Organizing Songs - File Names

Here is an easy way to CREATE UNIQUE FILE NAMES for each new song's supporting files.  I'm up to at least 250 songs on the Web now (see www.DianaDeeOsborneSongs.com) --This method that  I developed 3 years ago REALLY eliminated filename confusion. 

When you copyright songs (see earlier blogs), you will probably want the following file types for each song:

1.  LYRICS - Contains song words in a word processing format (like .DOC).

2.  MUSIC SHEET  (sometimes called a LEAD SHEET) - Contains notes information (but not music staffs with note symbols) to show chords (and possibly notes) that fit the lyrics which are also included

3.  SCORE  - Traditional music on a staff, with no lyrics (unless you choose to add them).  If the song has a special score for flutes (for example), just create separate files that list each instrument.

4.  AUDIO  -MP3 format usually, which has a small file size and works well for copyright office.

HOWEVER-- whether you post files to the Web or send them to the Copyright Office (LINK for U.S. office), you need a non-editable PDF file format rather than DOC files that the recipient can change.  SCORE files automatically print from programs that way.  But you will need to have TWO file types for your Lyrics file and Music Sheet file.

It is also EXTREMELY helpful to add the filedate within the file title of paper copies; you don't want to do this for the audio file because people will see that in their iTunes or QuickTime (etc) when they download your audio file.   On the web, it is also helpful to add a TAG that puts the filename with date in the Title field so that you will always know whether you have updated a web file with your newest version.

So here is a summary of file names for my song example entitled "Albino Spiders."  Notice that there is one space after the final word of the song's title, then the dash, then the letters that identify what type of information is contained in your file.  Listed in the order above.

FILES TO POST ONLINE   and with the Copyright Office:
Albino Spiders -LY 12-23-2011.pdf
Albino Spiders -MU 7-20-2012.pdf
Albino Spiders -SCORE  PIANO.pdf
Albino Spiders -SCORE  SAX.pdf
Albino Spiders.mp3
(It's helpful to keep an ARCHIVE folder on your computer with copies.)

FILES TO KEEP ON YOUR COMPUTER  for future updates
Albino Spiders -LY 12-23-2011.doc
Albino Spiders -MU 7-20-2012.doc
Albino Spiders -RESEARCH.doc  (supporting info you used for lyrics)
Albino Spiders.band    (your studio's project, from which you create SCORE files)

Songwriting is SO much easier when your files are well organized .... and more fun creating new songs knowing your strategy is already worked out for filenames.  Much joy in more efficiency as you write the songs in your head!
©2012 DianaDee Osborne;  all rights reserved

Use Your Little Girl Voice

You can use audio waves to "paint" weakness  into a song.    I joke that I use my "little girl voice" in Part 1 of some recorded songs that are about being weak in my own strength.  Then I  "power up" in the chorus   as the words encourage people that strength CAN come to them....

For you guys who are at a disadvantage here, the technique is simple:
Just breathe at "throat level."  Exactly the opposite of what voice coaches teach.

Take shallow breaths,  

sound questioning --  like you might when talking with someone.  Simple to do,
and the weakness that starts a song
REALLY emphasizes the song's power ending.

Much joy to you in finding even more creative ways to change up songs!
©2012 DianaDee Osborne;   all rights reserved.
Examples are located at DianaDeeOsborneSongs.com under one of the Songs tabs.

FAST New Songs

When you have a few lines of a new song "in your head," you do NOT need to wait until you finish the song to start recording in a home studio.  (Obviously saves $$ to do that first for a professional studio session!)

Often I awaken with a "song clip" melody in my head, and often even with words.  Of course I quickly examine whether it's someone else's song! But it's almost always "mine."  At first I would sketch down everything I had in my journal, working at a piano to write the few melody notes I had. Sometimes even selected which of the usually-4-chords would fit  melody notes.

And that works of course when you don't have recording capability right there.  But the result is often forgetting to finish what might have been a great song.  AND.... I've learned that we lose the "feel" of the original idea if we're like perfectionists, waiting for completion before we record.
SOLUTION:
1.  Go record what you already have.  Use a slower tempo for easier recording of instruments with lots of notes, like piano or guitar.
2.  Create a duplicate track.
3.  Set the playhead (red line) a bit before the Step #1 recording ends,  and select the duplicate track.
4.  Hit RECORD and begin playing "anything" on the DUP  track.

Don't worry about perfection! Just have fun! 

5.  If you goof, you can always hit the STOP button to end the region (and show where you think you goofed).   But immediately hit RECORD again and keep going.  By "just playing,"  you'll end up with chords you might have never planned which sound great.
6.  Set the tempo to what "feels" right.  If you have words, it helps to sing with the music when deciding a tempo.  (Once I didn't realize until in the professional studio that I'd almost pass out from lack of breath singing the entire song at once in my selected tempo.... that was "HOLY HEZEKIAH BLUES" !!!
7.  Later.... you can wait until you have time!..... select the regions you want to keep or edit, and delete what you hate.  Build on these with music you like.
8.  Finally, just look at the SCORE in the recording program to calculate the melody notes and chord names to write down on your music sheet pages.  

Super-QUICK Preview of Music Projects on a Mac

THIS IS SO COOL!
Songwriters often create their initial tracks on their home computer, such as on a Mac using Garageband. And we often have many draft files as we record the "music in our heads" so we don't lose it.... but are too busy on other projects to immediately finish.

And then when we go back later, we can't remember amid all our other song ideas, what we recorded for "this" draft! So as we look in Finder at our list of draft projects... well, have you ever had a really long music project with so many tracks that it takes a few moments to load even on a super-fast computer, just to hear a bit of what your project sounds like?

Here's a fast way to remember what your project sounds like WITHOUT opening the .BAND file or looking for the matching .MP3 (and hoping it hadn't changed since your last file-save):

I have about 230 songs on my websites, and about 80 Draft BAND files for future songs, some with only 2 tracks some with about 10. I couldn't remember if I had added Claxton's scripture reading for Prayer Without Asking MP3 track from his studio's ProTools project to my GarageBand project. But I didn't want to bother loading the BAND file to check.

So I decided to see if Quick Look shows the picture like GB's iLIFE preview window....

HERE'S HOW TO QUICKLY HEAR YOUR PROJECT:

In Finder,
1. single click to highlight the .BAND file name,
2. right click on it,
3. select Quick Look --- and

Not only will you see what your .BAND file window looks like (the iLIFE preview),
but Quick Look will PLAY your project.... even a huge project with many tracks.

THERE'S ONE CONDITION ---

You must have had "bounced" the project (In GarageBand: "Send Song to iTunes") in order to hear the associated .MP3 file when you click on Quick Look.

This is far faster than waiting to open the project! Cool!
May you find MUCH joy in using and finding shortcuts to efficiently record your music!
©2012 DianaDee Osborne
www.DianaDeeOsborneSongs.com
www.DiDoReflections.com (Die to Self, Do for Christ,
Reflect God, all with the help of the Holy Spirit)    -- full SEARCH website in development

Organizing Song DRAFTS for Efficiency

Do you have lots of songs "in your head" or written out quickly in a file "somewhere" until you have time to work through the music or develop lyrics?

Here is the easy method I use that results in creating full completed songs in less than a week sometimes (and I'm up to 225 songs, see www.DianaDeeOsborneSongs.com for the index list and free audio example and music sheets)...

1. Create a single enclosing folder such as "Songs 2012".
2. Within that folder, create 4 new folders:

a. Lyrics Drafts - to contain DOC style files of song words.
b. Music Sheet Drafts - to contain draft scores or DOC files of notes for chord progressions, etc.
c. Recorded Music Drafts - to contain BAND or MP3 or other files. You can create sub-folders depending on the type of music recording. For example, I have a GARAGEBAND folder and a VOICE RECORDER folder here (like .VPN files).

d. Support files..... see future blogs! These include Copyright records, indexes for journals so you can FIND your handwritten song drafts, etc.

There is SO much fun in taking your draft lyrics and "just playing" songs in your Recorded Music Drafts folder.... and suddenly realizing you have a great fit for your song! With some music already recorded, all you have to do is re-fit a bit either the words or the notes to quickly create a new song. Much joy in developing efficiency as you write songs for others to hear....
©2012 DianaDee Osborne

5 Tricks for Easy Vocal Tone Matches

As we record vocals for songs or readings, it's normal to sometimes goof.
And frequently we notice the goof as soon as we do it.
Have you ever continued through the song, stopped, gone back to the spot you needed to fix, and re-sung a perfect timing or enunciation or whatever this time -- only to be told "Your tone doesn't match" by either your producer or your own observation.
Perhaps time your voice might have seemed more rich -- or more like a little girl:)

Here are 4 tricks for avoiding the difficulty 

of matching your tone for "patching" a vocal, listed in order from most effective to 'worth a try':

1.  If there's a break in the music right afterward and you have the space and you know the song well enough, go ahead and sing that piece you'll need to replace RIGHT THERE.  You or your sound guy can easily separate it out and move it back to replace that piece where you goofed.

2.  If there's not enough break, but there is some space after you've finished the song and you know the piece, sing the piece right there (with the click track still going) even if without the matching music.   Then - Same fix as for #1.

3.  OR-- Immediately after finishing the first track, create a duplicate vocal track.  Re-sing the place where you goofed with the original recording (if the mistake wasn't enough to throw you off).

4.  If the mistake WAS really bad--- You can instead cut the mistake to put in FRONT of the area on the new track where you will be re-singing the piece, so your original tone will be fresh in your mind as you re-sing that part with the mistake cut out of the original track.

TECHNIQUE for the future:

5.  If you haven't already:  Start paying close attention to how your throat and upper chest feel  as you sing a specific music range.  For example, when you sing near middle C, you may have a rumble-y feel around your collar bone, compared to a thin feel around your larynx for high notes, or for song sections where you deliberately avoid a rich tone so that the song will have contrast later.

      Thus, when you have to 'repair' a vocal track, it's easier to match your tone by matching the feel in your throat or upper chest.    

      Just a hint for those days when you're hoping to not have to re-sing or re-speak your entire track just because you got one little word out of place! ..........
Much joy to you in singing out music!
©2012 DianaDee Osborne

Easy COPYRIGHTING, Part 2

Let's say you're interested in publishing your original songs. Some websites are overwhelming, but the U.S. Copyright Office is pretty easy to follow except for navigation from help screens back to an application in process. So the starter hint is to try to know definitions before you start!

1. As soon as your write something "in tangible form" (by definition that means a PRINTOUT is a good idea --"touch-able") it is "copyrighted." INFORMATION:
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html#protect
2. Even though your work is protected as soon as it's in a tangible form including in personal letters or church newsletters, you might want to further protect it by adding a DATE after the word 'copyright' or its symbol to your tangible-form work like this:
©2012 My Name
The year is needed because the year shows when protection begins -- they keep changing the law, but it's a lot of years. Still, it's useful to show the start date:)

3. Technically, your work is copyright-protected. And the U.S. has an agreement with most countries to honor that protection. But it is more "safe" to officially register your work with the U.S. Copyright Office -- and that's both easy and inexpensive. You might not know -- it's within the 'depths' of the govt copyright office website! --
It costs only $ 35 to copyright ("register") an entire book....
even if there's hundreds of files, if you have a file per chapter... You just create a PDF-format file for each of your documents (.DOC or whatever you edit with) files. Just check the internet -- there are some really good free download programs that will enable you to "print to PDF file."

4. You don't have to wait until your work is in a final form --
you just give your draft work a different title. For example,
you could protect your drafts by registering the Book Title as 'Collection of Whispers 2011"
You just need to separate published works (such as those in bulletins) from unpublished ones (such as those still only in your office) because one of the application questions asks if the work has been published, so you need a single answer:)

5. If you decide you want to check this out,
a. Go to www.copyright.gov
b. Select the eCO program (Electronic Copyright Office) by clicking on the blue circle button (icon) in the right column.
c. When the info screen comes up, click on the same style eCO blue button to "Login."
d. When a "Security ... Privacy:..." screen comes up, read it and click on the button that says "Continue to eCO." HINT: On slow dial-up connections, hit the Stop button X and then "Reload" to get the screen to come up faster if it seems 'stopped' in progress 3/4 of the way through.
e. The first time you use the program, look right below the Login button on the left.
The bottom line says "If you are a new user, click here to register." BEFORE YOU DO SO --
YOU MUST TURN OFF YOUR POP-UP BLOCKER to register OR to upload files (a future blog will provide easy upload hints).

REGISTRATION HINTS:
1. You'll need to use an electronic check (Payment screen's TOP section) or scroll down the page (NOT clearly mentioned on the site) to enter credit card or debit card to pay the fee. You might want to use a private computer, not one at the local library or local Free Wi-Fi place, to do your registration. You do NOT need fast internet to register... it's slower but not sluggish. AND you do not need to upload any files when you first open a "case" for your work's title. (Sample title for multiple songs registered together = "Song Collection #1).
2. You do NOT need fast internet to upload text files including even 12-page piano scores.
3. On the other hand... good luck trying using a dial-up internet connection to upload an MP3 audio version of your music. My average is 17 minutes per song! Once you've registered your case, you are asked for a password (you can then later change), but not your credit card info... Borrow a computer with fast connection or go to a WiFi place to upload huge files.
4. The Government site warns you that there is a 60-minute limit for uploads. Since there's no limit on how many files you can upload for a song (etc), you may want to divide up the files rather then sending them all in one batch.

THIS IS HOW I DIVIDE MY UPLOADS.... of course there's no "right" way -- this is just easy, I've found:
1. I send each individual song in one upload:
a. Audio file in .MP3 format (Copyright office required format for audio files);
b. Lyrics file in PDF format (required format).
c. A PDF file of the piano track's Music Sheet (using the OTEN music notation method described at www.DiDoReflections.com), and
d. A PDF file of the Music SCORE (using GarageBand's Print-to-PDF feature for the SCORE for EACH important track.
e. Depending on the song, I'll also register special DRUMTRACK files in .MP3 format,
SOUNDTRACK files in .MP3 format, and indivudual instruments' SCORE files (PDF).

The government program is really easy to follow; your work has a service request registration number as soon as you create your account.
--- You get a case number (SR 1-xxxxxxx) for your title.
--- The copyright date will be when you finish uploading all files (and pay the $35 bucks:)
--- You get the paper copy in the mail for about 5 months. In fact, in January 2012, the site reports a mere 3-month turnaround time.

If you use public domain songs like old hymns within your music, you can find a lot of information at www.ccli.com.

A Joyous NEW YEAR with 12 more months of music to you and yours!
©2012 DianaDee Osborne