Collaborative Home Recording

Just curious if anyone else has ever given any thought to collaborating on home recording projects. As a keyboard player, my gear is a natural for home recording (multi-timbral, MIDI capable, direct inputs, no open mics) and I've been very happy with the quality of even my modest setup, but I think a lot of my projects would benefit from the creativity of other instrumentalists. My gear is fairly adequate for reproducing certain brass, orchestra, guitar, bass and drum sounds, but no matter what patch I dial in or how I adapt my playing to suit a particular instrument, it's still me playing my lines, and my lines get old pretty quickly.

It occurs to me that it wouldn't be very difficult to pass tracks around for other people to track over. If I needed a real guitar track, for instance, I could pass along a rough mixdown MP3, sans guitar, which could be loaded into a guitarist's recording setup and dubbed over onto a separate track. When done, the guitarist could pass me back an MP3 of just his track (or multiple MP3's of multiple tracks), which could then be imported into my recording setup and added to the master project.

Same for me, of course. If a fellow collaborator wanted a keyboard (or brass, or bass, or whatever) track for a tune, they could pass me a mixdown, I could record whatever parts they wanted and pass them back to add to their project. Passing MIDI sequences could offer even more flexibility... if a guitarist had some keyboard chops and even a cheap MIDI keyboard, he could lay down a horn or string part, pass me the MIDI sequence, and I could render it on my equipment (my S90's sounds are amazing), and pass the audio back.

I don't even think platform/application interchangability would be an issue since we'd be dealing with audio tracks only. If I create a track at 98 beats per minute beginning at timecode 00:00:00, all anyone else would have to do in order to use my track would be to create a project in their recording/sequencing application, set the tempo to 98 beats per minute, then import my audio track at timecode 00:00:00. My track would line up perfectly with the other project.

Thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by Michael Schaefer on October 20, 2009 at 2:14pm
I used to be a member of a couple of websites where we did this sort of thing a lot. The sites were GuitarWar.com and GuitarBattle.com. There was a lot of collaboration on tunes that were entered into the competitions using the technique you describe above.

If you ever need some guitar tracks, let me know. I'd be interested in collaborating.

Michael
Permalink Reply by Chuck Mayo on October 20, 2009 at 3:41pm
I'd think it'd be more fun to pick a tune that appealed to both of us, but I'm not sure what that would be. I'm not in love with the opening trumpet solo on my page's "Trevor's Tune," and wouldn't mind giving up the closing synth solo either. If you like the tune and feel like doing something with it, I'll shoot you a rough mix.

The Roadhouse said:
I used to be a member of a couple of websites where we did this sort of thing a lot. The sites were GuitarWar.com and GuitarBattle.com. There was a lot of collaboration on tunes that were entered into the competitions using the technique you describe above.

If you ever need some guitar tracks, let me know. I'd be interested in collaborating.

Michael
Permalink Reply by Michael Schaefer on October 20, 2009 at 3:59pm
Do you have charts? ;)

Chuck Mayo said:
I'd think it'd be more fun to pick a tune that appealed to both of us, but I'm not sure what that would be. I'm not in love with the opening trumpet solo on my page's "Trevor's Tune," and wouldn't mind giving up the closing synth solo either. If you like the tune and feel like doing something with it, I'll shoot you a rough mix.

The Roadhouse said:
I used to be a member of a couple of websites where we did this sort of thing a lot. The sites were GuitarWar.com and GuitarBattle.com. There was a lot of collaboration on tunes that were entered into the competitions using the technique you describe above.

If you ever need some guitar tracks, let me know. I'd be interested in collaborating.

Michael
Permalink Reply by Chuck Mayo on October 20, 2009 at 4:32pm
Not charts per se, it's really just a jam - no chorus, no bridge, but I've attached the changes (if the chords and beats don't line up, view the attached RTF file in a monospaced font like Courier). I went ahead and uploaded an MP3 of the tune without the guitar tracks, just in case you decide you want to mess with it.

My software doesn't generate tablature, but I gave you the riff in text and treble clef, and attached a half-speed MP3 of the riff as well.

And really, if this tune isn't to your tastes, we can pick another one to play with.

The Roadhouse said:
Do you have charts? ;)

Chuck Mayo said:
I'd think it'd be more fun to pick a tune that appealed to both of us, but I'm not sure what that would be. I'm not in love with the opening trumpet solo on my page's "Trevor's Tune," and wouldn't mind giving up the closing synth solo either. If you like the tune and feel like doing something with it, I'll shoot you a rough mix.

The Roadhouse said:
I used to be a member of a couple of websites where we did this sort of thing a lot. The sites were GuitarWar.com and GuitarBattle.com. There was a lot of collaboration on tunes that were entered into the competitions using the technique you describe above.

If you ever need some guitar tracks, let me know. I'd be interested in collaborating.

Michael
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Permalink Reply by Michael Schaefer on October 20, 2009 at 4:38pm
Not to my tastes? Shoot, I dig this. It's jazz, but I'm studying jazz right now at Collin County. So this should be a nice challenge for me. TBone and Charlie Christian used to hang out. It greatly affected TBone's style. This will be fun for me to play around with.
Permalink Reply by Chuck Mayo on October 20, 2009 at 4:39pm
Oops... the tempo is 98bpm - my bad.

Chuck Mayo said:
Not charts per se, it's really just a jam - no chorus, no bridge, but I've attached the changes (if the chords and beats don't line up, view the attached RTF file in a monospaced font like Courier). I went ahead and uploaded an MP3 of the tune without the guitar tracks, just in case you decide you want to mess with it.

My software doesn't generate tablature, but I gave you the riff in text and treble clef, and attached a half-speed MP3 of the riff as well.

And really, if this tune isn't to your tastes, we can pick another one to play with.

The Roadhouse said:
Do you have charts? ;)

Chuck Mayo said:
I'd think it'd be more fun to pick a tune that appealed to both of us, but I'm not sure what that would be. I'm not in love with the opening trumpet solo on my page's "Trevor's Tune," and wouldn't mind giving up the closing synth solo either. If you like the tune and feel like doing something with it, I'll shoot you a rough mix.

The Roadhouse said:
I used to be a member of a couple of websites where we did this sort of thing a lot. The sites were GuitarWar.com and GuitarBattle.com. There was a lot of collaboration on tunes that were entered into the competitions using the technique you describe above.

If you ever need some guitar tracks, let me know. I'd be interested in collaborating.

Michael
Permalink Reply by Michael Schaefer on October 20, 2009 at 4:45pm
Do you need to upload another version? Also, how would you like this arranged? Typically, in the jazz I've done, the guitar plays the melody in the head with the other instruments and then comps and vamps with the rhythm section behind the horns for the rest of the piece with a solo where desired. Is that what you're hearing?

Chuck Mayo said:
Oops... the tempo is 98bpm - my bad.
Permalink Reply by Chuck Mayo on October 20, 2009 at 5:07pm
Here's a full version at 98bpm, in case you need it. Should line up just fine at 00:00:00

Chuck Mayo said:
Not charts per se, it's really just a jam - no chorus, no bridge, but I've attached the changes (if the chords and beats don't line up, view the attached RTF file in a monospaced font like Courier). I went ahead and uploaded an MP3 of the tune without the guitar tracks, just in case you decide you want to mess with it.

My software doesn't generate tablature, but I gave you the riff in text and treble clef, and attached a half-speed MP3 of the riff as well.

And really, if this tune isn't to your tastes, we can pick another one to play with.

The Roadhouse said:
Do you have charts? ;)

Chuck Mayo said:
I'd think it'd be more fun to pick a tune that appealed to both of us, but I'm not sure what that would be. I'm not in love with the opening trumpet solo on my page's "Trevor's Tune," and wouldn't mind giving up the closing synth solo either. If you like the tune and feel like doing something with it, I'll shoot you a rough mix.

The Roadhouse said:
I used to be a member of a couple of websites where we did this sort of thing a lot. The sites were GuitarWar.com and GuitarBattle.com. There was a lot of collaboration on tunes that were entered into the competitions using the technique you describe above.

If you ever need some guitar tracks, let me know. I'd be interested in collaborating.

Michael
Permalink Reply by Chuck Mayo on October 20, 2009 at 5:12pm
And here's a full mix, if that'll help.

Chuck Mayo said:
Not charts per se, it's really just a jam - no chorus, no bridge, but I've attached the changes (if the chords and beats don't line up, view the attached RTF file in a monospaced font like Courier). I went ahead and uploaded an MP3 of the tune without the guitar tracks, just in case you decide you want to mess with it.

My software doesn't generate tablature, but I gave you the riff in text and treble clef, and attached a half-speed MP3 of the riff as well.

And really, if this tune isn't to your tastes, we can pick another one to play with.

The Roadhouse said:
Do you have charts? ;)

Chuck Mayo said:
I'd think it'd be more fun to pick a tune that appealed to both of us, but I'm not sure what that would be. I'm not in love with the opening trumpet solo on my page's "Trevor's Tune," and wouldn't mind giving up the closing synth solo either. If you like the tune and feel like doing something with it, I'll shoot you a rough mix.

The Roadhouse said:
I used to be a member of a couple of websites where we did this sort of thing a lot. The sites were GuitarWar.com and GuitarBattle.com. There was a lot of collaboration on tunes that were entered into the competitions using the technique you describe above.

If you ever need some guitar tracks, let me know. I'd be interested in collaborating.

Michael
Attachments:
Permalink Reply by G.F. " Hookman " Brown on October 26, 2009 at 11:46pm
Hi Chuck,
Just listened to your "Trevor's Tune".
That's some nice jazz.
I'm willing to work with you on some songs.
I don't play any instruments, but I write songs and sing.I've attached a song I wrote that is covered by a band called the Victims of Kool.
Please go to http://www.myspace.com/thevictimsofkool for more info on that band.He also may want to collaborate.After all , he and I have collaborated on my stuff.
You can go to http://www.myspace.com/hookmanbrownmusic and find out more about me.
Also please read the blog pages on that site.
I have many song lyrics posted, of several genre of music, on those blog pages.
If you find one that interests you, perhaps you with your stuff and Micheal with his guitar, could work up a great version of one of my Blues songs.
I think it would be fun.
Later,
Hookman Brown
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Permalink Reply by Chuck Mayo on October 27, 2009 at 1:31pm
HB, thanks for the post. The file you attached, "Monkey See, Monkey Do" is very cool - I love that dude's vocal style.

I listened to a couple cuts on Victims of Kool site, but MySpace is reporting a "user not found" error on the link you provided.

For my part, I'm more of a music assembler than a songwriter. Putting interesting changes together in song form comes pretty easy for me but changes are just changes... as I don't sing or write lyrics, all my stuff is instrumental at this point. I have more stuff in the can than I'm linking to on my profile player, some of which is posted on the Original Compositions playlist of my personal site, http://www.texaskeyboards.com.

I think I'd enjoy working on some blues stuff. There doesn't seem to be much point in recording blues instrumentals, so I've really never delved into doing anything original within that medium, but I think I could do some cool stuff given a vocal track to back.

G.F. " Hookman " Brown said:
Hi Chuck,
Just listened to your "Trevor's Tune".
That's some nice jazz.
I'm willing to work with you on some songs.
I don't play any instruments, but I write songs and sing.I've attached a song I wrote that is covered by a band called the Victims of Kool.
Please go to http://www.myspace.com/thevictimsofkool for more info on that band.He also may want to collaborate.After all , he and I have collaborated on my stuff.
You can go to http://www.myspace.com/hookmanbrownmusic and find out more about me.
Also please read the blog pages on that site.
I have many song lyrics posted, of several genre of music, on those blog pages.
If you find one that interests you, perhaps you with your stuff and Micheal with his guitar, could work up a great version of one of my Blues songs.
I think it would be fun.
Later,
Hookman Brown
Permalink Reply by G.F. " Hookman " Brown on October 27, 2009 at 6:12pm
Hi Chuck,
Yeah I like his singing too.He sounds kinda like Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.Looks like him too.In fact Craig and the Victims had two songs chosen to be included on a commemorative CD given to ZZ Top in Essen, Germany on Oct. 9th this year, to celebrate their 40th anniversary.
The girl singer, Julzz, has only been working with Craig for about 3 or 4 months and in fact has only been singing that long, period.
She's a little "roadhouse" rough right now, but we both think she has enormous potential.
As for my link, leave the word "music" off of the end.I forget I changed my heading.
Try http://www.myspace.com/hookmanbrown
Just for fun look at http://www.myspace.com/vividimagephoto I have a lot of pix there.
You know, I only write lyrics and sing.I don't/can't play any instruments.I'm called Hookman Brown because I have a hook instead of a left hand.
I know, I know. A person can do anything they set their mind to do, but the way I see it is, Why struggle to play an instrument when writing rhymes and lyrics and singing comes so easy.
So being "only" a keyboardist is just fine.It takes several different disciplines to make a band, even an internet band.
Sorry, but I sent that song again. I didn't remember I had already sent it.
As you can tell, I'm proud of that work.
If you can get through to my lyrics pages and find something you like, let me know, and if nothing else, I can give you the melody(s) to any of those over the phone. I can sing the song and you will, in all probability, be able to grasp the melody line.That's how Craig and I did "Monkey See, Monkey Do".
I usually work with guitarists, but keyboard players are my next choice. A keyboard can carry a tune like nothing else.
To get some ideas of Blues keyboards, try listening to some Pine Top Perkins, Charles Brown, and Marcia Ball.There are many others, but those will get you started.
Thanx
Later, HB

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