MeFiSwap 2011-2! June 18, 2011 1:06 PM   Subscribe

For the last decade or so, hunnerds of MeFites have culled their favorite tracks from their music collection, burned them onto handy, decorative CD-Rs, and mailed them across the globe. It's that time again, so let's MeFiSwap!

>>>>>>> To sign up, send me an email with YOUR MEFI USERNAME and PHYSICAL MAILING ADDRESS at:
tediseasy [at] gmail [doot] com


I will reply with a form letter confirmation saying something along the lines of 'You're signed up to swap!' and acknowledging any special requests.

Before you sign up, however, please familiarize yourself with the Swap Guidelines:
  • Swapsets consist of 6 people. You mail out 5 copies of your mix to the other swapset members, and in return you get 5 different mixes mailed to you.
  • We swap audio CD-Rs. Your swapmates should be able to put the disc you send them into just about any CD player and have it work. If you want to swap data discs (loaded with .mp3s) or tapes or 8-tracks or something and enough are interested, I can set up a side-swap. Please do not send any media other than a music CD-R without running it by your swapset first.
  • If you signed up to participate last time but didn't mail out your mix, you are not invited to swap again you damned mooch. Maximum pukka is attained through 100% participation. If you sign up to participate this time, do so with the full intention of mailing out at least 5 mix CDs within ~6 weeks from today. If you didn't get all 5 mixes in a previous swap, feel free to email me so I can keep track of who's eligible to swap again and who's not.
  • You will probably have to send at least one piece of mail overseas, and if you live outside the USA, you will most definitely be asked to mail most of your packages to foreign countries. Special requests regarding mail should be included in your sign-up email.
  • Communication is important so if you can't get your mixes out by the mailing deadline (see below), let me or the other members of your swapset know.
Deadlines
Here's some schedule:
  • Sign-ups close in ~2 weeks at the end of the month: Thursday, June 30.
  • Swapset assignments will go out shortly thereafter via email.
  • The mailing deadline will be about a month after the swapset assignments go out: Saturday, July 30. The sooner you mail out your mixes, the better!
Some FAQ
  • What should I put on my mix? → Music! Music you love! Music that sounds good!
  • Is there a theme? → Yes! It's music! I mean, no! There's no theme except the one you choose. Even though swapset names might have a theme, that shouldn't necessarily dictate the theme of your mix.
  • How do I package and mail these mixes? → Padded mailers work best (and recycled ones even better!) but as long as you can rest assured that your delicate CD-Rs will arrive at their destination unbroken pretty much anything goes.
  • Do I need to include liner notes? → You don't need to do anything other than mail 5 mixes to your swapmates, but putting some effort into making it look nice is certainly not discouraged. ;)
  • Can I be in more than one swapset? → Sure! Just mention it in your sign-up email and I'll put you in two swapsets. You'll need to mail out a total of 10 copies of your mix though, so be prepared for that.
If you have any other specific requests or restraints, please include them in your sign-up email. I will honor them the best I can, but no promises. I'll be around here to answer any other questions or concerns.

Yay, happy swapping!
posted by carsonb to MetaFilter-Related at 1:06 PM (329 comments total) 27 users marked this as a favorite

Can you still buy blanks? Huh.
posted by Ardiril at 1:11 PM on June 18, 2011


I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE participating in MeFiSwaps and have held up my end of the bargain throughout the last several CD swaps, but my laptop's disc drive died and I don't have the opportunity to get it fixed any time soon, so I am incalculably sad not to be able to participate.

carsonb, if there is enough of a subgroup of people interested in swapping digital-only playlists (via Dropbox or the like), could we set that up, or is it too far outside of the guidelines?
posted by so_gracefully at 1:33 PM on June 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


so_gracefully, there's usually some swapping of digital uploads during the mailing reminder thread (which'll go up in about 6 weeks), and that's a totally cool place to link a digital mix. I like the idea of swapping digitally, but I think that since this is a physical swap it'd be best to stick to physical, mailable objects. If you're interested in a cassette sub-swap or something like that, sure I'll look into setting it up, but yeah digital stuff is a bit too far removed from what's going on here.
posted by carsonb at 1:44 PM on June 18, 2011


I'm in!

Carson, if you're looking for names of the swapsets, there are 32 named modules of the ISS. Some have boring names like "P1 Truss" so you could drop those names if you have less than 32. Just a thought.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:04 PM on June 18, 2011 [2 favorites]


Nice, good suggestion Brandon, thanks!

I always forget to mention this, but please please PLEASE include your country in your mailing address.
posted by carsonb at 2:10 PM on June 18, 2011


What an awesome idea. I've been introduced to a lot of great artists and songs in the AskMe threads. In!
posted by smirkette at 2:19 PM on June 18, 2011


Yes! Got a shiny new computer and 650+ albums loaded up and ready to mix. Should be enough to get started, anyway.
posted by Bron at 2:20 PM on June 18, 2011


Bah, I just realized that the mailing deadline will hit smack in the middle of my cross-country move--I'd need to receive them by end of July. I don't suppose there's any chance anyone else would be willing swap a month sooner or later? Otherwise, sign me up as an interested party in the digital swap.
posted by smirkette at 2:24 PM on June 18, 2011


I'm in!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 2:49 PM on June 18, 2011


smirkette, you can still sign up and be assigned a swapset and everything. If you know your future address already I'd submit that one, or you could make sure your mail-forwarding is set up properly and submit your old address. Also, you'll have your swapmates' email addresses, so you can let them know that way if there's any change in the info you gave.
posted by carsonb at 3:01 PM on June 18, 2011


C, I actually really like the idea of making something and then just free-sharing it in the thread (if I can't max out my cool and crafty actual-CD making, that seems like a fun way to make the most of the swap), so I will likely do that. :)
posted by so_gracefully at 3:09 PM on June 18, 2011


Are we into that? Having people make playlists who aren't actually doing the CD swap and sharing them in the post-mailing-date thread?

That feels like it's counter to the spirit of the project, to me.
posted by hippybear at 3:46 PM on June 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


*shrug* I noticed a few last time from folks who missed the sign-ups. Feels more like a bonus to me.

There are lots of opportunities (mixparty and its ilk) for MeFites to swap and share music digitally, which is partly why I'd prefer to keep that separate from the CD swap in an organizational sense. But I'm not gonna say 'no' to anyone who wants to link me some good tunes down the line.
posted by carsonb at 3:51 PM on June 18, 2011


Too much of a good thing is still a good thing.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:51 PM on June 18, 2011


Okay, I'm convinced.

Now with my new job I have to use my first paycheck to get caught up on the swap I flaked out on a while back, and maybe then I will be able to sign up in time for this swap. I won't sign up until I'm in good standing, so it may be winter before I'm back in the loop.

Yay for having an income finally!
posted by hippybear at 3:53 PM on June 18, 2011


Yay!
posted by carsonb at 3:59 PM on June 18, 2011


I've got a spindle full of Taiyo-Yudens I won't use otherwise, so I'll try and put something together.

And I think people putting in digital mixes later is a bonus, too.
posted by Red Loop at 4:10 PM on June 18, 2011


You don't even have to go to your local PO to have your mail forwarded anymore. Just go to the website, pay them a doller with your credit card, and boom— done.

To be clear, if you're unsure of your mailing situation don't let that prevent you from participating. Tell me about it in email and we'll work something out.
posted by carsonb at 4:11 PM on June 18, 2011


Enmailinated. I still like physical CDs. My last swap CD was weird -- this time, I promise to just pock.
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:16 PM on June 18, 2011


This sound like fun - but I have very little mainstream or underground or pop stuff on offer. Bunch of traditional and modern/crossover African, Arab, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, etc. stuff though, as well as early music. Do y'all think folks would be interested?
posted by likeso at 4:18 PM on June 18, 2011 [4 favorites]


Er, rock. I will rock.
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:18 PM on June 18, 2011


(here I was thinking "pock" was some new cool genre I hadn't heard of yet) (hiya hubby!)
posted by likeso at 4:21 PM on June 18, 2011


Although slightly concerned that I'm insufficiently cool for this project, I am extremely enthused about participating.
posted by Lame_username at 4:23 PM on June 18, 2011


Nice! I'm in. I gotta apologize to my swapset for my last mix, it was difficult to put together due to ongoing computer issues and busted burners etc and wound up being pretty out there.
posted by Hoopo at 4:28 PM on June 18, 2011


I've mentioned this in another MetaTalk thread, but I'll drop it here, too...

I have over 350 U2 remixes which have been curated and sorted and are available for download. Anyone who wants the download link (it's 2.6GB) MeMail me, and it's yours. Several satisfied customers already have given their thumbs up.

Anyone who uses any of said remixes as part of their MeFiMusicSwap mix gets an extra brownie point* from me.

*brownie points are not actually good for anything useful
posted by hippybear at 4:30 PM on June 18, 2011


likeso: traditional and modern/crossover African, Arab, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, etc. stuff though, as well as early music. Do y'all think folks would be interested?

Yes. Enthusiastic Yes!

Lame_username: I'm more concerned about people who are too cool for this project. Them's we need to be havin' words with.
posted by carsonb at 4:31 PM on June 18, 2011


carsonb is like metafilter's steampunk napster.

My brain at first read this as "carsonb is mannheim steamroller's nanny", which made perfect sense for a microsecond.
posted by hippybear at 4:31 PM on June 18, 2011 [2 favorites]


I'm always so excited to do this. It's a lot of fun and I've been turned on to so many bands I enjoy through exchanges.

Now I just have to think of a theme and get going.
posted by immlass at 4:36 PM on June 18, 2011


A confession: a couple of months ago I unpacked some boxes that'd been in storage, and found a bunch of CDs that were meant for a past MeFiSwap. Judging by the stuff they were packed with, I should've posted them five years ago, maybe six.

Sorry.

If anyone has the old swap lists on file, I could send them out to the intended recipients.

If not, maybe carsonb could send me five random addresses from this round and I could send them time-capsule style?
posted by jack_mo at 4:39 PM on June 18, 2011


I've never done this before and it sounds fascinating. I hope there are five people out there who like '80s videogame music, the ambience of cellular automata, obscure Australian pub bands and the finest of Jean-Michel Jarre. I wonder if I still have that Zoolookologie cassette around somewhere.
posted by A Thousand Baited Hooks at 4:52 PM on June 18, 2011


Yes. Enthusiastic Yes!

carsonb, yay! I'm in.
posted by likeso at 5:00 PM on June 18, 2011


Count me in for another round. I had a blast last time.

And yeah, GoodListnr, Mix Party, and even Listening Room (which is out of closed beta now) are good places to (hopefully) run into people and share music with.

disclaimer: I created Mix Party
posted by narwhal bacon at 5:02 PM on June 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


This sound like fun - but I have very little mainstream or underground or pop stuff on offer.

*shrugs*

Pick some favorites out of the music you do have. Burn a CD, mail it. I don't think too much about what'll be cool (not that I would know) or shoot for esoteric, indie bands. One year it was music from sci fi soundtracks. Another it was a collection of live recordings, no particular theme. Then there was the alt gothic country cd, and its bastard cousin, a hodge podge of americana, dark cabaret and circus music

Awesome CDs I've gotten have been imaginary soundtracks to a movie, sounds from the exotica genre, another was about relationships and breeakups, one that just had some tunes that just "flowed" nicely from one song to a the next and the mysterious but fantastic Please Enjoy CD.


Anyway, here's some previous MeTa threads were people have listed their mixes: August 2009, January 2010, August 2010, February 2011 (Note the pattern, winter is coming).

Bunch of traditional and modern/crossover African, Arab, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, etc. stuff though, as well as early music. Do y'all think folks would be interested?

OH HELL TO THE YEAH. I'd love to be in a group with ya if you're doing that.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:13 PM on June 18, 2011 [3 favorites]


Signed up!
posted by royalsong at 5:14 PM on June 18, 2011


im warning, ya'll gonna get some heart break country
posted by PinkMoose at 5:15 PM on June 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


Brandon, thinking I might do a recap of an old radio show of mine, following the duduk across borders in different incarnations (you'd be surprised where we'd end up). Or maybe another one, tracing the Moorish influence on modern Spanish/Andalusian and Israeli (via the Sephardic tradition) music. Or maybe some Asian bubblegum... Or maybe some cool pupa or kora collaborations... Or maybe a look at some Black Sybil stuff and marry it to Hildegarde von Bingen... Or...
posted by likeso at 5:27 PM on June 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


*pipa

Though wondering what pupa music might be.
posted by likeso at 5:29 PM on June 18, 2011


OK, I'm leaving work in a few and will officially be out on date night after that so email confirmations won't be as snappy as they've been so far. If you don't hear from me by Sunday evening, sic the wolves on katillathehun.
posted by carsonb at 5:30 PM on June 18, 2011


I also have a broken burner, but I'm pretty sure I can figure some workaround...

I'm in.
posted by schyler523 at 5:31 PM on June 18, 2011


Can your include more than one mix disc, or are we limited to just one?

(also, MixParty is basically the best thing, everyone should be in there all the time)
posted by curious nu at 5:35 PM on June 18, 2011


I made a Metafilter themed CD last time with a couple of weird things on it for thematic reasons. This time, I think I'll just stick to stuff I currently love... Or maybe a summer theme. Anyway, I'm in. Expect some Mountain Goats, Bishop Allen, and Mike Daughty at the very least.

Oh, and PS, Rory, I haven't forgotten that I need to send you Bishop Allen. Maybe I'll get it out with this set?
posted by maryr at 5:58 PM on June 18, 2011


I am previewing my song selection, as we speak. Be sure to include me in the group which is prepared to ROCK!
posted by Devils Rancher at 7:01 PM on June 18, 2011


I want in. I'm not too cool.*
posted by booth at 7:12 PM on June 18, 2011


While driving today, I popped one of the awesome mixes I received last time into the CD player and wondered idly about writing to carsonb and asking if he was organizing another swap this summer. I arrived home to this thread. Earlier in the week I was twice told that I am clairvoyant (by speakers I invited to a conference, about their suggested speech topics). Maybe I'm developing psychic powers??!! (Or it's coincidence and I've been watching too many superhero movies. Hmm...)

tl;dr - Hell yea I'm in! And thanks, carsonb, for organizing.
posted by gemmy at 7:17 PM on June 18, 2011


Can your include more than one mix disc, or are we limited to just one?

I've done multiple disks in the past, although I generally did one "main mix" CD and one "bonus disk".

You can structure what you do however you want. The important thing is doing the mix and sending them out.
posted by hippybear at 7:43 PM on June 18, 2011


I have a terrible theme, a terrible, horrible wang-related theme, which I have named Three Piece Set.

I need to be in two swapsets. Oh yes.
posted by Sallyfur at 8:34 PM on June 18, 2011


For the first time in 5 or 6 years, I'm in.

Crazy obscure rock'n'roll anyone?
posted by bdave at 8:54 PM on June 18, 2011 [3 favorites]


I'm in. Last time it was all Bo Diddley; this time I think it'll be "summer."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:17 PM on June 18, 2011


I have over 350 U2 remixes which have been curated and sorted and are available for download. Anyone who wants the download link (it's 2.6GB) MeMail me, and it's yours. Several satisfied customers already have given their thumbs up.

If anyone wants about 40 Gaslight Anthem b-sides, rarities, live versions, acoustic sets and covers, you can MeMail me. Hi, all one of you!

Can't wait for this. I did this on another board and ended up with stuff like Israeli pop. And Kenny Rogers.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 9:43 PM on June 18, 2011


If you end up in Greg Nog's swapset, know this: he has plenty of Hawkwind already.
posted by not_on_display at 9:45 PM on June 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


I'm in! Awesome - I always hear you folks talking about the swaps and I've been waiting for it to come back around!! Personally I love trumpets and anything with a violin... Right now I'm working with young girls in summer camp and alllllllll they talk about is Selena Gomez, so believe me when I say that this is right on TIME.
posted by polly_dactyl at 11:06 PM on June 18, 2011


Great idea. Sent my sign-up email. Now to deciding on my mix!
posted by snwod at 11:57 PM on June 18, 2011


Yay! Can't wait to share nostalgic Icelandic and wistful Norwegian yoiking - wrapped in soothing electronica.
I LOVE the swaps, thanks to you all, I always discover new sounds, new artists. Delighted to be part of this again.
posted by seawallrunner at 12:12 AM on June 19, 2011 [1 favorite]


Oh my ... now I'm very tempted to burn some CDs with "Blame it on the Rain" by Milli Vanilli yt . "Unbreak My Heart" by Toni Braxton yt . "Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith yt . "How Do I Live" by LeAnn Rimes yt . "If I Could Turn Back Time" by Cher yt . "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion yt . "If You Asked Me To" by Patti LaBelle and mail them to the cool kids from the Diane Warren thread on the blue.
posted by ZeroAmbition at 1:02 AM on June 19, 2011


Not noticed this in previous years, what a great idea.

And likeso, I'd be more than happy if I ended up with one of yours. I like the idea of Metafilter serving as the opposite to a filter here, by throwing stuff in front of me that I wouldn't normally come across.
posted by reynir at 2:35 AM on June 19, 2011 [1 favorite]


I really want to do this one but all my CDs (and the media drive with the digital versions) are sitting in a customs warehouse somewhere in the UK and I have no idea if they'll get to me in time. I'll sign up if we get delivery notification before the 30th, otherwise I guess that gives me another six months to find a bunch of cool music from my new country.
posted by shelleycat at 3:55 AM on June 19, 2011


Carson, if you're looking for names of the swapsets, there are 32 named modules of the ISS.

Can I be in the Japanese Exposed Facility group?
posted by klausness at 4:07 AM on June 19, 2011 [1 favorite]


count me in! I am falling in love with the music scene in my adopted Scotland right now... i am ready to share the love.
posted by TheOtherGuy at 4:24 AM on June 19, 2011


Although slightly concerned that I'm insufficiently cool for this project, I am extremely enthused about participating.

I have been insufficiently cool for this project for close to a decade, and yet I continue to swap.
posted by anastasiav at 6:53 AM on June 19, 2011


Hey, five random people - prepare for my usual cocktail of disco and twitchy post-punk (maybe). I'll even try to keep my "at least one song about rollerskating" streak alive.
posted by mintcake! at 7:26 AM on June 19, 2011 [2 favorites]


Also: TODD RUNDGREN.
posted by mintcake! at 7:27 AM on June 19, 2011


I am also worried about not being cool enough, and am glad not to be alone in this fear. Internet, I will make you a gentle mix that you will absentmindedly hum along to.
posted by bewilderbeast at 7:53 AM on June 19, 2011 [1 favorite]


(can vouch for mintcake!)
posted by Sallyfur at 8:43 AM on June 19, 2011


I'm sort of interested but my music taste runs pretty mainstream, will I be shunned if I include a song by The Police? (for instance)
posted by Bonzai at 9:45 AM on June 19, 2011



Count me in for another round !

FYI, here's a flickr pool of mefiswap album art. Feel free to show off your awesome cover art in here !
posted by fizzix at 9:46 AM on June 19, 2011


here's a flickr pool of mefiswap album art.

My first Mefiswap mix was packaged in a krinkly tinfoil envelope inside a ziplock bag because it was so. dope.
posted by Hoopo at 10:10 AM on June 19, 2011


will I be shunned if I include a song by The Police? (for instance)

Probably not. MeFites love all kinds of music.

Plus, context can mean a lot. I look at a mix as a whole not as individual parts. But that's just me.

Most of all, the important things are 1) to participate and 2) to have fun.

If everyone doing these mixes has fun with making them, then chances are every one which is received will generate fun for the rest of the swap group.
posted by hippybear at 10:11 AM on June 19, 2011


hippybear is so in my swapset this time around.

Emails are caught up! If you sent me something but didn't get the stock "Well, hello swapper! You're signed up to swap!" email in response, then something is amiss and you should try again.
posted by carsonb at 10:14 AM on June 19, 2011


I think with five random people sending everyone music, the odds are pretty overwhelming that in the music you receive, there will be some you love, some you like, some you think is meh, and some you really can't stand. So, just mix up some songs/tunes that *you* like, and trust to chance and goodwill. :)
posted by bardophile at 10:18 AM on June 19, 2011


Probably not. MeFites love all kinds of music.

Plus, context can mean a lot. I look at a mix as a whole not as individual parts. But that's just me.


I thought my theme could be 'Songs I love'

I'm in!
posted by Bonzai at 10:19 AM on June 19, 2011


will I be shunned if I include a song by The Police? (for instance)

I hate The Police. I would be the first to shun.

Otherwise, whoever gets me is gonna get some Spaghetti Western. Man, I love Portland.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 10:30 AM on June 19, 2011


I have had really bad luck with CD swaps like this one through other forums/websites. I have sent out CDs and the recipients say they have received them, but I never get their CDs in return (even when they insist they have sent them). Maybe the Royal Mail just hate me.

But I am signing up for this (my email should be making its way through the tubes to you now). Hopefully I'll have better luck with MetaFilter - I'm quite a newbie around here but my early impression is that you guys are of a higher standard than my old web haunts!
posted by maybeandroid at 10:51 AM on June 19, 2011


whoever gets me is gonna get some Spaghetti Western

I just came across a compilation of Spaghetti Western-themed reggae from the early-mid seventies. Memail me if you're interested
posted by Hoopo at 11:02 AM on June 19, 2011


This sounds like great fun. I would like to sign up.
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 11:39 AM on June 19, 2011


I'm sort of interested but my music taste runs pretty mainstream, will I be shunned if I include a song by The Police? (for instance)

To be honest, as great as it is to find new music to love, mix CDs are often more fun with a couple old favorites thrown in, I've found. One of the CDs that gets the most love at work is a coworkers mix including Eye Of The Tiger and The Final Countdown and such. Bring on the Diane Warren. Life is better with a little cheese.
posted by maryr at 11:45 AM on June 19, 2011 [1 favorite]


I wasn't going to go THAT mainstream. A lot of deep cuts on familiar albums is how I roll.

For instance the song from The Police I'm probably going to include is Darkness.
posted by Bonzai at 11:50 AM on June 19, 2011


I am glad I am not the only one worried my mix will be ridiculed. I shall take the plunge nevertheless!
posted by Glinn at 11:55 AM on June 19, 2011


Neat, fizzix, thanks for linking to the cover art flickr set! I can't graphic design my way out of a paper bag, but now I want to come up with some kind of clever textile cover art instead. You all are an inspiring bunch.
posted by bewilderbeast at 1:22 PM on June 19, 2011


ALL GAGA, ALL THE TIME.
posted by tzikeh at 3:00 PM on June 19, 2011 [2 favorites]


With that said, I'm in. And I don't actually have any Lady Gaga tunes, so my swapset doesn't need to worry. If they're of a mind to worry about getting Lady Gaga music from me.

Now. Themed or themeless; liner notes or no liner notes; artwork or no artwork... decisions, decisions.

It's 41 days to the deadline, I've got a MacBook Pro, a SuperDrive, 140GB of music in my iTunes library so far, and I'm wearing pajamas.

Hit it.
posted by tzikeh at 3:06 PM on June 19, 2011 [2 favorites]


anastaviav: I have been insufficiently cool for this project for close to a decade, and yet I continue to swap.

Oh hush, you. Your disc in the last swap was fantastic, and right up there among my favourites of many such swaps.
posted by salmacis at 3:19 PM on June 19, 2011 [1 favorite]


I am unbelievably unlike most of MetaFilter musically (no, really, I checked,) but I am going to participate anyway. I've already got some stuff I can guarantee none of you have heard before.
posted by SMPA at 3:52 PM on June 19, 2011


SMPA, you reckless lass, slinging guarantees about like that!
posted by likeso at 4:05 PM on June 19, 2011


Hey, I've got the 2001 El Dorado Ward choir Christmas CD at my disposal. Not to mention my grandfather's album about the Spanish Civil War (as far as I know only a few hundred copies have been sold) and one of my good friends made a demo Irish music album with her friends eight years and two bands ago.

(I can only say for sure that something from Grandpa will show up on the CD I send. And a bit of klezmer.)
posted by SMPA at 4:21 PM on June 19, 2011


Wellum, you done served up some pudding, alright.
('Cept for the klezmer. But you knew that.)
posted by likeso at 4:26 PM on June 19, 2011


(as in "proof". was a funny. hello? is this thing on?)
posted by likeso at 4:51 PM on June 19, 2011


WHAT WAS THAT? WE CAN'T HEAR YOU. YOUR MIKE'S NOT WORKING.
posted by maryr at 6:00 PM on June 19, 2011 [1 favorite]


Heh, I got it. I was too busy deciding whether or not to include something by the Folksmen to be reading MetaTalk.
posted by SMPA at 6:25 PM on June 19, 2011 [1 favorite]


I reckon if you're named after a song you should include your namesake in the mix.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 9:43 PM on June 19, 2011


I think I missed out on signing up for the last swap, but I participated in the late 2009-early 2010 swap and got some great discs in the mail.

I'm certainly up for another swap. I'll start working on it tonight...
posted by MarchHare at 10:38 PM on June 19, 2011


I endeavour to send out themed mixes this time, instead of my usual hodge-podge.

Unless...can hodge-podge be a theme?
posted by robotot at 3:38 AM on June 20, 2011


Okay fine I'll do it this time.
posted by empath at 6:44 AM on June 20, 2011


I have been meaning to participate in this for ages.

I am so in.
posted by dryad at 9:33 AM on June 20, 2011


I was a little upset to miss the first of the 2011 swaps, so I'm on this one like white on rice.
posted by Prince_of_Cups at 10:51 AM on June 20, 2011


How many songs do I need for a healthy mix?
posted by Tarumba at 2:04 PM on June 20, 2011


This is so freaking exciting!
posted by Tarumba at 2:20 PM on June 20, 2011


How many songs do I need for a healthy mix?

Depends on the length of the song. I shoot for between 45-60 minutes of music.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:34 PM on June 20, 2011


I always do 70+ minutes when i make a mix cd.
posted by empath at 2:38 PM on June 20, 2011


Thanks!

Also, I sent you an email, carsonb, but just in case...I'm in!

My theme will be a melancholic journey around the world.
posted by Tarumba at 2:40 PM on June 20, 2011


How many songs do I need for a healthy mix?

I make a mix which feels complete. Sometimes that's 45-50 minutes. Sometimes I'm at 80 minutes and frantically trying to prune down to CD-R capacity. My goal is never to reach a specific length, but to reach a specific kind of experience.

Like all good collections of music, that sense of "this has been enough and is complete" can vary from project to project.
posted by hippybear at 4:22 PM on June 20, 2011


I use every last second of CD space I can. Otherwise it's just wasteful.
posted by maryr at 4:33 PM on June 20, 2011 [2 favorites]


I have tons of Police and Gaga in my music library. But I'm still deciding on a theme, so I may not have a chance to include them.
posted by Gordafarin at 6:11 PM on June 20, 2011


I'm trying to figure out the balance between bands I really like and Australian bands I want to expose the world to.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 6:51 PM on June 20, 2011


So...all Lucksmiths, yes yes yes?
posted by maryr at 7:20 PM on June 20, 2011 [3 favorites]


. for Candle Records
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 7:30 PM on June 20, 2011 [1 favorite]


I'm trying to figure out the balance between bands I really like and Australian bands I want to expose the world to.

The second one. Christ, I only learned about the Saints a couple of months ago. What else are they hiding over there under the guard of poison snakes and spiders?
posted by Hoopo at 8:17 PM on June 20, 2011


So the first time I saw the Lucksmiths, it was at a 4th of July block party and someone dosed me...I was in charge of grilling on the vegan grill for some reason. When they started their set, I abandoned my station and grabbed a beer...one of the best decisions of the day (not that the bar was set to high.)
posted by schyler523 at 9:07 PM on June 20, 2011 [1 favorite]


I like the Lucksmiths, but I'm not sure I'd put them above The Triifids, The Go-Betweens, The Saints, The Pink Fits, Mink Jaguar....
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 10:24 PM on June 20, 2011


Rue Something, schyler?
posted by maryr at 9:18 AM on June 21, 2011


Oh! I was wondering when this was going to happen again. I need to check MetaTalk more often. *emails*
posted by jinjo at 9:36 AM on June 21, 2011


So, uh....

I've already created my playlists (Yeah, my entry is gonna be a double-disc).

Once I get the addresses of the people in my swapset, should I send them right out, or should I wait til it's very near the deadline, to add to the excitement of getting a whole bunch of CDs all at once? What would you guys enjoy getting more? All five CDs coming to you around the same time, or one early one?
posted by tzikeh at 12:48 PM on June 21, 2011


SEND THEM NOW, RIGHT NOW!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:58 PM on June 21, 2011


SEND THEM NOW, RIGHT NOW!

Well, to send them RIGHT now, I'd have to make up street addresses, and then some random person ends up with a package in their mailbox, addressed to "narhwal bacon," containing a CD full of theremin music.

Probably report it to Homeland Security as "suspect."

I THINK I SMELL A NEW MEFI PROJECT....
posted by tzikeh at 2:46 PM on June 21, 2011


Well if I get stuck I guess I can do a compilation of various artists interpretation down through the years of that Cage classic, 4:33.
posted by sammyo at 3:09 PM on June 21, 2011


I just happen to enjoy theremin music, so in case the universe lines up properly I shall be watching my mailbox!
posted by narwhal bacon at 4:26 PM on June 21, 2011 [1 favorite]


I guess I have a bit of music listening to do! Lots of things have been added to my iTunes library I haven't quite digested yet, and I know I can round out the playlist once I find a few new things which give me that magic spark.

Damn this new job. It's great to have something to do all day and the money will be nice, but where do people find time to work AND do things like put together good MeFiSwap collections???
posted by hippybear at 7:10 PM on June 21, 2011


I do a lot of track selection and arranging on my commute. And then ideally I burn mixes one at a time, like one per day. That gives me time to make sure each one has a good burn.
posted by carsonb at 7:49 PM on June 21, 2011


Since the swaps are at regular times of the year, it's easy to work on them ahead of time.

This mix is done, need to do a cover. Currently working on winter's CD.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:02 PM on June 21, 2011


I'm another moving-in-the-next-few-months person, but I shall recklessly sign up anyway! At least I know I'll be able to send my CDs out.
posted by equivocator at 8:41 PM on June 21, 2011


I keep thinking I've posted this on this thread, I keep closing the tab without hitting post for whatever reason. So listen up, People of Metafilter, for the third time before the evil browser raakshasa's close this window before I hit post, I present before you:

The Zara Hatke Mixtape*: Songs Playing Musical Chairs Around The World

It'll be a compilation of songs "shifting" cultures a bit; so you could hear a familiar 70's song sung in Polish, a very well-known French jazz piece sung in Hindi, a blues number set in New Orleans sung in Japanese, a a Hindi composition done in Chinese and so on. I'll also probably put in a few original pieces (ie not covers) done in unexpected genres; so you could hear a fusion between Mississippi blues and Hindustani music (i.e., North Indian) sung in Malayalam (which is a South Indian language), a Malaysian band doing Tamil hip-hop, an Australian band singing to a tango beat in French and much much more. Will try to put in some album notes too.

The genre is most certainly _not_ World music, although the sources will be from around the world; the whole idea is to hear familiar notes through an exoticised frame, both for the exoticised and the exoticisee.

--
[*]- AudioCD alright; just felt calling it a "Mixtape" in the title.
posted by the cydonian at 9:13 PM on June 21, 2011 [1 favorite]


I do a lot of track selection and arranging on my commute.

It would be unwise for me to do that while driving down the highway at 70mph.

Since the swaps are at regular times of the year, it's easy to work on them ahead of time.

True, but I didn't even know I could possibly be participating in this one until about 10 days ago.

I do have some pre-made mixes... I may end up falling back on those. I'd just like to make a new one. We'll see how it goes.
posted by hippybear at 4:44 AM on June 22, 2011


So - I'm seeing some participants begin to post their possible playlist choices in this thread already. Is that kosher? Should I do that?
posted by tzikeh at 11:30 AM on June 22, 2011


I'm leaning towards sending my Awesome Religious Music As Chosen By A Godless Heathen mix.
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:26 PM on June 22, 2011 [3 favorites]


It would be unwise for me to do that while driving down the highway at 70mph.

Heh, 'track selection' is listening to iPod on random and 'arranging' is making a rough mix and listening to it, making mental notes of where shift tracks around.
posted by carsonb at 12:59 PM on June 22, 2011


So - I'm seeing some participants begin to post their possible playlist choices in this thread already. Is that kosher? Should I do that?

I'd prefer not, actually.

There'll be a very active thread after the mailout date where people can post playlists and stuff.

Others may disagree, just my two cents.
posted by hippybear at 1:04 PM on June 22, 2011 [2 favorites]


the right Cher song looped into Pantera's "Walk" would be teh sex.
posted by preferred nomenclature at 5:31 PM on June 22, 2011


Don't post your track list yet. You don't want other biting your musical style.
posted by maryr at 6:14 PM on June 22, 2011 [1 favorite]


Over the last few months I've been subbing for a Blues show on a local radio station (this Sat 12p-3p CST 103.3 KUMD). It's not my normal music bag, so I have to plan carefully to play stuff I actually like (older and/or more rockin' blues). Consequently I tend to burn my show ahead of time. Whomever I get in my ISS pod will also receive, as a bonus, at least 1 extra disc of old blues stuff.
posted by edgeways at 2:28 PM on June 23, 2011 [2 favorites]


Count me in. I love mix tapes^WCDs.
posted by garrett at 3:03 PM on June 23, 2011


I want to do this!
posted by valrus at 3:41 PM on June 23, 2011


Gadzooks, this sounds awesome.
posted by Nackt at 5:25 PM on June 23, 2011


So how many folks have signed up? And what happens if the total doesn't divide by six evenly?

I've never done a mix tape/cd, and I don't really have a collection per se, but it is making me think about songs and music I am attached to and how it can be combined and divided.
posted by sammyo at 6:44 PM on June 23, 2011


I'm in!
posted by limeonaire at 7:21 PM on June 23, 2011


So how many folks have signed up? And what happens if the total doesn't divide by six evenly?

Right now I have 111 valid entries on my spreadsheet. That's eighteen swapsets and change. I've got another 8 or 11 emails waiting for my response. Honestly I thought this was about as big as it was going to get—about in line with the past few swaps—but jessamyn just linked this thread in the sidebar so I expect continued interest until signups close. (Thanks jessamyn!!!) In the past, between folks volunteering for double duty (two swapsets) and my own willingness to mail however many mixes out, it's always rounded out nicely.

OK, now to emails!
posted by carsonb at 7:22 PM on June 23, 2011


I'm in because CD-R's are now officially retro.
posted by swift at 9:05 PM on June 23, 2011


I'm in. I never thought my relatively small and admittedly stale music library was swap-worthy, but this time around I thought I'd start jotting down songs just to see. (Also, I happen to have a spindle of blank CD-Rs.) The next thing I knew I had an actual theme, a cover art idea, and even needed to pare down the list. Who knew?!
posted by Room 641-A at 9:47 PM on June 23, 2011


I'm in. This sounds awesome.
posted by bibliophibianj at 12:49 AM on June 24, 2011


Ooh yes yes yes, excited about this!
posted by Acarpous at 6:18 AM on June 24, 2011


Eagerly waiting for the names to be distributed.

In the meantime -- I'm also working on liner notes for my choices, and towards that end, would anyone have a template (preferably in Word) I could use? I'm hoping for something with the margins already laid out, and the picture positioned properly and such. (Even if you send me what you mocked up for something you did last year, and I'll just replace the cover with my own cover and the text with my own text)?

If you have one, shoot me a memail and I'll send you the real email address. Thanks!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:18 AM on June 24, 2011 [2 favorites]


So, how much does it cost to send 5 cds across an ocean? I'd do it, but I'm not sure I can afford it. Actually, I can't afford anything...
posted by ennui.bz at 11:49 AM on June 24, 2011


Can we have a UK sub group or something? I'm in if we can, but I'm too poor to post across the pond at the minute.
posted by mnfn at 12:27 PM on June 24, 2011


For me it costs about $1.25-$2 to ship mixes within the US, and between $2.25-$5 to ship internationally. For a resident of the US in one swapset, that's generally 3 or 4 at 1.5 and 1 or 2 at 3, for an approximate total of $10-12 in shipping.

Don't forget to factor in envelopes and blank CD-Rs.
posted by carsonb at 12:27 PM on June 24, 2011


Also, and this is important, make sure to list a $zero value on international shipments so the recipient isn't required to pay tariffs.
posted by carsonb at 12:28 PM on June 24, 2011


I should say, ...is less likely to pay tariffs.
posted by carsonb at 12:29 PM on June 24, 2011


mnfn: Can we have a UK sub group or something?

I can look into it....
posted by carsonb at 12:29 PM on June 24, 2011


I'd participate in a UK swap. Shipping light packages internationally on Royal Mail is actually quite cheap, but it would be nice to get CDs at the same time as everybody else.
posted by Gordafarin at 1:35 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]


Awesome, I will note that Gordafarin! There's at least one other user who wanted to do a UK/london swap, so that group's on track!
posted by carsonb at 1:52 PM on June 24, 2011


Oh, hey, wait, I don't have sign-up emails from Gordafarin or mnfn yet. Make sure y'all mention this stuff when you email me to sign up!
posted by carsonb at 1:53 PM on June 24, 2011


in
posted by ennui.bz at 2:31 PM on June 24, 2011


I'd estimate my costs last time as a bit less than $2/CD+envelope US domestic (cheaper closer, more expensive further) and more like $7 to the UK.
posted by maryr at 3:09 PM on June 24, 2011


I'm in - or I should say I've requested to be in. I am hearing lots of vague suggestions that sound fantastic! It makes me want to be in like seven groups, but I'm sure there will be plent good in whatever group I end up in!
posted by Nabubrush at 2:10 AM on June 25, 2011


STOKED!
posted by TheCoug at 2:53 AM on June 25, 2011


I have been accepted into the fold! Brace yourselves for some epic throat singing and spacesynth.
posted by troll at 11:53 AM on June 25, 2011


Thanks for believing in my better troll, carsonb.
posted by troll at 11:54 AM on June 25, 2011


I am having trouble paring my track selections down enough to fit on three CD-Rs, let alone two. One is Right Out.

Also, I have requested to be in two different swapsets.

Luckily, I have a nice Amazon gift certificate with which I can buy a spool of CD-Rs, with money left over for season four of Mad Men.

(I may have to hold a bake sale for postage, though.)
posted by tzikeh at 12:18 PM on June 25, 2011


Gaaaah. I found bootlegs of the U2 show I was at earlier this month and have been distracted by them.

Focus, hippybear.. the clock is ticking.
posted by hippybear at 12:22 PM on June 25, 2011


hippybear, I love that you and I have the same sense of how THE DEADLINE IS APPROACHING OMG, and it's 35 days away--remember in school when THE DEADLINE IS APPROACHING OMG meant you had to write a fifteen-page paper overnight?
posted by tzikeh at 12:27 PM on June 25, 2011


tzikeh: Well, in my case... I'm on a work schedule which has me up at 3:30am to get myself put together and be at work by 5:30am (with a 30 minute drive), and even though I'm getting home in the early-to-mid afternoon, I'm going to bed between 7:30 and 8:30pm these days... so my time to work on this is maybe a few minutes during the week and then weekends.

And there aren't that many weekends between now and the mailout deadline. :)
posted by hippybear at 1:01 PM on June 25, 2011


Ah yes! THE JOB. So happy for you--but yes, that does cut into MefiMix time.
posted by tzikeh at 1:09 PM on June 25, 2011


Ah, the pressure is off. I was going through some of my potential mixes from a year ago and have discovered one I can use if this new one doesn't assemble itself in the next month. I do love how this new mix is going... I'm just not quite able to find the hook I need to get the sequencing to fall into place.

So, yay! I can keep working on the new one, but have the reserve I need to move forward no matter what.

Now I have to get the mixes mailed out for the swap I flaked out on a year ago, and I'll be all caught up and ready to do this year's. There's going to be a small group of MeFites who will be mighty surprised to be getting a little package in the next week or so!
posted by hippybear at 10:45 AM on June 26, 2011


My last mix sucked. But I think I will do it again. I got one half finished that will just require some tweaking.
posted by readery at 5:33 PM on June 26, 2011


I'm going to overcome my crippling shyness and fear of being labled as lame and do this. Fair warning: you could get a weird mix of Lady Gaga, Adele and They Might Be Giants. I'm apologizing in advance.
posted by hollygoheavy at 5:33 AM on June 27, 2011


I have so far managed to avoid hearing a single note of a Gaga song, but I forgive you in advance.
posted by troll at 6:41 AM on June 27, 2011


I actually still have a high quality 90 minute unwrapped CASSETTE TAPE from back in the day when mixed tapes were actually on tapes! It is taunting me.
posted by jillithd at 8:35 AM on June 27, 2011


Holy cow! There's already something like 30 swapsets—this is easily the largest music swap in several years. The enthusiasm is incredible too! Y'all fuckin' rock.
posted by carsonb at 11:35 AM on June 27, 2011


We're breeding!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:07 PM on June 27, 2011


I'm relatively new to metafilter (just a few months), so I've never participated, but this is so me. I LOVE finding new stuff, and I love sharing my stuff, even if it's not whatever-enough for someone else. YAY.
posted by emcat8 at 12:12 PM on June 27, 2011


If I want to put my mixes up online for people to download, what is the easiest way to do that? I mean, easy both for me and for them...
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:28 PM on June 27, 2011


If I want to put my mixes up online for people to download, what is the easiest way to do that? I mean, easy both for me and for them...

I use Dropbox, which is completely easy for all concerned. You sign up at www.dropbox.com, they give you a program to download and 2 GB of free space to store stuff. The program makes a folder on your computer, and when you put things in that folder, they get uploaded to your Dropbox space. You can then go to your Dropbox webpage and get a download link to share with people. When you don't want something to be online anymore, delete it out of the folder on your computer and it will disappear from your online storage.

If you want I can refer you and you'll get a little extra space for being referred. (I might get extra space too -- I don't know if I have used up all my referral extra space units yet.)

To post a playlist, you'll have to 1) number all the track names so people can put them in the correct order, and 2) be sure to archive the folder with all the tracks in it (.zip or whatever) because the download works only with complete items, not a folder full of items.

Anyway, that's what I would do. But you can't substitute your download for mailing out disks, and you shouldn't post your download link until the next thread or so about the MeFiSwap. You'll see a thread with a bunch of such posts in it, and that's where yours should go, too.
posted by hippybear at 4:11 PM on June 27, 2011


I played my mix prototype in the car today. It rocks. There's still room for another song or two, but it's got flow. My only problem was I had three really strong opening tracks, so I put them all at the beginning. It starts, then begins again twice more.
posted by Devils Rancher at 6:24 PM on June 27, 2011 [1 favorite]


Oh, what the hey. I'm in! Emailing now :D
posted by cozenedindigo at 6:43 PM on June 27, 2011


My only problem was I had three really strong opening tracks, so I put them all at the beginning.

So, you're remaking The Joshua Tree, then?
posted by hippybear at 7:52 PM on June 27, 2011


Mix done! I feel so smug and organized I'm this close to slapping myself.
posted by Go Banana at 9:43 PM on June 27, 2011


Huzzah, hurrah and I am definatly IN.
posted by Faintdreams at 5:23 AM on June 28, 2011


Done and done... working title: "85% Duluth"
posted by edgeways at 6:37 AM on June 28, 2011 [1 favorite]


I'm gonna burn my discs sometime this weekend to be ready.

I'll ask this again, as I'm not sure people saw this the first time: does anyone have a template for a liner notes layout that they can send me? I have liner notes, and can work with existing MSWord documents, but I am limited to Quark when it comes to generating layouts from scratch (and I don't have Quark), so if someone has already laid out such a thing and can send it to me it would be a tremendous help. Thanks.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:41 AM on June 28, 2011


EmpressCallipygos, have you checked here?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:49 AM on June 28, 2011


I'm excited too. I haven't done this in years--never on Metafilter--and my discs (which I happily burned last night right after signing up) even include a beloved track I received from Germany in the last music swap I did. I think I'm going to handcraft the covers too and make them all different just for fun, and I'm trying to think of some fun little tchotchkes I can throw into the CD packages for everyone. I'm already having a blast!
posted by heatvision at 6:55 AM on June 28, 2011


Brandon, those are just covers. I'm talking "cover-plus-accordion-fold-layout-set-of-liner-notes-that's-got-the-right-measurements-in-place-so-I-can-adjust-the-font-size-to-fit-the-available-space".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:58 AM on June 28, 2011


Empress, do you have Photoshop? A lot of templates are available for it or can be converted to it.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:07 AM on June 28, 2011


Can you import a PDF or TIF or JPEG into Word and then lay the text over over it? If so, I convert a template from Indesign to one of those formats for anyone to use.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:11 AM on June 28, 2011


Here's another Word template which might suit you better.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:25 AM on June 28, 2011


1. I do not have photoshop.

2. I'm not QUITE sure how to lay text over a JPEG, but would only require minimal instruction.

3. That word template is still just the front and back cover. I am looking for either a 3-to-5 panel accordion-folded document that can fold down to fit into a CD cover, or a booklet layout. For liner notes.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:09 AM on June 28, 2011


This is the kind of thing I'm talking about -- "liner notes" is the proper term for them, no?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:11 AM on June 28, 2011


I think the term is booklet or inserts, as found at this link. That's what you're looking for, correct?

A 3 panel insert is at least 14.25 inches in length. Can you print something that large out?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:33 PM on June 28, 2011 [1 favorite]


Yep, that's what I'm looking for. I can secretly print something on the ledger-size paper here at work, and that's 17" in length, so that will work.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:35 PM on June 28, 2011


Ok, I'd suggested Googling around for "Word CD Template accordion", see what comes up.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:04 PM on June 28, 2011


Any way we can get this posted to the MeTa front page (or on one of those top-bar things) before the deadline?
posted by schmod at 8:43 PM on June 28, 2011


Which deadline do you mean? Sign-ups close on Thursday, and this is mentioned in the sidebar on the front page of MeFi.

I'll post a mailing reminder thread about a week before the mailing deadline, if that's the one you're talking about. I'll also spam alla y'all with an email reminder at about the same time as that goes up.
posted by carsonb at 9:00 PM on June 28, 2011


I think if you go into an iTunes playlist and click 'Print' you get tracklisting you can put into a CD case. That's what I'm planning on doing.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 9:27 PM on June 28, 2011


Can anyone rec (and this is a stupid question) which brand of "CD-R inserts" is best for printing out covers with an inkjet printer? I've looked at these three, but I don't know if there's an appreciable difference. I want inserts for both the front and back of the jewel case, and I want to be able to print on both sides of each.

Also - has anyone found that the printable round stickers that you lay over the top of the CD cause problems in players?
posted by tzikeh at 10:19 PM on June 28, 2011


tzikeh, I usually use the Memorex labels, never had a problem.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:12 AM on June 29, 2011


Also - has anyone found that the printable round stickers that you lay over the top of the CD cause problems in players?

They don't cause problems right away, but give them a year or three sitting on the shelf, and as the glue on them starts to degrade with time they'll lift just a tad in one place and will throw the entire CD off balance.

I used to use a CD Stomper and those labels all the time, and I have a small section of my CD shelves which is now devoted to disks which won't play any more. ALL of them have those stick-on labels on them.

I'd just advise avoiding them, but YMMV.
posted by hippybear at 4:22 AM on June 29, 2011


Ok, I'd suggested Googling around for "Word CD Template accordion", see what comes up.

I've tried that in the past and not had much luck at all.

The LAST time I did a CD swap someone had something like this in the CD they sent me, and that's why I was hoping someone who'd mocked one of these up in the past could help me out, which is why I came in here. I know how to work WITH an existing template -- inserting the picture files, working with text boxes -- but actually DESIGNING such a document is somewhat beyond me, which is why I was hoping someone had such a thing they'd already done that with. Finding one Word has done up themselves hasn't worked thus far.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:54 AM on June 29, 2011


I think the stumbling block is Word. There's tons of the templates you want for Quark, Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, PDF etc.

Word, not so much.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:01 AM on June 29, 2011


Perhaps try downloading open source page layout program Scribus?

I usually just do a CD insert, photo and name on the front, track listing on the interior. Keeping it simple and all that.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:10 AM on June 29, 2011


No, I know, Brandon, and that's why I was directing my request towards other MeFites.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:38 AM on June 29, 2011


Specifically in the hopes that maybe they'd made one up in the past themselves. If not, I can punt, but I wanted to check first.

So now that that's clear: I'm also working on liner notes for my choices, and towards that end, would anyone have a template (preferably in Word) I could use? I'm hoping for something with the margins already laid out, and the picture positioned properly and such. (Even if you send me what you mocked up for something you did last year, and I'll just replace the cover with my own cover and the text with my own text)?

Thanks.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:40 AM on June 29, 2011


EmpressCallipygos, I usually do it by hand and then fix any dimensional errors on the cutting board. Word really is a horrible program for this type of layout design. Even a simple graphics editor would be better, like Paint. And there are free in-browser ones you can find online. But at least with Paint you can set the dimensions of the canvas. 4.75in by 4.74in times however many pages you want. 4.74 accounts for folding. 4 pages will run you nearly 19in, though, so your ledger paper won't work. 3 pages should fit fine. I couldn't find a 3 page template, but here's a word .doc template for a 2-page single-fold CD jewel case insert. Good luck!

To everyone,
I'm caught up on email. If you've sent me a sign-up email but haven't heard back, some wires must've been crossed or something was missing or whatnot so please try again. tediseasy at gmail doot com.

For those wondering, there are now 30 complete swapsets not counting those who want to be in two and anyone else who signs up in the next day or so. I'm estimating a total of 34 swapsets. That's around 180 participants! HUGE! AWESOME! I'm crossing fingers that I can get swapset assignments out by Friday, but there's a small chance it won't get finished and I'm out of town for the weekend. So if y'all don't hear back from me Friday hold tight til Tuesday please.

Sign-ups close TOMORROW! If you've commented in this thread and been all 'I'm in, yo!' but haven't yet emailed me and gotten a confirmation back, you are in fact not in and won't be until you do so and have done.
posted by carsonb at 10:57 AM on June 29, 2011 [2 favorites]


30 is amazing. LET'S DO THIS, NERDS.
posted by mintcake! at 1:06 PM on June 29, 2011


If you need more names, there's always the moons of Jupiter or Saturn, different types of cheese, the periodic table of elements, a list of bacon dishes or Viking names.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:51 PM on June 29, 2011


LOL! I've already sent carsonb a bunch of ideas for names too! I can't wait!

THIS SHIT IS BANANAS! I DEMAND AN IMAGE TAG!
posted by tzikeh at 4:40 PM on June 29, 2011


oh i am so glad this was linked in the main page. just emailed my sign-up. i love making mixes; mine will definitely be a mix, with a theme.

i will be happy with anything i get in return, but the weirder or more obscure, the better. i'm really more interested in the whole, rather than the parts. i'm not looking to supplement my library, but to get cool little soundtracks from mefites.

i think it would also be really fun to have an IRL version - a mefi mixtape meetup could be awesome!
posted by lapolla at 9:08 PM on June 29, 2011


So many themes to choose from.... Also, I don't have a printer so someone is going to get hand scribed inserts unless I can figure something else out.

This is going to be fun
posted by ibfrog at 5:46 AM on June 30, 2011


this is my first swap and i already wish i had signed up for 2 swapsets. gotta make it count!
posted by stompadour at 7:44 AM on June 30, 2011


I'm another one for the UK swap! Glad there's a few of us, but apologies to anyone getting my terrible eclectic mix.
posted by kg at 9:51 AM on June 30, 2011


In for UK.

kg, if you think your eclectic mix will be bad, just wait until you hear mine!
posted by mnfn at 10:35 AM on June 30, 2011


Anyone not in my swapset will, sadly, not be rocking as much as those people who are. I had another idea for a theme after I made this set (global cataclysm - it turns out the Cold War inspired many great songs - not you, Sting), but it rocks too thoroughly to abandon, now.
posted by Devils Rancher at 11:20 AM on June 30, 2011


I'm completely new to MeFi, but this sounds like an amazing idea!
posted by bairk at 11:22 AM on June 30, 2011


SIGNUPS ARE CLOSED.
posted by carsonb at 7:21 AM on July 1, 2011


Can anyone recommend a good site for getting lyrics from? Most seem to either prevent copying or be bogged down with ads.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:08 PM on July 1, 2011


Brandon - View Source. copy lyrics. :)
posted by tzikeh at 4:46 PM on July 1, 2011


Also OMG EXCITE SEND ME SNAIL ADDRESSES PRONTO!
posted by tzikeh at 4:46 PM on July 1, 2011


Also, I don't have a printer so someone is going to get hand scribed inserts unless I can figure something else out.

Thumbdrive + Kinkos = success

Can anyone recommend a good site for getting lyrics from? Most seem to either prevent copying or be bogged down with ads.

Yeah, view source works for some lyrics sites. As do ignoring the ads. I usually Google search for lyrics and can find a link on the first page of results which lets me get the lyrics I need.

(I can't wait until GimmeSomeTune is finally revamped... It was the ultimate lyrics-and-album-art finder for iTunes on the Mac for quite a while, filling in missing information on any song you played. And then it became useless. It's being redone now -- hoping for a release by the end of the year.)
posted by hippybear at 4:51 PM on July 1, 2011


Alright, so sorting all of the swapsets out is taking forever. There were some logical issues that gave me a conniption fit, but it's mostly figured out now. 36 swapsets altogether! There's one US-Only swapset and one UK-only swapset and one swapset that's (5/6, ahem ;) non-US. All 33 of the other swapsets have US/non-US participants pretty evenly distributed between them (so either 5/6 or 4/6 US, mailing either one or two discs to non-US addresses). I'm not going to be able to push the lists out until after the weekend though, so my sincere apologies to tzikeh and everyone else who's rarin' to go. Soon! Like, Tuesday!
posted by carsonb at 5:00 PM on July 1, 2011


No need to apologize!

The question on everyone's minds -

WHAT IS THE THEME TO THE NAMES OF THE GROUPS?
posted by tzikeh at 6:16 PM on July 1, 2011


I humbly suggest The 36 Categories of Universal Manifestation according to the Triká system:

1. Self
2. Power of the Self
3. Supreme Will
4. Supreme Knowledge
5. Supreme Action
6. Ignorance
7. Limited activity
8. Limited knowledge
9. Limited will
10. Notion of time
11. Notion of space
12. Individual self
13. Undifferentiated matter
14. Intellect
15. Ego
16. Mind
17. Power of hearing
18. Power of feeling by touch
19. Power of seeing
20. Power of tasting
21. Power of smelling
22. Power of speaking
23. Power of handling
24. Power of locomotion
25. Power of excreting
26. Power of sexual activity and restfulness
27. Sound-as-such
28. Touch-as-such
29. Color-as-such
30. Flavor-as-such
31. Odor-as-such
32. Space
33. Air
34. Fire
35. Water
36. Earth
posted by troll at 3:08 AM on July 2, 2011 [1 favorite]


I'm listening to what I suspect is pretty close to the final version of mine, there may be one song that needs to be swapped out. The joys of not working - infinite free time, very finite money...

I'm pretty happy, well hey, I'd like to receive it. Though it sure as hell isn't a party mix.
posted by deadwax at 3:44 AM on July 2, 2011


Though it sure as hell isn't a party mix.

Most of my mixes have a bit of a "ride" aspect to them... meaning they definitely aren't party mixes. It's a journey, possibly with a subtle narrative, definitely carefully sequenced for flow and with an internal logic. And usually with a high and a low and then a high again.

But then, I'm kind of strange.
posted by hippybear at 5:18 AM on July 2, 2011


Swapset name suggestions I have shot to carsonb via MeMail:


Famous movie flops

The twenty-eight (or whatever # you need) most-recently-discovered elements

Fictional places from novels/movies

80's sitcom titles (or Star Trek episode titles or the like)

Indie record label names (appropriate to the challenge!)

Animals with ridiculous names (or ridiculous-looking animals)

Words and phrases from that list that gets put out every year of "Words we are sick and tired of that should be retired from the English language" (bromance, throw under the bus, "Aha" moment, etc.)

Fraternities and sororities

Musical chords (A7diminished; Bbminor; -- again appropriate!)

Novelty song titles

Disney villain names

Despots

Most famous/infamous YouTube videos

Programming languages

Most famous/infamous LOLCAT captions

Worst (fictional) names for athletic teams (we could totally make these up, which would be awesome - the St. Louis Marmots, the Croydon Labradoodles, the Quebec Yeti Crabs, etc.)
posted by tzikeh at 8:42 AM on July 2, 2011


*slips carsonb an envelope*
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:09 AM on July 2, 2011


*slips carsonb an envelope*

LOL!
posted by tzikeh at 10:02 AM on July 2, 2011


List of cheeses is good, but this being MetaFilter, I propose different types of beans, which has plenty of options beyond kidney, green, and lima (including, but not limited to):

pigeon peas
screwbeans (screwbeans!)
black-eyed peas
twisted cluster beans
moth beans
Tongues of Fire (come on, Tongues of FRICKIN' FIRE!)
yeheb nuts
stink beans
ground nuts
cowpeas
breadroot scurf peas

And, of course, the faaaaaava bean.

Let's overthink our mix CD playlists!
posted by tzikeh at 10:14 AM on July 2, 2011


*invites carsonb to a fish fry with the good, honest, Bieber hating people of thread#20736*
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:59 AM on July 2, 2011


Pistols at dawn, Blatcher.
posted by tzikeh at 11:08 AM on July 2, 2011


Just burned and hand-labeled 5 CDs (ultra fine sharpie FTW)

If I do this again next year I'm going to pick songs and bands with shorter names.
posted by Bonzai at 6:36 PM on July 2, 2011


*emerges from smoke filled backroom*

Sorry, no time for pistols, perhaps lunch later this week? Have your people call my people.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:45 AM on July 3, 2011


Maybe.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:33 PM on July 3, 2011


Is there anything I need to know?

How to stay safe in floods and tornadoes, where the emergency exit is in case of fire, the official evacuation route in event of a hurricane, basic subtraction and addition, where to obtain food on a daily basis, your name rank and serial number should you be captured by the enemy, where in your area to tune for official news and information, the phone number of your roadside assistance program, and your partner's safe word.
posted by Devils Rancher at 7:02 PM on July 3, 2011 [2 favorites]


Is there anything I need to know?

How to dispose of a body.
posted by tzikeh at 7:14 PM on July 3, 2011


I just finished burning the CDs and printing the covers, and putting them all together. Everything is ready to be sent out when we get our assignments. I'm really looking forward to getting my CDs in the post too.
posted by maybeandroid at 10:08 AM on July 5, 2011


Why, 36 you say? Polti's Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations, of course!
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:11 PM on July 5, 2011 [2 favorites]


Wow, goodnewsfortheinsane, that's *great*. (Though, while being in the "Conflict with a god" swapset would totally rule, I'm not sure I'd want to be in a group called "Loss of loved ones.")
posted by tzikeh at 7:28 PM on July 5, 2011


Why, 36 you say? Polti's Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations, of course!

This could help me theme my mix. Right now its 'bands I like'.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 7:31 PM on July 5, 2011


Right now its 'bands I like'.

May I suggest "songs I like by bands I like"?

I find that's usually a pretty good theme.
posted by hippybear at 7:49 PM on July 5, 2011 [1 favorite]


Other great thirty-sixes:

The thirty-six Strategems of Politics and War.

The thirty-six tattvas describing the Absolute.

The titles of the paintings in the Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji series by Katsushika Hokusai.

Or, oddly enough, the titles of the paintings in the 36 Views of Mount Fuji series by Andō Hiroshige.

Or, finally, the gifts sung about in any three ridiculous versions of The Twelve Days Of Christmas--choose among the Allan Sherman version, the Bob & Doug McKenzie version, the Sinatra family version, the Twin Peaks version, etc. etc. etc. (I would totally love to be in a swapset called "automatic vegetable slicer that works when you see it on television but not when you get it home," or "Six fish in a percolator," or "a beer in a tree".)

Possibly save this one for the winter swap?
posted by tzikeh at 7:58 PM on July 5, 2011


Isn't it wednesday? I'm pretty sure it's wednesday.
posted by garlic at 1:26 PM on July 6, 2011


I've always wondered which day of the week has inspired the fewest pop songs or their titles: I feel it must be either Wednesday or Thursday, although maybe "Ruby Tuesday" and "Tuesday Afternoon" are black swans.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 2:00 PM on July 6, 2011


*crosses her fingers for the swapset name "Take the opportunity to pilfer a goat".*
posted by tzikeh at 2:13 PM on July 6, 2011 [1 favorite]


Woooo assignment emails are out!
posted by showbiz_liz at 2:48 PM on July 6, 2011


WOOO!

Okay, carsonb -- you weren't gonna save these swapset names for the winter one?

I SUGGEST SUMMER-RELATED NAMES FOR DECEMBER
posted by tzikeh at 2:53 PM on July 6, 2011


Sheesh y'all are quick! So yeah, despite the excellent swapset names suggestions given here the past few days, by the time I saw them it would have been another day's work just to change everything around. I desperately wanted to abandon 'Christmas Carols You'd Never Know As Such From The Titles' (see below) in favor of goodnewsfortheinsane's Polti's Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations suggestion, alas.


The A Virgin Unspotteds
The Babes in Toylands
The Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabellas
The Children, Go Where I Send Thees
The Come Buy My Nice Fresh Ivys
The Deck The Halls
The Ding Dong Merrily on Highs
The Down In Yon Forests
The Do You Hear What I Hears?
The Friendly Beasts
The Fum Fum Fums!
The Go Tell It On The Mountains
The God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemens
The Good King Wenceslases
The Here We Come A-Wassailings
The Holly and The Ivys
The I Saw Three Ships (Come Sailing In)s
The In The Bleak Midwinters
The It Came Upon the Midnight Clears
The I Wonder As I Wanders
The Joy To The Worlds
The Little Donkeys
The Little Drummer Boys
The Mary Did You Knows?
The Night of Silences
The Nu har vi ljus här i vårt huses
The Past Three O'Clocks
The Pluguşoruls
The Rock Jingle Bells
The Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeers
The See, Amid The Winter's Snows
The Seven Joys of Marys
The We Three Kings of Orient Ares
The What Child Is Thises?
The Whence Th' Lovely Fragrance Waftings?
The While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

But hey, yeah! Get to mailin'! And please let me know ASAP if I flunked anything up, like your mailing address or you were expecting an email and didn't get one, etc. I'm prone to dumb shit like that, so.
posted by carsonb at 2:55 PM on July 6, 2011


It's so hot here this week I'm desperate for Christmas.
posted by carsonb at 2:55 PM on July 6, 2011


I finally have an excuse to send mail to Australia! Yay!
posted by SMPA at 2:57 PM on July 6, 2011 [2 favorites]


Carson, it's all good - it's Christmas in July!

(Now just find some summer-related names for the winter swap.)
posted by tzikeh at 3:00 PM on July 6, 2011


w00t! Time to finish up my liner notes, then. Thanks again for setting this up, carsonb.
posted by smirkette at 3:12 PM on July 6, 2011


My original playlist got lost (long story), so I just made up a second one.
I have to give it a good listen before I decide on it.

Wassaling folks, I'm providing an interesting mix of things from my childhood, adulthood, and a couple tracks by people I know. :)
posted by luckynerd at 3:26 PM on July 6, 2011


Woohoo, the list is in! thanks carsonb!
posted by ouke at 3:30 PM on July 6, 2011


Pleased to be in The Seven Joys of Mary, although The Mary Did You Knows? or the other merry groups would have worked too.
posted by maryr at 3:42 PM on July 6, 2011


I am in playlist hell! I have at least 4 new playlists currently in progress that I keep hitting dead ends on and then deciding to take a different tack.

Of course, they're all probably great and I'm just too close to them all. I'm trying to ignore those four and work on another playlist or three taking entirely new directions and then I'll come back to that first batch in a week and see if they've aged well at all.

AAAARGH!
posted by hippybear at 4:39 PM on July 6, 2011


hippybear - have you thought about volunteering to be in all 36 swapsets? :D
posted by tzikeh at 4:45 PM on July 6, 2011


So yeah, I muffed at least 2 swapsets. If there's any confusion, please don't hesitate to ask me for clarification.
posted by carsonb at 5:20 PM on July 6, 2011


Thanks for doing this ccarsonb, it's a fun project.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:56 PM on July 6, 2011


I got my swapset. Thanks carsonb! :-)

You guys are awesome.
posted by onegoodthing at 6:04 PM on July 6, 2011


Yes, thanks for the good work Carson!
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 6:05 PM on July 6, 2011


have you thought about volunteering to be in all 36 swapsets?

There's an odd appeal to that concept.

Probably not this time around... but maybe someday.

Would I have to do 36 separate mixes, or one mix which EVERYONE would receive?
posted by hippybear at 6:18 PM on July 6, 2011


Just one mix for everyone.

Unless you *wanted* to do a different mix for every group. Nothing to stop you. :D
posted by tzikeh at 6:43 PM on July 6, 2011


*heh* Yeah, I'll have to wait until I have the funds to support such madness.

Still, it's oddly appealing. That would be 180 Mix CDs arriving in my mailbox if everyone shipped...

Maybe the thing to do is to sign up for all those swaps, but then put some unsuspecting other person's address in for mine so I mail out all the CDs for the swaps, but then someone else I know and want to torture actually gets all the incoming CDs.

Something for the future, I suspect.
posted by hippybear at 7:22 PM on July 6, 2011


I'm in The Night of Silences, which sounds like a Castlevania music track.

I'm getting mail from Minneapolis! The most random city for me to be obsessed with.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 7:27 PM on July 6, 2011 [1 favorite]


What's funny is I had one request (user to remain unnamed) for swapmates strictly outside of MN. Didn't matter where else they were, they just couldn't live in Minnesota. MeFites is a diverse people, ya gatcha MN and ya mang, mang.

I love doing this, you guys. It freaks me the fuck out just a bit (deadlines, you know, and being relied upon...) but it's so worth it. MeFiSwap is easily my favorite thing about this community and I look forward to it every time. So thank you for being enthusiastic and kicking ass and rocking out all over the damn place. And y'all are welcome to it every twice a year.

Cheers!
posted by carsonb at 8:00 PM on July 6, 2011 [3 favorites]


This is so exciting! I have a ton of ephemera left over from my mail art swap days so I had a little fun with the packaging, too. My playlist is diverse, but not really eclectic, so I hope everyone in my group will discover at least one song they really like. I just wish there was an easy way to digitize the 100+ cassette tapes that are in my car because some of that stuff is irreplaceable.

Thanks for organizing everything, carsonb. If you want to e-mail me your address I'd be happy to send a mix out to you.

(I have to admit I don't really get what the group themes are about but I'm proud to be an In The Bleak Midwinterer anyway.)
posted by Room 641-A at 8:36 PM on July 6, 2011


:D

That's what my face looks like right now. MeFi has so many dimensions of awesome, scientists are still arguing over how many there are.
posted by troll at 9:41 PM on July 6, 2011


MeFi has so many dimensions of awesome, scientists are still arguing over how many there are.

36, obviously.
posted by tzikeh at 9:53 PM on July 6, 2011 [2 favorites]


I'm a Friendly Beast!! How awesome is that? Thanks, carsonb, for doing this -- a good friend of mine is dying, and this is the only thing positive and good right now. I really appreciate it.
posted by emcat8 at 10:15 PM on July 6, 2011


thank you for the hard work, carsonb! though i admit, i am a bit flummoxed with "deck the halls"... i'll figure something out, though.
posted by lapolla at 12:39 AM on July 7, 2011


Hurrah! This is the exciting part! Someone in one of my swapsets is just around the corner from me. Do we get extra points for hand delivering them? :)
posted by kg at 2:44 AM on July 7, 2011


Yeah, it was a remarkable coincidence to find someone living so close. I think I shall have to hand deliver, given that I'd end up walking past your place to get to the post office anyway!
posted by maybeandroid at 2:48 AM on July 7, 2011


People in the US, when we sending from abroad are filling in the customs forms, is it ok to say nil value or will that cause more problems than a small value?
posted by kg at 3:58 AM on July 7, 2011


People in the US, when we sending from abroad are filling in the customs forms, is it ok to say nil value or will that cause more problems than a small value?

The only problem I've ever had is the impatient postal worker who had do deal with it. I can't remember what I put as the value.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:04 AM on July 7, 2011


"The I Wonder As I Wanders"? How awesome of a group name for a mix CD is that?!?!

Thanks for all of your hard work, carsonb! I have a long roadtrip to Chicago (from Minnesota, pfft! What does that unnamed user know about quality Minnesota music? I should almost make a CD of JUST Minnesota music to spite that user! Hey, that sounds like a good idea...) to work on my mix this weekend.
posted by jillithd at 7:00 AM on July 7, 2011


i am a bit flummoxed with "deck the halls"... i'll figure something out, though.

lapolla et al— let me be crystal clear: the swapset names have zero bearing whatsoever on the content of your mix. You're welcome to take inspiration wherever it finds you, but don't feel any pressure to incorporate your swapset's name into your mix.
posted by carsonb at 10:51 AM on July 7, 2011 [1 favorite]


I don't even know what mine means other than the fact that it's the name of Christmas carol. There will be googling before I send it, if only so I can figure out what the html for one of the characters is.
posted by immlass at 11:13 AM on July 7, 2011


Heh, there were two I had to pull from the non-english portion of the list I was using. I was browsing wikipedia looking for inspiration (and missing it here in this thread, durr) and wound up chuckling at all of the carol names. So many of them, taken out of the Christmas context (de-carolized, natch), sounded downright ridiculous. Whence Th' Lovely Fragrance Waftings? What Child is This? If those songs were about something else instead of Christmas... comedy gold. But I only (only?) got 34 from the English portion of the list. The two non-english titles were chosen on my hackneyed eyeballing of their meaning and the fact that neither mentioned anything recognizably Christmas-y or Jesus-y.

Not that there's anything wrong with Christmas-y or Jesus-y, heavens no. But it's July.
posted by carsonb at 11:32 AM on July 7, 2011


anyone have suggestions for optimal cd burning speeds or settings? i'll be burning on my pc from itunes.
posted by stompadour at 11:55 AM on July 7, 2011


stompadour: the optimal burning speed is going to be determined by your computer, your drive and the quality of your blanks there isn't really a way for anyone here to give you a definitive answer on that.

Just do one at the default speed that iTunes picks and if it works keep using that, if you start getting coasters dial it back a bit.

.....

Just got back from the post office so I'm done!
posted by Bonzai at 12:20 PM on July 7, 2011


My organizing theme is "well, crap, I can't cut *this* song from the playlist...".
posted by tzikeh at 1:43 PM on July 7, 2011


OK, I have a question, whats the easiest way to keep any track data/artwork/lyrics etc when you burn the CD?
I even have gone as far as burning one, taking it to another computer and hand imputing track data then submitting it to CDDB but no go.
posted by ShawnString at 1:58 PM on July 7, 2011


ShawnString: To keep the titles and artists you might be able to add CD Text, there may be an option in your burner program. Or you may be able to make a mixed mode cd - put the music tracks first, then close the session, then open a new one and put data (e.g. a pdf) in that, then finalise the disk. On a computer you'll see the data files but should be able to play the music files as normal. How you do this, and if it's even possible, depends on what program you're using to burn.
posted by kg at 3:37 PM on July 7, 2011


If you're shipping a CD overseas and have to fill out a customs form, put the value as $0, and the description as "gift".

Anything else could result in the person on the other end having to pay customs tax to pick up the package.

Also -- your swap group name doesn't have to have anything to do with your mix. It's just an organizing feature, not a theme suggestion.

Also also -- Minneapolis was a much better city to be obsessed with when Prince still lived there.
posted by hippybear at 7:03 PM on July 7, 2011 [1 favorite]


What's the latest greatest tool for normalizing volume across tracks when burning an audio CD on a mac?
posted by Prince_of_Cups at 11:41 AM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


Hm - here's a bit of a difficulty -- how do I test my CDs to make sure they play in a regular CD player if I don't have one of those anymore? Since iTunes will play a cd that is mp3s, I can't test it by just putting it back in the drive and playing it through iTunes....
posted by tzikeh at 1:34 PM on July 8, 2011


You make an extra one for a local friend.
posted by maryr at 2:24 PM on July 8, 2011


What's the latest greatest tool for normalizing volume across tracks when burning an audio CD on a mac?

Um... iTunes with Sound Check turned on? It works pretty well.

I'm not sure if Toast has volume normalizing or not.
posted by hippybear at 6:19 PM on July 8, 2011


Whoever sent out Instant Happy last time (your name isn't on the CD that I could find): I've been playing your CD in the car recently and the Eisley song on it really struck me. I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up getting that album now.
posted by immlass at 7:34 PM on July 8, 2011


Argh... anyone got suggestions for figuring out an order for the songs? I've got a supposedly unifying theme, but perhaps it's too loose. Or perhaps that's not relevant at all.
posted by hoyland at 7:36 PM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


Build a progressive arc based on the mood of each song. I have a mix of hard and soft selections, so I arranged them to crescendo in heaviness about 2/3 of the way in and then taper off. Also, pick two songs to start and end the mix. The starting song should make a good first impression and introduce the thematic or technical quality of the mix. The ending song should represent the mix in microcosm and leave the listener with a good taste in their ear. Synesthesia is optional.

Mods, can you add synesthesia to the site dictionary? Thanks.
posted by troll at 8:31 PM on July 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


Already got my first mix in the post today (from maybeandroid, from the SUPER COOL UKERS ONLY GROUP).
posted by Gordafarin at 6:52 AM on July 9, 2011 [1 favorite]


(that being people in the UK, not people who play ukulele)

(thanks maybeandroid!)
posted by Gordafarin at 6:52 AM on July 9, 2011


I'm the guilty party for the "Not Minnesota, please" request. In my defense, I wanted to avoid swapping with people I know and that seemed the way to make the least work for Carson. On the plus side, all you people who live in Minnesota that I don't know won't have to be subjected to my dubious taste in music.
posted by hoyland at 8:58 AM on July 9, 2011


meh. I can't tell if slim jewel cases have room for inserts. I'll have to walk down to Tar-zhay and see for myself, instead of ordering online.
posted by tzikeh at 5:04 PM on July 9, 2011


I only use slim jewel cases for mine; they definitely have room for inserts. In fact, this past time, I managed to fit an entire other bonus CD in each of mine in its own paper case. So...there's a data point!
posted by limeonaire at 5:15 PM on July 9, 2011


limeonaire - do you remember the brand? and do the slim cases allow for back inserts as well?
posted by tzikeh at 7:21 PM on July 9, 2011


The slim cases I've experienced don't have any allowance for back inserts. There's room for a front insert if you don't have too many layers. When I wanted something to show on the spine I had to devise a specific insert which was then folded and put into place with a bit of two-sided tape, or something similar.

Of course, this may vary according to brand, so YMMV.
posted by hippybear at 7:44 PM on July 9, 2011


iTunes lets me click 'print' and get a nice printable list of the tracks. Is there any way to export that list? When I Export the playlist I get an ugly text file.

I'm working on ordering, since most of my tracks work best as first tracks. And do I want two songs named 'Drive' or two songs named 'Boxer'?
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 1:54 AM on July 10, 2011


Hey, I've got a song called Drive on mine and given you've spoken of putting Australian music on I suspect we are talking of the same song, at least for one of them. Mine's the Mogwai remix at least.

Why don't you take your text file and pretty it up in your word processor of choice?
posted by deadwax at 5:16 AM on July 10, 2011


Using select all and copy and pasting into a text file gives me a tab-separated list. That shouldn't be too hard to clean up. (I can't even find an export option in iTunes. Nor did I realise it'd print an insert for you.)
posted by hoyland at 6:41 AM on July 10, 2011


Why don't you take your text file and pretty it up in your word processor of choice?

How to export the a playlist in iTunes:

Select playlist.

Choose File>Library>Export Playlist

The file exported is tab separated text file. Pretty much every bit of information is exported, title, band name, rating genre, bit rate how many times the file has played and where it's located on your hard drive.

Open the exported file in Excel or some other spreadsheet program. Delete whatever columns you don't want to include. I usually delete everything except song title, band and the cd the cong is from. Save that file as tab separated text file.

Import that file file into the word processor or page layout program of your choice and have fun.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:54 AM on July 10, 2011 [1 favorite]


Brandon - that's exactly what I do.

If only I spent as much time being innovative and dedicated to my actual job as I do to things like the MeFiSwap....
posted by tzikeh at 9:02 AM on July 10, 2011


I don't have a printer right now, so I hit on the idea of doing collages for cover art. I have now spent a ton of time working on said collages and I don't even have my mix finished yet.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:10 AM on July 10, 2011 [1 favorite]


I don't have a printer right now, so I hit on the idea of doing collages for cover art.

I love that kind of thing, but for those without printers, be aware that you can take a file in to Kinko's FedEx Office (or similar business) and get it printed out pretty cheap.
posted by hippybear at 9:54 AM on July 10, 2011 [1 favorite]



Hey, I've got a song called Drive on mine and given you've spoken of putting Australian music on I suspect we are talking of the same song, at least for one of them. Mine's the Mogwai remix at least.


Nope, my Drives are both American and unremixed.

Thanks Brandon - I'll do that.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 4:24 PM on July 10, 2011


Printing?! Half the fun is seeing your friends' (or in this case, MeFites') handwriting! So apologies to my swapset if y'all were hoping for some fabulous graphic design effort; lo-fi [tracklist] for MeFites.
posted by smirkette at 9:24 PM on July 11, 2011


Ha! You do not want to see my handwriting swapmates. I'm a student nurse, and I've been told by more than one person that my clinical notes look like "a doctor's writing".
posted by supercrayon at 2:56 AM on July 12, 2011


Whoo - burned and printed mine right before the hard drive died. Last act of the mac.
posted by ChuqD at 3:27 AM on July 12, 2011


Aw damn, ChuqD. *pours one out*
posted by carsonb at 5:00 AM on July 12, 2011


ChuqD - it died in service to a fine cause.

.
posted by tzikeh at 1:13 PM on July 12, 2011


.
posted by troll at 2:04 PM on July 12, 2011


So, uh, I forgot to officially sign up for this, but I made a new mix CD anyway. First 5 people that memail me get physical copies of this mix. (or you can just download it or stream from there).
posted by empath at 8:31 PM on July 12, 2011


oh, carsonb (and tzikeh - thanks for the PM) - i totally got that the swap set name was not an obligatory theme. but i really wanted to riff on it. happily, i have figured out an idea that delights me and i'm gonna work it. i just hope none of the rest of my swapset thinks of the same theme, as it might be a bit... maddening, hahaha.

so hey - i actually love the idea of a swap IRL. for the past year or so i've been taking part in the SF Mixtape Society Meetups. so much fun. but i am couchsurfing this summer and out of SF so i missed the last one.

are there any San Diego Mefites participating in this swap who might be up for an IRL meetup mixtape swap? i am a little hesitant to proclaim a meetup, esp. as i haven't ever rallied one. but who knows - if there was enough interest it would be fun... any interest?
posted by lapolla at 3:12 AM on July 14, 2011


Is there a good, easy service that'll print and ship small numbers of cds on demand?
posted by empath at 10:34 AM on July 14, 2011


empath -- there probably are services like that, but htey probably won't take a client who is sending music they don't own.
posted by tzikeh at 12:15 PM on July 14, 2011


That hasn't been a problem when I've ordered mix cds printed in bulk before. I'm mainly asking about getting a cd cover, etc printed, rather than the actual music, though. I could order blank cds and burn them myself if I needed to.
posted by empath at 12:27 PM on July 14, 2011


Anyone regret not signing up for two (or more) swapsets? Or not signing up at all? Shoot me an email.
posted by carsonb at 1:43 PM on July 14, 2011


Do most people wait until the deadline to mail? I'm 0/5 so far.
posted by Bonzai at 3:03 PM on July 14, 2011


Extending the agony over making this mix to the very last moment is part of the fun!
posted by carsonb at 3:07 PM on July 14, 2011


I could have mailed out my mixes the day we got emails with addresses in them (and I know it would have been appreciated) -- but I should know by now that I never get through this kind of thing without overthinking it.

(I'm glad I did, too -- today's Friday Night Lights thread reminded me of a song I've since added to my playlist(s... s...).)
posted by tzikeh at 3:15 PM on July 14, 2011


Oh, I had my list "done" within 30 minutes of carsonb posting the thread, and I was tweaking it again just now. I've burned so many "test" cds that I think i need to go buy a new spindle before I can ship 'em.
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:36 PM on July 14, 2011


Heh - I just bought three-packs of every ink cartridge I need for my printer for the cd inserts.

Man, I'd have a Ph.D if I'd spent this kind of energy and attention to detail on school.
posted by tzikeh at 9:05 PM on July 14, 2011


YAY!
posted by bkeaggy at 8:32 AM on July 15, 2011


Mine are burned, cover designed. I just need to print them out, assemble them head to the dollar store for padded envelopes
(pro tip: the dollar store has cheap padded envelopes) ;)

So, yea, mine will go out at the deadline.
posted by ShawnString at 1:01 PM on July 15, 2011


I am also a deadline straddler.

and a Mississauga rattler.
posted by mintcake! at 6:18 PM on July 15, 2011


So where do people stand on putting two songs by the same band on a mixtape?
posted by maryr at 9:01 PM on July 15, 2011


My CD-Rs, jewel cases, and printable insert cards are arranged assembly-line fashion in front of my computer and printer. Everyone in my swapsets should expect a receive a padded envelope with anthrax taters some music in it around the 24th or so.

(Except my swapset pal in Australia, I fear. I'll do my best!)
posted by tzikeh at 9:04 PM on July 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


maryr: So where do people stand on putting two songs by the same band on a mixtape?

Punishable by death.

(Give us the music you like! We'll be happy!)
posted by tzikeh at 9:04 PM on July 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


The mix I just finished has two doubles, another two songs with the same guitarist, albeit different bands, and yet two more with the same vocalist in two diffent bands. If you stand on them, you're liable to crack the jewel case.
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:09 PM on July 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


maryr: You know how folks are always talking about rules that must be followed when making a mix? Well, my only addition to the bog-standard rule sheet is #67 (of ~232)—Always break at least one (1) rule.
posted by carsonb at 9:13 PM on July 15, 2011


So where do people stand on putting two songs by the same band on a mixtape?

It's fine as long as it works. Have done it several times in previous swaps.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:44 PM on July 15, 2011


My fine While The Shepherd Watched Their Flocks peeps, I must confess that my homemade label plans have gone somewhat awry. Fortunately, my mix still kicks ass. Well, a certain kind of ass. Actually, my fondest wish is that at least 3 of 5 people dig it, or like, know someone who will dig it.
posted by Glinn at 2:09 PM on July 16, 2011


So where do people stand on putting two songs by the same band on a mixtape?

I did just that, from the same album no less! I also dropped in random clips that aren't music!

Also, the post office lady was rude because I hadn't already filled out a customs form. Pfft.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 10:21 PM on July 16, 2011


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