AF Community Music Project: Planning Thread

[RaShayRitto]

feel free to contribute anything that pops into your head. you can write lyrics to go over all the "reefer" riffs that match the concept (the song is about Galan and Lirneira). or you can jam out some drum parts. whatever tickles your fancy

[RaShayRitto]

So played around with transitioning Phil's track into the beginning of the Galan riff (reefer). Hope you don't mind Phil but i put some compression on your track and normalized it to 0db. Also for the final note of the track i gradually brought the volume up. Underneath it i have the beginning of reefer fade in.

this was just one transitioning i idea i had, making phil's track an actual part of the galan song. Another way we could do it is have Phil's track be separate so that there's a clear divide between the two, meaning reefer wont start until the strings die down in the wilderness track.

this is all just pre-planning of course since reefer isnt even properly recorded yet ^^;. but let me know what you guys think as far as approaching this

edit: note that both tracks are cut off, i just wanted to show you the transition

[miniPhil]

I like the transition. I don't think it would really work if you did it any other way. Also I tried playing 'seratest.mp3 (345.4 KB, 4 views)' but theres nothing on it :P Any idea how I can hear the track.

[Malkios]

I'm in your forum, posting in your thread. xD Anyway as far as musical talent goes, I play guitar mediocre-ly. I'm not too intelligent in the ways of music theory right now, but I'm learning fast. I can piece together stuff that flows pretty well. I also like to play around with my keyboard, but it's just playing around right now. Just throwing it out that I have one. I also play bass. I don't know much about the recording process, but again, I learn pretty fast, so if I could get a crash course in the ways of recording from someone I could definitely make this work.
So, here I am, let's get this party started! Well you've already done that, but whatevs.

[Seraphemei]

Malkios, we work on something this weekend together , possibly? Maybe? I have anything that can be used for recording, remember my connector from guitar to computer, etc?

[Teddy2116]

I don't know if I could be any use to you guys but try to make techno beats and sometime hip-hip beats if my friend helps me. So if you feel that I can be of use to you Shay inform me, ok?

[RaShayRitto]

I like the transition. I don't think it would really work if you did it any other way. Also I tried playing 'seratest.mp3 (345.4 KB, 4 views)' but theres nothing on it :P Any idea how I can hear the track.

strange, it works for me. is anyone else having the same problem?

I'm in your forum, posting in your thread. xD Anyway as far as musical talent goes, I play guitar mediocre-ly. I'm not too intelligent in the ways of music theory right now, but I'm learning fast. I can piece together stuff that flows pretty well. I also like to play around with my keyboard, but it's just playing around right now. Just throwing it out that I have one. I also play bass. I don't know much about the recording process, but again, I learn pretty fast, so if I could get a crash course in the ways of recording from someone I could definitely make this work.
So, here I am, let's get this party started! Well you've already done that, but whatevs.

glad to have you aboard malk! feel free to post your thoughts and riffs!

I don't know if I could be any use to you guys but try to make techno beats and sometime hip-hip beats if my friend helps me. So if you feel that I can be of use to you Shay inform me, ok?

well the beauty of doing a progressive project like this means we can incorporate TONS of stuff! just read our concept (kirei posts it on page 5) and see what it inspires you to make. i hope we see more of you!

[Teddy2116]

well the beauty of doing a progressive project like this means we can incorporate TONS of stuff! just read our concept (kirei posts it on page 5) and see what it inspires you to make. i hope we see more of you!

see that's the thing Shay, I'm too ninja you'd never see me only the music that is there in front of you lol :P

But nah, I'll see what I can do to help

[Seraphemei]

So are we planning to like create a bunch of pieces that surrounds the story Lirneira and Galan? Like a bunch of little song/ story like things? Or what...? >xD

[RaShayRitto]

So are we planning to like create a bunch of pieces that surrounds the story Lirneira and Galan? Like a bunch of little song/ story like things? Or what...? >xD

yes. essentially what we're making is a "concept album". while the entire creation story is undoubtedly very detailed and involves a vast number of characters and events, we're focusing primarily on Lirneira's change that kirei mentioned. So basically start with the nameless creating the sands and lirneira, then galan, then their union, then gheist, and then the aftermath. of course from there we could build upon the same concept or decide to end the project there.

or we could just start a new project after this is over.

[Seraphemei]

Hm... Okay! Awesome! *is totally getting some ideas*

[RaShayRitto]

now i'm starting to like the other transition idea, having reefer come in AFTER the strings die down in wilderness...just thinking out loud i guess. i have a few ideas for the gheist song, but i have three different ideas that i cant really choose between. I guess i'll record them so we can decide which sounds fitting for the character. although without Kirei around (she's unable to get on the net due to some circumstances) i wonder if we can still make a really informed decision

[Malkios]

Sounds like a plan, SLE!

So to everyone now, I'm wondering: Have we decided what everything is going to sound like? What kinds of music do I want to focus on creating? I tend to play with a softer style, and I'm only using my acoustic for now, though I have both my electric and bass, so let me know what we need. I love to experiment, but I just don't know what to play! xD

[Seraphemei]

I think anything and everything is the plan. Whatever can be brought to the project.

And on AF, call me SLE. It brings back memories! >xD

[Malkios]

I did call you SLE... whatsoever are you talking about...? XD
And good, then as soon as I figure out how to record stuff I have a neat acoustic part that I thought up last night!

[RaShayRitto]

as far as the style goes malk, you should backtrack to page 5 and read from there. most of what we have going on is either stoner-ish heaviness or clean emotive type stuff.

[miniPhil]

I did call you SLE... whatsoever are you talking about...? XD
And good, then as soon as I figure out how to record stuff I have a neat acoustic part that I thought up last night!

lol You clearly edited your post a good 17 minutes after SLE's request.
EDIT:lol never mind, failure on my part to notice the XD.

[RaShayRitto]

update on the Gheist inspired song: So i wrote like 5 different heavy songs trying to nail the Gheist concept down, and i think i picked a favorite. Its more about simplistic heavy riffs while the other choices were more shreddy and technical sounding. Working title is "Giant Slayer" and i think it pretty much gives you a nice picture of what the riffs are like ^_^

i know i know "shut up and record it!" I'll get to that eventually (tomorrow?)

this song is REALLY gonna depend on the drums to convey the maximum heaviosity quotient! I dont think it will end up being as long as the Galan song (which i imagine will maybe hit the 9 minute mark). Maybe like 4-5 minutes at the most. And after this can come a very slow, sorrowful song with lots of acoustic guitar, piano, classical strings etc.

also, i think the first song will be based off Kirei's acoustic "kirage" recording. So be thinking about what you can add to that as well. thats all for now folks! =D

edit: i think this picture conveys the song nicely:

[abscifi]

his song is REALLY gonna depend on the drums to convey the maximum heaviosity quotient!

I assume by that of course you mean enough double bass pedal to bust the ear drums of anyone listening? Record the riff good sir and you shall have your heaviosity!!!!!

[RaShayRitto]

I assume by that of course you mean enough double bass pedal to bust the ear drums of anyone listening? Record the riff good sir and you shall have your heaviosity!!!!!

thats exactly what i meant. this song needs some boomy low end annihilation to truly convey the carnage contained within! i'll be sure to record it after i wake up tomorrow!

[RaShayRitto]

Here's the riff ideas for "Giant Slayer". really super simple riffage. The chorus didnt really record all that well with my quick method (guitar straight to computer, apply amp sim) but its essentially really quick strumming of the A string on various notes while constantly strumming the open E string

i'm still kind of torn between doing something like this, or something a little more technical. Do we want pummeling brutality or a more calculated sound for Gheist?

by the way Adam this is at 130bpm, i included some click track before the guitar too

edit: i think what this riff needs is a lower tuning. D standard perhaps...

edit edit: riff removed on account of it SUCKING SO BAD! I apologize ^^;

[Infinita]

I apologize for my disappearance. I have no internet in my room and well, I need to walk to the college to use it and here I am this morning. LOL Alright. I have had quite the busy week and well, now, it slowed down extremely and I will most likely be able to work on something. Try to get some creative juices running and get some music created. I am not sure what kind of format you want but all I have is a camera that can record but I guess there is also my computer that could do that too. So I guess it just depends on you guys.

[RaShayRitto]

Hey fini! long time no see!

There are actually a couple of recordings in the thread i think you should take a look at. Kirei's acoustic "Kirage" riff (not my electric adaptation), the "purdy" riff i posted, and the final sequence of the "reefer madness" riff. I think all of those would be just lovely with your piano skills on them. if youre using an electronic keyboard then you could even come up with some stuff to go with the heavier riffs

If you need some reference on how keys might work in a heavy musical style you should give these songs by Mastodon a listen: Oblivion, The Czar, Crack the Skye, and The Last Baron. They arent always in the forefront but there are keys on those tracks and it adds a TON of vibe to the sound

Anyone else who might be handy with sequencers and such (Kirei, phil, teddy) should give it a shot too. I dont know if Eris is still following this thread but his/her spookey atmospheric stuff could be handy in a mix if it was a bit more musically focused.

Anyway sorry for the long post and being so scarce as of late. I'm back with full force!

[RaShayRitto]

Boy am i frustrated -_- my main pc has been down for a while due to some hardware failure. i've been too lazy to get it back up and running so my recording has been done on a pc with a CRAPPY sound issue. Basically is stutters every now and then when playing or recording audio. SO in the recording i'm about to post you'll randomly hear it speed up to like tripple tempo for no reason.

it REALLY pisses me off when a cool lead line gets lost in the chaos grrr! -_-

ANYWAY. I've been in sort of a creative slump (those of you who heard the giant slayer riff know what i'm talking about) but the other night i had a huge surge of KAPOW inspiration and so i have more material for the galan song. Basically EVERYTHING before the clean notes can be repeated depending on how many verses we choose to have. then we save the final verse, going into all the new riffage instead. The High on Fire style riff at the very end before the reefer stuff comes back in will basically be the riff under the guitar solo. After that we go back into the reefer stuff to do the final verse/chorus whatever before the big finish (i didnt record the finish but its pretty nice)

let me know what you think about this nifty shift in direction. goes from the mastodon stuff we've been doing into some tool/high on fire stuff.

current working title is "March of Goliath". i think its more fitting than "reefer madness!" although that was pretty hilarious. As far was coming up with a REAL title i could use some help with that. I was thinking maybe something like "Visions of You" but i want it to be less direct than that. Basically Phil's pre-song track shows galan's life right up until the moment he sees Lirneira. So i want the title for the reefer song to kind of capture whats driving Galan now. hence the "visions of you" stuff. but yeah i'm not sure

[abscifi]

hey shayan sorry I have been so out of touch I started work this week and with school if (x = freetime) { x <= 0;} else {wife;}...sorry i have been doing C++ at work... any way I like this incarnation much better than giant slayer. I like the energy that this conveys. I will try to come up with a part in my spare time but I may just be posting sheet music. Just be forwarned that I don't think contrasting drums would be a good fit. With a riff with such accents and obvious power in some parts you need more accenting to back you up and something heavy. so that is where I will be heading with my first attempt. So I will try to come up with something fairly soon.