software and musical skills to meld them smoothly. 

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So what does this mean? As with all professional skills, time equals money. Think of it like this: you pay your coach by the hour, which means you pay for the actual time it takes to teach you a skill or a program, not a flat fee per skill. Now while they could quote you $10,000 in lessons needed for a double axel, what if they end up spending 1000 ice hours with you on that one jump?

 

Same with music cuts. We can generalize that a 1:30 min cut will cost $45, but what if you send us 8 must-have tracks that you want blending into one final program edit? What if you are asking for Bohemian Rhapsody to be condensed to 1 minute? We offer fair pricing and know you will want to pay fairly too. 

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