remix reconstruction

the remix page is back up and has a sharp new user-interface. previously, we remixers were simply skywriting or html-coding our posts onto the page. now, thanks to jared morgenstern, a computer science student at harvard, we have a module in place that formats new posts in an easily-sorted, manageable manner. i am hoping that the new interface will draw more people into the mix, allowing them to post comments and remixes with ease. at some point, i envision a vibrant conversation happening here, a mix between musical feedback and verbal feedback, constructive criticism and encouragement--a creative commons in action, transparent in its interactive process. soon we hope to add a rating-system so that interesting threads and banging beats can "float" to the top of the list.

to kick off the new remix page, i have issued a challenge. yesterday afternoon, i cut about a dozen micro-samples from an afro-funk record. all of the samples are less than a second long. i am curious to see how different the results will be when these same samples emerge in various new forms and arrangements, having gone through different people's creative processes. i wonder also how long a remix project can be sustained. how many iterations can a set of musical materials go through before people are content to let them lie? possibly an infinite number, but interest may wane before then. we'll see.

unfortunately, in the process of building and putting up the new module, the original remix page was clobbered. the early threads between myself, rhombus, and b lo were lost. in the next couple of days, i will do my best to reconstruct these exchanges so that they can continue to live and demonstrate the remix process in action.

i would like to invite anyone who is interested to propose remix projects. maybe you have a set of samples you want to throw out there? or a song that needs something else, but you aren't sure what? or an old track that could use some new life? currently, to keep server-space maximized and to facilitate interaction among the fruityloops-users in the digital music project, you can only upload files in .flp and .mp3 format. i do not intend to keep out producers who use different software or hardware. these folks will simply have to deal with mp3s as source materials (i.e., cut your own samples from the posted remixes). also, in your post, if you know a little html, you can always link to .wavs or other files that you have stored in some other space.

i would also like to invite anyone who is interested to post comments about the remixes in progress. if you like a track in particular, if certain features jump out and deserve elaboration, or if you can offer some constructive criticism, comments are encouraged. feedback and conversation is what we are going for. you do not need a password to post text. if you are planning to upload music files (.flp or .mp3), however, and you are not already a member of wayneandwax.org, email me to get a password.

just this morning i uploaded a first try remix of the samples i put up yesterday. i offer it as a good faith attempt, having issued a challenge of creating a track using only these samples. in theory, this "purist" approach seemed like a good idea. in practice, it seemed a bit limiting. i found it rather difficult to make a track that i liked out of only these sounds. given the shortness of these samples, the music sounds choppy (to me) without some other sounds to connect them to each other. in a few days, i plan to return with a "less pure" but more compelling beat. perhaps by that point there will be some other mixes to compare it to. meantime, check out the new remix page and the "jump off" challenge.