Mudcat CD: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2

Subject: BLUE PLATE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL CD?
From: Genie
Date: 23 Nov 10 - 06:25 PM

Another question/suggestion:

How about having one CD that is all Christmas-Hanukkah-Solstice-New-Year's (etc.) music? I.e., songs usually done in December.

A lot of "Christmas" or "holiday" songs probably wouldn't be included on a 'regular' mix CD but may still be very good songs. And if we're shooting for the CD(s) to be available for next Christmas, I think a holiday season CD would be nice as one of the options.

Genie

Subject: RE: Tech: New BLUE PLATE SPECIALs Series 2
From: bradfordian
Date: 23 Nov 10 - 06:28 PM

25 expressions of interest so far (looking for quite a few more yet!!!!)

Here's the provisional schedule:-

Collection of Material ---- up to end of MARCH
Review & checking------- MARCH - APRIL
Prelim Selection --- MAY
Final Selection       ------June
Initial Build-    -------------July
Quality Enhancement/Normalization -------MAY - JULY
Final Build    ------------ August
Organize Logistics production and Distribution --June--- -----August
Final QA    ---end August
Production ---- SEPTEMBER
Release ----OCTOBER

slippage?????? not more than 1 MONTH    hopefully!!!!!!

YOUR CONCERN IS THE FIRST DEADLINE ----MARCH 2011
and NO this does NOT mean you can leave it to the last minute.
Remember the addage: First come first served!

bradfordian

Subject: RE: Tech: New BLUE PLATE SPECIALs Series 2
From: bradfordian
Date: 23 Nov 10 - 06:42 PM

WAV files preferred
would prefer to NOT have MP3, MP4, WMA ie compressed files, tho I won't totally exclude them if there is no other choice.

It is possible to clean up recordings in some cases.(but we still can't make a silk purse....) Technological advances have given us some handy tools to tweak issues.

And yes we are also more aware of quality and audio levels (normalisation)

I don't think it would be in our interests to specialise, or theme the CDs. The variety of the previous set was IMHO a great assett to the series.
If it came to choosing between two artists, one of whom was on the first series and one not, then the newcomer would get my vote.

bradfordian

Subject: RE: Tech: New BLUE PLATE SPECIALs Series 2
From: bradfordian
Date: 23 Nov 10 - 06:53 PM

Now here's a challenge.
You remember the multiple artists recording of PERFECT DAY????? And Maxie's Mudcat Blues (on Orchid)?

Well how about some of you folks getting together and doing a Mudcat collaboration for the CD?

It could be as simple as a number of people singing one line of a trad song! Then if we could also have a different one for each of the CDs!!!
I'm sure this could be done with the technology we have around us.

C'mon, y'know ya want to! you an' a few buddies.

bradfordian

Subject: RE: Tech: New BLUE PLATE SPECIALs Series 2
From: maeve
Date: 23 Nov 10 - 07:04 PM

Olddude should be in on this one.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Amos
Date: 23 Nov 10 - 08:39 PM

Way to go, Bradfordian!! Delighted to see a real project schedule laid out. Good start.

Many of the first series arrived in MP3. Others came in AIFF, some on cassettes which I streamed into SoundStudio. Some came on microdiskettes which I fortunately had a player for and could stream into SoundStudio.

SoundStudio and its PC counterparts have many filters for adjusting sound. I am fond of SoundSoap for cleaning up hums and crackles.

Here's to great start!


A

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Will Fly
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 07:34 AM

mp3 files can be sent by email as they're a reasonable size. Some email clients can't handle WAV files - too large.

Is there an address where a CD containing WAV file(s) could be sent? Or can your mailbox cope with these?

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: bradfordian
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 10:21 AM

OK, looks like its gonna be easier to handle MP3s in e-mails.
I did a test and sent a 16MB WAV file from Hotmail. Took 5 mins to upload, but I received straight away. I got bags of room in my mailbox - 7GB.
The max size of attachment for hotmail, yahoo & gmail is 25MB, so this may be too small for some songs in WAV format.
Note that also your email provider has a limit of the size it can receive which may smaller, ie my virgin media says 20MB.
So anything over 20MB is gonna be problematical.

Be happy to send out my address by PM for CDs but please note, I am UK based. Do we need a base each side of the pond?

bradfordian

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 10:57 AM

I love the idea of each of us singing one line of a trad song. Count me in for that, too.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: bradfordian
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 12:44 PM

It has been suggested that we also run with a BLUE BOTTLE SPECIAL 2 and a seasonal CD (which is something which might not be done otherwise, and Christmas songs would not be selected for the main CDs anyway)in conjunction with the Blue Plates. I'm happy to receive submissions for these on the basis that while the iron is hot..... I can always delegate those tasks if necessary.

I'm satisfied I can import and decompress MP3s & other compressed files, so when emailing, send compressed files.

Any of you techy guys want to suggest how we can get a collaborative effort going?
One suggestion for a song could be RAGLAN ROAD, but there are hundreds of other songs too!

bradfordian

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Genie
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 12:56 PM

You can upload audio and video files to sites like MediaFire.com, free, and then send bradfordian the links so he can download them. This works really well for files that are too large for email.

I think the files uploaded to MediaFire can be in AIFF, wav, mp3 or other formats too.

Genie

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Amos
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 06:47 PM

I can dub a second track onto any file I receive, to add a voice or instrument to it.

Anyone can do this if they can listen to one while recording the other, even if they are using cassette equipment. Synchronizing them into a combined file may be a bit of work, though.


A

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: olddude
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 07:25 PM

You are welcome to any of mine, just take your pick and download whatever you wish off soundclick

Thank you

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: olddude
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 07:55 PM

You can download Amos mp3 at http://www.soundclick.com/amosmudcat
I think I set it for download, maybe not, just let me know Amos if you want me to set it or check it

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 08:19 PM

Please submit WAV files if at all possible. You don't have to upload them; just burn a disc and mail it in.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: IvanB
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 08:22 PM

I'm in, as well. Had intended to participate in the first set but let time get away from me. I'll determined not to let that happen again.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Big Mick
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 11:24 PM

Count me in. Great idea!

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Morticia
Date: 25 Nov 10 - 12:50 PM

Very happy to participate and thanks for asking Barrie, but as one or two others have said, I would like to see those who did not get a chance the first time given priority.

Having said that, I will ask the ladies in the Shanty Annas if they would like to contribute, we weren't together then.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Amergin
Date: 25 Nov 10 - 01:06 PM

I have some of my poems recorded....if that would be ok with you.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: bradfordian
Date: 25 Nov 10 - 04:58 PM

Amergin, nothing less than Eskimo Nell, I hope;
Morticia, the newcommers get the A side and the veterans get the B side ;-)
bradfordian

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Nick
Date: 25 Nov 10 - 06:47 PM

You send it is an easy and free way to move files up to 100mb around very easily without worrying about email limits

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Nov 10 - 09:05 PM

I'm in as well.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Tootler
Date: 26 Nov 10 - 03:24 PM

I'm interested.

Much of my stuff is solo wind instrument (recorder, flute and some harmonica). If I put up raw recordings of a couple of my own compositions, would anyone be interested in adding accompaniment? We could create an online band with the members long distances apart.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Nick
Date: 26 Nov 10 - 03:48 PM

If you want some accompaniment no problem

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Tootler
Date: 26 Nov 10 - 07:12 PM

And you have accompanied me before, Nick - remember the Three Tuns in Thirsk?

Now I need to sort some files out.

Changing the subject,

Uploading in FLAC might be an idea. Lossless compression and file size about 60% that of WAV.

I just did a comparison. Exporting a file from Audacity to 16 bit WAV produced a file of 34MB, the same file in FLAC was 20MB. A significant saving.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: bradfordian
Date: 26 Nov 10 - 08:18 PM

I'm using Audacity which can import and export FLAC files, which can then be turned into WAV files. The files are bigger than MP3 but smaller than WAV (so should fit within a 20MB email attachment limit) but the quality is better than MP3. Sounds good to me!

bradfordian

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Alan Day
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 04:19 AM

Thanks for your message.I am sure that Will and I can contribute something for this,I will discuss it with him tonight.
Al

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Fidjit
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 06:03 AM

Have sent you an e-mail with mp3 Will follow up with details of me and song.

Chas

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 08:09 AM

I'm in, though it will have to be MP3 which I can email.

How practicable is the "first come first served" policy? It sounds like the size-limit has already been exeeded, or soon will be - is there pressure on us to rush a submission to you? If so, does that mean not to bother if the quota has been filled? If not, how on earth do you choose? A chronological queue might be the most logical, but does this give the best musical results? (Pull-names-out-of-a-hat would be the most fair, but ditto.) I had wondered about recording something especially for this, but if there's time-pressure I can't.

How will all this work in practice? But it's a brilliant, brilliant idea.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 01:22 PM

I have a song from our last CD that I'd like to send for a holiday album (December Waltz) and a song from our future CD as a mudcat preview. However, my evaluation version of winzip only compresses the 33mb wav file down to 31mb, still not small enough to email. Is there a way to vary the ratio?

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 01:37 PM

Nothing's settled--I don't see that we're anywhere near ready to say that any limit has been exceeded.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: bradfordian
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 02:08 PM

The only quota we have is for 5 albums (max) tho it may well be less depending on the submissions. All material of suitable quality submitted by end March will be considered. Just don't everybody wait until March!!!!

For series 1 (5 CDs) we had 70 contributors and approx 100 songs.

Barbara, you could consider uploading the songs as wav files to www.mediafire.com (no membership required) and PM me the links.

Material is now arriving by e-mail, & by post. Thanks to those on the ball.

Thanks for peoples pledges, I will be following these up!

Still loking for material for the seasonal CD and the childrens CD.
Its never been so easy to make a digital recording. Experiment!

bradfordian

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 03:27 PM

OK then - it was the "first come first served" that confused me, because it seemed to give a clear indication.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Tootler
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 04:24 PM

Barbara,

See my earlier post. If you have Audacity (and it's available as a free download) you can save your song as a FLAC. On the basis of my trial, your 33MB WAV file should save as about 20MB. FLAC is a lossless compression so no data is lost.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 07:54 PM

Tootler, I do have Audacity but it doesn't have the option to save as a FLAC that I can find. I opened the wav file and tried to save it but the only options were to export it as mp3, ogg vorbis (what is that?) and wav. I looked into mediafire.com and will upload files there, but I would like to know how to save as FLAC in Audacity.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: bradfordian
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 04:16 AM

What version of Audacity do you have Barbara?
I have 1.3.11 which can IMPORT and EXPORT FLAC files.
It might be worth updating if your version is older.

AUDACITY version 1.3.12 here

bradfordian

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 08:41 AM

I had Audacity version 1.2 and have now updated to 1.3.12. Yes, it will export FLAC. Now what should I use to play FLAC files?

Have uploaded files to mediafire.com and will put together some notes before sending you the links. But first, morning tea and the Sunday paper!

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Susan of DT
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 05:44 PM

My singing has improved to the point where I might do one this time and I'll bug Dick to do one.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: bradfordian
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 06:13 PM

Barbara, only specialist hardware/software can play FLAC files. These files are primarily used to send and receive over the airwaves cos they are compressed -but better compressed (tho not smaller)than MP3s because they (supposedly) dont loose any of the original quality.

So once you receive a Flac file, you decompress it (import) to so that you can then "play" with it. Or if finished, turn it into MP3 or WMA to put onto a portable player or Wav for CDs. I think the main claim of compressed FLAC files is that they are "loseless" whereas MP3s canot claim that feature, and quality may suffer.

Hope this helps
Bradfordian

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Tootler
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 06:25 PM

Try VLC media player. It plays back FLAC files fine on my Ubuntu Linux system. There are also versions for Windows and Mac.

You can download VLC player free at http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

I use it as my regular media player for both audio and video.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 02:51 PM

Let's face it. Any sound files that are used will have to be converted to WAV format to put on the CD. Submitting iun any other format makes more work for mother.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Tootler
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 05:47 PM

Yes but using compressed formats makes it easier for transferring the data across the Internet. Of course there is then a trade off between quality and file size, especially with lossy compression so there is then the matter of what is an acceptable trade off.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 08:02 PM

Mediafire.com was very easy and works well to upload wav files. Compression not needed. Just put it out there and bradfordian can download it. Seems to be secure enough: only people to whom you send the link can download the file because searches are not possible and therefore no one can find it except the intended recipient. In fact you can also make it "private" with a password so even the link is more secure.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: KT
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 04:59 AM

Oooh, this sounds like fun! I'd like to give it a shot.

Thanks, Bradfordian, for lighting the fire, and to everyone who's in on this! Can't wait to hear it!

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Tootler
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 03:47 PM

You can upload files to Sound Cloud: http://soundcloud.com/ and make them downloadable.

They will accept files in any common audio format, mp3, wav, aiff, Flac & Ogg.

There is a limit on how much you can upload but it is defined in playing time not file size. The free version gives you 120 minutes. As long as you make your file downloadable then it can be downloaded in the format it was uploaded.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Amos
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 03:57 PM

BF:

If you don't make KT produce a cut to be included, you will be hunted down and chastised for the omission!!


A

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: Cool Beans
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 08:36 PM

I'd like to contribute one of my songs.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: reggie miles
Date: 01 Dec 10 - 12:21 AM

I've not been poking around the Cafe much lately. I'm glad that I dropped by today and found this thread.

One of my songs, "The Girl With The Shimmy In Her Pants", was included in the first set. I would be delighted to have the opportunity to be a part of this new project as well.

Some of my songs would never have been written had it not been for my time spent here. "Drunk" and "A Dilly Of A Tale", are two examples of songs that came into being due to my postings here. Though, I can't imagine what song or songs that I'd offer from among the selection of songs that I now have available.

I'm in the midst of developing the songs that will fill my next three recordings but I have few recorded as yet. With the deadline for submissions that far off, perhaps I'll be able to offer some of my newest work to this effort.

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: bradfordian
Date: 04 Dec 10 - 04:56 AM

As a parallel task, I am collecting material for a Christmas/Hanuka/Winter CD and have a few contributions. Prior to and during the holiday period, if any of you are performing or preparing suitable songs, if someone could have a recording device and then upload them to me, it would be much appreciated. I need about 20 items, and hopefully the CD would be made available by next Christmas along with the Blue Plate Special 2 set.

For any members seeing this for the first time, I'm still on the lookout for contributions to the Blue Plate Special 2. I've probably got enough for the first CD now, but keep them coming. See previous posts for further details.

bradfordian

Subject: RE: Tech: New 'Blue Plate Specials' Series 2
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 04 Dec 10 - 05:11 AM

CD in the post. It's over to you now :)