Musical Exchange

[Vimana]

I thought this might be best to post in the GMD Social Forum since it gets more traffic, but I think it's more appropriate here. I'm sure a lot of us here make music using DAW's. I just got in on the craze with Reaper.

So I had this idea. I think it would be fun for us to set up some kind of system where we send one another midi files, musical scores, tabs, beats, lyrics, or pretty much every musical idea that we've had but never put to use and exchange them so they can be used and altered to create songs. It may have been done before, but I haven't seen it in the forum. With more minds working at once, we wouldn't be forced to rely on our own brains to come up with everything.

I'm not going to list specific rules as to how this all would work, because it would be a little bit confining, so I'd rather a system end up evolving out of practicality, efficiency, and enjoyability.

Who knows? Maybe this could turn into some kind of community project? Who'd like to try this?

 

[waif]

I'd try it. These things tend not to work out, but I'd give it a shot.

Guitar pro 6 might be a good program to work with. The instrument emulation is pretty decent.

 

[The Butt]

I could do some composition if need be, I have Guitar Pro 5.2.

I could also do BM shrieks, assuming we are creating extreme metal.

 

[Vacant_Planets]

I could do some composition if need be, I have Guitar Pro 5.2.

I could also do BM shrieks, assuming we are creating extreme metal.

Same, I can help contribute if it gets going too. And I do have a crapload of songs, riffs, etc sitting around.

 

[Vimana]

Awesome. So should we exchange emails or something? Do we all send everything to each one of us, or should we set up some kind of system where there is a pattern or something of who sends who to what and who does what, etc.?

 

[Vacant_Planets]

It would be best if we all sent whatever was needed back and forth, imo.

Also before the exchange of any info even we need to work through the whole brain storming thing. Set our goals, etc.

 

[Vimana]

That is true. I see no reason why multiple projects can't be worked on at once with four people contributing. With a DAW, or anything to write midi stuff in, it is easier than ever to get some kind of sound out of the ideas. I guess we could also use this as an outlet for whatever musical ideas we've never seen that we want to try.

 

[Vacant_Planets]

Exactly! So any base ideas? What do we want for sound? Speed? Vocals? etc

 

[Vimana]

I'm willing to try extreme metal like The Butt mentioned. Another thing I've wanted to try is mixing that Dead Can Dance-esque Ambient/World/New Age sound with Trip-Hop and Jazz (and maybe Melodic Black Metal, too). I was also thinking mixing Melodic Black Metal with Shoegaze or Trip-Hop would be pretty cool, too.

What about the rest of you guys?

 

[waif]

For coordinating, I've found drop-box is pretty good.
Butt I really recommend upgrading to GP 6, btw.

I'm actively song-writing for my band, so I'd like to stay away from that sort of stuff (melodic death/black). Shoegaze-y black metal could work. If people send me stuff I can see what it sparks.
I don't think writing really ambient stuff is going to work well with a collaboration like this because that stuff often depends heavily on the tones and the specifics of the recording almost as much as the composition.

 

[The Butt]

Is there compatibility issues with files made in GP6 with GP5? Also I agree that ambient might be a bad idea for the very reasons you describe.

But shoegazey black metal could be good. I usually just host my riffs on host-a.net, it's a pretty decent file hosting site IMO.

But if anyone wants emails, PM me and we can exchange emails through that avenue.

EDIT: I can also contribute lyrics if needed.

 

[Vimana]

On dropbox can you send stuff to other people? I've never used it, so I have no idea.

I've written some Melodic Black Metal melodies out by distorting piano. It almost sounds like guitar, but it's hard to tell the notes being played, so I put an undistorted piano track next to it.

I've got a Trip-Hop/Black Metal mix in one song. I'll have to upload it. I've found an artist that mixes Trip-Hop and Black Metal pretty successfully. http://www.reverbnation.com/netra

As for the process, I think it would make sense for everything to be written by all parties but the finishing touches to be put on by someone who can edit everything out using a DAW. There's also audacity, but I don't think it has effects like distortion, amp models, chorus, etc.

But yeah, I agree that ambience is harder to do on a virtual project.

 

[Vacant_Planets]

I've been playing guitar for 20 years, I've experience with all forms of metal, jazz and classical, no issue with that at all. Shoegazey is fine with me.

If we do multiple songs I can almost promise that not every song would fit into the same mold because of the different people on here, etc. Weare just said he does Melodic black, I've tinkered with prog and black. So this could get interesting. lol

So what are we thinking for an intro? I have tons of riffs but depending on how this works out we may have completely new riffs

Lastly, who is doing what as far as instrumentation? So we know what's being worked on.

 

[Vimana]

I have Reaper, which has a lot of effects, so I could do finishing touches and drums, but the drums could be replaced by actual drums or electronic drums if anyone has them.

 

[Vacant_Planets]

Sounds good! Wondering about a slow instrumental intro, or just break into it?

 

[Vimana]

Like in making a song in general, or an idea for a specific song?

 

[waif]

Is there compatibility issues with files made in GP6 with GP5? Also I agree that ambient might be a bad idea for the very reasons you describe.

You can open gp5 files in gp6 but not the other way around. But upgrade, it's worth it.

On dropbox can you send stuff to other people? I've never used it, so I have no idea.

It's like there's a file on everyone's computer that's shared.

I've been playing guitar for 20 years

How old are you? I thought you were a teenager, but I guess that's mostly because ending every sentence in lol makes you sound 12.

 

[Vimana]

So do we all create a single dropbox account, or is it possible to link multiple ones?

 

[waif]

http://www.dropbox.com/

 

[Vimana]

Oh, okay. I should have gotten in on that site earlier. I had no idea what it was.