Internet Band Tips Needed

[toyranch]

Hi, my name is Bobby and I'm an online friend of Tracy's. She had been talking about her brother's internet band and I saw some of the TSO videos and such and was very impressed. Some friends of mine and I were talking about trying a similar project, just for fun, and I asked Tracy if she could ask for any tips and she sent me here.

We're a bunch of old married guys who mostly haven't played in years, but were all in bands in the 70's and 80's playing club gigs and such. I don't believe any of us have ever recorded on anything but acetate, and since this isn't a pro project we're not looking to invest a bunch of money.

So anyway, any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!~

Bobby

[Tracy]

Hey Bobby! Good to see ya. If anyone can help you along that path, these guys sure can.

EMP, Bobby is a years long internet friend of mine. Bobby, meet EMP and EMP meet Bobby :)

[MarkE]

Hi Bobby (and tra)

Sure...we can help.

Each member will need to have some sort of recording device to record his tracks to mp3, wav or other format.

At least one of you will need to be "Producer". Producer needs to have some way of combining the tracks to assemble the final song. This could be either studio software on your computer, or a seperate multitrack recording machine. Here are a series of articles I wrote on the subject, but you can find this info all over the Internet
http://www.homestudioprojects.com/home-studio-basics.htm

The easiest way to start is to pick a song that all agree upon, each person records his part using the original as a timing reference, everyone emails his tracks to the producer and the producer assembles it into the final product.
Even on instrumentally difficult songs the producer will have the bulk of the work in his lap as it is a tedius process.....but worth the effort.

We can give you more detailed help as time goes on and I can even help produce the track. Just let me know

MarkE

[babayaga]

Hi Bobby....

Showing that EMP is a truly international combine, hello from Beatleland, UK!

The concept of working together over the internet was a new one for me as well when I virtually met Mark and the guys on the Web, but its surprising how well it does work out. Mark's right though... a lot of the effort is on the production side to get things right.

I'm working on my second production piece for EMP... a version of 'In My Life' by the Beatles. I'm learning a lot working with the guys on the projects we're doing, so (like Mark) if I can help out with anything at all, just give me a shout.

Take care - Graham.

[SilverHamer]

Hello Bobby!

I am in the same boat with Graham. I think I am probably the newest member of this effort and I can honestly say that this has been both mind boggling as well as one of the absolute thrills of my life.

I have been making my own audio recordings for a few years utilizing my PC...I have not had any REAL studio equipment to work with, but I should have a Korg D3200 digital recorder sometime in the next week. What I have been doing is quite simple and could really only amount to demo quality at best...but MarkE has been able to make me sound like a real pro with his audio wizardry! ;)

I started out using the Creative Wave Studio software which came bundled with my SoundBlaster sound card for making my audio waves. I plugged straight into my soundcard input and used the windows audio features to adjust levels and such. I have since upgraded to a SoundBlaster Audigy Platinum with a front-loading module that uses 1/4" jacks for input which is a bit handier, and I got my hands on a copy of Steinburg WaveLab for recording my waves. Steinburg will also convert the files from wave to mp3...this is very important for sending the files over the internet as wave files tend to be humongus.

For mixing my audio waves...and this will probably make some of you laugh as it IS rather unique...I have been using a very low-end video editing program called Magix Video Deluxe. It lists for about $90 but I got mine on ebay for about half that price. Magix also makes a program called Magix Music Studio which I have used for making waves but I have found Steinburg to be a bit more user-friendly for me personally. Magix Music Studio also comes bundled with Magix MIDI Studio which is an awsome MIDI editing program. Music Studio was about the same price as Video Deluxe.

The thing about Video Deluxe is that you get 32 channels. It has decent post-production audio effects, eq, echo, reverb, compression, etc. And is very easy to use to build audio loops which I have found very helpful.

I know many people prefer Mac to do their music with because Mac is a more stable system. I have never owned a Mac so I am unable to give you any help there if you are a Mac user.

It really doesn't have to take a major investment to make multitrack recordings on your PC. But if you are an audiophile, you'll want to use something nicer. If you visit my myspace page, the second song in my myspace mp3 player (Songs From The Wood) is an example of what I have been able to do using the Magix/Steinburg programs I mentioned above.

http://www.myspace.com/larrycurtismusic

I hope this helps you a little.

LC

[babayaga]

Larry (et al)

I've no problem with the Magix software at all.... my local (Liverpool) freinds 'The Good Intentions' had their demo CD recorded (by me!) into Sonar 5, the tracks were then mastered using a combination of Wavelab and Magix Audio Studio. The final CD cut was built in Audio Studio which produced the CD masters of their album.

My video of 'Wishful Thinkin' which appears on my MySpace page was also produced using Magix software.

Bobby - the point is there's a lot of stuff out there at the minute which won't break the bank and can really produce some excellent results.

Let us know where you're at with this (i.e. with a wishlist of questions or things you'd like to have a go at) and I'm sure we'll collectively be able to help you out.

Take care - Graham.

[SilverHamer]

The wife called me on the phone just after I made my previous post...my Korg D3200, along with my new Samson Studio Condensor Mic, was delivered to my house today!!! WOOHOO! Dang...now I will need to construct a work station. Hmmmmm. LOL!

LC

[Tracy]

You guys are the best! I knew I wasn't steering Bobby wrong by sending him here. Thanks everybody!

Tracy

[MarkE]

Larry
Best of luck with the Korg. I just checked it out. It looks like a really nice machine. I had something similar and had a blast with it. Good luck!!

[SilverHamer]

Thanks Mark. Two of the songs in my player on myspace were recorded with my friend's D3200 and his Boss DR880...that gave me the fever to get mine. I'm really anxious to dive in.

[toyranch]

Thanks for all the input, it's really helpful. I'm trying to get a read on everyone's computer setups. It looks like, at least in the short term, I'm going to be ripping some tape to disc, as most folks don't have any kind of input that will allow them to record direct to drive.

I have an older Soundblaster Exitgy external sound card on my PC, and a buddy of mine is working with me on a program called Samplitude, which seems pretty good. He's used it quite a lot.

Have any of you worked on new compositions, or just cover tunes? We're working up a cover tune to see how this goes, but I think our ultimate goal is to write a lot of our own stuff. Once or twice a year, most of us get together, so playing live together at some point is a real likelyhood, but we are spread between Minnesota, Chicago, Texas, St Louis, and Ohio.

[babayaga]

Evening T.

I'm working on some original material (as I think we all probably are... but separately). It's a slow process however with the real world constraints kicking in. I know I've lot of unfinished work recorded that needs developing....

I think it was mentioned somewhere that EMP would like to do this.... I'm game, but I don't know how far the other guys have considered it in the past....

Marks(s), David, Larry, Jak... over to you!

Take care - Graham.

[MarkE]

I have made some original stuff, but all of it is filthy, lewd song parodies!

Seriously...I'd love to do something. Im better at lyrics than music but honestly I've never tried.
I could always fire up Fruity Loops and write a rap tune. Thats about all the talent rap takes anyway :)

[babayaga]

Mark.

These days I've been better at music than lyrics. Somehow lyrics are becoming more difficult for me to get inspiration for as I get older.... but I've been writing some stuff with Gabi from TGI (...her lyrics, my music).

Keep that in mind when you've got something you need a melody for!

G.

[SilverHamer]

Once in a while I become inspired to put down some original stuffs as well. I had some of it in my player on myspace once upon a time. I'm am not averse to doing orignal stuff with EMP...it will be very important to get a good rhythm section going first on whatever we do...or at least a reference click track or something. A lot of my own stuff starts out on acoustic guitar being played to a metronome or click...and then I add the other stuff beginning with the drum track and bass. Sometimes the acoustic guitar gets removed from the mix depending on the song. It will be a breath of fresh air for me to be able to work with a real drummer and bassist instead of having to lay down a basic drumbeat (usually programmed) and editing in fills, flams, and rolls...and hacking away at bass lines which I am not very adept at.

[MDDRUMZ]

I've worked on both lyrics and songs over the years, with very little of the latter memorialized beyond some ideas programmed to the Boss Dr. Rhythm Section. This is due to pretty severe limitations at physically playing guitar, keys and bass coupled with the "real world constraints" mentioned by Graham prevailing WAY too often. Thank goodness for EMP or my digital recorder would probably still be sitting here collecting dust as it was for over a year.

I'd be 100% game for working on original material with you guys and if even for nothing more than the fun of it, if any of you want to send a concept or track to me, I'll lay down some rhythms for it.

I can empathize with you guys. I MUCH prefer just playing the drums than going through the painstaking task of programming them.

[RandallFlagg]

Well, at least I'm not alone here!!!

Question - A friend of mine just gave me Storm 3.0.....he stated clearly that it's not the "best" music software but that it is "servicable" (usually means something to run from!) But it was free....so what the heck!

Anyone out there have any experience with said program?

If so, any tips would be greatly appreciated!!



RF

[RandallFlagg]

For anyones' edification: Today I ordered the most fantastic music software I have EVER had the privledge of "checking out". If you guys are in the market for software I HIGHLY recommend Pro Logic

This thing literally does it all!!

Granted, it is a little "pricey" (around $500.00) but when you can sit down with a bass and literally turn it into (and record) any instrument you can dream of....it's worth the price!!

Anyway....FYI



RF

[MarkE]

FWIW I think thats a wise decision. I looked at the specs and it seems like a fully capable program. I dont know too much about Apple.

I see a mixer in your future :)

You're gonna have a ball with this!

[RandallFlagg]

FWIW I think thats a wise decision. I looked at the specs and it seems like a fully capable program. I dont know too much about Apple.

I see a mixer in your future :)

You're gonna have a ball with this!


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I guess it "shows" a little, doesn't it........


Gotta be truthful here....I haven't been this stoked since "way back when"!!

And, I might add, you are correct. I was parusing the Recording stuff over at Guitar Center and (you guessed it) bought a mixer....

It is a Tascam TM D1000 digital mixer and, unfortunately, because it is a used mixer (but very clean) there was no manual....I'm not sure if you guys are aware of this (joking) but digital is a helluva lot more involved than Analog.......went to their website and ordered a manual.....shoot, I felt like a complete idiot just trying to power the dang thing up!!

Gotta love it!!


RF

[SilverHamer]

Randall, I know just how you are feeling...I have a Korg D3200 work station...WITH A DAMNED MANUAL...and I STILL have problems getting a grip on a lot of it. It's much bigger than I am right now, but at least I've figured out how to do basic stuff on it which is usable for the EMP projects which I have been part of. The manual is obviously written for people who are aquainted with all of their jargon...I'm one of those idiots who needs one of those "HOW TO" books for "Dummies".

[RandallFlagg]

Yeah, I felt like a complete idiot just trying to power the mixer up!!! Oh well, we'll get it going!!

Also, I forgot to mention that I also picked up a couple of powered monitors the KRK Rokits (8") models. Absolutely blew me AWAY!!!

I guess, in short, it's coming along very well.....and, yes....it's a BLAST!!




RF