GWJ musicians unite! Jam exchange program.

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I just posted this in my "new baby" thread but thought I'd start a fresh thread for exposure.

me in other thread wrote:

You know what might be cool, and I'm basically stealing this from Sonoma Wirework's RiffLink stuff, is if we started a GWJ "jam band" kinda exchange. Basically some one posts a progression/loop/rhythm whatever and then people can add to it with their own addition and repost it to continue and so on. Seems like there's enough players on here that it could be fun, and a good source of inspiration for those of us needing to pay our practice dues.

Is there enough interest? I can provide server space and an FTP for this. My rough idea is that you record whatever you want, bass line, rhythm guitar part, keyboards, bassoon solo, whatever, and people download it, record their addition, then post the new take for someone else to add to. It'd be neat to see the different directions things go from different people's ideas and styles.

Skydrive link: http://cid-3feb5735c97c3042.skydrive...

I'm up for it. I can prepare something really bare bones to start us out, maybe just some drums. If no bass players want in on it I can lay down some bass too. Maybe just like a 12 bar blues or something along those lines.

I've got to wait for my schedule to clear up a bit, though.

If you need a Bass line badly, I can throw something down on tuba as well.

boogle wrote:

If you need a Bass line badly, I can throw something down on tuba as well.

Now that would be badass.

Podunk wrote:
boogle wrote:

If you need a Bass line badly, I can throw something down on tuba as well.

Now that would be badass.

Tuba players will kick your ass and steal your girlfriend. Keep an eye on them.

I might want in on this. I'd have to see what sort of things people post, and if I decide to play something besides my bass, guitar, or software, I'd need to do some maintenance on my other instruments. I should probably do that anyway.

Huzzah! Interest! I'm about to go hang out with the missus, but I'll whip up the FTP account and space tomorrow.

For any that might be interested but are daunted by technical issues of recording, here's your chance. You can use Audacity (freeware) for simple overdubbing and recording or if you want to dig in a bit, the no-timeout, shareware and very inexpensive Reaper (by Justin Frankel of Winamp fame). With ASIO4All you won't need much more than an 1/8" to 1/4" M/M cable to record your keyboard/guitar/bass. All said and done you can be recording for not much more than a few dollars for a cable.

It'll cool to see how this plays out. Who wants to start it?

Faceless Joe wrote:

It'll cool to see how this plays out. Who wants to start it?

It'd probably be best if there are several folders with several different projects, as different people play different styles, and while mixing-and-matching genres or moods sometimes results in mind-blowingly incredible tracks, it usually results in utter sh*t.

Sounds like a great idea. I'm game. Might also be a good excuse to unpack the old synths I haven't touched in a while.

Hey! Peace, Love, Death Metal!

I'm keen. I'm horribly rusty, but this will be a decent motivation to get playing again.

Oh, if only I was cool enough to know how to play something.
But alas, I am musically {ableist slur}.

LiquidMantis wrote:

With ASIO4All you won't need much more than an 1/8" to 1/4" M/M cable to record your keyboard/guitar/bass. All said and done you can be recording for not much more than a few dollars for a cable.

How well does that work though? I've found that going straight from guitar to line-in doesn't give enough volume, and going guitar to mic-in is pretty noisy. It's a start I guess, but I'm thinking of picking up a little mixer as a front end and doing effects with software plug-ins.

And I need new strings, I have 13 gauge with a CGCFAD tuning which is a little, ummm.... specialised. I think I'll drop a few sizes and go fro a conventional tuning. Wish I could justify a second guitar.

I'd like to try my hand at this... i'm not a great player or anything but it'd be an experience.

Though i wouldn't be able to take part until feb when i get back to my recording equipment..... and instruments.

It would be interesting trying to build on someone else's idea in a collaborative manner, so I'm interested!

MrDeVil909 wrote:

I've found that going straight from guitar to line-in doesn't give enough volume, and going guitar to mic-in is pretty noisy.

You're right, I'd forgotten about that, I was just trying to prevent there being an entry cost that would prevent anyone from jumping in.

If you want to go with a mixer as a preamp, you'd be hard to beat a Behringer 802 for the price. Although honestly at that point I'd rather get a USB audio interface and not use the computer's internal audio. If you can find the recently discontinued Toneport UX1 you can get one for not much more than the 802. The new Podstudio UX1 that Line 6 replaced the Toneport with is more expensive because of the software it comes with.

If I was the one doing this as cheap as I could, I'd get the GuitarPort Online 3 Month Bundle which for $30 gets you the $100 Line 6 DI box for free. Then I'd just cancel the subscription after the three months. Then you've got a nice low-latency interface.

I would love to participate in this. I can dust off my recordiing equipment and restring the Gibson.

Rather than use FTP which seems clunky for this, how about we use Microsoft's free SkyDrive? It's 25GB of storage and provides for collaboration.

I just started a shared folder. If you give me your Live ID I can add you to my "network" and you'll have write access to the directory.

I'm thinking that we do like Hacienda suggested and have one folder for each initial root recording and put the revisions into that folder. We can use the file description to note key, chord changes, and tempo. I was also thinking that it'd be better if people upload their addition as a standalone take rather than mixing down. That way as several people contribute it allows for mix-n-match layering.

LiquidMantis wrote:

Rather than use FTP which seems clunky for this, how about we use Microsoft's free SkyDrive? It's 25GB of storage and provides for collaboration.

I just started a shared folder. If you give me your Live ID I can add you to my "network" and you'll have write access to the directory.

I'm thinking that we do like Hacienda suggested and have one folder for each initial root recording and put the revisions into that folder. We can use the file description to note key, chord changes, and tempo. I was also thinking that it'd be better if people upload their addition as a standalone take rather than mixing down. That way as several people contribute it allows for mix-n-match layering.

I use skydrive all the time to share my horrid music that I make to my friends... Also I would be interested in contributing drum machine sounds or syth sounds for my new christmas present... Korg K3

LiquidMantis wrote:
MrDeVil909 wrote:

I've found that going straight from guitar to line-in doesn't give enough volume, and going guitar to mic-in is pretty noisy.

You're right, I'd forgotten about that, I was just trying to prevent there being an entry cost that would prevent anyone from jumping in.

For the benefit of people who don't want to spend money. Boosting and compressing the wave-form after recording is workable, or a noisy signal can get cleaned up a little with a noise gate, so no-one must get put off. Another alternative, although you need to be very careful, is plugging the headphone output of your amp into the line-in on your soundcard. Make sure the volume on the amp is right down when you switch it on, and check the input levels carefully as you turn the volume up otherwise you can damage the sound card.

But I am looking for an excuse to buy myself a nice piece of gear anyway and I spotted that little Behringer mixer at a pretty good price at a local store. And it looks pretty flexible too. Most USB interfaces are pretty expensive here, I was checking out the Toneport UX1 and it's about 3 times the price.

Sounds cool to me, I'm in.

I'm willing to learn to play the recorder.

Maybe we should divide up into 4-5 person sub-bands? If we get at least one DAW/Reason/synth workstation guy in each group that can lay down a backing track with drums or loops or whatever, that'll provide an outlet for the people who are accustomed to sequencing or step-entering, as opposed to noodling along in real time.

Good idea Podunk: I primarily work with Reason, so I'd fall into that category.

I don't think I follow you as I can't see any need to divide up. I don't know that there will be enough people regularly contributing to divide up for one, but I just figured that the same root project can branch as people add tracks too, especially if they're just standalone tracks and not mixed down. I mean the sequencer guys can certainly start their own folder/project with a rhythm track. Unless I'm missing something can't they also record new tracks to a base rhythm track too?

Personally, I'll be using Reaper and I can just add existing WAV files as tracks. I'm sure any other DAW does the same too. Then I figured I'd add my track as a new source WAV file. This would also let people play with mixing and let more experienced people (which doesn't include me) run tracks through EQs or whatever to clean stuff up too. Obviously people can upload mixes as well I just think that any additions should be also uploaded as a track.

In case any DAWs need WAV standardization, should we just settle on 44.1kHz/16 bit?

I'm just throwing out ideas and will certainly defer to those of you who have more experience with recording and tracking.

I don't really have any software to alter sounds and stuff, just my pedals and pitch-shifting etc in Audacity.

Just in case anybody didn't/doesn't know and it helps with grouping etc. i can sing (badly) play guitar and simple piano/keyboard. I have no skill or idea about backing such as drums and bass.... i wish i did ^_^*. Oh and my style is usually folky, soft rock or punk.

I guess I'll have to buy a quality mic for this. Sacrifices must be made.

I would love to hear what comes out of this, and maybe use it on the Conference Call. Looking for instrumental pieces of course.

Dropbox is also a great solution for keeping files. You can invite people to share in a folder and they can than upload their stuff when they are done. If I may suggest something. I think it would serve you all well if when you add your bit you not only send just a copy of your track, but a mixed down version with the other stuff included so someone can use either one. To keep things clean just upload it in a folder under the main directory with your name and date.

Good luck with this guys. Sounds like a lot of fun!

LiquidMantis wrote:

I don't think I follow you as I can't see any need to divide up. I don't know that there will be enough people regularly contributing to divide up for one, but I just figured that the same root project can branch as people add tracks too, especially if they're just standalone tracks and not mixed down. I mean the sequencer guys can certainly start their own folder/project with a rhythm track. Unless I'm missing something can't they also record new tracks to a base rhythm track too?

Not unless there is some way to sync to time code, or to supply wavs as part of some larger project format that includes time code or MIDI data. Loops and sequences require more than just raw wavs and a tempo marking to play nicely with other peoples' projects. I've synced up sh*t like that by hand before and it is both incredibly time consuming and completely devoid of fun.

Do 20-minute jam version of Friend You Up!

I thought about Dropbox at first but it's so limited in size. SkyDrive seems really similar, just without the client support, but offers 25GB for free.

I can see the need to upload a mixed down version so people can record their own part with simpler software solutions, but I still hope people will upload the separate tracks. If everyone just adds to a mixed down version then it'll get muddy I think. With tracks one of the sound guys can EQ the separate parts and adjust panning so we can get a clear mix out of it. It'd be interesting to see different mixes with the same tracks too.

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