What happens next?

[arkjack]

Although I am still hoping for my first forward, I am keeping an eye on the future as to what I may need to know when that happens. Like many, I have a halfway decent home studio, I can track, mix and to some extent master recordings. It is a BOSS system as opposed to PC based. So the questions that come to mind... I wonder what happens when the forward wants to strike a deal? Do they ask for copies of the trak stems in WAV format, a pro-tools file only, or nothing? How much additional work is needed to post post produce? TAXI seems to say that if the track isn't 100% exactly what they want its a pass and there's no time for revisions.... goes back to the question "is it soup?"ArkJack

[davewalton]

I'm answering questions on a Sunday afternoon because I'm working on a track of music and during certain times it takes a minute or two for things to render and so I'm just checking in here from time to time. I do have a life, although for the moment I'm hard pressed to describe how it's different from the one you're seeing here. Quote:I wonder what happens when the forward wants to strike a deal? Do they ask for copies of the trak stems in WAV format, a pro-tools file only, or nothing? For film/television/music library stuff, they generally either ask for the song(s) on a CD in regular CD audio format or they ask for them in the form of a WAV file on data format CD or DVD. They're looking for completely finished, ready "as is" music with no changes needed. If they want or need to place it into next week's episode of CSI it has to be ready to go. Quote:TAXI seems to say that if the track isn't 100% exactly what they want its a pass and there's no time for revisions.... True for film/television/music library music as per the example above. In the case of a song being pitched for an artist it's probably a given that the song will be changed somehow, either by adding a more experienced co-writer to bring the song to its potential or just though the production of the song itself as it's being cut at the studio.So I guess it depends. In either case, I think it would be an unlikely situation where they didn't like the song but contacted you (or me) anyway because they thought we had potential for other music.HTH,Dave

[horacejesse]

Dang, if they ask for a wave file I will be stumped.

[spariam]

Like Dave said, most I've worked with want CDs or wavs, but I've had a few libraries take high-bit rate mp3s.I work a lot more with MIDI these days, though most of my acoustic stuff is done in ProTools. I had a recent deal where I was asked to lengthen a couple tracks (not a huge problem, they were MIDI-based, so it was easy to go in and add some new material or rework existing tracks) and they also wanted underscore mixes of everything...

[horacejesse]

Spariam,With my system I can spin out Redbook CD's but not wave files. From your experience (or anyone's) how much disability is that going to be for library placements?

[davewalton]

Quote:With my system I can spin out Redbook CD's but not wave files. That sounds odd, but if that's true and you get a deal where they'll only take WAV files, you can easily convert any track on a CD to a wave file using something like iTunes (which is free). There's also a ton of audio conversion software packages in the $20-$30 range.Rest easy... you're covered no matter what!

[spariam]

Quote:Spariam,With my system I can spin out Redbook CD's but not wave files. From your experience (or anyone's) how much disability is that going to be for library placements?I assume you mean that with the Boss system you have has a built in CD burner where you can make audio CDs (red book)? You might check if there's a save as wav function - I had a little Fostex MR-8, and I could mix directy to wav, as there was no CD burner...To answer your question, it would only be a disability if someone asked for a wav...however, you should be able to convert to a wav easily. My experiences with libraries varies - one library I hooked up via Taxi just used the mp3s that Taxi forwarded to them. Another library I work with on a regular basis takes wav files - originally I sent the wav files via YouSendIt.com, but now they have an ftp server, so I can just upload them. Some libraries I'm working with now want redbook audio CDs. Unless a library requires a CD (and many do), I simply find it quicker and easier to send wav or mp3 files.I do everything on a computer, and it's not uncommon for me to edit/master (using the word losely) my wav files. Dave mentioned iTunes for converting audio cds to wav files. I'm not sure...maybe windows media player can do that as well. I tend to use cdparanoia for ripping CDs (which is what you'd have to do to get a wav file from your audio CD), and lame for converting wavs to mp3s (sometimes using audacity for a visual interface), or sometimes I use Soundforge (but cdparanoia, lame, and audacity are all free). I've got some command-line scripts I use to batch some processes, say I drop a dozen wav files in a directory, and I can run a script that does a batch process and coverts them all to 192kbps mp3s while I go off and do some other work...or post here on the boards

[matto]

Quote:Spariam,With my system I can spin out Redbook CD's but not wave files. From your experience (or anyone's) how much disability is that going to be for library placements?If you get as far as being offered a deal, I'm sure you won't let the wav thing hold you back...right?Given that you post on this board, you must own a PC...and as Doug and Dave have pointed out, it's quite easy to convert an audio CD to wav (to submit final mixes) or mp3 (for demo delivery) using free or cheap software. Another free solution that will do it is Musicmatch Jukebox.I find that in general wav files are is what most libraries want. Sample/bitrate requirements vary, so make sure you get the specs. Occasionally a company will insist on audio cd's (never a problem) or aiff.Bottom line is if they are asking for a format you can't provide out of the box, just say "no problem" (they like to hear that ), then find a way (or a friend) to convert it...matto

[horacejesse]

Thanks Matt,That is certainly good advice. I am disappointed to know that I will probably not be able to send in things as I can now produce them. But like you say, "no problem."It is going to be a problem because I am a lot poorer than folks might imagine. I am real lucky just to have the setup that I currently have. But no use squalling about hardships when one is also lucky to be on top of the ground. When the time comes, I will get it done. Thanks again.

[horacejesse]

All,Well, folks, it is time to display my ignorance again. I don't know much, as you have seen and will now see again.Can CD format be converted to wave format? Because I was under the impression (usually mistakenly) that wave files were unmastered loose tracks. But I can already tell that is probably wrong.One of my problems is my computer and my studio are in different towns. Believe me when I tell you this cannot be changed right now for reasons I will not tell you.But, heck, if it is as simple as making a CD at the studio and then bringing it to the computer to convert to wave format, I feel much better already. Is that correct or is my parade going to get rained on again?