February mix/collaboration project. Let's get it on.....

frobisher

Okay folks, a mix/collab thread has been asked for (good man Womama). Here it is....

This idea has been bandied about before and didn't really gather enough momentum to make it across the finishing line. Let's try and make sure that doesn't happen again.
Even if only three people get involved, fine, as long as who ever chimes in with an idea for contribution agrees to see it through. Although hopefully we'll have more.

Start by saying what can you chip in with. Throw down the gauntlet.....

frobisher

I'm up to my goolies at the moment but I can certainly put together a song with a guide guitar and harmonies if anyone wants to have a go at adding instrumentation and production? My stuff is fairly mellow and melodic, dare I say a little bit mainstream :eek: The kind of stuff you could add alot to although maybe not what you hardcore DnB heads are into, but then again, why not......

...anyone else?

cornbb

I'll have a crack at adding anything that doesn't involve recording real instruments as I don't have any decent mics This could involve sampled instruments, synths, acoustic or electro drum samples or just plain weird stuff. Stylistically speaking I dunno how easy it will be to get everyone on the same page, but then again thats not important in a project like this. I have no ideas off the top of my head but I'll think about it. Count me in anyway!

P.S. I think it would be a great idea if we could work at a given key/tonality and tempo, ideally along with a click track. I know thats a bit restrictive with some styles but it would make putting everything together a whole lot easier.

eddyc

How would it work, would it be midi files and wavs floating back and forth, midi files are grand but uploading wavs may be a bit of hassle , your likely to get some big file sizes goin on there

cornbb

I guess we could use high bitrate MP3s while we're at the drafting stages and then submit WAVs when it comes to finalising it. MIDI files would be grand for throwing ideas around but couldn't really be used in the final product unless everyone has the same virtual instruments.

Anima

Why doesn't someone just post up a riff, a bassline or a few drum pieces and then just let everyone go off and try and make something that fits? Then we can pick out bits and pieces we like from each track.

I don't think all this business of swaping midi files and save files from DAWs is gonna really work.

TelePaul

Anima wrote:

Why doesn't someone just post up a riff, a bassline or a few drum pieces and then just let everyone go off and try and make something that fits? Then we can pick out bits and pieces we like from each track.

I don't think all this business of swaping midi files and save files from DAWs is gonna really work.

It can work...but it's best if you nominate someone to mix the files. They can set out a scratch mix and you can send em back mp3s of vocals, new guitar parts, drums, bass, whatever. www.yousendit.com is good for this.
Usually the person mixing would have the most experience but Frob said he was uber busy. I wouldn't mind playing some e-bow guitar....I also have some new drum loops.

frobisher

MP3's are the way to go for drafts. If we need we can replace them with wav's come the time.
This can work in several ways and I think it's important to remember that alot of us might be working in very different styles, but then that's what makes it interesting, right?

To get the ball rolling and prevent un-neccesary faffing I'll post a song with lead vocals, a simple guide acoustic rhythym guitar and two part backing vocals. I'll include a chord chart and of course the bpm. You can do whatever you want to it from slicing it up for industrial techno to layering it for lush pop or abusing it for DnB. I know this might not be the normal start for everyone's style but it's a clear focus for the first attempt and is easily compatible with everyone's systems and we'll do different things in different ways with each new project. I'll have the song up over the weekend.

If you are doing something but feel you need an input from someone else from boards (eg Telepauls idea of some eBow guitar) just post a stereo MP3 file and then someone can import it into their DAW then re-post their contribution for you to download. Simple.

Let's support each others productions and mixes and be honest but constructive. Aside from the fun of working on a tune with this in mind, I'm really looking forward to hearing the differences between what each of us do. Can't wait!

Count me in folks..This sounds interesting, and as i seem to be doing anything rather than study at the minute..Ill give it a whack..

eddyc

Rock'n'roll, sounds like a plan, I'm in

TelePaul

Don't wanna curb anybodys entusiasm but some forward thinking might save you in the long run: I still think you should nominate an overall producer and mixer if it's going to be one song....if people add to a master track and forward it along, you might run into problems when it comes to the overall mixing. I think a template is a great idea, and people can download and add to it a sthey see fit. What I'm saying is, dont pass around a mix down, pass around the component tracks! Sorry if this is what you guys were gonna do already.

Carrigsound

What a great idea. Unfortunately I don't have time to take part this time, I
would love to hear the finished result(s) if thats ok?

Enjoy

Liam

Fingers Mcginty

count me in also. I can post an original MP3 if frobisher can't come up with the goods

frobisher

I've put together some basic tracks from a song for people to work with. Feel free to do what you want to it. I know there are many different styles and levels of experience amongst us so just have fun with it. To be honest, taking a a bare acoustic song and producing a full finished track on your own is damn hard. The people in the world who are best at get paid extrememly large amounts of money for a reason. If I could say one thing it would be to keep it musical (whatever that means to you personally), that way you can't go wrong.

Feel free to comment as we go through the month and if you get it done before the end of Feb, no worries, just post it on this thread for us all to hear and get inspiration from!

Compressed folder (7.9m) containing MP3's of lead vocals, b-vocals, basic rythym guitars and a word document giving BPM, chord and song form details. Here.

TelePaul

Hey Frob! Cool tracks man, can I ask what mics you used on that acoustic? And what guitar is it? Just a question, are the vocal tracks syncd up right out of the folder? When I import the tracks and stagger them under each other, the lead vocal seems kinda off...it could be just me, thought I'd double check!

frobisher

TelePaul wrote:

Hey Frob! Cool tracks man, can I ask what mics you used on that acoustic? And what guitar is it? Just a question, are the vocal tracks syncd up right out of the folder? When I import the tracks and stagger them under each other, the lead vocal seems kinda off...it could be just me, thought I'd double check!

Hi Telepaul,
The microphone is a Nuemann KM140 and the guitar is a Lowden O23.

I threw the tracks together pretty quickly but they should line up as they where all the exact same length and recorded perfectly in sync. Anyone else having a problem?

TelePaul

frobisher wrote:

Hi Telepaul,
The microphone is a Nuemann KM140 and the guitar is a Lowden O23.

I threw the tracks together pretty quickly but they should line up as they where all the exact same length and recorded perfectly in sync. Anyone else having a problem?

It's probably me, the way I've set the instrument levels. Yeah those lowdens are sweet.

zero19

Mmm neumann mics rule...I'm gonna give this a whirl too! Busy with assessments this week i'll start next week!

frobisher

zero19 wrote:

Mmm neumann mics rule...I'm gonna give this a whirl too! Busy with assessments this week i'll start next week!

Welcome to the fray zero19. Hopefully we'll see more of you.;)

TelePaul

I'm probably just gonna add drums to this...you can all steal the drum track if you're so inclined.

zero19

Ah i intend to stick around for a bit hehe added a drum track yesterday since i got my fas assignment done but i'm fairly brutal when it comes to drums!

frobisher

zero19 wrote:

Ah i intend to stick around for a bit hehe added a drum track yesterday since i got my fas assignment done but i'm fairly brutal when it comes to drums!

Don't worry about being good or not, the idea is just to throw something at it, enjoy it and then compare what we have all done differently. I'm finding it alittle tough myself too!

frobisher

I know it's still early, but when the time comes that you want to post the your work, include your Boards user name in the file name so that if we download a few we know who's work belongs to whom.

zero19

How do i go about posting a mix btw?

frobisher

zero19 wrote:

How do i go about posting a mix btw?

There are many different file sharing methods out there. Try the one that I posted the raw files on www.box.net and rememebr to include your user name in the file name so we know it's yours after downloading.

zero19

Thanks!

Carrigsound

How is this one going folks, are there any mixes to listen to yet?
Would be curious to hear what you are all doing.

Cheers

Liam

frobisher

I've messed around with a few bits and peices. I guess it's getting to the ned of Feb so we should lock it down and get it up here over the next 10 days.

zero19

They blocked boards in fas hence my lack of input,will sort out my mixes on monday! hehe

frobisher

My system ahs ground to a near halt. Trying to get it sorted out!!:(

rjramos

How's it going? Just found the boards recently, and this post over the weekend. This sounded cool, so I jumped into it, and finished a mix. But then I reread the post and wasn't sure - are we posting bits for everyone to work on? Someone mentioned an overall producer - should i just put up the parts I added, or the whole track?

Sorry if i didn't get it - didn't want to be posting the wrong thing.

thx

TelePaul

rjramos wrote:

How's it going? Just found the boards recently, and this post over the weekend. This sounded cool, so I jumped into it, and finished a mix. But then I reread the post and wasn't sure - are we posting bits for everyone to work on? Someone mentioned an overall producer - should i just put up the parts I added, or the whole track?

Sorry if i didn't get it - didn't want to be posting the wrong thing.

thx

I think you should throw up whatever you have done. Bring on the whole mix!

frobisher

Has anyone got anything? My systems killing me at the moment but I'm transfering all files onto my new firewire drive tonight and I've got a good feeling that it will help. Fingers crossed!

rjramos

Was waiting, hoping someone was going to put something...

Here's my try at it anyways, a whole mix. Went for a groovy feel. Took a little liberty with the intro.

http://www.rjrmusic.com/demo/rjramos-bgirl.mp3

Did a search, didn't find other mix/collab posts - has there been one before? 'Twould be cool to do more, with other people's ideas, maybe the master-mixer idea?

See whatcha think...thanks

rjramos

btw frobisher, nice work on the original basic tracks

frobisher

rjramos wrote:

btw frobisher, nice work on the original basic tracks

Thanks! And good work with the mix. I hope we aren't the only ones that have done something!

I would have had something a few days ago but my PC suffered under a power failure and I lost all I had done. Ouch. I've decided to have some fun with this and I have done something that I have never even attempted to do, an electronic version. And I have to say that I really, really enjoyed working with these kind of sounds. I honestly think that I'll be trying it again asap!!

Here's a link: http://www.box.net/public/6te82pp7e6

Come on to others who downloaded, show us what you have done and lets plan for a March project.

frobisher

Hold your horses with any feedback on this, I've defo got to change a few things (did someone mention autotune!?). Will try and have something up today. Anyone else got anything? ANYTHING??!

red dave

i just noticed this thread on friday... thought all "sticky" threads were just info :rolleyes: i'm working on a tune with some of your voice samples but will be a few days as was out over weekend

condra

Late in on this one. Hopefully Ill be able to contribute to the March/April colab. Best of luck guys.

kevinsheahan

TelePaul wrote:

It can work...but it's best if you nominate someone to mix the files. They can set out a scratch mix and you can send em back mp3s of vocals, new guitar parts, drums, bass, whatever. www.yousendit.com is good for this.
Usually the person mixing would have the most experience but Frob said he was uber busy. I wouldn't mind playing some e-bow guitar....I also have some new drum loops.

I am very experienced in mixing (I have my own recording studio). I'll give the mixing a go if you want to send the files to me.
Kevin
Orion Recording Studios

condra

Kool

frobisher

kevinsheahan wrote:

I am very experienced in mixing (I have my own recording studio). I'll give the mixing a go if you want to send the files to me.
Kevin
Orion Recording Studios

Great to have you here Kevin. I'm afraid that I've pulled down those files because we were trying to keep it to a new project each month. Unfortunately no one seems to have done much on this one!

I'll make a new post regarding a project for March and hopefully we'll get a little more action. [Please join in!

red dave

here's my shot, i didn't get time to finish it off proper but i thought i'd put up what is done otherwise it would be april by time got it finished :rolleyes:
http://www.box.net/public/x4n3ev3ocb