Multitrack Classics here!

[lebouche]

Feel free to discuss if you think its a good or dreadful idea.

www.multitrackclassics.com

[Marty J]

Originally Posted by lebouche

Feel free to discuss if you think its a good or dreadful idea.

Welcome to Multitrackclassics.com

The voyeur in me thinks it a great idea. They won't have any Beatles though, which is what would mainly interest me.

I did notice two odd things. One is that as far as I can see, they don't have a list of their products, yet they say they've had lots of pre-orders. Are people just ordering blindly and hoping for the best?

The other thing I noticed was the phrase "Please sign our guestbook and help get our products licenced."

What's that about? It says on the same page that they're already licenced.

[Dan]

Somebody has been reading "The 4 hour work week" HA!

I've seen some of these multitrack PT sessions floating around for a few years. This product has got to be a result of that. There is no licensing yet, they're just test marketing.


Not a bad idea. I wouldn't buy it, but it seems like some would.

[lebouche]

yes its just test marketing....... and me doing it. I've been talking to some labels about it and it seems people would really have to show a huge interest for it to even have the slightest chance in hell of getting licenced. The site is just a mock up I made in the middle of the night the recently when I couldn't sleep. My first ever web page.
Please sign the guestbook though if you think it's a good plan or feel free to trash it!

[imgoinmad]

not a chance in hell that any of those releases pictured would ever become available

[Riddler]

If this ever got licensed I'd definately be interested! I've had the idea myself and I'm sure many other people also have - how unbelievably cool it would be to remix your favourite tracks or just solo out the individual parts!

Unfortunately though, I'd be absolutely amazed if it actually happened with those records listed on the site. I can see some independent artists being happy to do it as a way of generating a bit of cash or even a bit of publicity but wherever there is a major, or an ego, (or even a major ego) I reckon there will also be a brick wall.

Even if multitracks ever were released I doubt that that tracks would be as raw as they could be; I bet vox tracks would be post autotune, drums would be beat detected etc.

Good idea though and I'm willing to officially offer my support!

Tim.

[Marty J]

Originally Posted by lebouche

yes its just test marketing....... and me doing it. I've been talking to some labels about it and it seems people would really have to show a huge interest for it to even have the slightest chance in hell of getting licenced. The site is just a mock up I made in the middle of the night the recently when I couldn't sleep. My first ever web page.
Please sign the guestbook though if you think it's a good plan or feel free to trash it!

Have any labels explicitly said that they would consider such a thing?

I think if there was any chance of this ever happening, the labels would have done it themselves already. I can't see them turning master tapes (or even copies of them) over to a third party.

I imagine you'd need the artist's permission too, and I don't see what they would get out of it apart from endless remixes of their songs appearing all over the internet. I don't imagine many producers or engineers would be too thrilled about it either.

Still, best of luck with it, and if you ever get the rights to the Beatles' back catalogue, put me down for the full set!

[Drumsound]

I've hears some of the copies that are floating around. Its really cool and I'd consider buying certain things. I doubt you'll be able to pull it off, but if you do I'll get some!

[PhiloBeddoe]

Originally Posted by Riddler

Even if multitracks ever were released I doubt that that tracks would be as raw as they could be; I bet vox tracks would be post autotune, drums would be beat detected etc.

Boy, wouldn't it be weird to listen to some old classic drum and vocal tracks that actually sounded good raw? What a concept. Personally it scares me how many studios reach for autotune and BD without even listening to the raw tracks.

I would love to hear this stuff, but can't imagine it's possible to pull it off. Best of luck!

[vernier]

But what is it, and what do you play it on?

[lebouche]

Originally Posted by Marty J

Have any labels explicitly said that they would consider such a thing?

I think if there was any chance of this ever happening, the labels would have done it themselves already. I can't see them turning master tapes (or even copies of them) over to a third party.

I imagine you'd need the artist's permission too, and I don't see what they would get out of it apart from endless remixes of their songs appearing all over the internet. I don't imagine many producers or engineers would be too thrilled about it either.

Still, best of luck with it, and if you ever get the rights to the Beatles' back catalogue, put me down for the full set!

Yep... you spotted the main issues. This is extremely unlikely to happen but I'm not scared of having a go.

You never know....

[lebouche]

Originally Posted by vernier

But what is it, and what do you play it on?

DVD......WAV's Audio files... for DAW users

[kafka]

Originally Posted by lebouche

DVD......WAV's Audio files... for DAW users

so, none of your products actually exist yet, right?

[lebouche]

Originally Posted by kafka

so, none of your products actually exist yet, right?

Correct. I'm just getting your opinions on the demand. If I got a lot of support it would make my miniscule nearly non-existent chance of success slightly larger.

[Legacy Audio]

Three words... Never gonna happen.

[warhead]

I would definitely have interest in this if it happens.

War

[obscure object]

Originally Posted by warhead

I would definitely have interest in this if it happens.

War

Why? For what benefit? How can that benefit music?? ... I don't think it's a good idea for anybody I'm actually a little scared by it. People would just go on sampling and remixing forever

[joaquin]

Originally Posted by obscure object

Why? For what benefit? How can that benefit music?? ... I don't think it's a good idea for anybody I'm actually a little scared by it. People would just go on sampling and remixing forever

Agreed. Leave the Masters in peace and create new ones. Some respect please.

[PhilE]

I can see this being a great teaching aid- examples of how it should be done and kids being able to tackle a real pro mix.
Give it a try- if I felt I had time to play with it I'd buy one if it was a record I love and it was that kind of price.

[daniel c]

I can see some rather unscrupulous wannabe engineers putting these tracks that they "mixed" on their showreels I know it wouldn't hold water with most clients, but there's always a few who would think that they would be hiring the real deal. That's the only negative I can think of though.

[warhead]

Originally Posted by obscure object

Why? For what benefit? How can that benefit music??

Hmm it would not benefit music or song writing in general for sure. First of all assuming he could get this done (highly unlikely) it would be "blessed" by the owners of the material. Second of all I would think just about anybody on this board if they could have the individual tracks from songs they've been listening to for 30+ years that would be interesting. Hearing the integrity of each track, trying to mix it the same way or differently, I dunno it seemed like something most would think was cool.

This is likely a pipe dream anyhow but yeah, I'd check out certain things.

War

[Paul Hammond]

If I recall correctly didn't Todd Rundgren release one of the first interactive CD's with the ability to mix tracks your own way? I think Peter Gabriel and maybe even Aerosmith might have tried this too. Just like you have "Guitar Hero" for your play station you could have "Phat Mix Producer" or whatever. It has been tried by artists but with minimal success. The real appeal for vintage multitrack recordings would be to aspiring producers and engineers. To have vintage classic tracks remixed and hacked by folks that don't know what they are doing would be a detriment to the professional industry. One thing that is obvious to me about some of the best multitracks of all time is that no matter what combinations of tracks you have up at whatever level it still sounds like the great track that it was. That makes mixing a classic track fairly easy, you just get variations of a great track, if it was recorded properly. I have witnessed this on numerous occasions. PH

[Riddler]

I think Muse also released something interactive where you could mix their tracks on one of their singles, can't remember which one and if I remember correcty it was really gimmicky and very simplified.

I think that as an alternative to speaking to major labels and established artists a route that might have more hope is independent/up and coming artists. You might be able to convince 1% of them to join your site, and maybe after a few years and enough of a track record you could then try and approach some more established artists. The bottom line is; what does the artist/label get out of it, and if you can't prove that it will generate cash or publicity for them, then I can't see the bigger artists joining in for the sake of it.

Out of interest, I'll ask some of the indie artists I work with how they would feel and see what the feedback is.

Tim.

[lebouche]

Most of you are hitting the nail on the head problem wise.
I have a few cunning plans though which I'll keep to myself for the mo.

As a side note.....music seems so get sampled multitracked or not. You still need to seek permission even if you only sample a few seconds of someone else’s track.

[peterwagner]

Finally we can use beat detective on the motown classics.....

[Riddler]

Originally Posted by peterwagner

Finally we can use beat detective on the motown classics.....

[Cellotron]

This exact thing was done about 2 years ago as downloads by David Byrne & Brian Eno for 2 songs from their classic "My Life In The Bush of Ghosts" album as a way of promoting the release of a remastered anniversary edition -

:: My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts ::

As a big fan of the record it was very interesting for me to get to hear the raw tracks (plus they in fact gave people license to remix them and a place on the site for people to post their remixes).

So - I think it's a great idea - however - most of the best known albums would have severe hoops to get released - and betting on you being shut down from the get go in your efforts to secure this from the Big4 labels are probably are on the better part of the Vegas odds split. I really think efforts would most likely be better rewarded by trying to secure release of more "cult" independent releases that have specific interest to engineers where you can approach more directly artists that have more understanding of why this would be of interest and a cool thing to do.

As far as me purchasing these types of things - I doubt I would ever desire to hear something like this so much that I'd want to spend more than the cost of a CD for it.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

[Greg Heimbecker]

I've had great fun breaking out the Bush of Ghosts stuff into surround. Definitely one of my desert island albums and way fun to play with. NIN has released a few as well, great stuff to dissect for young engineers. Real World has made a bunch of stuff available as well but in much tinier chunks not entire tracks.

[Matt Hepworth]

Dude, I'd definitely pay for any Zeppelin, Nirvana, etc.

[MessianicDreams]

Originally Posted by PhilE

I can see this being a great teaching aid- examples of how it should be done and kids being able to tackle a real pro mix.
Give it a try- if I felt I had time to play with it I'd buy one if it was a record I love and it was that kind of price.

I've got quite a few multitracks from well known and respect artists that I've collected - and it is fascinating to hear how the stuff has been recorded, and the pure, raw, unbridled talent that's gone into most of the stuff!

Needless to say, if this product was marketed, I would defo drop some $ to get a few of the classics...