After some experimentation, I've worked out a technique to put together multitrack recordings with musicians who are in a different location. The equipment needed at the musician end is relatively simple - just a device that will run Chrome and handle a mike and headphones. The recording end needs a bit more - the Windows OS, Chrome, a couple of shareware products from VB audio, and of course a DAW. I'm making use of Source-Connect Now, which is free while in beta.
I've achieved reasonable results - not top-quality studio but good enough for demos and general web publishing - and it's a lot of fun, both for me and the musicians involved.
Making Music Recordings Remotely part 1 looks at it from the contributor's end and part 2 tackles the recording end.
Part 1 is at https://youtu.be/fHSSke5u1bs
Part 2 is at https://youtu.be/K1W9fj60prU
Playlist for both of them is at Playlist at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... CNFPKzCqAx
Recording Musicians Remotely
Moderator: Moderators
Re: Recording Musicians Remotely
...A lot like the system described in this SOS article from a couple of months ago then... 
https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/remote-music-production
https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/remote-music-production
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- Hugh Robjohns
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Posts: 38950 Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 12:00 am
Location: Worcestershire, UK
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Technical Editor, Sound On Sound...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
Re: Recording Musicians Remotely
Good article. My biggest problem was looking for something that required minimal knowledge or equipment at the musician end, as some of the people I've been working with aren't into technology and just want to sing or play. With the method I came up with they only need the chrome browser, and most devices will support that.
Recording quality is dependent on internet throughput, but you can monitor the musician during the recording process to check for any glitches. I usually want to do a few takes anyway, and where I've had glitches I've been able to comp them out.
When I started out, it was taking us about 15 minutes for me to talk through the setup with the musician, get the right record levels etc, but since doing the videos and getting people to look at part1 (the musician end) I've been able to cut the time spent setting up.
I do think these interactive methods are more enjoyable that just asking someone to record to a backing track and send you the results. Its more fun for the musicians, and you have a better chance of getting the performance you want.
Recording quality is dependent on internet throughput, but you can monitor the musician during the recording process to check for any glitches. I usually want to do a few takes anyway, and where I've had glitches I've been able to comp them out.
When I started out, it was taking us about 15 minutes for me to talk through the setup with the musician, get the right record levels etc, but since doing the videos and getting people to look at part1 (the musician end) I've been able to cut the time spent setting up.
I do think these interactive methods are more enjoyable that just asking someone to record to a backing track and send you the results. Its more fun for the musicians, and you have a better chance of getting the performance you want.