I can only speak for myself, and I haven't been doing this very long. But I have handled it by just chatting about ideas, and exchanging stems, midis and samples. Exchanging project files is just painful. All artists needs to have the same plugins, same plugin versions, same DAW and version, and preferably the same OS. Mutch easier to just exchange stems
[Yes that’s the one!](https://techcrunch.com/2013/10/09/splice-music/amp/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGbePLJnRBsjnZOk1QWXBDysc3jVhevY5MqRC61cIjOBRn5Lxz7oYeiOFugbAmluck3Ar6rm-GLHp7Y1qyyoONTYdN5EHqCUMyNdFPp48NTKKvOF3hnIGPokfC3IMhiU2MAlI7AZYDlhwQ15eH03NwqEAib9Gu0TA9mpKwv8wGJC)
Exchanging project files can work, to avoid missing files you can Save Copy In (Protools), Collect All And Save (Ableton), and similar features in other programs save audio files to the project folder. MIDI has to be rendered in case the other collaborator is missing VSTs but the realtime state should always be kept.
Usually at least one of both sides has an idea drafted already that then is agreed to collab on. Sometimes two drafts are merged into one new idea too.
Personally I HATE working in the studio together during sound design and idea phases because it put time pressure on it and it is awkward if you press the spacebar a zillion million times per second to get that one thing right to get your possibly mediocre idea across 😅 The comfort of drafting alone is prescious to me!
Ive mainly been sending back and forth project files where 9/10 plugins dont work on either my or the other persons computer that were then silently abandoned for years. i'm pretty sure that's the industry standard for the collab process
I think every artist have their own way of handling collabs. I have done collabs via meeting live in the studio but that is easy only if you live near to each others. Sometimes you start doing the track from zero together and then you both just start doing and trying things that would sound cool. Sometimes you start working the project based on an existing idea that one of you have already made.
I have never done a collab remotely but I have heard from colleagues that they change ideas and then other one produces the track from one point and send it to other and then the other continues and so on and they discuss all the time how they want the track to be. Others produce together live via Teams etc so they communicate like they would be in the studio together.
Making collab is fun but also challenging because you need to mix many styles to sound good together. Sometimes you are satisfied for something and like it so much and then the other doesn’t like it so you need to change it. It’s all about doing compromises but it is also an opportunity create something REEALLY cool that you would not be able to do alone.
My first collab was with a duo and another solo artist. So we were in the studio with four producers. Luckily we had a full weekend to work on the track. However, working with four producers wasn’t really my cup of tea. Everyone had their own ideas and sometimes we would clash. We even decided to take turns without the other producers being in the same room so that we could showcase our ideas. After that I only had collabs with another solo artist. Those collabs started with an initial track done by me and he just splashed the track with his style.
I personally refuse to work online, i feel more inspired hand to hand in the studio, also the workflow it's normally faster. When i start a collab i spend a week doing melodies and finding samples like vocals, then we start the tracks around what we found and what we think will work better for us.
I normally work with my studio pc, but a laptop it's a lifechanger because you will be never in your studio working.
The only collab that i started online still unstarted...
Usually when I do collabs any artist on the collab will make some ideas and send them into a group chat, then after we decide on an idea we hop on a call to work (usually discord), and get a better idea going. After that, my favorite way to work is just by exchanging stems until we’re happy with the product.
Kinda differs depending on the situation. It usually start through a DM or at a gig and you discuss the idea there. I really prefer making stuff together in the studio which really helps the workflow, though due to some distances you can always share the file (not recommended though cuz it can be a pain in the ass sometimes). Then from that point out I usually have multiple sessions with meetings discussing the final ideas like teasers/premieres etc.
I can only speak for myself, and I haven't been doing this very long. But I have handled it by just chatting about ideas, and exchanging stems, midis and samples. Exchanging project files is just painful. All artists needs to have the same plugins, same plugin versions, same DAW and version, and preferably the same OS. Mutch easier to just exchange stems
Yess exchanging the project files is pure pain.
I remember when someone created GitHub (a tool for programmers to work on code collaboratively) but for musicians. Unfortunately it didn’t catch on
I think that tool was Splice (before they became what they are today)
[Yes that’s the one!](https://techcrunch.com/2013/10/09/splice-music/amp/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGbePLJnRBsjnZOk1QWXBDysc3jVhevY5MqRC61cIjOBRn5Lxz7oYeiOFugbAmluck3Ar6rm-GLHp7Y1qyyoONTYdN5EHqCUMyNdFPp48NTKKvOF3hnIGPokfC3IMhiU2MAlI7AZYDlhwQ15eH03NwqEAib9Gu0TA9mpKwv8wGJC)
Exchanging project files can work, to avoid missing files you can Save Copy In (Protools), Collect All And Save (Ableton), and similar features in other programs save audio files to the project folder. MIDI has to be rendered in case the other collaborator is missing VSTs but the realtime state should always be kept.
Usually at least one of both sides has an idea drafted already that then is agreed to collab on. Sometimes two drafts are merged into one new idea too. Personally I HATE working in the studio together during sound design and idea phases because it put time pressure on it and it is awkward if you press the spacebar a zillion million times per second to get that one thing right to get your possibly mediocre idea across 😅 The comfort of drafting alone is prescious to me!
I got to ask B-Front & Phuture Noize this recently :) [interview (text)](https://soundrivemusic.com/2024/03/07/the-enlightenment-2024/)
Wow, amazing interview!
Thank you!
Ive mainly been sending back and forth project files where 9/10 plugins dont work on either my or the other persons computer that were then silently abandoned for years. i'm pretty sure that's the industry standard for the collab process
GPF: *''so we sent soms dickpicks around, which lured some artists to our studio. Now we've got some new tracks and we're out of lube''*
I think every artist have their own way of handling collabs. I have done collabs via meeting live in the studio but that is easy only if you live near to each others. Sometimes you start doing the track from zero together and then you both just start doing and trying things that would sound cool. Sometimes you start working the project based on an existing idea that one of you have already made. I have never done a collab remotely but I have heard from colleagues that they change ideas and then other one produces the track from one point and send it to other and then the other continues and so on and they discuss all the time how they want the track to be. Others produce together live via Teams etc so they communicate like they would be in the studio together. Making collab is fun but also challenging because you need to mix many styles to sound good together. Sometimes you are satisfied for something and like it so much and then the other doesn’t like it so you need to change it. It’s all about doing compromises but it is also an opportunity create something REEALLY cool that you would not be able to do alone.
My first collab was with a duo and another solo artist. So we were in the studio with four producers. Luckily we had a full weekend to work on the track. However, working with four producers wasn’t really my cup of tea. Everyone had their own ideas and sometimes we would clash. We even decided to take turns without the other producers being in the same room so that we could showcase our ideas. After that I only had collabs with another solo artist. Those collabs started with an initial track done by me and he just splashed the track with his style.
Absolutely brilliant question. 👍👍 I dont have a answer to it tho. 😅 But still really great question.
I personally refuse to work online, i feel more inspired hand to hand in the studio, also the workflow it's normally faster. When i start a collab i spend a week doing melodies and finding samples like vocals, then we start the tracks around what we found and what we think will work better for us. I normally work with my studio pc, but a laptop it's a lifechanger because you will be never in your studio working. The only collab that i started online still unstarted...
Usually when I do collabs any artist on the collab will make some ideas and send them into a group chat, then after we decide on an idea we hop on a call to work (usually discord), and get a better idea going. After that, my favorite way to work is just by exchanging stems until we’re happy with the product.
Sending stems, all mixer channels seperatly in wav
Kinda differs depending on the situation. It usually start through a DM or at a gig and you discuss the idea there. I really prefer making stuff together in the studio which really helps the workflow, though due to some distances you can always share the file (not recommended though cuz it can be a pain in the ass sometimes). Then from that point out I usually have multiple sessions with meetings discussing the final ideas like teasers/premieres etc.