Some songs - and a thank you to PG Music

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Hi all,

I've been writing songs for over twenty years, and this year I started using the latest BIAB to demo my material.
This month I signed my first publishing contracts for three of my songs, two of the three demoed using BIAB.
So I'd just like to say a great big THANK YOU to PG Music for making it possible for someone like me, who is in no way an accomplished musician,recording engineer or producer, to make my material available to the music business.
You've helped make an old fella's dreams come true and I shall be eternally grateful.
I'm no expert using BIAB so I would be grateful for any comments from the seasoned veterans here. I hope you like what you hear!

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=442509&content=music

All bar five of the songs on my page have been done using BIAB. My method is to save my finished BIAB song as a WMV file, convert that to an mp3, and then upload it to two tracks of my Roland VS1680.
I then add lead and backing vocals using the Rolands onboard effects for any reverb etc.

I look forward to hearing any comments

Thanks again PG!!

quite a collection of songs you've got there, Martin! You have a very recognizeable "signature style"

To my ear, you did a great job of putting these songs together. Congratulations on the success you've had in marketing the songs. I'm sure this is exactly the kind of story PGMusic wants to grace this forum!

It seems that each listener's audio equipment affects the way people hear songs on this forum, and on my equipment it sounds like your vocals are too far back.

But, if you've sold 3 songs already, don't change a thing.

Hi Martin

Really like your songs!! You have a very very nice voice.
I tend to agree with Pat Marr about the positioning of the vocal in the mix, however Im sure it will be fixed later on. One thing about your voice, it tends to 'clip' now and then (hope you know what I refer to) I also believe though, that this is intentional, however the 'clipping' disturbed me a bit at times.
Having said that though- a very nice collection of songs, your contract is well earned.

Best
Jan

Whooha - Mr_Songman, Martin
Luve your stuff. Cool mixing there. Sounds like - well - real. Like recorded live at times. Straight forward and very "liquid" (in lack of a better term). Voice could be a tad more forward - in all songs. But I guess you wanted it like this. The way it sounds - just great. I would like to attend your next gig, live performance. Honestly. Powerful, energetic. Love it.
Cudos, Daniel

PS: I think you tend to mix your songs in "your way". What I think is common to all your tracks is a tendency to emphasise drums and your vocals get a wee bit lost in the mix. Hey - your tunes have a distinct flavour to them (Rubber Ball). I like i! Great you could publish some of these songs? This is a great first posting of some great songs out there. Why not work in 44.1/16 and get rid of mp3 and WMA?

Martin, I like the raw sounds of your songs! You have a great grasp of songwriting - lyrics, chord changes, variety, lyrics, light and shade, etc. Delivery is also energetic and enthusisastic, and I liked the harmonies and their placing. Great. I can see why you've managed to get some published, congratulations!

On some of the songs my head was imagining hard-blown saxes, strings, etc. here and there. I'd have liked more variety as it sounds almost like the songs were all recorded in one session, but as already mentioned, you have a signature sound and if they're song demos for a publisher then a can see that a no-frills approach is needed. Can I say that the singing is over-Americanised? I assume if you're from Surrey you're English and it jars on me a little when people try to emulate strong US accents when it's not necessary. If you're a US expat settled in Surrey, then please forgive me!
Were the drums BIAB/RB or live?

John

Quote:

On some of the songs my head was imagining hard-blown saxes, strings, etc. here and there. I'd have liked more variety as it sounds almost like the songs were all recorded in one session, but as already mentioned, you have a signature sound and if they're song demos for a publisher then a can see that a no-frills approach is needed.
John

having a "signature sound" can be a mixed blessing. On the positive side, it makes you stand out in the crowd, making it easy to name the artist when your song is played. But the down side is that a signature sound also tends to give every song the same signature unless pains are taken to differentiate.

In a live band, the uniqueness usually comes from the other musicians, who lend their creative quirks to make the song unlike any other. But when using software with a limited number of riffs that get rearranged song after song, you have to introduce unexpected twists in other ways, or run the risk of having songs that sound too much alike. This is compounded if the same style is used for more than one song.

I echo the team on this thread with one addition. There are times when I am listening to your voice that I can hear a touch of Bob Dylan in the vocal sound circa mid 70s. (This is on the first track on your page.)

And amen to your comments on PG Music. Like you, I too am one that was able to put what I have in my head onto an audio file. And for me, it is something I truly enjoy for myself and am often amazed if someone listens to it. We have a great discussion group here that enjoy sharing their expertise and I have learned a lot from them as well as began to push the envelope myself a bit.

Quote:

Martin, I like the raw sounds of your songs! You have a great grasp of songwriting - lyrics, chord changes, variety, lyrics, light and shade, etc. Delivery is also energetic and enthusisastic, and I liked the harmonies and their placing. Great. I can see why you've managed to get some published, congratulations!

I concur! A HUGE +1 from me

All the best,
Noel

SUPER JOB!

I love the songs, the vocals, the harmonies and the backing tracks.

I do agree that the vocals should be more a tad up front.

I do like your style!

Point taken.

No accident that you have managed to sell a few of these songs.

Martin you have my respect and admiration for your talents.

Regards,

Marc

Hi guys,

Firstly, I'd like to aplogise for not replying to all your comments sooner. Life will interfere sometimes.

Secondly, I'd like to thank one and all for your extremely kind and constructive comments regarding my efforts. A friendlier and more helpful bunch of people I couldn't hope to find anywhere. I'm so glad I decided to join the forum.

This is just a general response and I will now answer you all individually.

Thanks again!!

Martin

Thank you Pat for your comments. Having heard and enjoyed your material, I accept it as high praise indeed.

Regarding the vocals, I've always had a tendency to lay my vocal as far back in the mix as I think I can get away with, mostly due to my lack of confidence in my voice. I think I know how to sing, I just don't have a good voice to go with the technique!

AlthoughI thought they were okay, I guess the problem to my ear lies with the fact that I know the words, so to me they sound perfectly clear!

Seeing as your opinion is echoed by everybody on here, I think I feel a remix session coming on!

Thanks again!!

Martin

Hi Jan,

Thank you for your comments, they are much appreciated. I have to say I hadn't noticed the "clipping" until you pointed it out, so thank you for that. I just need to find out now where it originates!!

I'd also like to say I really like your song "And So It Ends", I'd have been pleased to have written that one myself!! And I think the remix works really well too - a great job on both counts!!

All the best

Martin

Wow Deltagolf,

Thank you so much. I'm glad you liked what you heard.

You maybe right about the drums, I used to be a drummer so I guess my ear is favoured somewhat toward them still. I may have to keep an eye, or an ear, on that!!

I'm not a performer, so I've never played a live gig. I don't even do Karaoke!!! But thanks for the kind words.

Regarding your comment: "Why not work in 44.1/16 and get rid of mp3 and WMA? "

Sounds like a great idea but I'm not sure how I would go about it. Any helpful hints would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again

Martin

Hi Skyline,

Thank you so much for your comments. They give me a little more confidence in my recording efforts.

I agree wholeheartedly with your comments regarding the production, or lack of, on some of the tracks. My only defence is that, whilst I love the songwriting process with a passion, I hate the recording and production process equally. So my approach to my demos is very much in the "That will do!" vein.

It's not that I wouldn't like to have them arranged with a little more flair, but that I lack the technical knowledge and patience. I'm always in a hurry to work on the next song! And with a backlog of 200 songs and writing new material all the time, I'm always eager to finish and move on!

Probably not the best approach but I feel that, as you stated yourself, they are demos to sell the song, rather than a fully produced track for release. So hopefully I can get away with it!!

But it is one of the reasons why I have started having some of my songs recorded at a professional demo studio.

As to the "Americanisation" of the vocals, I have an equal aversion to songs performed with an overly "English" phrasing. Chris de Burgh rhyming "Dance" and "Romance" is a prime example of how it can grate!!

Having said that, I don't think I "Americanise" as much as simply use a lazy English style with long vowels that I feel suit the song. My aim is to sell the songs, and as the world is attuned to that sound already,I feel I give my material more chance of success if they carry the sound that most people are already used to. But I take your point!

Re your question, everything barring the lead and backing vocals are BIAB/RB

I'm assuming you're the fella who remixed "And So It Goes" for Jan, in which case - great job sir!!

Thanks again

Martin

Thank you Noel, your very kind!

I paid a visit to your music page and enjoyed it a great deal. I really like "Amazing To Me" and I absolutely love "Dreaming 'Bout Dancing" Great song.

I wish you every success!!

Martin

Hola Martin, I enjoy your music, great work. Your voice got a very personal seal. Melodies are sweet and intense. Excellent use of Band-in-a-Box, we love that here. The first visual thing did grab my atention is your guitar, I have a Epiphone Joe Pass guitar too, I use it mainly as jazz box, very nice guitar I think, very so close to a Gibson 175. I wish you get all success you deserve.

Carlos

Great stuff ya got there Mr Martin !! You are a talented singer-songwriter my friend. Congrats on the publishing of your material. Your music sounds great !!

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