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Recording Via Internet

#23
Mcgiver69 said:
You are correct! that scenario will be a nightmare is you need to keep going back and forth. The best approach would be for you two to settle on a DAW that runs in both PC & Mac.
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Not really, on either count.

There's nothing particularly nightmarish—or even unusual—about a project involving multiple musicians recording their tracks on different DAWs. One I worked on this afternoon has five musicians recording traditional and software instruments, captured as audio and MIDI, using four different DAWs on Mac, PC, and iOS. Plenty of projects get that hybrid just on the drum and percussion tracks.

And, having worked on plenty of common-platform projects (same DAW, all contributors on the same OS), IME that approach is usually still about sharing files, and then running mix sessions on one machine with a master set of plug-ins and software instruments. Otherwise (beyond all trusting one another's skills and taste), you also either all need the same set of plug-ins used on the project, or you end up rendering tracks for sharing—which gives you a work flow that might as well be on different DAWs.
 
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#26
Rev. Cornelius said:
It also makes life a whole lot easier if you use the same brand of interfaces. My band all use Focusrite Scarlet. USB to computer. Why not reduce as many variables as possible to the mix.
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Just curious: compared to projects when you've used multiple types of interfaces, why? What specific benefits are you reaping? What troubling variables are you avoiding?

I don't really care, within reason, assuming everyone's recording rig sounds good, gives them enough simultaneous channels for their part of the project, and (depending on how we're sharing tracks) the agreed-on sampling rate and bit depth. Once off-site collaborators have recorded their tracks, it doesn't matter to me what interface they used as their front end.
 
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#27
Rev. Cornelius said:
Sorry but I disagree with the above. Not my post above, but the one between me and me. For simplicity use the same DAW. It can be done as described above, but why if you are starting kind of fresh and not tied into any one DAW?
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Which part do you disagree with?

That recording projects using multiple DAWs aren't particularly unusual? Or that those projects need not be particularly "nightmarish," which was McGiver's advice that prompted my post?

Happy to clarify, once I see where it's needed.
 
#29
And why have to cut and paste individual wav files when you can just you can just load a whole project file? Referring to the same DAW. So much simpler for the artist starting out. The OP is just (for now) working with his cousin.
The less time spent on engineering and the more spent on creative writing is time well spent.
BTW, I hate spending time as an engineer as opposed to a recording artist. It blows.

Thanks
 
#30
It certainly could. Not to dismiss that, but I find that many interface issues boil down either to (a) idiosyncrasies between the interface and the individual's specific platform/OS, or (b) issues that transcend the particulars of interface brand or model.

Point (a) maybe is just to take your point to the next step: for a project of relatively new recording musicians, there'd be a benefit to everyone having the same platform, OS, etc, down to extensions and system settings, since that's where a good chunk of interface troubles live.

As for troubles of type (b), if nobody working on the project has more experience yet, maybe asking for outside advice from someone more seasoned might not be a bad idea.

If interface orthodoxy works for you, great. No knock on it. It's just that it's the exception rather than the rule, IME, and in practice I haven't seen a particular upside. But my projects aren't your projects, YMMV, etc.
 
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#32
Rev. Cornelius said:
And why have to cut and paste individual wav files when you can just you can just load a whole project file? Referring to the same DAW.
Thanks
Click to expand...

One important point is the Mac vs PC situation. If the guy with the Mac uses Logix or Garageband, there would be no way to use these in a PC, so each would have his own project files and format.

Beyond this, I have done this sort of thing in the past. What is important is the common reference between both parties (both recording over the same reference track) and delivering WAV files that match the starting time with the reference. After that and some minimal coordination, you are golden.
 
#35
jssherman said:
hello TB,

I’m trying to figure out a way to record with my cousin using the internet to transfer files. (I’m in MI and he’s in CA.) Basically I’d like to be able to record a part, send him the project and let him add guitar, send it back, etc. - building a song in layers like that.

He has a MacBook and iPhone. I have a PC, iPhone, iPad. We both have the ART Dual Pre USB too (though we don’t have to use that device). We’re not seeking “record” quality here, just a means of laying down tracks to send back and forth, so not looking to spend too much..

We’ve tried using GarageBand and sending project files via email but we were unable to open the project to add to it. I’ve also read that iPad to Mac is fine but you can’t go Mac to iPad with GarageBand.

Do you have any suggestions on software/hardware that would work and a means of sending project files? I’ve read a little about StudioMini (iOS app) but not positive on the ability to send project files via Dropbox or something and open them on the other end. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
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You can either: both have the same DAW program, and simply share the project folder via Google or one drive everytime one records something. Or, record parts and rip them to waves individually and send each other instrument recordings back and forth, and input them as tracks in eachother's DAWs separately. No real need for the same program, but it's a hassle not to.
 
#37
Another nice thing about using the same DAW is the ability to share fx and their settings. Over the past 5 years I have saved about 100 settings with unique names for things like gates, compressors, eq's, delays, etc. With Reaper it is not difficult to share your effects settings to other computers. There is a way to export the folder from 1 computer and import it into Reaper on another. It is great to have common settings particularly with 1 other person or members of 1 band. If you are working with many different groups using different DAW's and platforms, this of course is not practical. But in your case, OP, it does have it's advantages.

Thanks
 
#38
I do this all the time. Record my parts as individual .wav files, place them in drop box and the others pick them up, import them into an open track and they’re good to go. I do the reverse as send, send a mix via drop box, my partner will record a vocal and return just the vocal which I then drop into my project. It doesn’t matter what kind of daw either of us has as long as it can export/import individual tracks.

Must add the one of us is the designated Mix Master for a given tune - and stereo placement, volume and fix on each track and master mix is that person’s task.
 
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#40
Cloud.

Been using the cloud for the last year to transfer stuff back and forth to my guitarist in Canada (I'm in Florida).

I upload an MP-3 rough mix of ideas (drums, bass, crappy guitar), he DLs that, flies that into Reaper, puts down his stuff, sends jsut those guitar tracks (and an mp-3 mix) it up and back to me, i fly those parts back into my tracks, and boom!

A little tedious, and for whatever reason, my UL/DL speeds are much faster than his, but it works.

Cheaper than plane tix and cartage for all the gear!
 

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