How to deliver two 3 hour sets?

[-Noodles-]

Hey,

I've recently been asked to do a recording of a band which is two 3 hour sets - but I really want to cut down on my production costs, as they've asked me to burn them some copies as well.

Is it possible to create an audio DVD?? This is so I can create a single master, and get it sent off for copying somewhere else.

I'm trying to steer away from having to burn 20 CDs of each set, as it would be costly and take time that I currently don't have.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

[hbphotoav]

First: are they paying you for this work, or is it pro bono? If you're doing it for free, your options are limited for reducing your time involvement and/or costs.

Are you tracking the sets, then mixing, editing and burning the CDs in post? If so, deliver one set of edited CDs to them and suggest a local (or mail-order) duplication house. Or charge them enough to buy a small 1->3 or 1->4 duplicator (supermediastore.com has them on sale... I picked up a 1->3 Sony DVD/CD standalone station for about $250.00 US... see: DVD Duplicator (Economic Line) built-in SONY 20X Burner/1 to 3, Black Casing). Audio CDs take about 3 minutes to burn 3 copies, and blank media is less than $0.25 US per disk. You could become the "local duplicator" if there's not one in your area.

I don't know of a consumer device that will directly play back .wav or .aif files from DVD-R storage (and I doubt seriously that you or they want to move into DVD-A), aside from uploading the files from the DVD into iTunes or the like, and playing back from a computer. If the gig will fit, I often deliver up to 4GB of raw tracks on DVD-R to folks who want to import them into their DAW and do their own mixes, or simply to have an archive of the original tracks. But, usually, what they want is a CD compatible with their home or automobile player, or so they can easily upload to their computer with iTunes.

Were I in the situation you describe, I'd either feed a live stereo mix to my TASCAM burner, and let them know that unless there's a short set break every 60 to 80 minutes, they might miss some music during the disc change... or track, mix and edit the sets, finishing to a single set of "master" CDs. Give them a local duplicator, or suggest they burn their own copies through iTunes.

They'd get that work free only if they were really, really good friends.

[David.H]

If your stuck I can do the duplication for you at a reasonable price, postage printing, sleeve at extra cost.
David.H

[Daniel Stark]

Maybe they would be cool with getting the files digitally, via email or filesanywhere type server?

[dero]

TWO THREE HOUR SETS~!?!

[oretez]

Originally Posted by -Noodles-

Hey,

I've recently been asked to do a recording of a band which is two 3 hour sets -
Is it possible to create an audio DVD?? This is so I can create a single master,
[snip].

perhaps obviously a cost benefit 'master' for the band is HD, from which they can do anything they want

DVD-A will allow 4-4.75 hr. (roughly) 24 b stereo per side. Minnetonka diskwelder bronze is fairly reasonable (list about $100 (US) and depending on your time frame might be an approach to consider

On a double sided DVD-R you could get the full six hours (@24b 44.1 kHz) as well

but clients expextations are a far larger variable and info I'd need before any response would more then just random thoughts

In my experience there is considerable difference (in time, engery, gear, budget, etc.) between capturing archive for the band and generating 'distributable' tracks

while there has never been a 'demo' or 'archive' button on my recorders simple reality is that I can work more cheaply (everything else being equal) if all I'm providing is a reference for the band. But I would be loath to have my name attached to some of that material as representative of what I could provide for only marginally more $ to provide distributable tracks. And even for this last there are a lot of different options with a lot of different price points and a lot of different gear

[-Noodles-]

wow - firstly, thanks for the replies.

I've just asked, and quoted the information presented here (well.. some of it! and the guys have said that they will be repeating some of the material - so therefore the best performance will make the cut. So that may bring the sets down, but it will still be over at least a DVD or several CDs.

**Apparently they now want to offer a CD for each night, which I was kind of hoping I could put both nights on one disk to save me time ; and make it a bonus for the consumer? [is this worth asking??]

Answers to questions;
They are paying for the work. All of it, included replication.
The problem is surround my hours regarding other jobs, and I've left two weeks for mixing and creation of disks.

I am tracking the sets, mixing / mastering, and then burning the medium. The multiplication will either done by me, but I was hoping for a single disk - not multiples of different disks.

I see the points made re: consumer devices.
This is definitely a priority with this case.

I would consider a FTP / Server type system ; but my fear is that people may pass the links or files around easily, and therefore I'll loose out on money. Unless I can think of a way to prevent or minimize this, I don't really see it being the best way?

If anyone has any reputable websites in the UK (PM incoming David H) that can do small runs (potentially less than 50 of each "gig") could they let me know?
This isn't normally a job I'd take on, but it's paying well - and it gets me noticed!

[dero ; yep. the guys are crazy, and from what I can tell ; it'll be split into two 1 &1/2 hour sets per night over two nights. they want the lot recorded, and available. so I can't really argue that fact with them... part of the job unfortunately!]

[dero]

Originally Posted by -Noodles-

wow - firstly, thanks for the replies.


[dero ; yep. the guys are crazy, and from what I can tell ; it'll be split into two 1 &1/2 hour sets per night over two nights. they want the lot recorded, and available. so I can't really argue that fact with them... part of the job unfortunately!]

Much more reasonable, I thought you were talking about an eight hour concert! 2 three hour sets + set break and encore!?

Curious though, what is the genre? Most of the bands following the 2 90-min sets format in the US are "jambands," but I didn't think there was much of that going on in the UK.

[joelpatterson]

Well, musical performances should be limited to 80 minutes, and that's just that.

[-Noodles-]

Originally Posted by joelpatterson

Well, musical performances should be limited to 80 minutes, and that's just that.

However true, doesn't solve my problem! [Not being cheeky..]

Yeah, they've got great blues / jazz arrangements - but just play and play and play.
It takes them usually 15 mins to really get into a groove, and from there on - it may never stop!

So, am I looking at doing multiple CDs then?

[opentune]

Originally Posted by -Noodles-

So, am I looking at doing multiple CDs then?

I think so. Like mentioned in a post above, people probably want
the medium to be compatible with their players.

Well, if it was my band/my recording, i´d like to have audio CDs.

[hbphotoav]

Originally Posted by -Noodles-

However true, doesn't solve my problem! [Not being cheeky..]

Yeah, they've got great blues / jazz arrangements - but just play and play and play.
It takes them usually 15 mins to really get into a groove, and from there on - it may never stop!

So, am I looking at doing multiple CDs then?

Back in the day, when you could get only about 22 "full range sound" minutes on a side of vinyl (or 45 minutes on reliable cassette tape material), you'd reach the end, fade the audio, flip the record or cassette, and start where you left off. Probably why "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" *ONLY* went 17 min and change... and why programming classical records was an art form.

If they can't seem to "get their groove on" in less than 80-minute chunks, find a fade point and continue on the next disk...

Still, it's interesting how the Funk Brothers could get THEIR groove on in about half a measure... think "Ain't Too Proud To Beg"... or "I heard It Through The Grapevine."

[-Noodles-]

thanks guys for helping me out on this one.

[juanpz]

Originally Posted by joelpatterson

Well, musical performances should be limited to 80 minutes, and that's just that.

WoW!!!

I think that the musical performance should last as long as the artist wants it to. If you don't like it then don't pay attention!!

Should all TV shows last 30 minutes too?

As for the fellow who is lucky enough to capture the performance, good for you, keep supporting live music!

I wish I could find such dedicated musicians

[Storyville]

Just make sure you get as much money up front as possible. After that, any BS is just part of the job.

[joelpatterson]

Originally Posted by Storyville

Just make sure you get as much money up front as possible. After that, any BS is just part of the job.

Well, yeah, I know, "a part of the job," but the thing is I don't make ANY money for posting on Gearslu--

Oh, wait, you're talking about the guy with the BAND that plays forever! Ooops!