The Mandelbrot Set: Let's Get Rolling!
(New thread for a new attempt at moving this forward.)
This thread is for discussion -- let's not say discussion. This thread is for progress on the longest-lasting, most inert forum project ever, the Jonathan Coulton Internet cover band, The Mandelbrot Set.
Previously, we decided that our first cover would be "Re Your Brains." Then everyone kinda stalled there waiting for someone to tell us what to do. So here's what to do:
Okay, GO!
This thread is for discussion -- let's not say discussion. This thread is for progress on the longest-lasting, most inert forum project ever, the Jonathan Coulton Internet cover band, The Mandelbrot Set.
Previously, we decided that our first cover would be "Re Your Brains." Then everyone kinda stalled there waiting for someone to tell us what to do. So here's what to do:
- If you're not a member of the Mandelbrot Set Google Group (http://groups.google.com/group/JoCoCoGro/), join!
- Record yourself playing the entire track through in a normal way, suitable for accompaniment. Keep it fairly simple. Use the karaoke track, available from the Google Group, to guide you.
- Then record yourself playing one verse and/or chorus "in a style of your choosing" (still using the karaoke track for guidance). Don't change the chords, but go ahead and get a little creative, if you can. Check out Borba and MaW's "Repent Your Brains" recording, also available from the Google Group, for an idea of what I mean. (And feel free to piggyback off of one another's recordings and ideas.)
- (Vocalists may do the same, but don't sing the "All we want to do is eat your brains" lines of the chorus.)
- If you're recording yourself on multiple instruments, e.g. guitar and voice, submit each as a different track.
- Please leave a comment here to say you're planning to participate!
Okay, GO!
Comments
I play the electric guitar (still waiting to get an accoustic one) and bass guitar, and I sing. Unfortunately I only have a PC microphone, and so the quality isn't very good... But i'll try my best.
(also I'm not good at recording/editing overall)
What software pulls the audio from video? I have Windows Movie Maker and Audacity. Will either of those do?
ETA: I haven't tried this, but someone random suggests here:
[To note for the future: One of my many pet peeves (I should start a Jon Who-style list) is corrections or explanations that begin with "uh" or "um," as though one is addressing the dimwitted. I tell myself I should not take pleasure when such corrections or explanations prove totally misguided or uninformed.]
ETA: @Colleen: No need to apologize! Really wasn't much work -- just shuffled Google search terms around until I saw something promising. Has anyone ever tried MediaCoder (freeware, for Windows)? It appears to include functionality to extract audio in most formats from video in most formats, though again I haven't tried it. (mtgordon, you mentioned somewhere westa Woostah that you were extracting audio from YouTube files using some utility whose name I've forgotten -- is it Linux-only?)
(I can use it for this project and also use it for my kids' chorus, recording rehearsals and practice files. :-D)
1. If you're planning to record on multiple different instruments, e.g. guitar and voice, submit each as a different track.
2. Will everyone planning on recording something please post a comment here to say so?
Joining group... now!
linkz
And this is me performing Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution at a concert back in mid may. It just gives you an idea of my physiology and willingness to be completely insane. But since it is ACDC my vocal quality is crap.
Sorry I can't link proper.
I may, however, have to sit back and wait for a more suitable song. This one's a lot harder than it looks.
Keep that voice well-rested and mollycoddled, you hear?
That being said, I have uploaded a bunch of vocal tracks to the Google Group - mostly raw files, but one with all of the vocal tracks mixed just to see what it sounds like. All of the raw tracks are really soft, since I had the mic gain on low to avoid picking up any ambient sounds in my apartment. I figure it can be normalized later as needed.
ETA: I had to record the lead vocal track first thing in the morning, while I still had a low C. :-)
Would everybody feel better if we agree on who is mixing?
Re: mixing (not your brains), 1) I am not skilled in this area, 2) I will be traveling a lot this summer, and 3) I have my fingers in too many pies already.
(Actually, I like the idea of multiple mixers, since the other way seems to put a lot of pressure on The One.)
I can also talk myself into the idea that I can sing... but I really have no clue for sure, and I'm too self conscious to record anything while people are home O.o
EDIT: [email protected] is the email you should send to.
Not that I'm saying it's good enough to be our lead vocal (I don't think it is), but you can use it for your mixing demo.
Can I hope for a couple more? Time to start badgering ukeists of my acquaintance, I fear...
(Also, Borba, according to the Google Group, your e-mail seems to be bouncing.)
ETA: I've theoretically ripped Jsten's track and added it to the group files.
Also, thnanks to Bry for ripping my audio from youtube. Not sure if it works but it must for all you.
Question: Who is attempting the solo and on what instrument?
This also depends, in part, on which method we choose for mixing -- if we have multiple canonical versions, then perhaps there'd be room for multiple solos.
I'm going to encourage everyone who might want to solo to go ahead and record and submit it, WITH THE CAVEAT THAT the solo might not be used. So if you're going to submit a solo, set your ego aside, please. I'm serious -- this is supposed to be fun, not competitive. If this causes any sort of infighting or bad blood, be prepared for the executive mandate that the solo will consist of my crinkling a paper bag into a microphone for sixteen measures.