Playing the saxophone Cafe members Christmas Quartet?

[h4yn0nnym0u5e]

Contributions uploaded - hope I'm not the only one, some are dead rough!

 

[h4yn0nnym0u5e]

I’m sort of assuming that although there are only 4 parts, the final mixes will allow for more than one person per part?

 

[Pete Thomas]

I’m sort of assuming that although there are only 4 parts, the final mixes will allow for more than one person per part?

It’s amazingly difficult to stay in tune with people you can’t hear!

That seems a bit complicated. maybe better to play to a backing track

So maybe it will need interim mixes. Quartet with doubled up parts is going to be difficult re tuning however you do it. Vibrato on unisons is awkward .

 

[ESJohn]

This is fun and educational! Just what every kid like me needs! I'm learning more about recording on Audacity as I go along. I transferred the click over to it and learned how to set up the audio to record and playback. The new headphones have a cord that plugs directly into the computer, so I think that the latency problem has been overcome.
My first recording had me getting slightly off of the pace in places, but I hope to have it ready by the end of the day. Our Sundays are usually pretty busy, so I'm working in-between other activities. Playing the same bars of music X3 has been more challenging than I had thought. If only I didn't have to breathe and move my eyes back up to the beginning!
Thanks to Digger and Pete for the early Christmas present! I hope to not disappoint you! Alto 2 should be in your hands soon.

 

[Digger2054]

I've been out most the day, but some great feedback.

Good point about parts - I haven't given it much thought, but will post what parts have been recorded. Nothing to stop others having a go.

@ESJohn glad to hear you've taken the plunge, the idea was to keep it fun.

I'll share all of the recordings so those interested can have experiment with mixing themselves, or maybe less confident players can use it as a play along.

 

[ESJohn]

Submitted. Not entirely satisfied with my work, so more than willing to resubmit. I'm looking forward to hearing all of the final products from the cafe members.

 

[Digger2054]

@ESJohn where have you submitted it to?

I've added @h4yn0nnym0u5e recordings to the google drive link, so other can play along/hear how the recording should be 'presented', and I now have a hankering for a bass sax

I'll try and get something recorded this week, might dust off the Soprano.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I’d be up for it. Can do a bit of mixing too, though I’m guessing Pete will make a better job of it…

Is it OK if I throw the mixing job back to you? Having just moved house, I thought everything would be sorted by now but we have just got a whole load of complications re: the house ( I won't bore you with details) but means my time is not as plentiful as I'd hoped. It may be a bit clearer in a week or two though. So best to start without me.

 

[sax panther]

I took part in the lockdown era cafe recording collaborations - planning to sit this one out so others can get involved, but if you end up needing any parts I'm happy to do some recording.

 

[Digger2054]

It's purely for fun, have a crack at a part.

I'll collate the recordings, so anyone can have a go at a mix too if they please.

If it gets people playing, trying recording and mixing, it's a win 👍

 

[h4yn0nnym0u5e]

Is it OK if I throw the mixing job back to you?

Sure, I’ll give it a go, at least until you get some bandwidth and discover my mixing skills are on a par with my playing, i.e. a bit rudimentary 😀

 

[Pete Thomas]

Just to clarify.

What is needed in order to mix the tracks in sync:

The first beat only of the two bar count in click track

Then no click at all while the saxophone is playing.

All the different tracks can then be lined up using the single click two bars before the saxophone starts.

NB: as above - it's possible I will not be able to get involved in mixing tracks at the moment, hopefull things will get a littel less manic with the house by the by at least the beginning of Dec so may be around to hlp with compiling and mixing then

 

[h4yn0nnym0u5e]

I had everything lined up in Reaper anyway, on separate tracks, so my exported independent instruments actually have one bar of count-in clicks at full volume, then bar 2 fades to nothing. Assume that will work just as well? As you say, the important thing is to have no audible clicks on the saxophone recording itself.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Assume that will work just as well?

That will work. As long as the click count in has at least the first click and is muted before the actual track, all will be fine.

 

[ESJohn]

Gotcha! I'll do a resubmission, probably later this week if that will work. You may file 13 the current submission. I understood the directions but am still lacking some of the tech savvy to accomplish the goal. What sort of deadline or cutoff date are you anticipating for this one? Will there be more carols coming?
I am enjoying learning all of this. I don't mind the do-overs as they tend to teach me just a bit more each time.

 

[Digger2054]

Gotcha! I'll do a resubmission, probably later this week if that will work. You may file 13 the current submission. I understood the directions but am still lacking some of the tech savvy to accomplish the goal. What sort of deadline or cutoff date are you anticipating for this one? Will there be more carols coming?
I am enjoying learning all of this. I don't mind the do-overs as they tend to teach me just a bit more each time.

Sorry just seen this!

Deadline, there isn't one particularly, I want to keep it quite relaxed, light hearted, and importantly fun, so there's no hard and fast rules, other than tempo, 3x repeats, and include the 'intro click' to help align the tracks.

Record what you can, or have a go at mixing other's recordings.

 

[h4yn0nnym0u5e]

@Digger2054, I've just uploaded a couple of mixes of my recordings to my DropBox - in the absence of a Google Drive sub-folder of yours that I can upload to, could you transfer so others can see / download, please? Hoping for other contributions soon...

The mixes only differ in the click - one has a count-in which fades, the other has a click throughout. Pick the one you prefer to play along to. It currently consists of SATB, with two takes of bari, plus extra soprano descant on the last verse, and contra doubling bari throughout.

 

[Digger2054]

@h4yn0nnym0u5e uploaded the Google Drive

 

[ESJohn]

Just sent my resubmission to Digger. This is an excellent learning experience for anyone that hasn't tried it yet. I used Audacity and had to figure out a way to have the two bars of clicks and then my recording with no clicks. I'm sure there is an easier way, but I began with the full click track, then added a second track with just the two measures of clicks. After trying various other methods that failed, I added a third track that I used to record just myself. After recording, I eliminated the full click track.
It seemed to work, but I will wait until Digger comments.
Maybe the melody for my next submission?

 

[Pete Thomas]

It seemed to work, but I will wait until Digger comments.

How do you confirm the different click takes are in sync with each other? Ideally the intro click would be edited from the actual click you play along to.