A few years ago we started doing 4-way collaborations with video... you can see a playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQuPauTIK7nbDdANVhbWt4TT3iBRy1rVs

The challenge started as a spinoff of the #4track cassette collaboration (https://write.fawm.org/forums/441), and initially followed the same format, with 4 people playing a song in a 4-way split screen video. But groups started exploring different formats, and there's really no reason to limit it to 4 people or split screen.

The song "It's Love" (by @jamkar @brownium @ampersandman and @adnama17) is an amazing example of a collaboration that outgrew and completely redefined the challenge: https://youtu.be/R0eFjDG8GTM?list=PLQuPauTIK7nbDdANVhbWt4TT3iBRy1rVs

Who's up for the challenge? There aren't many rules. Make a group (4 people might be easier to manage, but it could be any number). Write a song together. Combine and edit video footage. Upload and share.

It's up to each group to decide how to work together: is each person doing a single track or multiple? Or tracks worked sequentially or in parallel? Is the video showing the musicians playing or telling a story? Anything goes!

EDIT: I started organizing groups. The 4th person in each group is someone who mentioned they would be willing to edit the video.

Group 1. That Was Us (https://write.fawm.org/songs/18826)
1. @ampersandman
2. @zecoop
3. @jamkar
4. @dreamscuba

Group 2. Just Try Chasing (After Me) (https://write.fawm.org/songs/22189)
1. @kim_otcj
2. @sph
3. @kanttilamusic
4. @jlampson

Group 3.
1. @guatecoop
2. @mtmelodie
3. @guitargabe
4. @lunaathefur

Group 4. The Butterfly Effect (https://write.fawm.org/songs/19478)
1. @the_bachelor
2. @elesimo
3. @odetocollaboration
4. @scubed

Group 5.
1. @slusk
2. @artie
3. @bolognabowl
4. @brownium

Group 6.
1. @loveonamixtape
2. @zeekle1998
3. @lowhum
4. @rinwolf

Group 7.
1. @burrsettles
2. @spirulence
3. @cairobraga
4. @gbg2016

Group 8.
2. @siebass
4. @ericdistad
5. @iveg
6. @elesimo

Group 9.
1. @elesimo
2. @intoyourlight
3. @savvyaz
4. @lowhum

I’m in! I started one last year, so put me a 2 or 3 this year. I have no video production skills to speak of.

I’m in. Not sure about my video production skills (although a lifetime ago in a far distant galaxy, I used to make scuba diving videos for a living)… I think I have iMovie on my laptop if required.

I might be interested in doing this, providing I can get back to the studio and put down some real drum tracks.

Thanks for the mention of „It’s Love“, yep, that was fun (and work). So of course I am in again.

I can do keys or vocals.

I can do simple video in a pinch for folks if they need it!

That was so much fun. I'm in

I'll give it another go with guitar.

I can do vocals/lyrics as well if needed for the group. Also, I can do drums but they won't be recorded the best, just one mic up top and one on the bottom.

I had a ton of fun with this last year! I'm game and can do guitar, vocals, bass, or ukulele. I've been working on video stuff but am still not the best, so if we're missing one video editor I can try to tackle that for my group.

Would be fun, never done anything like that before, can contribute with backup vocals/guitar/bass/keys/ omnichord/ theremin/ musical saw etc..
but I got no skills with video editing

I’m in! Thanks again for organizing this. Definitely a keeper challenge. I can do instruments, but will not have time for the video editing.

Awesome! I'll start organizing the groups this weekend!

@elesimo Would like to try. probably guitar but could add some vocals as needed. A bit technologically challenged so being maybe an extra instrument to add flavor might be good?

I think I’m in again….. It was a lot of fun seeing how it came together. @jlampson did a great job of putting everything together 👍🏻

Very interested in this: I can provide guitar, bass, keys, or just some atmospheric textures through an array of pedals and plugins!

Sure, why not. Last year was fun (right @guitargabe ?) and what could possibly go wrong rhis year ? (everything). I prefer stringed instruments such as egg slicers, bouzoki, guitars and similar beasts..

Thanks so much for the flattering comment, @elesimo. I'm in again. Happy to do video/stitching or leave it to someone else.

So who is organizing groups?

I’m in again. I have some basic Final Cut Pro skills, so I’m happy to edit as well as sing and/or play an instrument.

Had a lot of fun doing this challenge last year with @spirulence and @siebass: https://youtu.be/rGFvv5ScPSM

I’d be up to join someone’s group. No video skills, but multi-instrumentalist and vocals. Sounds like fun!

I'd be willing to join in on this! I can provide many different synths and instruments using FL Studio 21. I also have quite a bit of Video Knowledge

Yesssss, I was looking for this forum topic last night (and couldn't find it for some reason), because I've had so much fun with this the last two years! I'm totally in! I have some video skillz, though they're pretty rusty. So I can stitch in a pinch, but may not be the best choice for that role, depending on how many video editors we get.

Had a lot of fun with this last year with @dreamscuba , @torsten and @dzd (</3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAasacj_oXE

I would love to do this if there are any openings!

I've taken a few introductory courses to video editing and can use either Premiere Pro or Final Cut. For instruments, I can do synths/keys, drums, bass, or guitar.

Put me in wherever

Awesome! Thanks, @elesimo!

Count me in. Had a lot of fun last one I did

@elesimo - I am totally down for being IN a collab, so leave me in, but I was mostly just volunteering to do a video assemble for people if they needed something super basic. I still have my template from last year and can easily pop in their videos and such if they just need a "four-on-the-screen" in 5 minutes or less. 😀

@jlampson wait, did I do something wrong?

@elesimo i wanna try this year! put me anywhere in a group with others.

I'd love to do this again. I should not be trusted with a video editor.

@elesimo - not at all! I was just making sure others knew they could solicit a "video stitcher" if they needed one so folks didn't think this was out of their reach without that skill.

YES

I love editing, Please put me at the end of a list!

Hey, I think it would be fun to try😃 Sign me in:))

This is so cool! How did I miss this last year?! Just got finished watching some of these and they are so much fun!

Count me in! I can do pretty much whatever musically. Also, I can totally stitch/edit the video.

(Also @jamkar @brownium @ampersandman and @adnama17 - y'all should be proud! It's Love is a great song and that video was a treat! )

Thanks for the ping, @scubed. If there are more groups, I am down for a third year running of this; has been fun each time, though I will probably not put in the (substantial for me) effort to clone myself in the videos again, as per the first year :D

@slusk, @artie, @bolognabowl
If you guys drop an email to me (brownium@gmail.com) we can start to coordinate how we do this.

Thanks @brownium for getting the ball rolling. I just sent you an email now. Looking forward to working with you all @slusk @bolognabowl

@brownium @artie @bolognabowl Mail on the way. 20 mins to FAWM for real.

@jamkar @zecoop @dreamscuba How do we want to coordinate? Email? Drop me a line and we'll get busy.

I'll slot in for group 8 if you still need a fourth. Sounds like fun.

@brownium Just emailed you! @slusk @artie Excited to get weird y'all

(Bump)

We're halfway through FAWM! Hopefully all groups have already recorded at least 2 parts. How's everyone doing? Let me know if any groups need help with anything!

@dreamscuba @jlampson @lunaathefur @scubed @brownium @rinwolf @rinwolf @gbg2016 @ericdistad

@ampersandman @jamkar @dreamscuba - I just recorded drums (FINALLY - sorry for the wait... it's been a FAWM). I'm mixing them down now and will e-mail the drums soon. I am happy to do the audio production on the song if that's needed (I can't remember). I have all the drums, obviously, but can also send a drum mix ready to pop in someone else's DAW. Just let me know.

@burrsettles @spirulence @cairobraga - thoughts?

@spirulence @gbg2016 @cairobraga woah sorry! i totally forgot about this! i'm still game, and if necessary i can even edit, but my plate is full enough that i can't guarantee it will be done before feb 28.

i see most of you have at least joined the FAWM slack. perhaps it would be easier to start a discussion over there instead of here in the forums to coordinate? i can start a channel, @gbg2016 you can use this invite link to join and then ping me so i can add you to it?

https://join.slack.com/t/fawm/shared_invite/zt-1p3rhsvyv-79vvDxAxnpjx0og98mwZJA

Group 4 is done! https://write.fawm.org/songs/19478

@elesimo, @the_bachelor, @odetocollaboration, it was great working with you.

@elesimo - I've got everyone else's video for Group 2 and am going to be recording mine and editing video over the next few days. Thanks for checking in!

Just to let you know - sent my stuff on to @rinwolf for finishing and all :)

I can do vocals and lyrics, possibly very basic guitar chords.

Is the challenge still on for new groups? Or is it too late now with 8 days left?

@intoyourlight it's still up, do you want to make a group with @savvyaz? Can one of you edit the video?

@elesimo I have non-existent video editing skills unfortunately. Otherwise I’d really like to make up a new group!

I can join in on #9 and stitch the video, though I don't promise no hollywood

@lowhum @intoyourlight @savvyaz we have group 9 complete! (I joined it but if someone new wants to participate I'll give them my spot,)

@intoyourlight do you want to start something? It's preferable to record with a clicktrack. Send your audio to @savvyaz and the video to @lowhum.

@elesimo I‘d really like to do some vocal parts as well, and join in with some synth or guitar effects, so maybe if someone else wants to start? Would be grateful for that :)

I’ve received everyone else’s parts for the collaboration! I’m out of town for the next two days, but should be able to finish the video Thursday-Friday.

@intoyourlight I'll start something tonight, since I haven't heard from @savvyaz yet.

@elesimo @intoyourlight Sorry! I am still trying to figure out how this forum works. Thank you for starting! And I have zero video skills. Does the first person make an entire sing with verses, chorus and bridge, then the others layer onto that? Or does the first person just do part of the sections?

@savvyaz no worries! 🙂

There's no right or wrong way of doing it, but since we're short on time it's better to have less back-and-forth. So I recorded an entire song (ukulele and drum machines), with verse/chorus/bridge, and I sent both files to @intoyourlight so she can add more layers. I also sent my video to @lowhum.

After @intoyourlight has recorded her part she'll also send the video to @lowhum, and send you my audio tracks plus her audio tracks, so you can add your part, and so on. If you have any questions let me know!

@elesimo I reached out to @lowhum and will send him the files today, unfortunately I haven’t heard from @savvyaz yet. @savvyaz Are you still on board?

Group 1 song recorded and video stems recorded. Just need to do the post production and get the video done…

@willyviste @tcelliott, you guys still game for this for group 8?

Group 1 video is now live - That Was Us
https://write.fawm.org/songs/18826

I'm trying to figure out how to hear the individual parts all put together so I can come up with my part. What's the trick? I haven't learned DAW but do have Garage Band on my laptop that I'm afraid of trying, LOL.
@elesimo @lowhum @intoyourlight

@savvyaz did you get my email? I sent you a track with a complete mix, I hope you got it! Otherwise, you can just drag and drop the wav-files into a clear garage band project. If you put them exactly beneath each other they should match. But if you never did it, the version I sent you is the safer option

Okay, @elesimo I am officially sending up a signal flare, I finished a drum and bass part, and Eric d has a guitar part for group 8, but tc Elliott and willyviste appear to have vanished. Not sure if any folks are looking to pinch hit here for our last two slots, but may be a failure to launch this year on our video Collab, sadly. I'm planning to roll a solo version just for completeness sake, and bc I like to see how music diverges in different brains, but if there were folks hoping to hop in at the last minute, we've got some bones at least.

@siebass I'm happy to take a slot, do you want to send me what you have while we try to find a 4th person?

works for me, I'll loop you into an email with Eric D, @elesimo. Thanks!

@gubna what are your thoughts on a last minute video collab?

@siebass @elesimo May I try?

Works for me, @iveg; if it works for @elesimo too, thank you for swooping in for last minute collab! Let us know an email address to reach you and I can send what we have so far.

Cool! @iveg completes the group!

Group 2 is right here: https://write.fawm.org/songs/22189

@savvyaz How are things moving? I would like to have everything by tomorrow so I can mix and edit the video.

https://write.fawm.org/songs/23092
Here we go group 9!

Group whichever we are finally got it done! Yahoo! https://write.fawm.org/songs/24197#c101675

Finally finished! https://write.fawm.org/songs/24277

Group 8 is here: https://write.fawm.org/songs/24633

Alright then....I thought that I was going to miss out on this for the first time, but NO! @siebass saved me by helping me to finish this song, which was originally written for this challenge. So....here you go. Better late than never and the song turned out really well. Thanks SO MUCH @siebass! I guess this is group 10 now...
https://write.fawm.org/songs/24554