How Can I Make An Audio Recording Of My Musical?
September 18, 2020 9:12 AM Subscribe
In a few weeks (knock on many substances) I will finish a full-length musical theatre piece. I want to "get it out there" somehow.
I've been working on this musical for years and I'm weeks away from finishing now. Before The Current Horrors of the World, I'd planned to submit the script and, I guess, a recording of me singing and playing the songs, to theatre companies. This seems like a weird or impossible thing to do now. This is mostly, I guess, because my musical has about 15 characters.
On the other hand, I always figured that my chances of getting this musical professionally staged were very minimal anyway, and I've had it in my mind all along to make an audio recording of the piece with 15 or so people who would be interested in participating (I have no money to pay them, but then, I'm not making any money from this either). Then I would do something like have puppets lip-synch to the audio recording (I already have a bunch of puppets and have given some amount of thought to how to do that part and video record the musical in that way). And then I'd stick the puppet musical up on the internet somewhere for public viewing.
Now, the question(s):
(1) What would be a good way to try to enlist 15 or so people who act and sing to take on this maybe-fun and maybe-interesting project? I don't know anybody in my real life who would participate in this except for my husband and me -- I have to branch out into -- where?
(2) HOW do I make this recording?
What hardware and app(s) would the actors need in order to make these recordings and send them to me?
All 15 or so characters are not "on stage" at once, ever. They speak/sing in clusters of, say, 6 here, another 3 there, etc. So I would audio-record each scene separately, then edit them together to make the whole musical. What is a good way of doing this in these times when this entire thing will be remote? (obviously I do not need e.g. Zoom. I need only audio.)
My basic idea would be to send the actors a script and a recording of me playing the instrumental parts of their song(s). They record the dialogue with each other and, when their songs come up, they sing over the instrumental recordings. So they have to have a way of connecting with each other and me over some audio software (I'll just be listening).
I have at my disposal: PC laptops; a new-ish iPad; a Zoom audio recorder (no connection to the Zoom conferencing app, obviously); microphones, etc. I do a lot of music with GarageBand for iPad and have also used Ableton and Audacity. But that's just for me.
What do the *actors* need in their homes?
I've been working on this musical for years and I'm weeks away from finishing now. Before The Current Horrors of the World, I'd planned to submit the script and, I guess, a recording of me singing and playing the songs, to theatre companies. This seems like a weird or impossible thing to do now. This is mostly, I guess, because my musical has about 15 characters.
On the other hand, I always figured that my chances of getting this musical professionally staged were very minimal anyway, and I've had it in my mind all along to make an audio recording of the piece with 15 or so people who would be interested in participating (I have no money to pay them, but then, I'm not making any money from this either). Then I would do something like have puppets lip-synch to the audio recording (I already have a bunch of puppets and have given some amount of thought to how to do that part and video record the musical in that way). And then I'd stick the puppet musical up on the internet somewhere for public viewing.
Now, the question(s):
(1) What would be a good way to try to enlist 15 or so people who act and sing to take on this maybe-fun and maybe-interesting project? I don't know anybody in my real life who would participate in this except for my husband and me -- I have to branch out into -- where?
(2) HOW do I make this recording?
What hardware and app(s) would the actors need in order to make these recordings and send them to me?
All 15 or so characters are not "on stage" at once, ever. They speak/sing in clusters of, say, 6 here, another 3 there, etc. So I would audio-record each scene separately, then edit them together to make the whole musical. What is a good way of doing this in these times when this entire thing will be remote? (obviously I do not need e.g. Zoom. I need only audio.)
My basic idea would be to send the actors a script and a recording of me playing the instrumental parts of their song(s). They record the dialogue with each other and, when their songs come up, they sing over the instrumental recordings. So they have to have a way of connecting with each other and me over some audio software (I'll just be listening).
I have at my disposal: PC laptops; a new-ish iPad; a Zoom audio recorder (no connection to the Zoom conferencing app, obviously); microphones, etc. I do a lot of music with GarageBand for iPad and have also used Ableton and Audacity. But that's just for me.
What do the *actors* need in their homes?
Super-important question from a former theatrical literary manager: Is this your first-ever draft of the musical?
If so, you may have a few steps you ought to consider going through first - namely "workshopping" it. Fortunately the process of workshopping it may involve recording it, but you would have enlisted someone who can help you sort through all of that technical stuff so you don't have to worry about it. (The bad news is that this is an unofficial recording for your own purposes that is meant to give you a chance to hear what it sounds like, with the understanding that you're going to listen and realize "oh shit that last third of the show needs to be completely rewritten" and then you go do that.)
So instead of worrying about the technical stuff like this right now, I would start putting the word out that you're working on a musical and you need either a music director or a dramaturg, and that you are looking for guidance on how to workshop it. You'll end up talking to directors, who may or may not be connected with theater companies; but they will in turn be connected to recording studios, actors, and the things that those actors would need to record things. Worrying about that is their job, writing the show is yours.
I'd take your time finding a music director; they are going to be working closely with you, and you want to find someone you can click with.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:31 AM on September 18, 2020 [4 favorites]
If so, you may have a few steps you ought to consider going through first - namely "workshopping" it. Fortunately the process of workshopping it may involve recording it, but you would have enlisted someone who can help you sort through all of that technical stuff so you don't have to worry about it. (The bad news is that this is an unofficial recording for your own purposes that is meant to give you a chance to hear what it sounds like, with the understanding that you're going to listen and realize "oh shit that last third of the show needs to be completely rewritten" and then you go do that.)
So instead of worrying about the technical stuff like this right now, I would start putting the word out that you're working on a musical and you need either a music director or a dramaturg, and that you are looking for guidance on how to workshop it. You'll end up talking to directors, who may or may not be connected with theater companies; but they will in turn be connected to recording studios, actors, and the things that those actors would need to record things. Worrying about that is their job, writing the show is yours.
I'd take your time finding a music director; they are going to be working closely with you, and you want to find someone you can click with.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:31 AM on September 18, 2020 [4 favorites]
Just thinking about it strictly from a technical standpoint:
If the parts can be recorded in isolation, I bet most people who'd be interested in volunteering for this have some sort of home recording capability already. Some DAW software (Audacity could even work), a microphone, and a way to get that microphone into the computer could be enough depending on what you want and how good you are with whatever DAW you're gonna use to merge all of this back together.
If you want to record the parts together, live, that's more technically challenging because of latency: Right now the best solution for that that I've found is something called Jamulus, and if everyone's got awesome Internet it can be kinda like being spread out in a large auditorium, 20-4ms latency (also, there are some technical issues that can stand in the way of using better microphones with it).
I know a couple of bands that are playing with this, and I use it for the audio portions of my voice lessons (we also use Zoom for video, acknowledging that it isn't quite sync'ed, but being able to see each other helps with presence).
If you try to record from Zoom there are fewer impediments to everyone using their own better microphones, but you'll have latency issues that you'll have to edit out.
MeMail sent, I am not a musical theater person, but I've got a little experience with trying to make some of these low-latency collaborative audio things work.
posted by straw at 11:39 AM on September 18, 2020 [1 favorite]
If the parts can be recorded in isolation, I bet most people who'd be interested in volunteering for this have some sort of home recording capability already. Some DAW software (Audacity could even work), a microphone, and a way to get that microphone into the computer could be enough depending on what you want and how good you are with whatever DAW you're gonna use to merge all of this back together.
If you want to record the parts together, live, that's more technically challenging because of latency: Right now the best solution for that that I've found is something called Jamulus, and if everyone's got awesome Internet it can be kinda like being spread out in a large auditorium, 20-4ms latency (also, there are some technical issues that can stand in the way of using better microphones with it).
I know a couple of bands that are playing with this, and I use it for the audio portions of my voice lessons (we also use Zoom for video, acknowledging that it isn't quite sync'ed, but being able to see each other helps with presence).
If you try to record from Zoom there are fewer impediments to everyone using their own better microphones, but you'll have latency issues that you'll have to edit out.
MeMail sent, I am not a musical theater person, but I've got a little experience with trying to make some of these low-latency collaborative audio things work.
posted by straw at 11:39 AM on September 18, 2020 [1 favorite]
So they have to have a way of connecting with each other and me over some audio software (I'll just be listening).
The problem I think you're going to run into with this idea is the same one that lots of folks were trying to figure out early in the pandemic with live remote band jams and performances (there were several Asks about this) - namely that the time latency inherent to the internet across distances will be too great. You'll never get them to speak/sing in time performing "live", especially if you're trying to get multiple people recording at the same time. (Which I think is what you intend from you idea of doing a scene at a time.)
stray's suggestion about being able to do something quick and dirty with zoom plus some editing by you in Audacity sounds like a good idea to me, especially because I think both stray and Empress have a point where it's likely that you'll decide your piece will need some further refinement after you hear a "rough draft" of the whole thing performed.
Seconding to reach out to any community/public or college/university theater organizations local to you. Many are trying to do something during this time, they'll not only be able to recruit performers but also might have some of the technical gear and experience to help with recording.
posted by soundguy99 at 11:47 AM on September 18, 2020
The problem I think you're going to run into with this idea is the same one that lots of folks were trying to figure out early in the pandemic with live remote band jams and performances (there were several Asks about this) - namely that the time latency inherent to the internet across distances will be too great. You'll never get them to speak/sing in time performing "live", especially if you're trying to get multiple people recording at the same time. (Which I think is what you intend from you idea of doing a scene at a time.)
stray's suggestion about being able to do something quick and dirty with zoom plus some editing by you in Audacity sounds like a good idea to me, especially because I think both stray and Empress have a point where it's likely that you'll decide your piece will need some further refinement after you hear a "rough draft" of the whole thing performed.
Seconding to reach out to any community/public or college/university theater organizations local to you. Many are trying to do something during this time, they'll not only be able to recruit performers but also might have some of the technical gear and experience to help with recording.
posted by soundguy99 at 11:47 AM on September 18, 2020
I hope you submit your script to the Chicago Musical Theater Festival -- this is an amazing process of producing new musicals, and it looks like they train you to produce the musical. I attended early this year (just before the pandemic), and saw three musicals that were all over the place. More people need to know about this!
Even if you end up not producing the show, I'll bet that the process of submitting the script will be helpful to you. You might get some feedback, and the sponsoring organization, Underscore Theater (in hiatus but still made up of people who are focused on producing new musicals), might give you some great ideas.
posted by amtho at 12:10 PM on September 18, 2020 [3 favorites]
Even if you end up not producing the show, I'll bet that the process of submitting the script will be helpful to you. You might get some feedback, and the sponsoring organization, Underscore Theater (in hiatus but still made up of people who are focused on producing new musicals), might give you some great ideas.
posted by amtho at 12:10 PM on September 18, 2020 [3 favorites]
I will volunteer to be in it, workshop, whatever, if you like. I am an average singer but have done one musical we filmed over Zoom (note: not online to see, still being edited). MeMail me if you like. (Disclaimer: on West Coast, this may be an issue for you timingwise?) Not sure if I could find others who might be into the idea and also sing, but I could try since I was doing online theater for several months both with West and East Coasters.
God knows I am not an expert on technical editing, but I can answer a bit of this from experience.
(2) HOW do I make this recording?
What hardware and app(s) would the actors need in order to make these recordings and send them to me?
We just did it over Zoom. I had a microphone already and some other folks went out and got one, but I don't think we got very sophisticated about it. We're a low budget group.
All 15 or so characters are not "on stage" at once, ever. They speak/sing in clusters of, say, 6 here, another 3 there, etc. So I would audio-record each scene separately, then edit them together to make the whole musical. What is a good way of doing this in these times when this entire thing will be remote? (obviously I do not need e.g. Zoom. I need only audio.)
Clusters is where it's going to get tricky for you (see above), but I've seen enough videos put online by fancy theater people where they combined everyone singing, so it's doable. Sadly I can't tell you how, as the director of mine just decided it was easier to only have one person sing at a time. We never did find exactly how those are done, so we gave up on the idea. It sounds like everyone records separately and then an editor puts them altogether, though.
My basic idea would be to send the actors a script and a recording of me playing the instrumental parts of their song(s). They record the dialogue with each other and, when their songs come up, they sing over the instrumental recordings. So they have to have a way of connecting with each other and me over some audio software (I'll just be listening).
We had someone record the instrumental and after our dialogue was done, we had to play it on our own computers and sing along while over Zoom. As long as the music is in the same room as the singer, it works.
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:41 PM on September 18, 2020 [2 favorites]
God knows I am not an expert on technical editing, but I can answer a bit of this from experience.
(2) HOW do I make this recording?
What hardware and app(s) would the actors need in order to make these recordings and send them to me?
We just did it over Zoom. I had a microphone already and some other folks went out and got one, but I don't think we got very sophisticated about it. We're a low budget group.
All 15 or so characters are not "on stage" at once, ever. They speak/sing in clusters of, say, 6 here, another 3 there, etc. So I would audio-record each scene separately, then edit them together to make the whole musical. What is a good way of doing this in these times when this entire thing will be remote? (obviously I do not need e.g. Zoom. I need only audio.)
Clusters is where it's going to get tricky for you (see above), but I've seen enough videos put online by fancy theater people where they combined everyone singing, so it's doable. Sadly I can't tell you how, as the director of mine just decided it was easier to only have one person sing at a time. We never did find exactly how those are done, so we gave up on the idea. It sounds like everyone records separately and then an editor puts them altogether, though.
My basic idea would be to send the actors a script and a recording of me playing the instrumental parts of their song(s). They record the dialogue with each other and, when their songs come up, they sing over the instrumental recordings. So they have to have a way of connecting with each other and me over some audio software (I'll just be listening).
We had someone record the instrumental and after our dialogue was done, we had to play it on our own computers and sing along while over Zoom. As long as the music is in the same room as the singer, it works.
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:41 PM on September 18, 2020 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: I had an idea that Zoom would be overkill because I don't need video. Yet most people are suggesting Zoom, which cuts the speaker off when it hears another speaker and has lag time.
Really, there's no audio-only conferencing software that would record multiple people speaking/singing to each other and with each other? I seem to remember, at least 20 years ago, I called somebody on my regular old landline to participate in a conference call with at least 20 people (this is how a lot of people held distanced "workshops" way way back then). No computers were required. And we can do conference calls on our cell phones, right? I don't know how many people could be brought in to the call. So, I'm kind of surprised that the recommendations include video, which I thought was more complicated than audio-only.
Am I crazy to think that phones could be used for this? or some old-fashioned conferencing software?
also, yes, this is my Very First Draft of the musical, and I'm still in the process of finishing 8 of the songs, and I haven't even gone over the "book" part yet a second time, so the workshop suggestions are FANTASTIC (except for the rejection part). I always think I have to do everything by myself in the most primitive way (although that is, in a way, part of my aesthetic., too. "Oh, considering she just threw this out there by herself, this isn't bad!" as opposed to, "What? you thought you were a professional?? hahaha)
But I digress (And regress. And obsess.)
posted by DMelanogaster at 10:39 AM on September 19, 2020
Really, there's no audio-only conferencing software that would record multiple people speaking/singing to each other and with each other? I seem to remember, at least 20 years ago, I called somebody on my regular old landline to participate in a conference call with at least 20 people (this is how a lot of people held distanced "workshops" way way back then). No computers were required. And we can do conference calls on our cell phones, right? I don't know how many people could be brought in to the call. So, I'm kind of surprised that the recommendations include video, which I thought was more complicated than audio-only.
Am I crazy to think that phones could be used for this? or some old-fashioned conferencing software?
also, yes, this is my Very First Draft of the musical, and I'm still in the process of finishing 8 of the songs, and I haven't even gone over the "book" part yet a second time, so the workshop suggestions are FANTASTIC (except for the rejection part). I always think I have to do everything by myself in the most primitive way (although that is, in a way, part of my aesthetic., too. "Oh, considering she just threw this out there by herself, this isn't bad!" as opposed to, "What? you thought you were a professional?? hahaha)
But I digress (And regress. And obsess.)
posted by DMelanogaster at 10:39 AM on September 19, 2020
Seconding Zoom + Jamulus. Also, Audacity on an individual basis for local recording...it's like a Swiss Army knife for sound. Everyone needs two devices...Zoom on phone and Jamulus on a computer, with nothing else running on it, sort of works. There will be some lag, but Jamulus coordinates everybody so they're equally lagged. Best results, I think, with everyone not too far apart geographically, and with not too old equipment.
One thing about Jamulus...there are many public servers that you can use for free, and it's comparatively uncomplicated. However, other random musicians out there will join in. This is normal, but maybe not desirable. The way around that is having a private server. That involves somebody doing some technical setup.
[This is my first contribution after years of lurking. Hi, everybody!]
posted by The Half Language Plant at 11:48 AM on September 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
One thing about Jamulus...there are many public servers that you can use for free, and it's comparatively uncomplicated. However, other random musicians out there will join in. This is normal, but maybe not desirable. The way around that is having a private server. That involves somebody doing some technical setup.
[This is my first contribution after years of lurking. Hi, everybody!]
posted by The Half Language Plant at 11:48 AM on September 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
Yeah, the music over the internet thing is a problem, see preivous questions. I have heard people doing phone conference readings to some degree of success, but the audio quality is not good.
The Half Language Plant (nice first contribution) is right that Jamulus is an option, if you want to get around latency in real time.
I agree, you can find someone to help you with this - a small indie theatre company, a school, a keen emerging theatre director...without knowing more about your musical it's hard to say, but find the angle, the connection point, and pitch a workshop.
Also don't know how funding works where you are - here, a lot of theatre companies are turning to development and are creating small funds for playwrights. This is the time to visit the websites of every theatre company in your area/genre/affinity group.
posted by stray at 9:56 AM on September 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
The Half Language Plant (nice first contribution) is right that Jamulus is an option, if you want to get around latency in real time.
I agree, you can find someone to help you with this - a small indie theatre company, a school, a keen emerging theatre director...without knowing more about your musical it's hard to say, but find the angle, the connection point, and pitch a workshop.
Also don't know how funding works where you are - here, a lot of theatre companies are turning to development and are creating small funds for playwrights. This is the time to visit the websites of every theatre company in your area/genre/affinity group.
posted by stray at 9:56 AM on September 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
More advanced, send everyone a mic, do a reading over zoom but have them also record on their computers using Audacity, and then you can do a cleaner edit of the reading. Still a pain to do chorus numbers, but not impossible if you have them record their layers one by one.
Not sure what the rules are in your jurisdiction - here, for union workshops, you'd need to pay to do this recording, if you're using union actors. If you have connections with community theatres or students, that might be an avenue.
In fact, pitching to musical theatre training programs is a good idea - they get to be involved in the development process, you get you a free workshop. Worth a shot.
posted by stray at 9:30 AM on September 18, 2020 [2 favorites]