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pcrecord 12 April 2015

THE RECORDING PHASE HAS ENDED, JOIN US WITH THE Mixing :
http://recording.org/threads/lets-mix-a-song-together.58614/

Hi guys, after having a very good discussions on Master this mix, I thought we could take it from the start.

Why not record a well known easy song together, I might be a dreamer but I think it would be a very instructive experience for all.

It doesn't need to sound like the original, it's just to make the exercise, have fun and learn !

  1. we decide which song and use a midi file as a guide (so we all record at the same speed and have the same structure)
  2. We track what we could or want to do. Yes we may have 20 guitar tracks but it'll be fun.
  3. Discuss on tracking and techniques used
  4. Choose the best tracks to mix (ego aside of course)
  5. Mix exchanges
  6. Mastering exchanges
  7. Create an article with all the process that can stay on RO as a guide

    I don't know about you but, since I'm spending so much time on this forum, I think we could do a project all together, my friends !

    So step 1 : choose a song, let's gather your suggestions !

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Comments

freightgod Mon, 04/13/2015 - 04:18

This is a good idea, a fun idea....having done this myself, however, I will warn you that it's a lot more work to manage this kind of thing than you imagine...one lesson learned: Somebody has to step up as producer and just make decisions, regardless of feelings, otherwise chaos rules. Just saying, be ready to step on toes and to have toes stepped on. It can work, though, but it needs to be managed.

freightgod Mon, 04/13/2015 - 08:11

pc, are you gonna host the tracks and up mixes as things progress? I would suggest starting by just picking a song and a tempo, recording ANYTHING to a click and uploading a full length .mp3 or .wav and let's go. You'll have to integrate tracks on your end. File size and hosting might end up being an issue. Dropbox?

I am ready to contribute and give you any support, this COULD be fun, but I warn you...

If you haven't read my thread over on the Acoustica Mixcraft forums from when I tried this over there (and succeeded) you might want to, there are a lot of things to consider which might be better to figure out up front. I went into it blind, and ended up with a great recording, I think, but got more than sick of the whole thing a few times. However I've done a couple collaborations since which have gone much easier because expectations were set.

http://forums.acoustica.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=17032

pcrecord Mon, 04/13/2015 - 09:30

I guess I'll try to grab enough people to participate and see if everyones agree to work in mp3 posted in the forum. It would make the thread last forever instead of going external host that could disapear overtime. Of course a High res version could be produce as well. . . we will see ;)

I'm glad you want to participate ! Why don't you suggest a couple of songs. (you may have better ideas than me)

freightgod Mon, 04/13/2015 - 09:42

Song suggestions: either something totally iconocalstic, in which we blow away the genre ("Ring of Fire" for example)...actually, can't go wrong with a Johnny Cash song, we can turn it against type...something offbeat like "The Big Battle", not untimely, actually, we could do a kick ass version of that song :)

Something with two chords, lol

freightgod Mon, 04/13/2015 - 10:01

Ha, well that's the thing. If you pick something that IS your cup of tea then you'll be keeping this alive a lot longer...we could go Canadian and do something like Gordon's Early Morning Rain but rock it...or something. I just genre-bending would be fun. Someone else better make some suggestions, my listening tastes are pretty constricted, I admit!

freightgod Tue, 04/14/2015 - 03:22

Well, nobodies seconded any song suggestions yet. So someone mentioned CCR's Have You Ever Seen The Rain. One nice thing about it is there's room for multiple vocalists to take turns on the verses, then unite on the chorus. So there's a second vote for that one. Only three chords, too, I believe...

"All I Have To Do Is Dream" by the Everly Brothers. We can uptempo it, this would kick ass as a rock song. Seriously, sing this in your head at 120 bpm...

I would rather stay away from any riff-based song ("Satisfaction", etc.") so that we're not bound to a previous arrangement as heard in anybody's head, that way we're free to mess with song structure, etc.

pcrecord Tue, 04/14/2015 - 07:47

Smashh, post: 428008, member: 45856 wrote: Hey Marco , how about if there are lots of different guitar/ bass parts etc , we could let each member pick what they would like to use and have lots of different versions ?

It was my idea that we may end up with more tracks than needed.. So it's a great Idea to allow mixes with different tracks.
In the end everyone could have his own version of the song
BUT I'd like to have a common version, kind of an official one for the thread so we can all mix and compare and exchange with ! ;)

pcrecord Tue, 04/14/2015 - 08:03

freightgod, post: 428009, member: 48902 wrote: This is just a quick and dirty as an example, not meaning to start something. It's 120 bpm.

[MEDIA=audio]http://recording.or…

I like it ! How do you feel it for the other instruments, Pop-Rock, Folk or other styles ? What do we put in the breaks you've made, long drum fills ?? he he ;)

If everyone agrees, we could go for it. We will need a guide track so everyone can put their DAW to 120bpm, import the track at the start of a measure and be in sync.

This is getting exciting, I can't say I'm so much in it to learn tracking and mixing but working on tracks produced in other studios will be very intructive and fun !
If the end product is hot enough we could even do a youtube video with it !! ;) (well I maybe stretching the line here)

pcrecord Tue, 04/14/2015 - 09:35

freightgod, post: 428014, member: 48902 wrote: Well, let's do it, then...as for filling in the spaces...well, I'm sure someone will think of something. If you want to use it as a starter, it's in sync to a click as-is, 120 bpm, chords are C Am F Em , a G or so...go ahead, pop some percussion up, then I'll do a more serious something or other...

Is the file starting on the start of the measure ? this would simplify the process if all our files where starting at the same point. (let's say a measure before a count measure and then the song starts) Does that make sens ?

freightgod Tue, 04/14/2015 - 11:15

pcrecord, post: 428016, member: 46460 wrote: Is the file starting on the start of the measure ? this would simplify the process if all our files where starting at the same point. (let's say a measure before a count measure and then the song starts) Does that make sens ?

I think that's fine, just go! lol. Yes, it's starting on the start of the measure. I think we can all insert 2 measures. I've saved the tracks but I intend on replacing them, I think that's enough to get a feel of the structure, I'm sure some guitarist will want to insert an instrumental break in there somewhere eventually!

Would you like me to do a more serious take, with a two measure lead in as you suggest? I will upload a ROUGH acoustic and decent Vocal track. Just as guidance for whatever comes next, they can both be replaced.

I think you should guide this, Marco, it'll go better that way if someone calls the shots.

pcrecord Tue, 04/14/2015 - 16:24

We think about doing a remake of 'All I Have To Do Is Dream' but faster kind of pop rock I guess. . .
Freightgod has already given us guide tracks. So I guess we're on the verge of no return on the song choice..
But tell us what you think and if you have a better choice and everyone agrees.. I'm open ! ;)

LarryQualm2 Tue, 04/14/2015 - 17:01

I'm really not sure. Your list is really good. Cuts Like a Knife is another winner. All I Have To Do Is Dream seems kind of strange, though I don't know the average age bracket we are dealing with here ..I suspect 30's ish to 50's ish? Maybe if an old tune was rocked out Aint That a Shame by Fats Domino would be good. It could really jam and doesn't limit any number of instruments.

freightgod Tue, 04/14/2015 - 17:38

Guys, I am totally open to whatever! I'll play!

But we're already on the second page of this thread. Shit or get of the pot, people!

I am just teasing!!! BUT on a serious note...O.P> take charge, set deadlines...this is not one of those things you can just wish to happen...<<

postscript: I strongly suggest starting a new thread at each stage of the "production" process.

You could actually start a new thread with a poll right now, listing various candidates and invite people to vote. State the intention of the project in the post.

Then after song selection is made, make tempo, arrangement, song structure and file sharing decisions. Who will fire the opening shot...etc.

After management decisions are made, then comes Tracking, then Editing, then Mixing, then re-Tracking, then Mixing, then Mixing for Mastering, then Release and Distribution....however far this goes, I suggest starting a new thread for each phase, for sake of clarity and continuity.

pcrecord Tue, 04/14/2015 - 18:40

@eternalsound : I know it's an old song, but we could make it new by re-arranging it. Of course I'm open to any song, as long as a majority accept it.

@everyone: please listen to the tracks freightgod has put up. I would want to make everyone happy but I know this is not possible.
I'm incline to go with freightgod's suggestion who participated first to the thread while some others with valid opinions joined us later.
So what we should do is; listen to the his ruff takes to have a sens of it and everyone should say if there is a problem with it. If so, we will explore other options, if not we will go ahead with it (nothing is stopping us from doing another song later on) ;)
I actually hear a pop-rock style for it with a very modern recording sound and approach.

freightgod, post: 428029, member: 48902 wrote: postscript: I strongly suggest starting a new thread at each stage of the "production" process.

This is a good point, the steps of the productions will be named and put in their according sections :

  • Let's record a song together (this actual one)
  • Let's mix a song together
  • Let's master a song together

@Chris Perra : I'm glad you're in !

DonnyThompson and audiokid : please check on my plan and say if I'm doing everything according to RO interests and of course feel free to join in ! ;)

DonnyThompson Wed, 04/15/2015 - 00:35

Personally, I have no problems at all with what you are doing. In fact, I think something like this is long overdue.

I've been part of collaborative efforts before on other forms, it's always been fun and educational.

I think it fits right in with Chris's PBL philosophy.

Not that you (or anyone else) need it, but you certainly have my blessing. ;)

Have fun with it!

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