Automated creation of virtual ensembles

A method for creating a virtual ensemble file, comprising:

• (a) receiving, from a central assembler node at each of a plurality of recording nodes, input signals corresponding to one or more performance parameters that include at least one of a time signature of a performance piece, a tempo of the performance piece, or a total length of the performance piece;
• (b) configuring, at each of the plurality of recording nodes, a metronome based on the one or more performance parameters;
• (c) at least after configuring a metronome based on the one or more performance parameters at (b), recording, at each of the plurality of recording nodes, audio data and visual data for a recorded performance file of a plurality of recorded performance files concurrently with playing, at each of the plurality of recording nodes and via the metronome, a nodal metronome signal that is audible to a performer of a plurality of performers,
• wherein the plurality of recorded performance files collectively correspond to a performance piece performed by the plurality of performers, wherein the plurality of recorded performance files each has a standardized or standardizable performance length with respect to one another, and wherein at least two recording nodes of the plurality of recording nodes perform operation (c) at different times from each other;
• and
• (d) transmitting, from the plurality of recording nodes, the plurality of recorded performance files to the central assembler node configured to generate the virtual ensemble file as a digital output file, wherein the virtual ensemble file includes (i) mixed audio data that includes the audio data for each of the plurality of recorded performance files, and (ii) mixed video data that includes, tiled over an array of video tiles, the video data for each the plurality of recorded performance files.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media, stored or recorded on which are instructions for creating a virtual ensemble file, wherein execution of the instructions causes:

• a plurality of first nodes to;
• (a) receive, from a second node, one or more performance parameters that include at least one of a time signature of a performance piece, a tempo of the performance piece, or a total length of the performance piece,
• (b) configure a metronome based on the one or more performance parameters, and
• (c) at least after configuring the metronome based on the one or more performance parameters at (b), record audio data and visual data for a recorded performance file of a plurality of recorded performance files concurrently with playing, via the metronome, a nodal metronome signal that is audible to a performer of a plurality of performers,
• wherein the plurality of recorded performance files collectively correspond to a performance piece performed by the plurality of performers, wherein each recorded performance file of the plurality of recorded performance files has a standardized or standardizable performance length, and wherein at least two of the plurality of first nodes perform operation (c) at different times from each other;
• and
• the second node to receive the plurality of the recorded performance files, and, in response, to generate the virtual ensemble file as a digital output file, wherein the virtual ensemble file includes (i) mixed audio data that includes the audio data for each of the plurality of recorded performance files, and (ii) mixed video data that includes, tiled over an array of video tiles, the video data for each the plurality of recorded performance files.