One of the most important elements of musical collaboration is sharing files. They may be parts, stems, samples, and even full projects created using Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs). More and more collaboration is being done remotely, with everyone involved playing multiple roles - producers, players, engineers, mixers, editors, etc. Essentially, everyone involved has a recording studio on their laptops, and recording, editing and mixing have become more of a collaborative undertaking.
When multiple copies of a project are being worked on independently, it’s possible to end up with conflicting versions, and important changes getting lost. Particularly if collaborators are using file exchange services that are not designed to handle version control in a way that makes sense for music creation.
Using Streamline along with your favourite DAW can make this process easier, and eliminate a lot of the headaches creators are facing at the moment. When it comes to DAWs, Streamline is designed, as we say in techspeak, to be platform agnostic. This simply means that it will work with whatever DAW you happen to use.
How to share a Cubase project
If you and your collaborators are all using Cubase, it’s very easy to share files and projects using Streamline.
First, start a new project in Streamline. We’ll call this “Collaboration”
Once in the Work panel, click on the blue “+” button to add something to your project.
The upload panel will appear.
And now simply drag and drop the folder of the Cubase project you want to share.
And then click on the blue “Upload” button
Streamline will take care of turning the folder into a .zip file and adding it to your project. Your collaborators can download the file by clicking on the downward arrow at the right of the interface. They can then unzip the file and open it in Cubase on their machine.
When you want to share changes that have been made to the project, it’s simply a matter of clicking on the up arrow at the left of the interface and dragging the project folder to the pane that opens.
Once the folder has been uploaded, you can add a comment to let everyone know what changes have been made.
If you’re all using the same files, samples, and MIDI instruments, and your changes don’t involve recording new audio files, you can simply share the project file without uploading all the other elements of the project.
Just follow the instructions above, but this time, simply drag and drop the the Cubase project file.
You can also share audio files on their own. Once again, it’s simply a matter of dragging and dropping the appropriate files.
# Tips and Reminders for collaboration
As you’re collaborating keep in mind the following tips:
Stay in communication with your collaborators. Use Streamline’s Task panel and comments section to let them know what changes you’ve made to your project
If you’ve added new audio files or samples to the project, upload the entire project folder
If you’re only using samples and MIDI, you only need to upload the new versions of the project file, not the entire folder.
The advantage of using Streamline for all stages of the creative workflow from idea to release are many:
Streamline manages all stages of the process from the spark of an idea to the finished version
Platform agnostic - use the creation tools you’re familiar with
All your assets are securely stored in one location - no need to manage multiple accounts with a number of different services
Access is limited by invitation per project so you only expose what you want
Versions are tracked from start to finish
Tasks can be assigned and tracked across all stages of the process
Ownership and attribution are registered along the way
Built by creators for creators, Streamline provides cloud-based workflow management, automated rights management and a creator profile hub to manage your tracks, share your files, and build your business. These are just a few of the highlights of the fully integrated platform.
Be one of the first to join Streamline.
Streamline is growing. To help make the platform the best it can be, we’re offering 6-months free membership for Founder Members*
If you believe you can:
Start a project on Streamline
Complete a monthly survey
Participate in at least one interview (if called upon)
Refer 3 new co-creators / members over the course of the year
Then we would love you to join us.
What’s in it for me?
As a Founder Member of Streamline, you will have your say in how the platform grows.