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I'm Going to Make Music and You Can Too

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Nappuccino

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I’ve been recording music for years, coming up with what I like to call “sketches”. These are just snippets of songs, but very rarely anything super fleshed out. Well, I want to change that. I’m setting a goal for myself to make a complete album, to the best of my abilities, by the end of the year.

That said, like most things, this is easier with a group of people attempting the same thing, or at least something similar. I want to open this challenge up to everyone on Gaf so we can find some musical compatriots. I think it’s only fair that we set our own self goals for something we feel’s attainable. Want to make an EP? Perfect. Want to just make your first fully-layered song with vocals, drums, synths, what have you? What are you doing, get involved! Always wanted to learn an instrument? What better way than putting five minutes of knowledge together for a punk song?

Got Audacity? Sweet, it's free. So do I.

Got Fruity Loops? Cool, it's a music thing too.

Got Garage Band? Awesome, I have no idea what it does because I have a PC :(

No matter the skill level or the goal, the more of us digging in and supporting the rest, the better.

My personal challenge: record a ten song album by December 31, 2013 with at least half of the tracks containing original lyrics and vocals from yours truly.

Your personal challenge: whatever fits the bill.

Those pledged:

-Riptwo: an EP by Dec 31
-FelixOrion: an EP by Dec 31
-FrostuTheNinja: Punk covers by Sept 1
-Servbot24: three songs by Dec 31 (?)
-Godofnerdiness: X number of metal tracks by ???
-timmaysmittay: full on album by ???
-killertofu: an EP by Dec 31
-jillytot: an Album by Dec 31
-polyh3dron: An EP by Nov 30
-swaggerbot3000: EP by Dec 31
-XANDER CAGE: DJ set and an original tune by Aug 31
-Jakeh111: Album by Dec 31
-Zee_truly evil: EP (or two) by Dec 3
-Screaming Meat: " I will complete the structures, lyrics and arrangements of 4 or, if I'm feeling really flush, 5 tracks by the end of the year"
-Übermatik: Album by Dec 31 (sounded like a pledge to me :P)
-deli2000: 7 track album by 31
-Jedeye Sniv: EP by 31
-kogasu: 4 original songs and 3-4 covers by Dec 31
-InaudibleWhispa: mashup album by Dec 31
-teruterubozu: 5 song EP by Dec 31
-Ourobolus: one song by Dec 31
-Djungelfrukt: EP by Dec 31
-Toy Soldier: 5 song EP by Dec 31
-SpacLock: album by Dec 31
-JJDinomite: album by Dec 31
-FreeChicken: 4 song EP by Dec 31
-injurai: learn Cubase and start composing
-PigSpeakers: EP by Dec 31
-OrlanisWorks: a five track EP and Cover Art by Dec 31
-Sadsic: 5 EPs by Dec 31
-Karak: 12 songs by Dec 28
-BlueMagic: an EP by Dec 31
-Bufbaf: an album by Dec 31
-JeTmAn81: a 5 song EP by Dec 31
-Quackula: an album by Dec 31
-Like the hat?: three original songs by Dec 31
-Shiv47: an EP by Dec 31
-IHeartTSwift: 5 song EP by Dec 31
-3phemeral: Two songs by Dec 31
-Invisible Man: 5 song EP by Dec 31
-Punks: 10 song Album by Dec 31
-amnesiac: EP by November
-Galang: Album by Dec 31
-Im_So_Pringles: EP by Dec 31
-BlueSteel: EP by Sept 1
-DrBo42: 3 track EP by Dec 31
-injurai: EP by Dec 31
-Skerj: 5 song EP by Dec 31
-MikeHaggar: 10 song album by Dec 31
-Kaizer: 5 track EP by Dec 31
-Wahrer: 11 track album by Aug 31
-EVOL 100%: 6 track EP by Dec 21
-Timedog: 5 song EP by Dec 31
-I Push Fat Kids: 10 track album by Dec 31
-Blair: 5 track EP by Dec 31
-Chainsawkitten: ??? by Dec 31
-jongkookie: 5 track EP by Dec 31
-Jellycrackers: 7 track album by Dec 31
-batbeg: 3 songs by Dec 31
-thezerofire: EP by Dec 31
-neos: One song by Dec 31
-deafmedal1: 3-5 song EP by Dec 31
-Fugu: ??? by Dec 31
-sqwarlock: 3 song EP by Dec 31
-Dragun619: 5 track EP by Dec 31
-bbdude: 5 track EP
-ohohdave 5 track EP
-FloatingDivider ??? by Dec 31
-richisawesome 5 track EP by end of the month

(If I've missed anyone or anyone wants their pledge changed, PM me)

AgentWhiskers suggested we have a NeoGaf compilation album with those of us who meet the goal. I think this is a great idea and, if everyone who completes this is willing, I think we should set up a Pay What You Want album where the proceeds go to some fantastic charity that's yet to be decided.

--A couple stipulations for the compilation album. (this is where things get a little serious, but just to cover my butt).
1) All the songs will have to be an original effort
2) If you use samples, they're either made by yourself, copyright free, or copyright granted with permission to be used in the compilation album
3) Each artist is going to be responsible for these matters for their track, so any copyright violation will be directed to them. I'll post a disclaimer on the compilation's page stating as such
4) If a label tells me any of the tracks are violating their copyright, I'll take them down immediately so they don't come after me

(Hopefully everyone's understanding. I added them now so there shouldn't be any surprises later :) )
 
FAQ that will be expanded as I go on and learn more things.

I don't have any money, what can I do?: You can get Audacity. It's an open source recording too that works pretty darn ok. REAPER is another (free-ish) alternative.

What if I like loops (and still don't have money)?: This is a little out of my zone, but it seems like ACID express is a good starting point. Studio One has a free version that seems pretty powerful too.

How do I record things: For starting out, damn near any usb mic will do. My first tracks were made with a gaming-headset mic. Was it amazing? Actually, it was pretty darn good.

But Napp, I like spending money to get good things: How much money? For a good step up from that headset, you can get a Blue Snowball for about 60 bucks and they work pretty darn ok. You just plug it into your pc and go. The Audio-Technica ATR2500-USB is popular too. There are a lot of options in the 60-150 range here.

No, I mean like, a lot of money: Here's where we get out of my knowledge depth. Personally, I got a little Phantom power/mixer combo for about 99 bucks, and a package deal that has two half decent mics from Guitar Center. It's /ok/ but I regret not just buying one solid mic for the price of two. This is something I'd like to learn more about, but money is the main limiter.

You've failed me Napp: I'm sorry. But I'll be trying to learn more!

Do you have any good recording tutorials or wiki?: TBA

Well, where can I put my music, can you at least tell me that? Yes! There are several decent ways of sharing your music these days. Firstly, there's Bandcamp. It's a music store and streaming service. You get to decide the price (or let your listeners decide) for the download and it stays up streaming for free. (They take something like 15% of your purchase, which is actually a super nice deal.) They have stat tracking too, so you can see which of your songs are most popular and which songs people just can't be bothered to finish. That's nice to know, right? Oh, did I mention it's free? Be warned though, you can upload covers only if the original artist gives permission.

Secondly, there's Sound Cloud. This one's technically a music blog and it's fairly popular. It lets people comment on your tunes and they can chose the marker for where on your song their comment shows up. It's free to have, but the free version only lets you host 2 hours of music which is kind of lame.

Thirdly, if you want to just give your music away because screw DRM and all those mad profits you'll be getting (you're just a swell artist like that) Mediafire is a fantastic upload/download service.

That's all well and good, but what if I'm just in need of some drum beats and synths for my project's tracks?: Well, you're in the right place because AgentWhiskers is a supremely awesome guy and has offered his talents to those of us in the thread.

AgentWhiskers said:
What a fantastic idea for a thread.

I got my own projects going on and was originally planning to release my 5th album by the end of the year (not looking likely at this point) but if anybody needs any lead synths/guitars or drum tracks, don't hesitate to ask and I'll whip something up for you free of charge. Or if you want to support me and buy an album or two in exchange, I wouldn't mind. ;)

You can check out my electro work at SoundCloud and my album work at Bandcamp.

Happy music-making everyone!
Click to expand...

Another awesome person has offered their talents for mixing/mastering

Jakeh111 said:
If anyone needs a sound engineer to go over their tracks to mix/master pm me
Click to expand...
 
I'm in. I want to finish an EP (or an entire album if things go really well) by the end of the year. I recorded an EP years ago and haven't had the drive to finish anything of substance since, and this sounds like a good push.
 
I'm sorry, I am tone deaf and have no rhythm. I can tell two notes are different, but sometimes I can't tell which is higher.

I struggle to even tell whether two tunes with different lyrics are the same music.
 
I've been in the process of writing an EP/small album for a while. My writing process is really bad and really slow and that's my fault. I wanna have it out by the end of the year though.
 
Awesome! I'm glad we have some takers already!

@Riptwo: Still got the old EP lying around? It would be cool to hear how you've progressed as this goes on.

@Mrkgoo: Sounds like your up for a punk album!

@Felix Orion: What is your writing process? Do you have something consistent or, is it like mine, and it changes all the time?
 
I'll be following. I've been playing guitar for 10 years now and have recorded only 3 little "songs". I can't play drums and I can't sing, so they're mostly drum-less instrumentals. I've tried spicing them up by playing bass and piano (I dabble very, very lightly with). I'd love to learn how to program drums...but it sees damn hard.
 
Vincent Alexander said:
I'll be following. I've been playing guitar for 10 years now and have recorded only 3 little "songs". I can't play drums and I can't sing, so they're mostly drum-less instrumentals. I've tried spicing them up by playing bass and piano (I dabble very, very lightly with). I'd love to learn how to program drums...but it sees damn hard.
Click to expand...

This is pretty much my stage. I have no real ability to sing or anything else, so my "songs" are mostly a pretty good rhythm track with some noodling on top of it. I'm looking to change this.

I did find one awesome drum machine years ago, but I uninstalled it before I really got into recording music and never found it again since.
 
This is awesome. I have always fiddled with some e-music apps on my ipad but never really sit down and go very far with them. The only songs I've 'completed' are with figure, which I don't think really counts, haha.

This could be some cool inspiration to get off my ass with this!
 
If I made an album it would be entirely created on the computer. I can't play an instrument and I cant sing, but music composition and lyricism fascinate the hell out of me. Isn't electronic music just that? Does audacity do that?
 
I can never finish anything I do.

According to a quick search, I have 232 .flp (FL Studio project files) on my computer, few that I can call "shareable". Sucks cuz when I'm driving or at work, I can think of the perfect sound, but when I get home, I can't be arsed to look for this one drum sample, or change these chords around, or play around with the EQ.

Still, I have fun making stuff, and can actually listen to my own incomplete stuff on loop for hours (sorta weird but eh),

I mostly do video game or ambient stuff, and mostly for a huge game project I'm making. In fact I pretty much learned how to make music from studying video game MIDIs >__>

Got a soundcloud with...one snippet for a remix of an obscure DOS game.
 
Surface of Me said:
If I made an album it would be entirely created on the computer. I can't play an instrument and I cant sing, but music composition and lyricism fascinate the hell out of me. Isn't electronic music just that? Does audacity do that?
Click to expand...

If you can make music on a computer then you can probably play the keyboard/synthesizer decently. Most computer-made music is based off of the piano roll which is essentially like making music on the keyboard.
 
this is really something I should do. Ive got all the recording equipment id need it's just a matter of putting it all down. Like you, I also have about 100 snippets of songs recorded with half written lyrics/drums/guitar/piano. guitar is my main instrument so I mainly write songs through that and go from there. Ideally id like to get like a 6 song EP done. Ill go ahead and join but I may be moving soon so if that occurs it will be tough to complete.
 
maxxpower said:
If you can make music on a computer then you can probably play the keyboard/synthesizer decently. Most computer-made music is based off of the piano roll which is essentially like making music on the keyboard.
Click to expand...

I did feel some resonance just messing around with the keyboard while remembering some lyrics I wrote with improvised composition.
 
Nappuccino said:
Awesome! I'm glad we have some takers already!

@Felix Orion: What is your writing process? Do you have something consistent or, is it like mine, and it changes all the time?
Click to expand...

It's a pretty ephemeral thing. It's probably really bad to do, but I wait for some sort of feeling hits me and I need to write, I write and it usually comes out good. Doesn't really matter exactly what that feeling or emotion is, but if it crosses that threshold, I hit it. Otherwise, just forcing myself to write seems...lacking. So it's a fleeting thing I capitalize on here and there.
 
Surface of Me said:
If I made an album it would be entirely created on the computer. I can't play an instrument and I cant sing, but music composition and lyricism fascinate the hell out of me. Isn't electronic music just that? Does audacity do that?
Click to expand...

Odds are Audacity won't be what you're looking for, I think something more like Fruity Loops/Garage Band is up that alley but I honestly don't have a whole lot of experience with them.

edit: and yeah, a keyboard is pretty darn intuitive especially if you learn just some of the most basic things about music (like notes repeat after every 12 keys and then you're in a new octave). Plus you can key up SFX and other things.
 
Alright, I'm in!

September 1st. I want to finish up those punk covers I started a few months back. Uploaded one track to bandcamp without realizing how hot the vocals were. Need to clean that up and record/upload the rest.

Looking forward to everyone's results! :D

Edit:

Here's my bandcamp stuff.

Critiques are always welcome.
 
great thread. I have so much crap made but not many things fleshed out. I was trying to make a track per month with vocals and stuff but that always seems to fall threw. lack of confidence, tradition musical knowledge and my jumping from project to project are really holding me back.
been trying to get something done for about 3yrs now lol
 
I don't have time for an album, or even a real EP. I'm going to set my goal at 3 songs. I have recorded lot of little sketches as well, but never a full song. I'll be using Ableton + Reason, and I hope to have a midi keyboard soon enough.

Btw, my sketches are here, https://soundcloud.com/ianbarkerspam, any critiques are very well appreciated. Night Fright and sketch 3 feature vocals most prominently, sketch 2 is the one I think turned out best.
 
FrostuTheNinja said:
Alright, I'm in!

September 1st. I want to finish up those punk covers I started a few months back. Uploaded one track to bandcamp without realizing how hot the vocals were. Need to clean that up and record/upload the rest.

Looking forward to everyone's results! :D
Click to expand...

It should be noted that Bandcamp is only cool with covers if you get the original artist's (or, I guess copy right owner's) permission. I've added that to the FAQ.
 
FrostuTheNinja said:
http://geetarsndrummasheens.bandcamp.com/]Here's my bandcamp stuff.

Critiques are always welcome.
Click to expand...
Link doesn't work!

Servbot24 said:
I don't have time for an album, or even a real EP. I'm going to set my goal at 3 songs. I have recorded lot of little sketches as well, but never a full song. I'll be using Ableton + Reason, and I hope to have a midi keyboard soon enough.

Btw, my sketches are here, https://soundcloud.com/ianbarkerspam, any critiques are very well appreciated. Night Fright and sketch 3 feature vocals most prominently, sketch 2 is the one I think turned out best.
Click to expand...
Nice. Giving a listen now. I'm really digging K$vMM.
 
Oh god, in the haze of setting up the thread, I didn't post my own link to my stuff.

This is the track that got me set on doing a album and starting this project. Hopefully the genesis of an album

http://thelowlyman.bandcamp.com/track/july-29-shaker

edit: I have two bandcamps for some reason: http://hughes.bandcamp.com/

I guess the first is my solo project and the second is my super solo project.

FrostuTheNinja said:
:shakes fist:

I didn't know that. Thanks for the tip! Whatever, I'll have something up by Sept 1st. :D
Click to expand...

It's all good. How ever you get them out, I look forward to hearing it!
 
I'd like to record a few metal tracks, although I haven't picked up the ol' guitar in a while. Guess I would need to learn other instruments as well.

Hrmm. Need money. Must get job.
 
Nappuccino said:
Oh god, in the haze of setting up the thread, I didn't post my own link to my stuff.

This is the track that got me set on doing a album and starting this project. Hopefully the genesis of an album

http://thelowlyman.bandcamp.com/track/july-29-shaker
Click to expand...
I really love the chords/progression of Keeper 2. I'd love to hear that one expanded on. Some damn good potential. Not that the others aren't good. I just really like that one.
 
Nappuccino said:
Oh god, in the haze of setting up the thread, I didn't post my own link to my stuff.

This is the track that got me set on doing a album and starting this project. Hopefully the genesis of an album

http://thelowlyman.bandcamp.com/track/july-29-shaker
Click to expand...

Nice. I'd encourage you to check out James Blackshaw (Glass Bead Game) and William Tyler (Impossible Truth). Neither of them are exactly your style, but it did remind me of them, both wonderful acoustic guitarists making long form folk instrumentals.
 
Vincent Alexander said:
I really love the chords/progression of Keeper 2. I'd love to hear that one expanded on. Some damn good potential. Not that the others aren't good. I just really like that one.
Click to expand...

haha, thanks, I know what you mean. Sadly, I've lost my notes for how that (and, frankly, a lot of my newer songs) went. Hopefully I find them or figure them out again :)

edit: I think I have keeper 2 figured out again. Huzzah!

Servbot24 said:
Nice. I'd encourage you to check out James Blackshaw (Glass Bead Game) and William Tyler (Impossible Truth). Neither of them are exactly your style, but it did remind me of them, both wonderful acoustic guitarists making long form folk instrumentals.
Click to expand...

Cool, I'll give them a look-see. I've got a special place in my heart for great acoustic folky musics.
 
Awesome idea for a thread!

I've recorded music for a long time too and have been writing music for the better part of the year, I plan to record an album really soon actually so I guess I'm in and I'll post it here when I'm done!

I suppose if we are linking sound clouds, might as well drop my old bands EP. New album sounds like a natural evolution of this stuff I'm just on my own this time.

www.soundcloud.com/godsavethequeen

Really digging that first song you posted Nappuuccino!
 
I'm in.

I was in LA a month ago and spent a few weeks there sleeping on my friend's floor. Every day they were recording for their EP so I got the bug.

Then I drove from LA to Florida by myself so there was a lot of lyrics just flowing out. I have 6 songs right now that I'm working on with a friend. It's just hard cause I'm usually spending my time trying to find a job and my friend has a weird schedule.

I also want to get more into playing the keyboard before I get really into it. Does anyone know a good place to start with that? I'm more of an acoustic guitar kind of guy but if I want something recorded I want some damn production value.
 
I'm game.

I am already scoring a game which will result in an album i guess, although the first song i wrote for this game is probably the first composition i ever put together. I am pretty new to music, but it's hellza fun.

https://soundcloud.com/jayoh-1

I have a lot of random stuff up. All the tracks that start with 2B are for mah game, 2Bix.
 
Well, I'm in.

I've been working on some songs for the game, but I've been "busy with school", so now is the perfect time to attempt to get some stuff done, eh?

Now, to find all the bass lines I've written. -_-
 
killertofu said:
I'm in.

I was in LA a month ago and spent a few weeks there sleeping on my friend's floor. Every day they were recording for their EP so I got the bug.

Then I drove from LA to Florida by myself so there was a lot of lyrics just flowing out. I have 6 songs right now that I'm working on with a friend. It's just hard cause I'm usually spending my time trying to find a job and my friend has a weird schedule.

I also want to get more into playing the keyboard before I get really into it. Does anyone know a good place to start with that? I'm more of an acoustic guitar kind of guy but if I want something recorded I want some damn production value.
Click to expand...

Line6Toneport_l.jpg


I have one of these and I highly recommend it because it comes with Gearbox (line 6's plug in program for guitars and microphones) and makes it really simple to record as well as playing through MIDI plug ins since you have a keyboard.

Its a Toneport KB37 by the way just google it, there are a lot of similar interfaces from other companies though so definitely shop around, I haven't bought gear in a while.
 
killertofu said:
I'm in.

I was in LA a month ago and spent a few weeks there sleeping on my friend's floor. Every day they were recording for their EP so I got the bug.

Then I drove from LA to Florida by myself so there was a lot of lyrics just flowing out. I have 6 songs right now that I'm working on with a friend. It's just hard cause I'm usually spending my time trying to find a job and my friend has a weird schedule.

I also want to get more into playing the keyboard before I get really into it. Does anyone know a good place to start with that? I'm more of an acoustic guitar kind of guy but if I want something recorded I want some damn production value.
Click to expand...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003V3C5Z6/?tag=neogaf0e-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005M02VPK/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Both of those have cheaper and fancier versions, but those brands are the place to start looking.
 
I've always wanted to, but I honestly don't even know where to start. Taking a composition from my brain and trying to scribe or reconstruct it... I need to figure out how to do this.
 
Waiting on my Ableton Push to be delivered and I'll be in for an instrumental EP. Used to produce hip hop music and had some commercial releases and all that about a decade ago. Let's say by November 30th.
 
I'll do it! I have a ton of cheap gear that's been sitting around that I need to put to use. Got a Torq Xponent, Garageband, an Akai trigger pad, and a Kaoscillator.

I want to get a full DJ set done by the end of August, and maybe an original song in that timeframe. Sign me up.
 
Personal update 1: I'm going to stick with my newer bandcamp page from here on out.

http://hughes.bandcamp.com/album/the-album-project-track-1

This is same track I linked earlier, but I have redone a couple elements and fixed some (not all) audio issues. Pretty much, I couldn't replicate the bassy percussion noise without blowing it out a bit. Disapointing, but I'm far from an expert. All in all, I think this is about ready for some vox. Hopefully I'll get to those soon.
 
This is awesome! I'm in!

Just released my first EP a few weeks back, my goal is to record another EP or maybe even a full album by the end of the year, already have the songs, just need some free time.
 
Hi. This is a splendid idea. I'm in.

I used to be in a band till everything fell to pieces a few years ago. Been trying to get some material together for a new venture but song-writing, for some reason, has become a bit of struggle of late; lots of ideas and sketches, nothing ever finished. It'll be nice to have an outside, unbiased support network to help spur me on (I will, of course, offer the same in return).

So, I pledge that I will complete the structures, lyrics and arrangements of 4 or, if I'm feeling really flush, 5 tracks by the end of the year in the hopes of gigging in the first few months of 2014 and recording them for an EP a further few months after that.
 
Hm, this is a cool idea... music is my world (second only to art...) but I've never been great at any instruments and have never attempted to make electronic music. I could give it a go though maybe...
 
I am so in.

I'm an amateur musician and Irecently finished my first album, which can be found here.

Album (7+ tracks & 30+ minutes) by 31st.
 
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