Re:Congregate, collaborate and critique
Wednesday, December 10 2008 @ 04:59 PM CST

Quote by: PickQuickRecords I agree, and thats what most "Challenges" consist of here also, but I haven't seen one in a while myself. I missed quite a few because of not being around. Just check the "New Forum Posts" for Challenges. There are quite a few. Secondly, your could create an individual profile for a song idea, upload the starter tracks, and then post each version when you get it, but when it comes to open collabs, people usually post there own results on their own profiles and then you just link them to your own profile page. You can check them out on my page to see how it works. Otherwise institute your own challenge and post it on the forums. That will definitely help you get to know people here. Here's a open collab I did.. http://www.macjams.com/song/46784 and a couple results.. http://www.macjams.com/song/47226 http://www.macjams.com/song/46953 BTW, John L. if your reading this, I didn't forget. I will be laying down a bass line for your version soon.

NewInfection's take on that blues tune was killer. Fun stuff!!

Re:Congregate, collaborate and critique
Wednesday, December 10 2008 @ 05:09 PM CST

Quote by: damiengh Dave, I was here at least a year before I got better acquainted with folk, and then finally getting the nerve to get in on a collaboration. I was curious how to do a collab, asked questions of others how they did and figured the best way would be to write a tune and ask others to be on it. I listened to people that did similar types of tunes and sent them requests via the mailbox thingy, to see if they would want to collab on my tune. By the time I had asked them, they already knew me from the comments I made on their tunes and others. The result was this tune with Dick and Rebsie: http://www.macjams.com/song/36839 Forums were the best method of learning the different personalities and who plays what instruments and styles. Also a great place to either look to be on collabs, or to request others to be on yours. Main thing is, get a presence by participation, the best way. It will happen for you. Check out Thoddi's x-mas collab in the forum post as an example on how some of these collabs start. http://www.macjams.com/forum/viewtopic.php?forum=6;showtopic=149139 I was on one of his xmas tunes last year, here's the link: http://www.macjams.com/song/37844

'Cryin' in Me Guinness' was good. Not at bad job at singin. The voice suits well.

Re:Congregate, collaborate and critique
Wednesday, December 10 2008 @ 05:22 PM CST

Welcome Dave.

Re:Congregate, collaborate and critique
Wednesday, December 10 2008 @ 05:25 PM CST

Thanks. Still fumbling my way around the site trying to figure out what everyone does. Mostly have fun I can see. :-)

Dave

Re:Congregate, collaborate and critique
Wednesday, December 10 2008 @ 05:26 PM CST

Welcome to Macjams !!

Re:Congregate, collaborate and critique
Wednesday, December 10 2008 @ 05:33 PM CST

Quote by: Studioplayer Thanks. Still fumbling my way around the site trying to figure out what everyone does. Mostly have fun I can see. :-) Dave

If you stop by my place you'll find links to a lot of group activities and a slew of collaborations. As a matter of fact - you might consider doing the MJ08 Album Challenge as a neat way to get to know more people through their music. It's posted right here in the forums. I'm working on one and having a blast.

Re:Congregate, collaborate and critique
Wednesday, December 10 2008 @ 05:44 PM CST

It's happening, but just a little underground.

Drop by http://www.macjams.com/artist/SmokeyVW you will find collabs, shared music projects, several postings for challenges, and a few submissions for the Loop It or Lose It challenges.

Try this:

http://www.macjams.com/music/?cid=0&search=lioli

Re:Congregate, collaborate and critique
Wednesday, December 10 2008 @ 05:46 PM CST

hey Dave, welcome to MJ. there is a lot here going on under the hood. i've done so many collabs i've lost track, as well as re-mixes, and challenges. people tend to be nice when commenting, and that's just the nature of the beast i guess. there are definitely some folks here that help me out and give me brutally honest feedback (sometimes in a song comment, sometimes in a message). i've really met some cool folks here (even in person for coffee), and the place has inspired me like no ones business. i just posted my 138th song in less than 2 years (not counting projects that are on other peoples page). not that quality has anything to do with quantity, but there are so many cool folks to do things with, and the convenience of being able to work over the internet, just make this place a blast. glad you're here.

Re:Congregate, collaborate and critique
Wednesday, December 10 2008 @ 06:04 PM CST

Be sure to ask for honest feedback and you'll get it.

I asked for honest critiques very directly when I started out and there were people very willing. If I see a person who is looking for an honest critique I am usually happy to give it even with my limited experience. If someone just puts a song on that I like I usually just say I like it, because nothing is worse than getting no comments at all. You kind of have to take the time and feel out who's who first.

search critics circles' or critics cornerf and you'll find a list of people who signed up to do honest critiques and not just back patting and belly rubbing.

Also I just recently started collabing after almost a year on this site.

Re:Congregate, collaborate and critique
Wednesday, December 10 2008 @ 07:53 PM CST

Quote by: Studioplayer Ok, been hanging out awhile around here and I see a few things that could be better imho. There is a large crowd of musicians here so there is a great community happening but so far I don't see a lot to do here other than posts songs and let others listen. Most comments are always very kind but not many have any depth to them as in the way of mixing etc. I know that's dangerous since peoples feelings can get hurt but saying Nice! Wow! Great! really doesn't do a lot but boost the ego. On the front page it says 'congregate, collaborate and critique' Congregate...yes Collaborate and critique not so much. Mainly because it's very difficult to do both when the site is set up in this way. Pretty hard to pass files and comment and create friendships. I take it a lot of players are solo here anyways? Prefer to work on their own. That's fine but wouldn't you like to hear 'real' critiques of your work so you can seriously improve. I like this place. Some nice folk here but not much to do other than congregate. I hope the admins are looking at bettering? this site. I think it could be much better. You have the crowd to make it great. Again just mho Dave

As some have already said Dave, if you ask for honest critique, you'll get it. But honestly, I think you are already getting it. Hear me out. We aren't professionals here, and keeping that in mind, when I listen to a song, I don't listen for perfection. I don't need every little thing to sound just right. And so if there is an off note or two, I'm not going to mention it unless it is asked for. Chances are, if there is an off note or two, the artist already knows about it and just left it that way. If there are larger changes or things I'd like different about a track, I'll mention it regardless. Some people do this, some don't. But as this is a community, popping in without establishing a relationship with someone and ripping their song to shreds can seem a bit rude. I think we all would like to better each other, but we also love the humanness and personality that is found in the technically "imperfect" music. But yeah, if you'd like us to go nuts on each note of each instrument in your pieces, I'm sure there would be many up to the task. And as you have seen, there is a LOT of collaboration here. Glad to have you here and thanks for sharing your point of view.