Long distance collaborations.

[jazzmaster]

I have to give credit to whoever thought of the "cyberjam" concept for planting the idea in my head.

I recently "remixed" a song written and recorded by a friend in Florida. Basically, I just added some loops and keyboards for atmosphere and did some processing of the original tracks from her CD. It was a lot of fun. The song is posted here:

http://artists2.iuma.com/IUMA/Bands/jessica_dye/lyrics-0.html

She liked the result, and we're talking about doing more. I was thinking it might be fun to do a split CD with her doing some "remixing" of my songs as well. It would be nice to be able to send files back and forth, but for now I think we'll probably have to do CDs because our recording setups are so different.

Does anyone else here do this? If so, how? Any tips and tricks you can share would be great, and please post examples.

[Kitty Phobes]

Originally posted by jazzmaster
I have to give credit to whoever thought of the "cyberjam" concept for planting the idea in my head.



The cyberjam was invented by JeffLeft, a member of Harmony Central.

KP
:cool:

[SomeGuyNamedRob]

Originally posted by jazzmaster

Does anyone else here do this? If so, how? Any tips and tricks you can share would be great, and please post examples.

There have been quite a few posted on the HCGF Vets forum over the past month or so. Lots of tasty stuff.

[SomeGuyNamedRob]

Originally posted by jazzmaster
I have to give credit to whoever thought of the "cyberjam" concept for planting the idea in my head.

I recently "remixed" a song written and recorded by a friend in Florida. Basically, I just added some loops and keyboards for atmosphere and did some processing of the original tracks from her CD. It was a lot of fun. The song is posted here:

http://artists2.iuma.com/IUMA/Bands/jessica_dye/lyrics-0.html

She liked the result, and we're talking about doing more. I was thinking it might be fun to do a split CD with her doing some "remixing" of my songs as well. It would be nice to be able to send files back and forth, but for now I think we'll probably have to do CDs because our recording setups are so different.

Does anyone else here do this? If so, how? Any tips and tricks you can share would be great, and please post examples.

I also forgot to mention that in the Vets forum, you can post links to cyberjam frameworks, and there will be someone who will step up and add something to them.

[cool_E]

Here's what I think works, although my experience is limited.

Whatever program each member of the team uses there
is one thing in common: each track is really a .wav file
or can be imported/exported as such.

So...

Record the tracks, preferably as dry & high quality as possible,
in a format (sample rate/bit depth) agreed to ahead of time.

Create .wav files for each track. When you do this don't
use clips, make a file from 1:1:0 to the end of each track.
This method make the importing & synch-ing the tracks
easy.

I like to include supplimental info like key, meter, tempo
and the location of markers as well as lyrics, chords and
even musical scores (.txt, .doc, .mid & .pdf)

If I have midi data I'll also send the midi file. These are
easily edited and can be used to drive high quality synths
to create great sounding tracks.

Put all the tracks together on a data CD-R and mail it
away.

The other person(s) receives the CD & imports the tracks.
Then the tracks can be mixed, or other tracks added etc.
Then the second person can export any changed, mixed
or added tracks and send them back via snail mail.

Dave

[SomeGuyNamedRob]

Originally posted by cool_E
Put all the tracks together on a data CD-R and mail it
away.

The other person(s) receives the CD & imports the tracks.
Then the tracks can be mixed, or other tracks added etc.
Then the second person can export any changed, mixed
or added tracks and send them back via snail mail.

Dave

I was with you until you mentioned the CD-R swap.

Obviously, not all of us have DSL or cable modems, but not all of us have CD burners either. If I was collaborating, I'd sooner leave my computer on for an overnight transfer if someone had a slow modem than wait for a CD-R in the mail.

[jazzmaster]

Originally posted by cool_E
Here's what I think works, although my experience is limited.

Whatever program each member of the team uses there
is one thing in common: each track is really a .wav file
or can be imported/exported as such.

So...

Record the tracks, preferably as dry & high quality as possible,
in a format (sample rate/bit depth) agreed to ahead of time.

Create .wav files for each track. When you do this don't
use clips, make a file from 1:1:0 to the end of each track.
This method make the importing & synch-ing the tracks
easy.

I like to include supplimental info like key, meter, tempo
and the location of markers as well as lyrics, chords and
even musical scores (.txt, .doc, .mid & .pdf)

If I have midi data I'll also send the midi file. These are
easily edited and can be used to drive high quality synths
to create great sounding tracks.

Put all the tracks together on a data CD-R and mail it
away.

The other person(s) receives the CD & imports the tracks.
Then the tracks can be mixed, or other tracks added etc.
Then the second person can export any changed, mixed
or added tracks and send them back via snail mail.

Dave

This would be a cool way to work, but I probably will have to stick with more primitive ways for now. I have latency problems with Pro Tools Free which make doing anything besides minor tweaking in it very frustrating. When I get a fast external drive and a better sound card, I might try again. I'd love to become more of a tweaker eventually, but it will have to wait until I'm less broke.

[SomeGuyNamedRob]

Originally posted by jazzmaster


This would be a cool way to work, but I probably will have to stick with more primitive ways for now. I have latency problems with Pro Tools Free which make doing anything besides minor tweaking in it very frustrating. When I get a fast external drive and a better sound card, I might try again. I'd love to become more of a tweaker eventually, but it will have to wait until I'm less broke.

Why not grab ACID Xpress?

[cool_E]

Originally posted by SomeGuyNamedRob


I was with you until you mentioned the CD-R swap.

Obviously, not all of us have DSL or cable modems, but not all of us have CD burners either. If I was collaborating, I'd sooner leave my computer on for an overnight transfer if someone had a slow modem than wait for a CD-R in the mail.

I'm currently working with a guy in the way I described.
I'm sending the basic tracks to a guy I met in the recording
forum, ozraves. He's going to re-mix and do some additional
recording. The CD-R with the basic tracks that I sent was
several hundred Mbytes. I personally wouldn't have much
faith that a file transfer of that size would be successful.
CD burners are relatively cheap and if you intend to create
CDs of your own stuff you need one anyway.

I used this same method when working with a guy in another
studio about two years ago. Although I skipped the snail mail.
I'd record some tracks then bang out a data CD and carry
it to the studio. He'd import the wav files and then we could
record more tracks in studio. Then he would do the final
mixdown and make me a CD with the master.

If anyone does plan on going to a studio to record I would
advocate taking any tracks in with you that you believe are
of sufficiently high quality that re-recording in studio will not
make them better. This will save you time and money.

[jazzmaster]

Originally posted by SomeGuyNamedRob


Why not grab ACID Xpress?

I'm using a Mac :(

[SomeGuyNamedRob]

Originally posted by jazzmaster


I'm using a Mac :(

I see. I guess your Mac can't handle Windows Emulation?

[jazzmaster]

Originally posted by SomeGuyNamedRob


I see. I guess your Mac can't handle Windows Emulation?

My wallet can't handle it :(

[SomeGuyNamedRob]

Originally posted by jazzmaster


My wallet can't handle it :(

I know that all too well.

[Mr.Talent]

Originally posted by jazzmaster
I have to give credit to whoever thought of the "cyberjam" concept for planting the idea in my head.

I recently "remixed" a song written and recorded by a friend in Florida. Basically, I just added some loops and keyboards for atmosphere and did some processing of the original tracks from her CD. It was a lot of fun. The song is posted here:

http://artists2.iuma.com/IUMA/Bands/jessica_dye/lyrics-0.html

She liked the result, and we're talking about doing more. I was thinking it might be fun to do a split CD with her doing some "remixing" of my songs as well. It would be nice to be able to send files back and forth, but for now I think we'll probably have to do CDs because our recording setups are so different.

Does anyone else here do this? If so, how? Any tips and tricks you can share would be great, and please post examples.


Ever heard of Rocket Network? Check it out! (this was started long before cyberjam)

http://www.rocketnetwork.com