Gifting

[Sharon (sdbrins)]

HH I appreciate so much what you are doing and understand it takes time to do it. I, personally speaking, think the most recent changes Stil suggested are great and would be perfectly happy to call it finished.

I don't know about the time line to have it ready to wrap, I would think there is still some time to work with it, but will leave that to Bostongirl. I think she is the one who will be doing the wrapping.

Thanks again and rest assured we know you are giving it your all and we appreciate it sooooooo much.

Sharon

[bostongirl]

Good morning HH,

I completely understand where you are coming from. So here is the plan.

If you have time to make the changes go for it. That will be the final version, no matter what brilliant ideas we come up with. If you do not have time, or feel under pressure time wise, just finish up with your original plan. If we could have the final version by next weekend, I think that would be fine.

Everyone thought that the base track was really good. I wish my little brainstorm came a few weeks earlier, but it is what it is. This is a project for us all to have fun and create something special for someone that we all care about. So, please have fun and go with what you can do. I had hoped that we would actually be able to put a melody and sound to this song, but was amazed and am delighted when it happened. I am very thankful to you.

I have finished with the words to the card and will post tonight. Thanks to everyone for helping me with directions on the graphics. I have to get some coffee and off to shopping. Will post the card here tonight for folks to review. See ya later.

Boston

[BBE]

I think this is such a neat idea! Good on ya, everyone involved!!!

BG, just sent you a PM.

[hammeredham]

BG and everyone - I appreciate that people did like what I did, I just wish they could have heard the cleaner version of it. Well, it was only put out in that MP3 as a demo anyway just so "need to know" people had an idea of where I was going.

Looking at a desire to have it for next weekend means that there isn't enough time to make any changes. I am really sorry about that, because what people have thought of and what Stil wrote was good and BTW Stil - THANK YOU for writing a good version. I wish I had more time to work with it, but there is just NO WAY to go back and start over at this point given the timeline.

Seeing what happened to the conversion to MP3 is also disturbing. (and explains why, in the Trees Karaoke contest, my released version sounds "funny"...I went back and listened to THAT too, and it has EXACTLY the same digital artifacts in it) Don't know if that means that the plug-in format converter isn't very good or where the problem lies...and don't have enough time to go hunting at this point........BUT it suggests that getting a final version to whoever I need to get it to (probably BostonGirl or her designate in the Chicago area) has just become a problem. The most expedient solution at this point would be to use my standalone CD recorder and that means taking an analog output from the 'pooter to record. Once again, that's because I don't have a soundcard in there, only the on-motherboard sound chips and that doesn't include a digital output. Shame, because the Philips recorder DOES HAVE a digital input. Even so, if I can keep the *analog* noise to a minimum the result will probably STILL sound better than that MP3.

So I'll have an audio-CD ...... which will have to get mailed, UPS'ed, FEDX'ed or whatever and probably as an overnight so that the time it takes to get THAT accomplished doesn't cut into the actual production process any more than neccessary. There is one possible alternative that opens a whole other can of worms........we do have Pinnacle Studio 10.whatever and the USB video capture box on our system. It can take stereo audio along with video. I have only a little experience with this other than doing the import but someone I know has done a video thing using the same gear. I don't recall if it ended up being in Windows Movie Maker format or just what - will have to ask. And I don't know how file size works out, either - BUT, if any of you have some experience crankin' out videos using such a system and think that it might be a better way of getting it done, I'm open to the idea. While y'all chew on that, it's back to the mixer. I think I better get a bunch more done today if this is gonna be ready in time.

[rockfan]

HH - I understand your frustration with all this. What if we could extend the next weekend deadline to maybe mid-week following?
At this point, aren't the only changes to it the ones Stil had suggested?

As for your recording dilemma, the way you did it the first time was fine. It doesn't have to be perfect and it sounded great.

[Stiletto]

HH........it's no problem bro...........we appreciate all you are doing.........

I'm glad everyone likes the change I made............and I've made another as well that if we had time would make a good final version........but I'll keep it to myself...........

Thanks everyone for all the input and help and BG for the idea........

I know Marty..........no matter the words..........how it sounds.........who sings it.........etc.................he'll appreciate it.

[bostongirl]

HH - Please continue with what you started. We will need a medium that can be accessed on the internet. I am mp3 file. I agree with Stil - Marty will love it. I am fine with staying with our original plan. Lay more vocal and intrumentals on top of the base track. Keep the mp3 file.

We can always present Marty with a better quality CD and the lyrics in a nice binder at a concert next year.

You are doing a wonderful job. No worries. Please have fun.

Boston

[bostongirl]

Hi Everyone,

Ok, here is the first pass at the verse for our Chrismtas card. Thanks for Gingerpyle who came up with 99% of the idea. Love it. Lots of folks are helping me with the graphics, but wanted to get this in front of everyone to see what you think. Remember

HEY MARTY -

Santa’s been watching you all year long, we don’t know what to tell you but...

He knew when you were sleeping, he knew when you were awake
He knew when you were bad or good and you were good for Hammers sake..
So you better watch out, you better not move
You better listen up, 'cause we've made a song for you
Merry, Merry, Marty Christmas, all year long.

Hope all your wishes come true,
Your faithful fans at mc.org

[chanvre]

Be still my heart! This is the most amazing idea ever. I wish I had seen this thread sooner...writing is my passion!

Marty is going to be beside himself when he hears this song. Cheers to everyone involved in the project! Excellent job.

[LMC]

Marty is going to love it! Awesome job to everyone who helped!!!

[hammeredham]

rockfan said:

HH - I understand your frustration with all this. What if we could extend the next weekend deadline to maybe mid-week following?
At this point, aren't the only changes to it the ones Stil had suggested?

As for your recording dilemma, the way you did it the first time was fine. It doesn't have to be perfect and it sounded great.

The changes that Stil had in his latest set of lyrics would have been the only ones BUT there were some serious issues with the number of syllables in a line. Having written the music to dovetail with the earlier material meant that adding or subtracting too many syllables makes the words NOT fit the music and thus, require a complete rewrite of the music which also would have scrapped all the tracks that have already been laid down.

It is really nobody's fault - ya sometimes think of good - no, GREAT ideas like this song a bit late and wish you had thought of them about a month earlier. That's human nature, and is the sort of thing one files away in one's brain for next year.........

I'd have to write a book to explain everything that has to happen in sequence to record a song (and of course there are varying levels of complexity from "Mary Had a Little Lamb" all the way up to some symphony orchestral score) so suffice it to say that if you're not doing it professionally (in my dreams) it really takes a lot of time, whch we just don't have for re-doing everything.

I appreciate the comment about it doesn't have to be perfect.....believe me, it isn't but I want it to be as good as I can possibly make it. Call that a sacrifice to "pride" if you like ;D but anything *within reason* that I can do on my end to make it as good as possible is what I am doing. This also consumes some time. More in another post....I fear I may be gaining a reputation for being a long winded old fart.

[hammeredham]

stiletto said:

HH........it's no problem bro...........we appreciate all you are doing.........

I'm glad everyone likes the change I made............and I've made another as well that if we had time would make a good final version........but I'll keep it to myself...........

Thanks everyone for all the input and help and BG for the idea........

I know Marty..........no matter the words..........how it sounds.........who sings it.........etc.................he'll appreciate it.

Stil, methinks you are a "gentleman and a scholar"......

[bostongirl]

Me thinks you are all the most amazing people that i have ever met in my life. Kind and generous and trusting. Always giving each other the most positive support. What a place to find.....Christmas came early for me this year.

[hammeredham]

bostongirl said:

HH - Please continue with what you started. We will need a medium that can be accessed on the internet. I am mp3 file. I agree with Stil - Marty will love it. I am fine with staying with our original plan. Lay more vocal and intrumentals on top of the base track. Keep the mp3 file.

We can always present Marty with a better quality CD and the lyrics in a nice binder at a concert next year.

You are doing a wonderful job. No worries. Please have fun.

Boston

Gotcha. I can always export a version to MP3 - but given what I have discovered I think that should be saved for the LAST version. That way, the digital annoyances won't become additive and really pile up (each generation of overdubs that went to MP3 would get glitched, and then the glitches would get glitched again...and again...until the thing warbled so bad that it would be really awful). In the meantime, working back and forth between the 'pooter and the mixer and the CD recorder in analog is doing a better job of maintaining audio quality! That flies in the face of conventional wisdom these days.

Now an update: today's session turned out to be fun, REALLY fun and that's because it was electric guitar day (AKA "the red headed guy on the right hand side of the stage" day ;D ) which was with an old friend - the distortion pedal. I got a good tasty crunchy sound and went to overdub...........and pulled off a 1-take minor miracle which actually left me physically shaking for about 15 minutes. I ended up having to throttle it back when I mixed it out to CD because it was so stout that it rattled the brain cells. I love it. But, that level of hard hitting guitar was a bit too much for this song, hence the turn down. Even so, I hope that everybody enjoys it. It was a real head trip and qualifies for an

Got an inspiration for an accent vocal, and tried it without recording it yet and I think you will just when you hear it. I won't tell you what it is because it would give everything away but I cannot claim credit - she who thought of it will get that in due course.

And now to EAT, geez I'm hungry. Gotta ask the band if that's normal.

Later

[Sharon (sdbrins)]

I am so excited about this!! I can not wait for the finished gift. Kudos to everyone who has helped make this happen and a special thank you to HH, I too hope you are having fun with it.

I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful community.


Sharon

[Trees]

HH... all I can say is I sure am glad you've had the time to give a hand. Knowing the Modfather was really busy and I also knowing he loves writing songs.... and wouldn't be able to resists ;D ;D

A B ig Thanks to both you guys... You both rock!!!!

[Cheza]

HH - We are all so grateful for what you are doing. I understand time constraints...they seem to be something I"m running up against all the time right now. We appreciate your hard work to make this present the best it can be in the time frame allowed.

Bostongirl - Thank you so much for sending out the spark that lit this fire...your dream is becoming reality. Do you still need graphics for the card?

EVERYONE - I'm so excited to hear what HH is working on - i.e. the final product. I can hardly wait. It has been a privilege to be a part of this creative process.

Peace.

[ycrney]

to all the wonderfully talented people who have worked so hard on this. From the idea, to the writing, into the track, to final, everyone has done great job. I agree no matter what Marty will love what you all have done.

[bostongirl]

Happy Monday Everyone


THings are coming along, we are close to the "wrapping" portion of our effort. I think we should have things wrapped up ;D ;D later in the week and will let you know the plan on how this is going to happen later. HH is hard at work with finalizing the "sound".

Yesterday I posted on Reply #148 the Christmas card that we are going to post with the song. Please give it a quick look and let me know what you think. I will be adding the graphics later.

Also, I am looking for Christmas blinking Christmas lights for the card. If anyone has them, please send me a link.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas !!!!!
Happy, happy Monday,
Boston

[bec1224]

Hi, I myself just found this tread...Wonderful Idea and great work to everyone involved...Marty will just love this coming from his fans..He is such a special person..