Let's make some music!

[Miguel]

Well, I thought it would be fun to try out the whole 'online collaborative' thing, so let's give it a shot.  We have a lot of musicians here so lets see what we can do!

[Note...the links below may need to be downloaded with a 'Save Target As' since the site uses a secure server and may not stream the MP3's properly for online
listening.]

This MP3 is the basic framework of a song I am writing.  It has most of the main rhythm and chord structure, bass and drums.
There are several fill parts as well.  It is divided into three main parts:  first, and main chord change that repeats twice, followed by an interlude section (short),
followed by a fast 'metalish' section.

The chords are basic:  Em7 and Bm7 for the main melody parts, with a chorus in Dmaj, Gmaj, C6, followed by an augmented B voicing.  The interlude and fast metal
riffs are in Em -> Gmaj modulation.

So all you guys that like Dorian mode are free to rip it up in E Dorian or B Dorian, both which sound perfect.

What I need is a main melody line, with accompanying harmonies if appropriate.

This MP3 is what I came up with.  The main melody is all in E Dorian.  I stress the 7th in the melody lines since the 7th tone carries all the way through the chord structure.  In the second chorus, I use an Ebow to show this.  A friend laid down the shredding solo in the end.  This take sounds a lot worse because
it was on my old recording setup.

So what I would like to do if for you all to take that first MP3 and lay some licks over it, and come up with your own melody line.  It can be sung, hummed, or you can do like I did and
just play a guitar part over it.  Originally I thought of coming up with words however all instrumental is cool too.

Let's colaborate!

[Sky]

The first one to put "Can't Touch This" on there gets banned! 

[Miguel]

The first one to put "Can't Touch This" on there gets banned!

Agreed...and nothing with furries either. ;)

[stray]

I have a nice little setup here, but I've been out of a mic for almost a year now.

I can try transfering something from a handheld recorder at least 

Also: The links don't work (either as "Save As" or just by clicking them).

[stray]

Actually....

It looks like a problem with IE7 (certificate related). Nevermind.

[edit]

Damnit, I could lay something on top of that

[edit] Second track sounds like the Cure a little bit

[Righ]

Without the drums please?

[Miguel]

You know how hard it is to keep a consistent rhythm guitar track without a drum overlay? ;)

Unfortunately I just moved, and my stuidio setup is in pieces.  I can try to do it blind in the software though by just muting the track and remixing
it down.

And yeah Stray, old metal guys like us get all excited when we can use Dorian don't we. 

[Margalis]

What kind of tools do you guys use for this sort of thing?

Edit: More specifically, software tools.

[stray]

I have an old 604 PowerMac with an old version Power Tools (and assorted plugs). It's still better than most of the newer consumer level stuff out there though. I also have a ton of software for Windows (getting old as well), but no hardware interfaces.

[Raph]

What kind of tools do you guys use for this sort of thing?

Edit: More specifically, software tools.

Acid Pro 4.0 & Sound Forge, an Audigy Platinum EX (the original Audigy that is), and handful of DX plugins for effects. I have a version of Cubasis and a version of Cakewalk around here somewhere too, but I always use Acid Pro. Oh, and I use Sibelius for notation/capture.

[Moaner]

What kind of tools do you guys use for this sort of thing?

Edit: More specifically, software tools.

Sonar.  I find it's much more intuitive than Cubase for the most part.  Pick up a M-audio 2496 and a decent mixer and you are good to go for lots of garage band fun.  I rewire Reason into Sonar as well.  The new version of Reason has almost convinced me I don't really need all this hardware anymore, but I just can't give up my Monomachine.  Elektron = love.

[Miguel]

Hmm, here's my setup:

1) Software - Sonar Producers Edition
2) Effects - sonitis FX DX plugins
3) Wavelab - for some post-mixed mastering or compression

For hardware, I have an Maudio 1010.  For guitar, I use a Behringer Vamp Pro recorded direct for most of the guitar parts.  For bass, I record direct using a Sansamp RBI.  For vocals, I use various mics through a RNP (Really-Nice-Preamp) sidechained with a RNC (Really-Nice-Comprossor).  Drum machine is done through a Roland TD8 triggered through MIDI from Sonar.  I also have to Vdrum pads that I use for more 'live' playing.  My setup is completely silent...no micing of guitar cabinets.

[Sky]

What kind of tools do you guys use for this sort of thing?

Edit: More specifically, software tools.

Windows Sound Recorder. I don't have any recording tools that I use. I have an old version of Cakewalk somewhere, but I hate using the mouse to record. I think I have an old version of Acid, which Raph mentioned. But I don't use any of it. I've mentioned in the guitar thread that I was hunting for a decent hard disk recorder, but I have yet to find any that meet my requirements. I don't like recording on the computer, but I would like something that has firewire to move the tracks to my pc. I found one that was close, but it bounced over all tracks as a mixdown, not discreetly.

Really, I don't give a shit to mess around recording anymore. I just like to play.

Miguel's track. Starts out ok, but the first heavy part got way to busy for me to play anything over. Then there is a solo over the fast metal part already. My girl liked the stuff I was playing over the early parts, but honestly I'm too lazy to try to remember the chord changes. That's why I play blues now. Also, I don't play dorian mode. Guess I'm a different kind of old metal guy.