Hi everybody,

this was my second attempt to work with BIAB / RB in early 2016 and also my second attempt to put a corresponding video together, so please have mercy - it’s still more a slide show than a video..

At that time I again and again asked the RB forum for help, and very often my questions turned out to be pretty daffy once I read the answers... But everybody was very kind and supportive, and I’m still very grateful for that.

Unlike the song title might suggest at first sight, it’s a love song I had written back in 2003 for my honeybunch Maha, but I could never find an appropriate arrangement for it then, and my then band (the last one I’ve ever played in) split up at that time anyway. So the song kind of moldered in some drawer until I remembered it when I started to experiment with RealTracks.

Since I am a ‘mixing idiot’ and Maha had some live mixing experience I asked her to give mixing in RB a chance and although she mostly gives PCs a wide berth she gave it a try, and in my mind she did really, really wel right from the start.

The following link will take you to the respective page of my website where you’ll find the MP3, the video. the lyrics and some info:

(You can) Break My Neck

And these are the BIAB and RB details:

Style is _JZFNKAS.STY (Jazz Funk Groovin' w/ Alto Solo) - by the way a very nice and versatile style

RealTracks in style: ~1433:Bass, Electric, JazzFunkGroovin Ev16 110
RealTracks in style: ~1437:Piano, Electric, Rhythm JazzFunkGroovin Ev16 110
RealTracks in style: ~1435:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm JazzFunkGroovinChords Ev16 110
RealTracks in style: ~1441:Sax, Alto, Soloist JazzFunkGroovin Ev16 110

The original RealDrum had been ‘JazzFunkGroovin’ but I thought that a little more spice wouldn’t do any harm, so I replaced it with

RealDrums in Song: HipHop: a: HipHopb: HipHop

After importing the song into RB I added the sax solo for which I used the 1441 RT mentioned above - it’s a really great one, so it took just a few attempts until I had the solo I though would fit the song best.

Then I had to do some minor ‘cutting & pasting’ to get the syncopes into position, but I can’t remember that I changed anything beyond that.

As to the horns arrangement: MIDI tracks like always written in the RB piano roll window and brought to life with Big Fish’s ‘Vintage Horns’ via Kontakt 5.

I would be glad if you enjoyed the thing a bit - thanks for listening.

Stefan

Really nice work on this Stefan I must say - I read the lyrics beforehand, and was really surprised by how upbeat and dancy of a tune this is given the subject matter. Never the less, the groove here is infectious and super catchy. Got my toe tapping instantly. I can imagine this filling a dancefloor in 10 seconds flat.

You should be proud of this one - thanks for sharing!

Hello Crossroads, great work on this! The arrangement is a pleasure to listen to and very soothing to hear. The guitar sure howls! Really enjoyed the movement of the saxophone with the rest of the instruments. Keep it up!

Song-wise, my favorite of yours I've heard so far. So soulful delivery of splendid lines. The backing was powerful in it's own right, progression and instrumentation. Loved it.

Very cool backtrack. Super vocal and lyric. Well done

Cool. Your horn arrangement is perfect for the song.
there's a little sound that has leaked into the break after the false ending. Might be worth cleaning that up to get the full impact.
I enjoyed the vid - less attention spent on it by me instead of listening which is what happened with the last one.

It's a really great song. Just my style of music!

I love the horn arrangement and the sound of them... I got to check out the Vintage Horns.

Enjoyed it a lot!
Will

Another fantastic work! And the video done in a different style than the last song I heard from you, Bravo for creativeness.

Power on!!!

Thanks a lot, Deryk, I'm really glad you liked it ! Hope your toes have come to rest meanwhile...

Hi Joe, thank you very much for your positive comment - I really appreciate it.

Cheers from Frankfurt

Stfean

That's very kind of you, Tamgo, thanks a lot.

Stefan

Thanks a lot, Scott. I really appreciate your positive feedback.

Stefan

Hi Will,

I'm really glad to read that this song met your favorite style of music - although latelely the songs I write come out in very different styles (mostly unintentionally, but BB offers so many possibilities...) this goes for me, too.

As to the horn samples: The Vintage Horns cost about twice as much as the Session Horns by Native Instruments which I used in my latest projecrs. Both are good. Not so long ago NI released Sessiion Horns PRO which sound great, but they cost quite a lot more...

Thankd again for listening and your positive words !

Cheers,

Stefan

Thanks, gruverider, your words really mean a lot to me.

Cheers,

Stefan

Had to check out a song with that title! And glad I did!! Really well done all the way around.....write, vocal, mix. Enjoyed!! Take care. Greg

Very nice song, great sound and vocal.
Sergio

Hi Greg, I'm glad, too

Mille grazie, Sergio.

Stefan

Superb work on this. Loved that horn arrangement - clever lyric and a nice video.

Really strong work.

Peter

Wow Crossroads, this is pro all the way!! Everything about this production is smokin’!! Video is excellent but the music is over the top good!! Thanks, Torrey

Thanks a lot Peter, that really means quite a lot to me !

Hi Torrey,

I am really flattered by your kind review - thanks a lot.

Take care

Stefan

Hi, Stefan !


Hope nobody will break
your neck for this and why
should he ? This is absolutely
wonderful and the arrangement
of those horns is just heavenly
- all pro allthrough !:))

Cheers
Dani

There's a LOT to like here as in the clever write, the arrangement (love the horns) and the video. Our videos over the years have remained at the still image with effects level. I think that can often work as it does here.

Thanks for the backstory and info on how you put it all together.

We enjoyed it.

Nice!!

J&B