I thought some of you would like to hear my latest piece using BiaB 2010. This is quite a melancholy piece. I was in that kind of mood recently and felt like letting it go. The piece is RealInstruments, RealDrums, and Garritan Personal Orchestra 4 Steinway and Vibes playing the melody and solo.

The piece can be found here: http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=8940682&q=hi


I hope you enjoy it. And comments are welcomed.

RichR

Hi RichR,

Very melancholy!! A nice listen tho. :>) Mix levels seemed to be really good and the instruments sound great. Could you tell us a little more about the tune-what tracks did you play, how is it panned and so forth?
I enjoyed it-thanks for sharing.

Jim

Thanks for the comments Jim. The piece was fleshed out in BiaB. I worked out a chord progression with the form of A - 16 bars and B - 16 bars. My favorite trick is to mix major minor so that it is undetermined exactly if something is in a major key or a minor key. It gives an air of unresolved mystery to a piece. I then used RealTracks and the _BaladR Rock Ballad w/guitar for the instruments. I then developed the melody that I felt would fit the mood and the chordal structure changing harmonies whenever the melody needed it. The soloist on vibes was just experiments with the soloist feature and a mixture of takes that I liked the best. Nothing was really played live into the recording, though I have done so and am an accomplished woodwind specialist. I just felt like a little piano mood music after a personally tragic week. The music accomplished the solitude and soothing quality that I was after and put my mind to work which was needed.

Bass is panned left, drums centered (stereo), Electric Guitar (Dreamy) is left center, acoustic rhythm guitar is R center and acoustic guitar is panned left. Nothing is fully panned left or right. The piano is slightly off center left and the vibes are a bit more off center right. I did add some session drummer to the RealDrums track on the bass drum and cymbals because I wanted a little more oomph on those parts. The whole piece was finished in Sonar 8.5 with Lexicon Pantheon Reverb added to each track depending on the need. It was finished off with Boost 11 (the Sonar Final Mix Compressor).

Rich

nice song, Rich... I enjoyed it

Rich, this is absolutely one fantastic piece of music.

To really really really nit-pick I think the bass should be more to the center, if not dead center. Personally I find it to be a little distracting when it’s not centered, but then again that is just me and others may not agree.

Even if you don’t change the bass pan this is still an outstanding song. Keep up the good work as I really like melancholy!

Very nice . . . however it is crying for a lyric.

Later,

Thanks for the comments Pat.

It was a soothing experience working up this piece.

MarioD,

I will give the bass a more centered position. I just was used to having the bass on my right when I used to play in bands a lot.

Danny C.,

I know, I know and I am working on lyrics. I am not sure the world is ready for my voice, though! :-)

Rich

Rich,

MarioD and Danny C. said exactly what my thoughts are about this song: Very good piece of music. I would center the bass also and add some lyrics to the song to even improve it.

Cheers,

Superbron

Thanks for the comments Superbron. I will remaster the piece and pan the bass back to more centered. As for the lyrics, I am working on it.

Rich

Nice song and arrangement - yes bass more central I think. I agree it would be really good to have some meaningful lyrics in part.
I enjoyed it
Jim

Funny thing. The first moment I heard your song I immediately had the John Lennon song called, "Free as a Bird" jump into my mind. Ever have that happen when you listen to something and another song jumps in at the same time?

Other than that, I don't know what it is about me but I have always liked melancholy melodies. I particularly like the paths you take through the song. Even in introducing other soloist tones that really compliment the mood you are going for. There are some moments, and it just may be me, but it appears that the tempo loses its synch between the instruments. For me, the song runs a bit long. I like meloncholy tunes to kind of be brief, around the 3 minute mark, unless they truly depart from the original mood and swing to entirely something else. First, three minutes... a cool blue mood. Next three minutes... break out the prozac. Yet, another three minutes, "Now, where did I hide my gun?"

Very nice. Love the chord progressions you chose as well.

RickeG

Thanks enjfb,
I appreciate the comments. I am still working on lyrics (not at all my strong point).

RickieG,

I appreciate the comments and the association to such a good song writer. I hadn't thought of that tune in years! Thanks for bringing it back up.

And too all who have commented, I have made some changes:

1) the bass is now more central in its position for this mix

2) I have revised the piece and put it into the length that as "RickeG" said is about the point of breaking out the prozac. (funny line - I'll have to remember it) :-) The piece is now a little over 4 minutes in length.

this is already a harmonically interesting piece of music. I look forward to hearing lyrics, which will force you to pick out a more clearly defined melody.

and in answer to the question you're a damn fine composer and home studio engineer!

Marc

mglinert,

Thanks for listening, it is appreciated. The melody is a bit vague (I admit and agree). It is really waiting for me to get going and write the lyrics to the full scope of the melody can be fleshed out.

Very nice song! Piano seemed a little reverb heavy. could just be my taste. Overall excellent! Thanks for sharing.

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PgFantastic,

Thanks for the comments and listen. You are right, I put a little more reverb on the piano only because I felt it was in taste with the style of the song. Good Ear!!