The Art of the Mix Tape

• The Art of the Mix Tape by timorousme on 17 Nov, 2008 15:13
• Any of you guys ever made a girl a mix tape? Or have any of you girls received one?
  
  I just finished this one for the girl I told you guys about in another thread so that I can give it to her tomorrow for her 18th. It's more work than I thought it would be. Picking and ordering songs, taking songs out that you love but just don't make the cut, listening, reordering, recutting, adding more, cutting more.
  
  It really is an art, but I think I got it right.
  
  "Tolovesomebody" - Billy Corgan
  "I Will Be Grateful For This Day" - Bright Eyes
  "Without You I'm Nothing" - Placebo
  "Thinking About You" - Radiohead
  "There is a Light That Never Goes Out" - The Smiths
  "Lovesong" - The Cure
  "Lily and Parrots" - Sun Kil Moon
  "The Milkman of Human Kindness" - Billy Bragg
  "The Other End of the Telescope" - Elvis Costello
  "Beautiful" - The Smashing Pumpkins
  ""(None)" - Ted Leo
  
• #1 by Mikekoz13 on 17 Nov, 2008 16:27
• You have some great songs in there...... I predict success!!!
• #2 by PE#1 on 17 Nov, 2008 17:15
• Dude....You forgot "Love Song" from ICP.   
  
  Just joking man.  Good job.    Even though I probably would have thrown a little R&B in the mix.  Just because my wife, and I, like a little something from all genres. 
• #3 by timorousme on 17 Nov, 2008 17:37
• Yeah, I was going to put a Prince song in there, but I couldn't pick one (I love 'em all), and couldn't find a place where it would fit.
• #4 by Shaf on 17 Nov, 2008 18:25
• Good anthems man, the ones I know anyway. 
  Alas I've never given anything like that to a girl , not complaining I've given other things   
  
  Know what u mean though about the technique involved, I had given up being a vinyl junkie a while back but now with all the digital stuff u can do, anyone can have go and mashup.  You'll have to mention what your using by the way.
• #5 by timorousme on 17 Nov, 2008 18:52
• I ripped the songs from various sources onto my computer, arranged the songs, and divided up into two playlists, one for each side. Then I used a cable that I have for recording from my guitar to my computer's input. It has a 1/8" plug on one side and a 1/4" on the other. I simply reversed the usual set-up and plugged the 1/8" into the headphone jack on my computer and the 1/4" into the stereo microphone jack of my Harman/Kardon hk200xm tape deck from the early 80's and recorded directly from the computer to the tape deck.
  
  It took a while to balance it out right so that it sounded half-way decent. The quality is still kind of blah, but I kind of like it like that, it gives it that DIY feel to it and emphasizes that this is something I worked hard on making myself.
• #6 by Razor X on 17 Nov, 2008 18:54
• Quote from: timorousme on 17 Nov, 2008 18:52

  I ripped the songs from various sources onto my computer, arranged the songs, and divided up into two playlists, one for each side. Then I used a cable that I have for recording from my guitar to my computer's input. It has a 1/8" plug on one side and a 1/4" on the other. I simply reversed the usual set-up and plugged the 1/8" into the headphone jack on my computer and the 1/4" into the stereo microphone jack of my Harman/Kardon hk200xm tape deck from the early 80's and recorded directly from the computer to the tape deck.
  
  It took a while to balance it out right so that it sounded half-way decent. The quality is still kind of blah, but I kind of like it like that, it gives it that DIY feel to it and emphasizes that this is something I worked hard on making myself.
  

  
  Why did you put all of this on a tape as opposed to burning it to a CD?
• #7 by timorousme on 17 Nov, 2008 19:01
• I just didn't think that a mix CD has the same oomph as an actual tape. Anybody can throw songs on a CD. It takes more thought and time and love into making a tape.
• #8 by Razor X on 17 Nov, 2008 19:26
• Hope she appreciates it.
• #9 by time2shine on 17 Nov, 2008 21:36
• Quote from: timorousme on 17 Nov, 2008 19:01

  I just didn't think that a mix CD has the same oomph as an actual tape. Anybody can throw songs on a CD. It takes more thought and time and love into making a tape.
  

  
  Sounding like a true romantic, Sean.  She's gonna like it.
• #10 by Mikekoz13 on 18 Nov, 2008 05:12
• Lovesong by The Cure is a great, timeless song. I've heard it twice recently on the non-commercial station I listen to.