So, this is my submission to the Xtra Styles 5 Midi Contest. I heard the Rainbows style once and went Oh yeah. A “cheerful all-MIDI 1970 synth pop style with synth bass, synth brass, electric piano, and an echo sweep pad. Enthusiastic pop drums are played with a standard drum kit.” Right. Let’s just say Talking Heads.

https://soundcloud.com/david-snyder-gigs2/house-party

So, I ran the midi from that style through various "retro" synths, emulating classic synths of the 80s era like the Yamaha DX-7 and Prophet 5, along with bass synths. I am playing the guitar. Midi drums are rum through session drummer with loads of effects.

As the song progresses, I begin to layer in some stuff from the Android style in Xtra Styles Pak 2.

Intentionally, I did not push the volume on this but strove for an 80s mix. It went through extensive mixing, then I used Ozone 8 elements to first give it a 14 LUFS starting point and used “tight and punchy” afterwards with some adjustments. It was mixed in Cakewalk by Bandlab with a compressor, tube emulator and tape emulator on the master bus. Hope you have fun.

Style: Rainbows, Category: Midi

House Party

By David Snyder

V1

House party gonna drive you crazy
You better hope that nobody comes
If you invite those people from church
You know they’ll probably be speaking in tongues
You should know that your friends are flaky
You’ve no idea what on earth you’ve done

CH

House Party gonna drive you crazy
House Party gonna make you insane
House Party's like life during wartime
House Party is a dangerous game
Say no no no no no no no no no no no no
Just say no

V2

House party, you better watch it
Everybody’s gonna get too high
They’ll drink too much and start committing adultery
Set off explosions when they trip the wire
House Party is more than you can handle
You know they’re going to set the house on fire

CH

House Party gonna drive you crazy
House party gonna make you insane
House Party ain’t no CBGBs
House Party is a dangerous game
Just say no

V3

Your friends know nothing about logging into Facebook
They’re only coming to your house to rock
They don’t nothing ‘bout an iPhone Facetime
They don’t know nothing about a Band in a Box
House Party’s gonna get you some jail time
House Party’s never gonna stop


CH

House Party's gonna drive you crazy
House Party's gonna make you insane
House Party maybe once in a lifetime
House Party is a dangerous game
Just say no
Say no no no no no no no no no no no no
Just say no
Just say no no no no no no
Just say no

Words and Music Copyright 2018 by David Snyder, ASCAP/Day of Faith Records

David Snyder, Vocals, Guitar, Synths and Keyboards, Engineering, Production

Telepathic Spiritual Guidance: David Byrne

Additional Xtra Styles besides Rainbows midi:

Style is _ANDROID.STY (Android Soul Funk w Synthesizer) Xtra Styles 2

RealTracks in style: 2524:Bass, Electric, FunkHalfNotePulseSync Ev16 100
RealTracks in style: 2407:Synth, Rhythm JazzFunkPlucky Ev 110
RealTracks in style: 1570:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Soul60sHighBackBeat Ev 110
Loop in Style: HipHop\Old School - ush105c drums ev8.wav
RealDrums in style: FunkyGroove60s^1-a: Snare & Tom , b: 8ths Hat, Snare

Excellent - Party on, Garth!

So you are taking part after all... and going for the same 'novelty' category as me, you cheek!

Really though, I'm actually quite happy you also went for the midi category, it only increases the chances of others giving it some attention, and (hopefully) encourages PG to pick up on that with more midi styles in the future, of any kind

p.s. A quick tech question if I may: You used the RD drums throughout or is there also some plugin drums in there?

Hey Icelander,

I really enjoyed yours and yeah I love midi too!

The drums are doubled.

There are midi drums from the beginning run through Session Drummer in Cakewalk. I think the midi patch if I am not mistaken is power drums, but whatever it is I liked it and it is the most prominent drum sound you hear through the first chorus, only run through Session drummer with tons of effects and reverb.

I wanted it to sound 80s and I think I got it.

Sounds great David. House Party, been there - done that - I agree with you!

I agree with Icelander in that the more people that use MIDI may might occur to PGMusic to generate more MIDI styles.

Aha, I thought there was something not quite as that RT style and now you confirm it, very good. And yes, the result is still quite convincing.. I mean, you had my ear second guessing, heh

Most definitely!

That one will get you in the dance floor, David. Excellent.

Thanks John.



Loved your Beethoven piece just now!

Fun song David. Lyrically very entertaining. The second verse sounds a bit like my house parties lol. Great job.