How about we record a Bon Jovi song together?

Exercise: get a room of 15/20 people, put a metronome on and ask them all to clap on every fourth beat. noone will clap at exactly the same time.

If you just set out a tempo and lead sheet you're going to end up with one atrocious noise. if you're going to do this and want it to be listenable build it from the ground up - record the drums, then record and mix in the bass, then the other instruments one by one - lead vocals then backing vocals absolute last. Record each part to a backing track of the mixdown not to a click track. you've got to be realistic about what you're doing - rather than aiming for something that's clinical you need to be aiming for something that works in and of itself, and that means building it up carefully to allow for the varying abilities musically and with recording. any other way and I pity the person who gets lumped with mixing/producing!

hope that helps.

Nope. We need a click track so that everyone is playing at the exact right tempo. Without a click it's going to be impossible.

Also, we need to settle a file format to use. For example, everyone will save their contributions onto separate WAV-files. I doubt that we will find one piece of software that everyone has or know how to use.

So, once we have the click track (with a lead-in click, something like 2 or 4 bars) and we know the file format, everyone just loads up the click track and the basic track (drums, bass or guitar) and plays their part on a different track. The new track needs to start from the very beginning so that the syncing can be done later. In plain English: every recording must start at exactly the same place. Otherwise this all goes down the drain.

After the recording is done, the player will save and export his/her playing ONLY into a separate WAV-file. This way we have all the instruments on different tracks and the whole song can actually be mixed and mastered. I would prefer that people only record "dry" tracks, without any effects, but I think that will be too hard for most, especially singers and guitar players. The best thing would be to add the effects in the mixing stage, so that the whole track would sound the same.

And since we will be using lossless files, we will need a lot of space. Depending on how many tracks we're going to record (each vocalist and each backing vocal on their own tracks as well), it's going to be something like 20-30 or even more 4 minute WAVs. Mostly mono, I presume, but also probably some stereo (for example effected guitar tracks).

So, 16bit, 44.1KHz, mono audio files will take around 5 MBs per minute. Let's say 4 minute song times 20 tracks, that's about 400MBs. And that's probably the minimum amount that we'll have. 30 tracks and 5 minute song would be 750MBs. Not that it all needs to be transferred every time, but still.

Ice

There is some good info in here. Ultimately, I think it should be up to whoever hosts the project to set the specifics, but you have an important point that everyone needs to start recording at the same place... for instance 1 measure (at the tempo, --- BPMs) before the first instrument starts playing.

I suggest (and you may disagree) whoever hosts this thing, to lay down an acoustic and rough vocals (and drum sample or click track if can't get a drummer with the equipment) in a specific tempo for everyone to record on top of. So everyone knows what to play and when. Then they can bounce their instrument and send it back to the host. But again, whoever hosts can make the specific guidelines.

First let's pick a song. Without actually counting, it looked like LBOS was most favored. Agree? Disagree?

Seb, this is your thing. Do you want to host and mix?
If Seb declines, Iceman, do you?

Lastly, what are we going to do about drums?

Sorry, I don't have the time nor the energy to manage this big of a project.

As for drums, if we can't find anyone to play them, someone should program a drum track, but not with a tracker, but with a real drum software if possible, to have at least some degree of life in it.

Ice

Call me a bit stupid here and chastise me if you want. I've been out of the business for some time. But what if we find a suitable MIDI file - we all download exactly the same one and we work it from there. Basically add to the MIDI file while replacing bits that you record. This way we have a consistent tempo (BMP) for everyone. So once the bass track is recorded remove the midi bass track, once we have the drums done remove the drum track, guitars, keys, and vocals can be put over top. Seems like an easy & logical way if you ask me. This can be easily done in Logic or Cubase as you can sequence midi layers with audio layers. Thats how I used to record cover songs

Aloha !

I think what Ice has suggested is certainly true but I think it's making things way too difficult for everyone with the "starting things at the right time" etc. Why record something with a click track when all you need to do is sing along to the recording?

I'll handle the mixing duties and will deal with the possible nightmare that'll happen once I find out Ice was more right than I actually thought he is.

So my idea is the following; We'll do Little Bit Of Soul.

We've got 6 people right now, so all everyone will have to decide is what he wants to do. Just know that you can't sing lead, we've got 5 vocalists so far so you gotta split it up a bit. Also realize that some of us are not the best vocalists, it's mostly done for fun.

I'll go first:
- Lead vocals on:
You've been robbed, you've been used
You've been crucified and abused
You've been sacrificed and now you're confused
Ain't that the truth? Yeah, yeah

- Lead vocals on one of the chorusses:
When you're mad at the world
And you're feeling like you're losing control
All we need to survive is a little bit of soul,
Whoa oh, little bit of soul,
Whoa oh, a little bit of soul

- Some electric guitar fills here and there.

- Backing vocals on someone else's chorus.

Also, we need someone to just lay out the acoustic guitar track, this will have to be done by playing along to the studio version. If no one else wants to do this I'll do it but my timing is a bit shite every now and then so... And as for drums, it doesn't look like anyone's stepped in so just do it without them. This is a first try, it doesn't have to be perfect.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

alright then, I'll do the lead vocals on:
-You got a hole in your head
And a cold empty spot
In your big brass bed
When you're mad at the world and
You feel like you're losing control
All you need to get by is
A little bit of soul, yeah
Whooah a little bit of soul, yeah

and if noone doesn't wanna do the last one (which I think is impossible), I'll do it:
-When you're mad at the world
And you feel like
You're losing control
I know, I know
Need to survive is
A little bit of soul
Whooah a little bit of soul, yeah
Whooah a little bit of soul
C-mon, c-mon
Whooah a little bit of soul

And if someone wants backing vocals from a woman (that's me! ) I'll help you out!

I'd be interested in taking part...I can sing and/or play guitar/bass.

Aloha !

I've added you to the list, I think you'd like to go nuts on the ad libs in the end so feel free to do so, and if more want to do so I can always mix it up a bit.

Well sure, if you can record your stuff you're free to join in. Just say what you want to do vocally, and maybe you've got an idea for some guitar work as well?

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

Ive just discussed with my brother about what I'll do and he's changed the parts. I'll head over next weekend or so to start recording our parts. I'll be doing backing vocals mostly plus some lead and if it all works out try to get some nice sax-sound in the recording as well.

This will be a lot of fun!

I salute you,
TS