Soundcloud "Favorite Resin"

A Work-In-Progress, but I have had the song copyrighted; my first ever copyrighted song.
None of this was done in BIAB. All performances are by yours truly, but for the drum track which was taken from my Yamaha DD55 drum machine.

Vocals were recorded with the much maligned AKG c3000 condensor mic that I hacked like so, from advice found on the internet:

1) remove the grill by taking the three screw on the bottom of the mic, and then removing the two screws that hold the grill on.

2) gently remove the gray foam that covers the diaphragms. This fixes the dull very high end that the mic has.

3) There are two layers of grill mesh on this mic. Use some pliers to pull out the inner mesh in the grill. This mesh is what gives the mic its mid honk. Once it is out, the honk is gone.

the Fender Jazz Bass was sent direct in (no amp) through a Korg AX1G using a factory stereo phase-shifter/amp sim effect.

The super simple keyboard coloration was through a Yamaha DGX portable Grand.

The lead solo passage and additional coloration was provided by a Korean-made Fender Squire II Strat, sent direct in using a factory pitch shift/amp sim effect.

recorded with Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP and Reaper. I think it could use a little "mud remover" EQ, but I'm not about to change the Soundcloud file just to upgrade it to that extent, I'll wait until there a more finished version. As I finish it I'll probably change the arrangement to have only one chorus after the first verse and then two after the lead passage, and then come in again at the end but with a modulation (key change).


P.S. I know the non-proper noun "herb" has a silent "H" but it seemed to "sing better" with the H sound, and I figgered maybe if we can anthropo-feminize with MaryJane, maybe Herb isn't so incredible. I'm sort of regretting that Hard H decision and might do the vocals over just for that if nothing else, but I think I could do overall better on the vocals anyway. That said, I don't hate 'em. I never use pitch correct on any vocals, that's just me. My philosophy is Get it right, good enough, or just don't do it. I won't judge you if you use pitch correction tools, but of course that will be a lot easier done if you just don;t tell me. Lol! I kid, I kid around a lot.

P.S.S.
My user name was not chosen carefully but it is an acronym: Deaf In One Ear Can't Hear Out Of The Other. Now, please understand, I was fit for my first hearing aids when I was five years old, so I figure I'm probably allowed (even PC-wise) to say such things about myself. Anyway, suffice to say, I very much appreciate when people with good ears help me hear things about my musical efforts that I might miss, even when my attention to detail is painstaking which is *ahem* not always, maybe even darned seldom

The User Showcase is an area where users of PG Music products (e.g. Band-in-a-Box or RealBand) can post links to their original song compositions, for others to listen to.

Huh? Isn't that exactly what the O/P did?

Eric
Interesting arrangement. I particularly liked the bass line.
Best
Trevor

Thank you, Herb (Guitar Hacker), I do realize that. I will direct your attention to the first word in the following statement in the guidelines:

If Band-in-a-Box or RealBand have been used, please provide information as to which styles or RealTracks were used.



The User Showcase is an area where users of PG Music products (e.g. Band-in-a-Box or RealBand) can post links to their original song compositions, for others to listen to.

I am a user of PG Music products, but I didn't use them on this recording. The way I parse it, those statements as they sit now allow me to post as I did; but I will gladly rescind this share if PG wants to tighten up their semantics.

Thanks, Trevor...me, too!

Doesn't sound like PG was used in this to me, by the poster's own admission. And a new user too....

So the question would be, is this new user an owner of ANY PG product?

We have lots of folks who come here and post who are NOT PG customers who are simply looking for a pat on the back for their newest musical project and the exposure it supposedly gives them....This one fits that category from all the evidence I see.

My apologies, IF this new user is in fact a PG customer, but all the signs point to them NOT being a customer and using this forum to post their music.


Would it not be logical for someone who actually owns BIAB as a new user to post something that DID contain BIAB (or other PG product) in it somewhere?

Further, while the FAQ and INFO header does use the word "IF" to start the 6th bullet point down..... the header starts with The User Showcase is an area where users of PG Music products (e.g. Band-in-a-Box or RealBand) can post.... That says it all. If you do NOT own PG products you should find somewhere else to post.

Feel free to correct me if I am wrong on any of this....

I was pretty sure from reading in the Shout Box that the O/P was definitely a PG Music product user. Yep, he made it perfectly clear that this song wasn't created with BiaB / RB etc, but the rules didn't say that it had to be either. I guess we all expect that songs posted are created from PGM products (and most are), but the O/P was up front to admit this one wasn't, and the rules certainly don't say that the song has to be.
My interpretation was that no rules had been transgressed in this case.
(And certainly, peace to all )

Trevor nailed it.

Obviously I could have avoided this controversy merely stating plainly that I did just recently purchase BIAB. MY apologies for the omission; I just assumed I'd receive the benefit of the doubt, I suppose.

I was not aware that there was such a problem with illegitimate posts around here.


Herb, I don't think it's a matter of logic or lack thereof. I'm a new user of BIAB, so new that I haven't done anything with it yet that I'd see fit to share. I HAVE, on the other hand, done this other thing I did want to share, to introduce myself rather than lurk, and indeed saw it within my rights to do so. If it makes anyone feel better, I could master the mix through a PG EQ and repost it.

OK ... certainly that does clear it up. Since you are a new user, and no one here knew you before this, it certainly looked like you were a poster who found this site and decided to post here to promote your new music. That happens a bit. We have a few folks here who do post non-BiaB projects but we know them to be BiaB users.

So, forgive me for this misunderstanding. And.... Welcome to the family of Biab & RB users. There's no need to redo the song with BB or RB tracks.... carry on.

I'm looking forward to the new stuff you compose and post here.

By the way, I'm fine with your calling attention to what you thought may have been an infraction of the rules, Herb. I mean, a certain amount of policing is healthy for a forum. No worries! Thanks

"If it makes anyone feel better, I could master the mix through a PG EQ and repost it."



Now, that's funny. I don't care who you are.



p.s.

Thanks for the tip on the C3000. I've not used mine for years because of the "honk". I have my own darned honk - don't need any more.

Lol! I was typing as Herb was posting, so I didn't even see his very nice last post. Looks like we are both reasonable souls, eh?

Thanks Herb, that's very kind...will do!

Bob, thanks for appreciating what (little?) I have to offer in wit, even now when I was only half kidding! I guess that makes it a half wit-icism?




Lol! I hear ya! Well, I mean, not literally... as, your live demo is the darned good kind of honky tonk.

But yeah, totally. I did a vocal track recently and it came out sounding almost smurfish...and that was AFTER the mic mod!

But, as bad as my ears are, I can tell the difference in the mic. It's as promised: nicer highs and attenuated mid-range "honk". So, for what little trouble it is, I do recommend the mod, it's effective enough to make you start using the mic again, I'll bet.

You will need some patience to pull all of the little wire mesh strands out with a needlenose, those that get left behind after you tear the bulk of the mesh out with the same tool. Fortunately, these things bodies are built like a tank.

You will also need some patience, possibly, putting it all back together. I know I did, YMMV. I don't recall now exactly what the little trick was exactly, so I don't know how to explain it other than everything has to be lined up exactly so that the control buttons are centered and the housing screws back with no gap. I'd have to take the mic apart again to remember exactly what the little trick was. Thank heavens I'm only almost that altruistic! Good luck, should you proceed. It's not that bad.

Cheers!

PS
The other recommendation that went with the original post of that mod is to use ONLY the hypercardioid setting, (never use the cardioid) as this will not engage the smaller of the 2 diaphragms which is, it was purported, a source of sound-crappiness.

Eric - Trevor beat me to it... your bass line was a real standout. The drums are nicely mixed, too... If you can do this WITHOUT Biab... can't wait to hear what you do WITH IT... I hope you bought at least the UltraPlusPak... you will be able to do cool stuff using it...

(a lyric sheet would be nice to be able to follow along).

Cool stuff going on in this. Looking forward to more...


floyd

Hey Floyd, thanks man! I'm greatly encouraged, 'preciate it, thanks for taking the time to listen and weigh in.


Right now I'm listening to REVEREND BOB'S BEER AND BARBECUE BIG TENT BIBLE REVIVAL, loving it, and earlier I enjoyed a few other tunes like This I Love Tammy Tattoo, and The Wrong Mailbox, and Up To No Good Again . I'll be sure to drop in again when I need a mood lift or some inspiration.

I just gotta say, your song lyrics are super witty and clever and a whole lot of fun! The music production is well done and it all fits together, very nice. The free music generosity is way cool, too...bravo!

Cool tune. I had to go back and listen...

It's short and the guitar solo is the closest thing I've heard in a long time to a psychedelic solo like they played in the 60's.

It was really hard to hear the lyrics.... suggestion: bump them up a few db or provide printed copy.

Did you play all the parts? It would be interesting to hear what parts you played or how you created them.

The overall mix was kinda dark.

welcome to this forum and have fun with BiaB....

Hello Eric,
Welcome to the forum!
Your first post made some waves ☺
I liked the funky mantra like style of your song.
Makes me look forward to your Biab songs to follow...
Greetings
Fred

I promise to get to everyone's great comments as soon as is possible for such a lazy man. In the meanwhile, the missing lyrics:

Favorite Resin

Cannabis (has) been a friend for a long long time
fragrance so sweet! Not a sin... who said a crime?
Some outlaw herb, we say "holy smoke"!
Populate prisons; "Land Of Freedom"? ...please, you joke!

Favorite resin
Find me today.
Blessed incense,
rising through space.

Favorite resin
Find me today.
Blessed incense,
rise into space.

Not only good for your medication,
not only good for your meditation.
So many uses, some lighthearted
some serious.
Them that demonize have motives unmysterious.

So many are suffering sickness and disease;
Maryjane stretch forth with healing buds and leaves.
She answers prayer in a form we can receive!
The herbal answer: breathe in deep, release (/relief).

Well, there is plenty to laugh about in this thread. But about the song-I like the write and the vocal. Love the bass line, but I thought it should have been centered rather than moving back and forth. The lead is a killer sounding sitar 60's style George Harrison thing and captured the essence of the whole song. I like your tag line about the hurting feet. Good stuff, stick around. You are very welcome here. Tom

Very cool music!! Love the groove and the instrument selection. Really well put together. Much enjoyed!! Take care. Greg

Thanks, Herb! I'm stoked you think this ditty's cool.

To some of your points:
60-ish Psychedelic Solo
Yeah, and now a few others have commented similarly on the psychedelic solo. The consensus so far seems to be that it captures the overall mood/theme. I'm very pleased with it and am glad others agree. I am seldom very pleased with anything I create, but there are the occasional exceptions.

Mix too dark: I agree. See below where I had mentioned "mud removal".

Vocal track hard to hear: I'm not sure about that one; I'll be considering it, though, thank you. Where I'm at now is that I like where the vocals sit in the mix and I think the issue is probably more that since the vocals are sung very quickly (as needed to fit the time) my enunciation gets a bit "approximated" in the crunch, if you know what I mean.

Info about the making of the tracks: (in the initial post I had written what follows this comment; I'm not sure if you caught this stuff yet, but it seems you may not have so I've taken the liberty of reposting it here.)

All performances are by yours truly, but for the drum track which was taken from my Yamaha DD55 drum machine.

Vocals were recorded with the much maligned AKG c3000 condensor mic

the Fender Jazz Bass was sent Direct In (DI=no amp) through a Korg AX1G using a factory stereo phase-shifter/amp sim effect.

The super simple keyboard coloration was through a Yamaha DGX portable Grand. (addendum:) also DI.

The lead solo passage and additional coloration was provided by a Korean-made Fender Squire II Strat, sent direct in using a factory pitch shift/amp sim effect.

recorded with Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP and Reaper. I think it could use a little "mud remover" EQ, but I'm not about to change the Soundcloud file just to upgrade it to that extent, I'll wait until there a more finished version. As I finish it I'll probably change the arrangement to have only one chorus after the first verse and then two after the lead passage, and then come in again at the end but with a modulation (key change).

Thanks for the well wishes and encouragment, much appreciated! -Eric

Hi, Fred!

How right you are, I made some waves! Also, some Mp3s!



That's an astute comment! The creative process is a wonderful thing, full of happy accidents. That "mildy chanty" back and forth between the E and the A note in the melody of the chorus was one such. When I was first fiddling around with the song, I just couldn't think of how to sing it, so I tried that "out of the blue" and stuck with it even though it didn't gel immediately, and I'm glad I did. I agree with you that it works in this song.

Thanks for your kind words of welcome, I appreciate them! -Eric

Thanks, Tommy. I do love me some laughs!
Fairly recently my vocal ability was the pits. Then I realized I had been laboring under a delusion that is not all that uncommon, I've come to understand: that singing gets better just by practicing singing, and not even that much of that. Once I realized how silly such a notion is, and that warm-ups and solid training techniques are definitely needed, I was able to move out of the pits. This song was something of a fluke. I had not been practicing, and if history is any guide, the performance should have been the aforementioned pits. For some reason, the initial couple of takes that I was intending just be a trial and placeholder turned out not that bad, and so I moved on and got this far so I guess I'm keeping 'em.

People do seem to like the bass part, but I hear you about there being perhaps an excess of stereo panning; this is from the stereo phaser effect aforementioned. The sucky part is, I can't fiddle with the effect because it isn't being applied to a raw signal in a DAW, it was recorded going in. IOW I would have to play the bass line all over again. BUT, I have a possible workaround, to play with getting a more centered sound out of the existing recorded tracks. Maybe you know if this could work as I think it might: (I'm not sure about all the proper terminology but) what if I somehow made a ping-to-pong mirror image of the track, and added it. Such that, when there is now panning left, there would be a symmetrical panning right, and vice versa. For every ping, a pong, so to speak. There would still be panning movement in a stereo field, but the overall effect should be centralizing to the ear, is my theory.

Thanks for saying this, it makes my day. I have thought so too and it's really good to get that strong of a validation.

The tag line came to me the other day. I took my 11 yo daughter to a coffee shop, and we were sitting there so I started looking around on the walls. There was a framed picture of that old saying, and it just came to me to quip to her what is now my tagline. She looked at me calmly and not even a faint glimmer of a smile and said "I get it".

Thanks for your warm welcome, Tommy...'preciate it, man!

Nice song and nice arrangement and performance. I enjoyed the listen and the resulting banter in the comments as well.

One suggestion regarding your bass stereo work-a-round: The mirror image work-a-round may result in phasing issues and not work well for you.

I suggest you make a mono copy of the track and then mix/blend the mono and stereo tracks with the stereo channel remaining dominant in volume.

At any point, looking forward to you next post.

Charlie

Hi Charlie. Thanks for giving the tune a listen, I appreciate your comments. I think you are right that I would be inviting a phase issue doing as I suggested; I forgot about that phenomenon, thanks! Your suggestion is a good one, surely. 'preciate it!
ciao!