sgulley
Superstar
If you really like music and recording it then never stop trying to get better at it.
Posts: 2,994
|
Post by sgulley on Jul 5, 2008 20:03:44 GMT
This is not a typical "Be Happy" holiday song but it does reflect a DVD that I watched yesterday (got some additional emotional song material. ) www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=221925&songID=6692500Let know if you like it or if something needs to be added or taken out. Since the 4th is only a holiday here in the states I'm not wishing a happy holiday. But, instead have a great weekend! Stan
|
|
|
Post by mcarp555 on Jul 5, 2008 21:35:21 GMT
Stan, this is an amazing backing track. I'd like to know more about how you came up with it. Sounds like it wouldn't go amiss in the soundtrack of 'Highlander' or something similar. It's probably better than the lyric, but I think a little more 'verb on the vocal might make it sit better in the surroundings. Right now it sounds more like it's 'on top' of the instruments instead of 'nestled in', if you know what I mean.
Brilliant track; if it faded out before petering out, I'd be ecstatic about it.
|
|
sgulley
Superstar
If you really like music and recording it then never stop trying to get better at it.
Posts: 2,994
|
Post by sgulley on Jul 6, 2008 0:55:16 GMT
Hey Mike, you don't know how good that makes me feel about it now. I have several volumes of music style sets that I purchased from PG Music a few years ago but never got much good out of their Band in Box limitations. I found a slow Celtic melody that I fell in love with but it was too slow, so I up'd the tempo from 85 to 95, and did some minor chord arrangement tweaks. After I exported to MIDI I imported the file into Sonar and used Cakewalk's TTS-1 synth rack to choose more of a Santana type sound by reassigning most of the MIDI track instruments. I pulled out the drums and reprogrammed with the EZDrummer Cocktail drum kit (samba drums). Then I recorded 2 stereo rythmn guitar tracks and a lead guitar track before finishing up with vocals. whew... a couple of days work. I reposted with some verb addition and doubling in the chorus parts. Thanks again Mike for taking your time and excellent comments. The ending might still needs some extra work.
|
|
|
Post by Tom on Jul 7, 2008 16:32:21 GMT
Nice work Stan.
Tom
|
|
|
Post by Girl Friday on Jul 8, 2008 18:19:41 GMT
Stan, you keep getting better and better!!! Great work!
|
|
sgulley
Superstar
If you really like music and recording it then never stop trying to get better at it.
Posts: 2,994
|
Post by sgulley on Jul 8, 2008 22:55:18 GMT
Thank you guys for complementing on this song. It's not a song that I would probably listen to more than a few more times myself... so much for standing the test of time. I think it was an interesting project, but a little too crowded and mechanical looking back now. It was another experiment where maybe I've learned a little. I don't think each song has gotten better, but maybe with newer tools & knowledge of recording, it is improving some. The lyrics on this song were more from a movie I recently saw vs. any kind of personal attachment.
I do appreciate the kind words however.
Stan
|
|
sgulley
Superstar
If you really like music and recording it then never stop trying to get better at it.
Posts: 2,994
|
Post by sgulley on Jul 10, 2008 5:59:50 GMT
First I liked it, then I didn't, know I've stripped most of the MIDI tracks and went with just my recorded instruments. Maybe it's better, maybe not, but to me it sounds more natural.
|
|
|
Post by chrisr on Jul 14, 2008 22:16:46 GMT
Just back from Belgium...
Very nice work, Stan ! One of your best songs so far, in my opinion.
Chris
|
|
sgulley
Superstar
If you really like music and recording it then never stop trying to get better at it.
Posts: 2,994
|
Post by sgulley on Jul 23, 2008 14:30:29 GMT
Thanks Chris for your complement.
I regressed back and put the original MIDI tracks back in, and added a bass line. I also harmonized the chrous parts.
It might be a tad busy but the parts seem to sync OK. I still haven't decided whether to keep the MIDI parts in or out, but the vocal harmony doesn't sound good without the MIDI instruments.
Pick and choose, is always the hardest for me.
|
|
|
Post by Tom on Jul 23, 2008 14:52:20 GMT
Stan,
What I like most about this song is how different it is from your usual style. Yeah, leaving the the MIDI backing in means there is a certain amount BIAB "artificialiality"to it that you probably notice more than I do. But on the other hand, using BIAB got you working in a slightly different style that I personally find quite enjoyable to listen too. Nothing against your other stuff mind you -- I just like heariing folks change up now and then. I might just reconsider buying BIAB myself.
|
|
sgulley
Superstar
If you really like music and recording it then never stop trying to get better at it.
Posts: 2,994
|
Post by sgulley on Jul 24, 2008 16:37:04 GMT
Thanks Tom, it was the BIAB style pattern that got me started on this so it definitely does help song writer's block.
The obvious advantage of BIAB is it's simplicity to type chords into bars and change around preset styles. You can whip together a song in less than an hour and have a MIDI backing to import into a recorder. The downside is that the majority of styles are suited for the Jazz genre and the drum patterns are usually inadequate for most rock songs.
EZDrummer has help me bypass BIAB's distracting drums and to pop something in more suitable. If you have other software to cosmetically patch the BIAB MIDI output file then you can turn it into something realistic and less cheesey.
IMO BIAB alone doesn't sound as good as most recorded MIDI tracks you find on the internet but with some bandages it limps along pretty good.
|
|
|
Post by Tom on Jul 24, 2008 17:54:03 GMT
Stan,
Yeah I understand. I went so far as to download the demo program and came to pretty much the same conclusions. Entering chords was easy, but I ended up thinking that even if I bought BIAB and all the styles, what I could do with it would be little more what I could already do with the PS5s patterns, or with my Yamaha home keyboard.
Tom
|
|
sgulley
Superstar
If you really like music and recording it then never stop trying to get better at it.
Posts: 2,994
|
Post by sgulley on Jul 24, 2008 19:16:09 GMT
It's infinitely easier than dialing in chord patterns one bar at a time in the PS5 which can be risky with alignment problems by accidently skipping bars, and it does consume lots more time. I think the manual PS5 TG chords sound better in the end but BIAB is an excellent companion for the PS5 by quickly popping its MID output onto the CF card and going.
|
|