Virtual Choir/Ensemble

I guess this is the best forum for this. Admin/Mod: Feel free to move it where you think it should be.

Anyway, has anyone ever heard Eric Whitacres Virtual Choir recordings? (I'm sure a few have.) Basically what they are is a choir piece pieced together from a large number of separate performers each recording his or her own part from home and submitting it. (Go here for an example.)

So this got me thinking, could we pull this off? I'm thinking mostly choir stuff, but I assume smaller instrumental works could be arranged given enough performers for the work in question. This would be a great way to get an invaluable (and valuable) recording for those of us who don

Visions and Dreams.pdf

This seems to be an old thread... but I just wanted to say this is a great idea!! It sounds like a lot of fun, and I think such a recording could work, especially if there is a recording/midi performance that could serve as the skeleton onto which all other persons could add their part. For example, each person could record their part while listening (through a head set, etc.) to the midi performance of the piece; that way we ensure that everyone stays at the same tempo and employing similar tempo/dynamic variations.

I can sing bass voice and play the viola (albeit, for both, not always in tune or with perfect technique). If we get this project going, I'd be happy to volunteer to combine the separate sound bits into one.

Volunteering too: I can sing tenor/and most of the times the higher bass parts (i have a range in between the tenor and the bass ^_^). I really liked the virtual choir thing from eric whittacre, I am kinda addicted now to his music for the past 2 weeks :) Thanks for that !

I can play classical guitar at (in my opinion) a good level, so if one would want a life recording of a classical guitar in one of his/her pieces I'd gladly help! I am really interested in working together with others here to create some "virtual" ensembles!

I can't sing but I can do the mixing(piece the tracks together).

Cool, that is a really important thing too ofcourse :) Hopefully this attracts more people! Can you play an instrument at a decent level?

I am asking this at other websites too, and I think there really some people wanting to help in this project, so I think this could be something!

Hello again, I haven't been checking this forum in a while but I've subscribed to the thread now so that I can better participate. I'm excited to see that other people are interested in this, too. :) In addition to bass voice and viola, I can play the piano as well, but I haven't had ready access to an instrument for several years now so it may take a little longer time for me to record should the need arise. It seems, then, that we so far have access to: a bass voice, a tenor/bass/baritone voice, classical guitar, viola, piano and mixer. Already a good range of instruments, I think!

I have a good friend who plays the piano at a very good level, and I am sure he would want to help out in such a project, so I guess we have another piano availlable :) I have added the same text as in your signature in my signature. Hope it will help !

Best thing is, I think, to try and compose a song with the now available instruments. I have already been trying, but it is kind of hard to make something good out of it. I think it would be funny to make a spanish sounding piece, because of the raw sound of a viola, and because of the guitar.

I think it would be great for others and for ourselves to have an example of what this project will make your pieces sound like :)

Greetz

Best thing is, I think, to try and compose a song with the now available instruments.

Great idea!! I'll also get started on a piece using some of the available instruments. If you would like, when you finish your piece, please let us know here--I think it will be awesome to get it recorded through this virtual ensemble. Perhaps other composers would like to contribute as well. I look forward to our first performance!

Hey,

I think I have a nice piece now. It is a piece I already composed a while ago, and it was initially for guitar and piano. I composed it together with a good friend of me, but I think it is kind of unplayable, so adding the viola and filtering away some difficult notes is what I am doing now. I will first consult my friend and we will try to make this piece a nice piece.

I think it would be best to use the piano, viola and guitar for this piece. It might be fun to add some voices, but I actually have no clue how that would fit in the piece. I will soon upload some audio and a score.

@ th213x : what do you want from us to make the best mix possible? I guess we are going to use a click track to play along, and to keep in the same tempo/bpm etc, but are there any specific demands you can make now before we start recording and so on?

@ smallercomma: what kind of microphone do you have? I think getting a good microphone is important to make this project succeed. I have a shure sm57.

Greetz

@ smallercomma: what kind of microphone do you have? I think getting a good microphone is important to make this project succeed. I have a shure sm57.

I don't have one other than those built into the computer and on a headset; but perhaps I can look into other options soon. Do you have any suggestions? Good luck with the piece--it sounds interesting. I'll look forward to playing it.

Hey,

I myself am not such a pro on the level of recording, I guess the more expensive the mic the better, but you should just do some research, which microphones are most suitable for recording viola's. And just try recording something while playing the viola with your availlable mic's and listen to it. If it has much background noice, and if your viola sounds distorted, you should defintely get a better mic.

I have -as i already said- a shure sm57, it isnt the best mic out there, but it can record quite a range of different instruments, and I think it does record my guitar and my voice just fine.

greetz

Hey, I was IN EWVC (both Sleep and Lux)!

Cool :)

You must be a good singer then ^_^

I can play bassoon if need be. Granted, I've only been playing a year and a half, but I'm not entirely incompetent, haha. I can reach up to C2 and am starting to get the hang of tenor clef. So I'll stick my hand in for the moment. 8D

That sounds great :) Good to have you in the "team"! I recently finished making a piece that can be played for guitar/piano/viola, since those were the first instrument mentioned here. I'll record the guitar part soon and upload it here together with the sheet music. If can think of a nice part for the bassoon feel free to add it yourself and upload your recording. Soon to be continued!

Hi, Quaser; nice to meet you!

JijGaat, I look forward to playing your trio!

I have recorded it, but My internet broke at home, and stupidly enough I forgot to bring my USB stick, so you'll have to wait a few more days, but check this topic in the weekend, it will be there for sure!

Greetz

Hey! This looks like an interesting idea. I'm in! I can sing any soprano or alto parts you need (I've got a pretty wide range).

I'd offer, but it's far too much trouble to get good recording equipment that does a decent job of picking up directional brass instruments. short of adding effects which I am no good at.

Hey Elizabeth and Peter,

Great you want to join to Elizabeth!

What do you have to record with now, Peter?

I think good recording equipment, doesn't have to be thát expensive. To record my guitar I now use a shure sm57 (dynamic, while condensor would be better, so it seems) and an audio device, Tascam US-122mkII. This really does the trick, and overall it is just over 200$. I think I now can make recordings of high quality. I think brass recordings would need a condensor microphone too, but good ones are also availlable for 100$, so if you want to get some good recording equipment that would be great! Another advantage is that you can use it also for your own compositions to have some "real" instruments playing the brass parts.

I'll upload soon today a recording of me playing the guitar and a part for piano and viola, with score. If you think your instrument (or voice) could play a part in it too, then feel free to record something and upload it!

Kind regards,

Hugo

Hi everyone,

Here is a link to the file with me playing the acoustic guitar live, combined with sampled sounds of the piano and viola http://www.box.net/shared/uajcu7pybr. And here is the link to the score http://www.box.net/shared/l6kmage2sh.

I have already asked a pianist to record the piano part. Smallercomma, it would be awesome if you could record the viola part. I don't really know what's easy and what is not, so I have tried to keep it simple. If you feel like you could play some different notes at some places, please do so!

For the other players: if you think you can add something here, please record something!

Let's try and make this a fun little project, and if it sounds cool, we can start thinking bigger.

Greetz,

Hugo

I downloaded the files today—it's a really beautiful piece, quiet and serene; I'm excited to play it. I'll try to get it recorded this week and upload the file this weekend.

Hey,

I am glad you like it :) I am really curious about your recording! Feel free to add some lines yourself, if you feel like it. The weekend after next one, my friend will record the piano part, so take the time you need. I'll soon upload the file with guitar and piano only.

Greetz

Hey there,

I have uploaded the song without a sampled viola, I guess that makes it easier to record your part, if you'd want to change anything, or just don''t want to hear the ugly viola sample I used :P.

Here's the link: http://www.box.net/shared/im5pf5ibuz

greetz

Hey Hugo,

Thanks for the file without the viola part. I worry that you will be disappointed with my viola playing; you might find that you actually prefer the "ugly" viola sample! :P Nonetheless, I'm going to try my best and upload the recording soon (might be next weekend... School has been somewhat busy). I practiced the piece a bit this week, and I really like the song. Talk to you soon,

Jong