Collaborating

[C64GLeN]

Hello everyone, I'm looking for a bit of advice of on Collaborating to create music

Over at ObscureInternet I am attempting to gather a few people together to create music, but I don't really have the first idea how to start.

I know that people on here have been involved in a number of Collaborations in the past and I'd hoped you would pass on the benefit of your experience.

[skitz]

Chap,

There are many ways to collaborate when creating music and in the digital world we live in today it has made it a simpler process in many ways.

I think you've hit the nail on the head though when you say you don't have the first idea how to start!

With any collaboration somebody must start with the idea and then you take it from there and the other person or persons throw in their ideas into the pot. Eventually you will get to a point where everyone is happy with the ideas and at that point one of the people must take on the role to produce the final track (I don't think it can be done any other way).

Also, you don't always have to be using the same software to collaborate as you could use other methods to swap ideas such as MIDI sequences or just plain WAV / MP3 files. It is obviously much easier however if you all use the same sequencer and own the same set of instruments (soft-synth's are easy enough but you can also use external gear and just decide on a certain sound towards the end of the project and record it).

One of the things you might try using is the Collab tool that comes with FLStudio - I assume you have the latest legal version of this right? (Collab doesn't work with cracked copies!)

I'm a FLStudio XXL Producer Edition user myself so if you have an idea I am in!

[Vosla]

If you need silly voice acting I might rise a hand in your general direction...

[C64GLeN]

Cheers, for the advice Skitz, it's been a great help for us to move forward.

I think you've hit the nail on the head though when you say you don't have the first idea how to start!

With any collaboration somebody must start with the idea and then you take it from there and the other person or persons throw in their ideas into the pot. Eventually you will get to a point where everyone is happy with the ideas and at that point one of the people must take on the role to produce the final track (I don't think it can be done any other way).

Fortunately the other guys on ObscureInternet have a few idea of what they want and need to do. I think my role in this will be more off a supervisory one than a musical one.

Also, you don't always have to be using the same software to collaborate as you could use other methods to swap ideas such as MIDI sequences or just plain WAV / MP3 files. It is obviously much easier however if you all use the same sequencer and own the same set of instruments (soft-synth's are easy enough but you can also use external gear and just decide on a certain sound towards the end of the project and record it).

Yes, that has been an issue for us, as we are all using different bits of software, so we've decided to share MIDI/WAV/MP3 files.

One of the things you might try using is the Collab tool that comes with FLStudio - I assume you have the latest legal version of this right? (Collab doesn't work with cracked copies!)

I'm a FLStudio XXL Producer Edition user myself so if you have an idea I am in!

I do have FLStudio, but it's certainly not the latest version (I got it in 2005) and I lost it and all the data for a load of unfinished remixes (including my ill-feated Matchday 2) in one of my big hard drive crash (why do we always learn the value of backups the hard way?).

However, I'm might take you up on that idea. As I've been tempted into getting back into doing the odd remix, so I'll see if It I'll let me dig out my registration details and have a play again.

If you need silly voice acting I might rise a hand in your general direction...

Thanks, Vosla. We may take you up on that.