Imitation is the best form of flattery. [more inside]
posted by Static Vagabond at 12:25 PM - 3 comments

Through a complex and all-but-inscrutable series of formulae and calculations, I have arrived at song assignments for the July Metafilter Music Challenge, which, as you probably all know, is to cover songs from The Velvet Underground & Nico. There were 35* interested participants from the original thread. With 11 songs comprising the album, we have 3 musicians for each tune, plus 2 extras, so two of the songs will get four cover treatments, if everyone comes through with their submission. [more inside]
posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:30 PM - 69 comments

'ere mate, got a spare middle eight you wanna offload...? [more inside]
posted by MajorDundee at 2:08 PM - 12 comments

How did Michael Jackson effect your life and music? [more inside]
posted by snsranch at 5:12 PM - 28 comments

Looking for good starter software to get me composing some killer tracks for MeMu. :) I'm looking for something I can use to create multi-track songs in mostly traditional notation, where it's entirely midi-inputted from a Kurzweil keyboard, yet has internal libraries and controls that let me finetune the fake instruments to sound passably good. [more inside] [more inside]
posted by hincandenza at 9:44 AM - 10 comments

Forgive the double post, but I want to be sure that as many musicians as possible see the MetaTalk thread I just started. Also, with this post to Music Talk, I'm only knocking the "won't upload" thread off the front page here, so I think it's a pardonable sin. Here's the MeTa thread. I hope all of you with an opinion on my proposal will take the time to express it over there at MetaTalk. Thanks.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:42 AM - 35 comments

Irony of ironies, there's a Leonard Cohen night on BBC4 tonight (19th June). Several programmes strung together including last year's Live In London show. Those of you living in the colonies can access this via the online BBC iPlayer, I should imagine. I feel duty bound to watch given my recent desecration of Hallethingy.....enjoy!!
posted by MajorDundee at 1:18 AM - 8 comments

Man, we really should compile all the Hallelujah covers together and try to get them to Leonard Cohen. [more inside]
posted by potch at 11:45 AM - 8 comments

Looking for a good way to create louder wavs and mp3s. [more inside]
posted by es_de_bah at 10:01 AM - 5 comments

Help me understand why I like the raw track better than the final mix. [more inside]
posted by InfidelZombie at 9:43 PM - 6 comments

Am I doing something wrong? [more inside]
posted by Danf at 12:02 PM - 7 comments

Autumn Challenge idea - collaboration to cover an entire "classic" album resulting in Xmas podcast e.g. "Sgt Pfeffers Boring Farts Hub Band" [more inside]
posted by MajorDundee at 3:06 PM - 130 comments

ISO sickeningly sentimental children's movie songs [more inside]
posted by dagosto at 3:08 AM - 11 comments

Thanks to everyone who submitted a tune for the May Challenge! Thirteen submissions came in, which ain't bad. If you have any thoughts, opinions, or points you'd like to make about last month's or this month's Challenges, please do so here. Also welcome in this thread (or directly as MeMail to yours truly): ideas for future Challenges. More ideas needed!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:27 PM - 26 comments

Anyone know what these speakers are? [more inside]
posted by BrnP84 at 9:19 AM - 3 comments

I had an idea for a Challenge, but I wanted to ask for some help, and also to see if anyone else thinks it's a decent idea... I was thinking, how about a MeFiMu Challenge where we cover a song that's been covered a LOT? I mean, let's take one of the handful of songs that's just been covered in and out and up and down, around and about, by everybody and his sister. One that there just can't possibly be anything new any of us could do with it. Then, of course, we HAVE to do something new with it! [more inside]
posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:26 PM - 62 comments

"To what extent is recording a science or an art? - discuss".* *Assume, for the purposes of discussion, that "recording" includes writing, arranging, performing and producing a piece of work [more inside]
posted by MajorDundee at 10:55 AM - 19 comments

So Props new product Record is in beta, I've signed up. I'm kinda disappointed that they didn't include any kind of plugin architecture natively. I can handle not having plugins, b/c of ReWire, but it would have been nice to have esp. for tools like Melodyne. On the plus side, the arrangement and mixing additions look very, very nice.
posted by bigmusic at 1:51 PM - 11 comments

How do I get all my songs to have a uniform volume? [more inside]
posted by Corduroy at 6:53 AM - 18 comments

Thanks to everyone who submitted a tune for the April Challenge! If you have any thoughts on it, points you'd like to make, whatever, feel free. Also welcome here: ideas for future Challenges. Also, I'll go ahead and post the May Challenges (two this month) here, and they'll also be in the usual spot very soon. Looking forward to hearing what everyone comes up with for this next round. Fire up the recorders! [more inside]
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:15 AM - 19 comments

I want to get perspective from anyone who's recorded and produced an album with local artists. [more inside]
posted by jake at 6:32 PM - 8 comments

Tips for recording handclaps [more inside]
posted by umbú at 8:59 PM - 13 comments

Last night I was trying to find some inspiration for the bluegrass I'm working on and the first thing that came on youtube was THIS. It's a pretty slow version of Home Sweet Home. [more inside]
posted by snsranch at 4:21 PM - 10 comments

After being a total dick in one of idiopath's recent postings, I realize that I need to understand what I am not appreciating. [more inside]
posted by dobie at 11:49 AM - 24 comments

I know how it is: you've got the music all together for your upcoming CD, everything sounds great, but... what about the jacket? You need inspiration, you need an idea, that perfect design that screams "buy this record!" Well, friends, look no further, for inspiration abounds at the Life's Railway to Heaven - Wholesome Gospel Family Record Covers flicker pool. [more inside]
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:49 PM - 12 comments

Principles for Artist Compensation in New Business Models [more inside]
posted by dobie at 11:05 AM - 6 comments

On April 21st, my band Tangemeenie is issuing a small limited CD release of "The Gilded Age," our first full-length since our only previous full-length debuted way back in 2002 on the tiny but mighty indie label Animal World Recordings. Since the MeFi music community played such a key role in helping me to complete this project (by providing feedback on rough mixes and helpful advice on the nuts and bolts of different stages of the production process), I'd like to invite everyone here to help themselves to free downloads of the final, mixed, mastered and officially-certified finished product over here before we release it in the usual way. [more inside]
posted by saulgoodman at 10:59 AM - 4 comments

The "amnesty month" idea (for March MeFiMu Challenge) got a pretty good reception, and there's been a fair number of submissions. But I'm thinking another month extension might be a good idea. I have a feeling some of y'all might go for that, and there's a hella lotta good Challenges from past months that are still crying out for some love. But, I'd like to put it to a vote. All in favor, say "aye". All against, say "enormous flaming marsupials". And please note that your humble MeFiMu Challenge coordinator will be in the woods, waaaaay offline, between March 29 and April 1 (and that's Japan time). When I'm back on the nets, I'll check in here, tally the results, and April will either be another amnesty month (which is, er, my vote) or we'll have some new Challenges. Okay? Let the voting begin.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:33 PM - 47 comments

I know, not a very clever title. It's all part of a general spring cleaning on the Steam Powered Studio website. [more inside]
posted by Liv Pooleside at 1:51 PM - 10 comments

To pitch correct, or not pitch correct...and requests for software recommendations if the answer is "pitch correct." [more inside]
posted by malocchio at 5:19 PM - 10 comments

I want to be in a band. But I don't know how to make that happen. Help? [more inside]
posted by ocherdraco at 12:43 PM - 9 comments

Suzuki Melodion vs. Hohner Melodica [more inside]
posted by Hoopo at 5:52 PM - 4 comments

Help transcribing Japanese lyrics? [more inside]
posted by abc123xyzinfinity at 8:57 AM - 4 comments

I have lyrics I have written. I have music (this awesome song posted by The White Hat, which inspired my words and which he has given me permission to use). I don't need to worry about my inability to sing, as I'm thinking spoken word might be the best way to combine the two. But how do I, as someone with basically no experience at recording and mixing music, best combine the two into a song? Where do I go/what do I do from here?
posted by Effigy2000 at 4:48 PM - 4 comments

Recording your own drum samples. Tips / Advice / Recommendations? [more inside]
posted by mary8nne at 11:50 PM - 15 comments

This month's Challenge is a one-parter: Amnesty Month - submit songs based on any previous music challenge that you may have missed. It was suggested by AppleSeed. I though it was big enough to stand on its own, so I decided to forgo the usual 3-part (Lyric / Music / Wildcard) format. Anyone displeased with this month's Challenge please feel free to vent here! The last two months have seen pitifully little in the way of contributions to the Challenges. Precisely 2 submissions for January, and 2 for February. The Christmas theme for December, however, had a whole buncha takers, so I guess it's just ebb and flow. I hope this month sees a little more interest in the Challenge. We shall see!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:55 PM - 22 comments

Reccommend some good advanced/Intermediate level Reference Books on Audio Mixing, Audio Mastering or Audio Recording. What are the best 'guides' for the intermediate. [more inside]
posted by mary8nne at 1:50 AM - 6 comments

Where do I start when it comes to buying recording gear? [more inside]
posted by BrnP84 at 4:03 PM - 16 comments

Two questions: [more inside]
posted by chimaera at 10:08 PM - 7 comments

What is the best way to speed up the tempo of an audio file without raising the pitch or losing sound quality? [more inside]
posted by umbú at 9:46 AM - 12 comments