If you’ve come to this page it’s probably because you’ve bought the Culture Vulture E.P., heard the song laid bare on those extra tracks and wondered what they’re for. Let us explain.
Your chance to take those tracks and create your own version of the song, using just the original files or adding your own, the original structure or your back to front version - you are the producer, the arranger, the mix engineer ! You can even write your own song based on the original recordings (See What if I make a multi platinum hit with it ?).The finished versions you can upload to this site here.
There are some
before you upload ;
The finished file format must be MP3.
The finished file sizes must not be above 5Mb.
The mix has to be of a reasonable standard (but we’re not expecting every, or any, mix to sound like it’s spent 3 weeks in Abbey Road).
No copyrighted samples! If you use them and the track gets uploaded here, on your head be any repercussions.
Once you’ve passed the basic rules it’ll go online where the band and your co-remixers will get to listen to and comment on your work. Depending on the response the best versions may get an official release. You’ll also get to keep your work and use it as you see fit. (See What can I do with my mix ?)
If you’re not already making music on computer you might be surprised to know that you can do it easily on a pretty basic home PC or Mac using software that you can often get free and legally. Details of the kind of software you need and some helpful resources are in What will I need to remix ?
You can show it off to the band and your peers.
You can use it as a demo to show your musical talents.
As long as you clear it in advance with MI5 Recordings UK you can release it yourself (See What if I make a multi platinum hit with it ?).
You can sit up alone all night, listening to the marvel of your own production - it’s yours to enjoy just about anyway you want.
If you’re making money from the tracks MI5 Recordings UK and Jesus Jones will expect a small share in that. The greater the reliance on our work, the more we’d expect but whatever the amount it will be reasonable - no 100% of songwriting royalties for a 5 second sample. Basically, if it looks like it’s going to be succesful get in touch ASAP and we’ll find an agreement to make everybody happy.
Redistribute any of the Culture Vulture E.P. tracks, including the remix tracks, without explicit permission from MI5 Recordings UK.
Pass the song off as your own - the remix is yours, but the original recording and the song are owned by MI5 Recordings UK.
Sell your remix without explicit permission from MI5 Recordings UK.
Use the audio tracks / samples elsewhere without a cheery email to MI5 Recordings UK and Jesus Jones - we’d love to hear what you do with these tracks.
This is a good point to recommend you wholeheartedly to Computer Music magazine. Not only will its Basics section explain the type of hardware and software you’ll need but if you buy the magazine itself the included CD (UK only) contains a complete suite of very good, entirely free music making software. (Unfortunately, Mac users will have to find an alternative sequencer from the PC-only Computer Muzys, and it’s hard to recommend a good free one). At the least you’ll be able to find links to software - free, shareware and commerical, and get some free samples.
You’ll need to transfer the CD tracks into a format your music software will understand, normally WAV (PC) or AIFF (Mac) format. MP3 programmes such as iTunes are sometimes able to do this but otherwise there are a large number of CD rippers, audio transfer programmes and audio editors available. Check out Hit Squad for help.
Once you’ve finished your mix it must be converted to MP3 if you want to upload it to the Remix site.
CULTURE VULTURE was originally recorded using ;
Computers : Apple Mac G4 500mhz & iBook G3 500mhz
Sequencer : Cubase 4.1(Steinberg)
Sampler : Kontakt (Native Instruments)
Synths : Reaktor 4 (Native Instruments)
Mics : Shure SM87 & SM58, various Shure drum mics.
One final reminder : Basic Rules.