how to exchange trax?

[comrade.1]

hello new to online collaboration

 

i record on nuendo do i send nprs do i compress to wavs?

what programs do i need ?

thnx

[Eric VB]

Hello and welcome, comrade.1!

 

WAV is an uncompressed format. This is good, because it means things like meter (timing) are not lost. WAV appears to be a universal format for all multitrack software. (At least, I haven't heard any complaints yet.) Use this for exchanging tracks.

 

MP3 is a compressed format. Much smaller files. It's fine for test mixes but not good for exchanging tracks. This is also a universal format used by nearly every online distributor.

 

Because WAVs can be large files, it helps to use a lossless compression tool on them. Different forums choose different tools. The last projects done here used the Shorten tool, because it is available for both Mac and PC. Check to see which compression tool everyone will be using.

 

In order to make files available to others you need a "host", or an internet site for storing and retrieving files. Some forums provide a small amount of host space. (MusicPlayer does not.) Some people use a site like SoundClick to host files, even though sites like these were intended for sharing complete songs. An easy way to host your files is to use YouSendIt.com. YouSendIt is designed to transfer files too large to send as an email attachment. You can use it slightly differently by sending the file to yourself, in which case YouSendIt will send you an URL. You can then post the URL to the forum so others can use it to download your file. (You can also use more traditional file hosting services such as an FTP server.)

 

If you want to lead a project you generally make a rough mix available so others can decide if they want to add a track. Otherwise you listen to other people's rough mixes and offer to add a track.

 

Once a collaboration is started the project lead needs to supply all the collaborators with a click track. This should contain some sort of "click" to fix the meter and timing of the song. Some people use a metronome-like click, others may use a MIDI drum sound, such as a hi hat. In general, though, you don't want to use a fully-arranged MIDI drumset, especially if one of your collaborators will be recording a drum track. In addition to the click you'll want to include a scratch track so collaborators aren't blindly recording to the click. A rhythm guitar part usually works well, as it establishes a basic rhythm and harmony. This doesn't have to be the final track; that's why it's called a scratch track. This way you're not holding up everyone while you try to nail a track. Including a couple of measures of just clicks before and after the song helps everyone align their parts.

 

Ok, hopefully everyone sends their tracks to the producer (typically the project lead) for critique. Tracks should be mono and not include the scratch track; a separate track for each instrument. It's a little tricky sometimes to communicate exactly what the producer is looking for; it's not like you're sitting in the same room while the person is tracking. So sometimes a track needs to be rerecorded. The project engineer (not always the project lead) then takes all the final tracks and makes a test mix. This can go back and forth between the engineer and producer (assuming they are different people) until the producer is satisfied.

 

Once a final mix is decided upon the engineer can host the final mix so all of the collaborators can hear the final, typically in MP3 format. For those needing CD-quality sound a WAV may be made available.

 

The difference between the original rough mix and the final WAV can be quite striking.

 

Most online collaboration sites will have some FAQ explaining these procedures and more details.

[RappinRandy]

Wav is usually best because it's uncompressed and better quality whereas the popular mp3 format is a compressed file.