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Posted By: MarioD Encounters - 12/08/10 05:31 PM
Encounters is a song I’ve been working on this week. It is a new age/space song. It started in BiaB using two midi styles, Enya44 and Space1. They were cut, pasted and morphed into this.

I know this type of song isn’t the norm here however I thought I’d post it because I have been having some success on other sites with this style and because it shows there is another side to BiaB other than RealTracks. I’m not trying to start a war as I use RealTracks a lot myself but they are not the only thing BiaB does extremely well.

What do you think?
Posted By: rsdean Re: Encounters - 12/08/10 05:40 PM
Mario, this is a very cool and interesting sound. Very nice job!

Bob
Posted By: Skyline Re: Encounters - 12/08/10 06:03 PM
First class Mario! I really liked that. Well planned soundscapes and changes throughout. I spent a happy five minutes tripping on your track in my Windows Media Player with a superb visuals add-in from Morphyre. Totally matched your piece!
Morphyre link.

John
Posted By: redguitars Re: Encounters - 12/08/10 06:29 PM
Great Mario! I really dig the synths. Great sounds all around.
I wish I still had all my old Yamaha DX and TX modules.
What did you use for the synth sounds? They were cool.
Put up more or post a link to some more of your work. I'd love to hear it.
Wayne,
Posted By: tributeman Re: Encounters - 12/08/10 07:29 PM
What do you think?

Great sound and effects but quite a few off key notes(to my ears anyway).Some lovely key changes but I was looking for a change in your drum patten maybe halfway through the song as it is over 5 mins long.Thanks for the listen Mario.Cheers Frankie
Posted By: dcuny Re: Encounters - 12/08/10 08:46 PM
It sounds great, with the exception of:
  • The synth solo starting at 2:00 has timing issues and sour notes.
  • Where are the Mellotron strings?
  • Too short - it's got to fill up at least one side of an LP.
All in all, a fun listen. Definitely not the sort of song that comes to mind when I think of BiaB.

I want your choral samples!
Posted By: Marty Wittmann Re: Encounters - 12/08/10 09:04 PM
Mario!
I loved the tune. Especially loved the way the guitar tone set into the mix,and the wonderful flowing textures.Good job!
Marty
Posted By: Noel96 Re: Encounters - 12/09/10 09:35 AM
Quote:

Mario!
I loved the tune. Especially loved the way the guitar tone set into the mix,and the wonderful flowing textures.Good job!
Marty



a VERY BIG +1 from me.

I have never heard BIAB sound like this. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The song didn't sound off key to me in any way. What I heard were some really excellent suspensions in addition to skillful use of non-chordal tones in the melody. I like the way you used portmento. Also, I think I heard what David referred to at around 2:00 (it was 1:59 on my computer). There seems to be a group of notes clumped together in what is otherwise a single note melody. Easy to miss if you blink, though!

When I was listening, I found myself imagining a spaceship flying through space and all the scenery associated with such a flight. I didn't even have to try to imagine this. It came to mind entirely as a consequence of your music. Impressive!

Regards,
Noel
Posted By: tributeman Re: Encounters - 12/09/10 11:45 AM
DC "I want your choral samples!" .....Yeah so do I they sounded great Frankie
Posted By: MarioD Re: Encounters - 12/09/10 09:47 PM
Wow, I wasn’t expecting this much positive response for a midi tune. Thanx all for listening and the very kind remarks.

John – Thanx for the URL. I’ll check out Morphrye.

Wayne – Believe it or not I still have an old TX81Z still in my rack! I don’t use it much as I have transferred all of the patches to NI’s FM7 but it’s like an old friend to me! The synth pads come from the UltraAnalog VSTi. That was the best $20 no-brainer investment I ever made. The synth leads come from Kontakt 4. Most of my stuff is up on Kara-Moon.

Frankie + dcuny– I really don’t hear any off notes, however I’m to close to the song right now. I’ll have to let it set for a week or two and then listen again. I agree with you about the drum pattern and I would add the bass line as well, however I wanted to show what BiaB’s midi side could do right out of the box. Thus other than my lead lines everything else is pure unmodified BiaB midi. The choral pad sounds are the Aahs from Cakewalks GM midi synth TTS-1.


Dcuny – I didn’t hear any timing problems either but see above. I really don’t have a good Mellotron yet. I have a soundfont with them but it just doesn’t make it anymore. LP, you just showed your age! Great timing though as just yesterday on of my younger students keep starting and stopping at the same place and I said just keep playing, you’re sounding like a broken record. Her response was, and I quote, “ What’s a record”? Her mother started laughing.

Noel – I didn’t hear that problem at around the 2:00 mark but as I have stated earlier I’ll have to let it set for a week or two and then listen again.

Thanx again all for listening and the very good constructive comments and the very kind words - MarioD
Posted By: redguitars Re: Encounters - 12/10/10 12:07 PM
Mario,
I started with the first DX7 then years later when I got an Atari ST for MIDI use, I started picking up TX7 modules and TX81Zs. People were almost giving them away.
I always loved editing the sounds. Making new instruments. I always loved the organ sounds I programmed on the TX81Z.
Any suggestion on a DX/TX type softsynth? I can't seem to find Native Instruments FM7 ?
I really miss those sounds.
Wayne,
Posted By: MarioD Re: Encounters - 12/10/10 01:28 PM
Wayne, I started midi when I found out what those funny looking ports where used for. When I found the midi plugs my wife said I took two expensive hobbies and may one very expensive hobby out of it!

My first synth was a Korg DS8. Shortly thereafter I bought my first midi guitar controller, then came the tone generators. I still have all of them, a Kawai K1M, the TX plus a couple of Rolands. They all are in excellent condition and they all still work! That’s more than I can say for some of my “out dated” soft synths!

The FM 7 was updated to the FM 8. I haven’t updated yet but I should soon. You can program it much like you could the TX. You can also import and save the TX sounds to it. If you purchase FM8 I have approximately 5000 Public Domain and my own sounds I could send to you. Just let me know.

Korg also has some good softsynths from around that era, such as the M1 + T1, Wavestation, etc. You might want to check them out.
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