Hey guys..as you know, those of you who listen to my music, the recordings I post are older vocals with new tracks attached...well my singing and especially vocal recording days have past...age has taken it's toll and my voice is weak and not at all pleasant to listen to...so...I'm joining the AI bandwagon and going to start writing songs and demoing them with what I call DCHV's (digitally controlled human voices)...using Synthesizer V voices to create vocal tracks is the way I've chosen to go after listening to the fantastic tracks others on the forum have made (i.e. David Cuny, B.D. Thomas, etc.).

This is my first shot at recording in this manner...I'm not a techy at all so this is quite a challenge...I've chosen the voice of Hayden to start out with because the voice reminds me of my son Ian's voice a bit...this is my first mix so it's a work in progress...I would love any advise and or thoughts from anyone.

I've written several more contemporary style songs but never felt I had the chops to sing them correctly...maybe now I do (?) So here's the inaugural voyage...hope you like it...Dan

Faith's Gonna Rise Today
https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=14749112

Vocal: Hayden (Synthesizer V)

Style is _PUSHED.STY (Pushed Upbeat Power Pop)
RealTracks in style: 1259:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopShiningRockA-B Ev 120
RealTracks in style: ~686:Organ, B3, Background Pop Ev 120

Genos Tracks: SKY POP .Style: piano, synthesizers, lead and acoustic guitars, drums, bass, percussion

Dan,

This is great.

I could listen to it over and over. My wife and I have station on Sirius we listen to sometimes with PW classics of the golden age of the early 2000s (Paul Baloche etc) and this sounds like it could go on there right now. That is a compliment because I LOVE praise music from that epoch. Today's stuff? Eh, not so much. I hung out in Nashville during that era some and got a chance to play and record with some folks, so that was a good time.



Anyway, I thought it was real until I read your note.

I would say you are almost there!!

Maybe a few little reverb tweaks on the vocals..as in adding some reverb?? Maybe a tiny bit more stereo spread on the vox?? Maybe??? I dunno. I am sure you will master it soon at this rate.

Wow man.

Awesome!!

Dan,

Truly outstanding work...

Great song with a great melody. The voice you chose is great - sounds natural and perfect for the lyrics. Love the mix!

Excellent!

Bob

Hi Dan,

Well, at least you had a great voice (willing to bet it's still a real nice listen). Until about 2000, I had a pretty decent baritone voice. That I had a really bad accident that affected my vocal chords. Now I have a wobbly, pitchy tenor voice.

I've considered the synth voice approach, but I'm not sure I have the technical skills to do so.

All that said, you did a great job on this - really nice! It's a terrific song and Hayden pulled it off so good! Looking forward to hearing more of these from you.

But I have to admit, that silky smooth voice of yours is such a pleasure to hear.

Excellent job on this first effort with the new tools we have for music production. Enjoyed this a lot!

Wishing you everything good.

Alan

Dan

I thought you were talking about me when describing your current voice status! I honestly feel like you are selling yourself short with your vocal assessment! I feel your sound is as good as the synth voice!
But with that said, I feel you did a Pro calibre job here using that tool. This track sounds amazing to me! I really have great admiration for your work and always love the message!
Don't ever stop creating these awesome songs!

Thanks, TB

Dan, I have always enjoyed your vocals, that said, you have done an outstanding job with the synth voice. Great melody and your usual well written and pro production. Well done,Tom

Dan,

An outstanding "first effort" with the Synth Vocal.
Have to say...my preference would be to hear your "write to your voice" as it is today. The "difference" could become "a cool new voice"?????
(I'm experiencing the old-age-degradation thing, too. I expected I'd lose most at the top, but it's the bottom that gives me the most trouble...)


Nice to hear some "new" sounds coming 'round.
That being said, I thought the claps were overdone (too constant through the song). Opinion.
I enjoyed your piano work on this.
There is a "fresh-ness" to the write. I like it!

Looking forward to where you go from here...
Keep it up.

fj

Dan, for a first pass with a synth voice this is really good.
Super mix
Great lyrics!

Dan, well, didn't see THIS coming. Then again, some of life's greatest pleasures are unexpected. I do love your recent posted vocal recordings, but you've done a great job here outlining your naturally majestic vocal style to a super new song. Suspect you will continue to refine your skills in very short order, and produce music that's even closer to what you're hearing in your head. I really applaud your creativity and effort in deciding to do this at all, much less at such a very high level. Would have been way too easy to quit. Bravo!

David...yeah I love that era too...I think I've just started with this one...thanks for your thoughts...Dan

Bob...thanks for your comments...I appreciate them...Dan

Alan...you should give it a try...as talented as you are with BiaB you'd catch on real quick...thanks for your comments...Dan

Torrey...man you're still in top form...my days are past but I'm not done with music...hopefully I can write again now and have a voice (albeit virtual) to sing with! I always appreciate your encouragement! Dan

Tommy...thanks for your comments...I value your opinions...Dan


Floyd...I really appreciate your comments...yeah, a whole new world...I noticed the low range was the first to go for me also...hard to sing and breathe and that means loss of proper pitch so ...that's the end game for me...oh well onward and upward! Thanks for your comments...Dan

Mario...it's a lot of work...I hope it pans out...thanks...Dan

Ron...I'm not done posting old recordings (my archives are not complete yet) but this gives my writing a fresh birth I think...I really appreciate your kind comments...Dan

Dan, using the Synth voice to be able to write and create new music to praise God and inspire the listeners is truly a Grace from above. Congratulations on adapting and moving forward to share your talents with us...and the world!

BTW, love the song and it's production. I'm amazed at the high-quality in the vocals from the Synth voices. How did you get started learning about how to use them?

Dewey

I clicked on this link for a new firesong song, and the first word I saw in the comments was synth. I quickly scrolled to the top saying, "Dan using a synth? Ha! yeah, right." Well, quite a surprise for sure, and you made it a very pleasent surprise, Dan. I have no idea how to fashion the synth vocals, but I hear a difference in the output quality. For a non-techy this is one of the best I've heard. You will always inject passion and promise in your music. Still, nothing as good as a Dan Simmons voice, but this song has that Dan Simmons quality sound. So well produced and written. Can't imagine your voice losing its step. You should be like this old man, and soothe it with apathy. Love it!

Dewey...yeah, I'm excited to find a tool that will help me keep spreading the message of the gospel...I still have lots of recordings from the past but now the future seems a bit brighter...if i can become proficient with "Heyden " and his friends.


Marty...you are a ray of sunlight...I appreciate your encouragement and friendship...thanks for your thoughts...with the Snyth stuff i feel like a infant trying to learn to speak for the first time...we'll see how it goes...thanks again...Dan

Hi, Dan.

Nice write - solid praise song. It's obviously a bit unnatural to work this way, but it sounds fine. As you learn more, you can always go back and make changes to the vocalist. I've done that (and keep doing that) with songs I've posted.

I don't have a lot of advice for using synth voices, other than to treat them like any other vocalist. They're going to sound like themselves, and phrase things in a way that's most natural to their voice. It's easier (and more effective) to work around the voice and play to their strengths than to try making them do something that comes out unnatural.

I believe that it won't be that long before vocal cloning of singers becomes accessible to end user like you and me. So hopefully you'll be able to synthesize your own voice in the near future.

In the meantime... welcome back to songwriting, and enjoy being able to try on a "new" voice.

This is a really great song with a beautiful melody.
It's easy to hear that you have some experience in processing vocals, for your first song with Synth V it sounds really, really good.

My (general) advice, which is much more important than any technical tips:

• find their "sweet spot". With BIAB, it's easy to transpose a song to where your singer sounds best
• don't force them to do something they can't do. No processing wizardry will make Billie Eilish a metal singer
• treat the "voices" like real singers. Give them time to breath. They are not Eminem

So sorry to hear about your voice Dan. These synth voices are very cool but I must say your vocals and piano are like listening to an old friend. Very comforting.

This is a very cool song.

This is quite interesting to hear “someone else” sing one of your songs.

It must be rewarding to be able to continue to spread your gospel via a voice that you can adapt and mold to fit your fine arrangements.

Our only suggestion would be to instruct the DCHV's to listen to the Gaither Vocal Band during their off time.

Kudos! And have fun on the new journey.

J&B

This is a great song and you did a good job on the voice. Especially considering it's a "first time" effort.

There's a few places throughout that gives it away that it's not a human singer.... but with experience, you will hear that and fix it.

Good overall job.

Note: I like Hayden and have considered hiring him as well.

Very good work for a first try with Synth V, sounds quite natural and about right key for Hayden (I don't have Hayden, so I cannot give advice on possible strengths or weaknesses).
Upbeat song and pleasant band, catchy chorus needs maybe some lifting up, you could double Hayden's voice for thicker sound (use retake and voice setting features to add variation to the voice and move notes back or forth on the timeline). Or maybe one day you have female voices for a full choir

Janne