(Not exactly a feature request, but not off-topic so I post here)

There are many remix uploads where the author writes something like “this is some existing original work of mine and I found this acappella/spoken word that fits nicely with it”…

Questions arise, like:
- Are those “remixes” or not?
- If not truly “remixes”, do they need to be flagged?
- Shouldn’t exist some special category to upload them? (like in Samples::Full mix, which have the “original” tag)

I think the short answer to your question is that if a remixer adds something that he or she created to a sample of any kind from this site or any of our sister sites like Magnatune, etc. the result has to be called a remix. The only difference between the way some think of a remix and what you describe is that all the work to create the backing has been done before the vocal was found.

I admit being a little perplexed when one or two words of something I have done is put at the beginning of an instrumental track and it appears as a “remix” which basically gives the instrumental a way higher profile than the instrumental would have gotten were it put up as a “sample.” I have let go of my feelings however because it really doesn’t matter.

A “full mix” as I understand it, is a piece of music or some other sound that contains only material from the artist contributing the work and nothing from anyone else who contributes to the site. Generally it is a whole song with vox and instrumentals. A “full mix” can’t really be remixed because it is complete in and of itself. That’s how you can recognize it.

If anyone disagrees, feel free to chime in :-).

Quote: s.c.mixer
- Are those “remixes” or not?

yes. they do not need to be flagged. they do not need a special category to upload.

if you take a previous piece of work and reappropriate it into something new, it’s considered a remix.

at least that’s lessig’s (and my) view.

the word itself can mean any number of things to any number of people so don’t get so stuck on the word itself. things get lost in translation enough already in our little global village.

OK, so technically they are all remixes.
But there are a few tracks in this listing:
http://ccmixter.org/view/me...
that use sampled material… I guess they should be also listed as remixes?

Besides, this VS comment:
http://ccmixter.org/reviews...
was the trigger for these questions.

fwiw, the more egregious cases are flagged and often moderated. Intent has a lot to do with it - many have used this model for an excuse to upload fully mixed originals. If you have a question about a given upload, please feel free to flag it.

In general, fully mixed tracks and, for that matter, tracks that use nothing but the pell+100% original tracks are “conversation stoppers.” What I mean by that is that ccM is an ongoing musical conversation. It only works because we are all sharing everything we do. (This is why we stopped using the ‘original’ tag because over 93% of them were never re-used in another upload.) The only reason you get to remix a pell is because the singer shared their original material. The idea of “good citizenship” would indicate that you should share your recyclable material as well.

One of the things that used to put me off remix sites was the thought of the same samples being regurgitated in different formats but basically coming up with similar work. Now I will admit this was a pretty blinkered view and not a true representation of what was happening.

However since I have been coming to CCM I feel the more “original” work has benefited the site and introduced a wider feel to the music available here.

Victors point on uploading samples from this work is a good one and something I will try to do more of but it needs to be borne in mind that the sample must have some value.

Just to upload samples to justify the original mix should not be necessary and the mixer should apply a sharp knife to the samples to ensure some quality gets uploaded.

There is great satisfaction in taking good work and using 90% or more to produce a new mix and my last two mixes have given me personally a great deal of pleasure to produce. This only confirms what I said in my opening paragraphs. The attraction of this site compared to many others is that it has embraced the two views and the result I believe is a very rich bed of music and samples.

I’m reading s.c. mixer’s post today. Have to admit I’m one of those who go “this is an original work and I found this pell to go with it”. Like this one. Allow me to share my perspective :)

When I first discovered ccMixter, all I had were full instrumental mixes. The availability of pells appealed to me and that’s what made me explore ccMixter. I readily admit one reason for posting in ccMixter was to showcase my work. That was true then, and it’s still true now. But I’m mindful not to be seen as abusing the system. I wouldn’t just mix 3-secs of a pell to a 3min full-mix and call it a remix.

Like radiotimes, I will keep in mind the merits of including samples as part of a full mix. However, I kinda prefer uploading samples separately. There are a few reasons for that but I’ll just say ccMixter appears to be set up that way (when I look at the upload form).

I think the crux of s.c mixer’s question is really about the uploader’s intent. And intent can and should be judged over time. E.g. what’s the overall uploading behaviour of the user? Apart from a full mix, has the person shared samples, separately? Those might be better guidelines in deciding the fate of an upload/ uploader.

I understand what fourstones is saying about “tracks that use nothing but the pell+100% original tracks” being “musical conversation stoppers.” But I humbly disagree. Cos lately I’ve been able to re-use full-mixes as part of my remix, like this and this one. To me, those full mixes have added to the musical conversation I was trying to create. Btw those mixes were done before I read this thread so I’m not deliberately making this up.

Finally, I believe that ccMixter has a built-in fail-safe “conversation extender”: it’s the fact that all uploads have to adopt some form of Creative Commons license. A CC-license automatically allows the conversation to be continued, whether a fullmix or otherwise. Also, it’s more than just extending it musically. ccMixter allows non-musicians to use the stuff here in their videos or presentations etc. I see ccMixter as more than just a place for musicians. It’s ultimately about extending creative conversations.

I was just reading this thread as it has developed and I feel the need to add one bit of further explanation. I have never uploaded a stem from a remix I did. For me, technically, it’s a pain in the butt, and the stuff I add to remixes is typically not mine or not that brilliant.

I guess VS’s point is that for this community to thrive it must have raw material on which to feed and those who come to snuffle at the trough must also throw in a pail full of slop for the others lest the trough run dry. I suspect a lot of people assume their stuff is not good or usable, and to them I reply you just never know. The last person who will appreciate the potential of your work is you.

Stems represent a pretty neat contribution because in addition to being musical snippets they also have been put forward in a context. If the whole song is represented in the stems then they also form a remix pack for people to rearrange without adding anything original which is a great starting point for fledgling remixers.

As has been said before, the beauty of this community is that it’s possibilities and opportunities are endless. All it takes is a bit of generosity and courage to nudge it further toward that limitless potential.

I have started lecturing at a drama school and one of the conversations we had was about odd film industry terms.

`Best Boy’ for instance. Its a term for the person responsible for moving a camera somehow i.e on a track ect.

The title is historical and bears no resemblance to the job.

The word Remix for me is the same. Its an historical summation of the process of reforming a single sound or collected sonic parts into a new work through, but not limited to, addition, manipulation, composition and re arrangement.

And for me those who only treat the site like Myface will only ever have a limited view of its true potential.