Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
#474749 05/26/18 07:50 PM
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 43
Leeky Offline OP
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 43
Greetings everyone,

This piece is my foray into more rock-oriented music.

I have been using Power Tracks Pro almost since its inception and for this piece, I used the latest version (2018) exclusively. The instruments were generated by Garritan and IK Multimedia vst sound banks. The vocalist is not me because, quite frankly, I want people to like the piece. laugh

The work is called "May I" and I wrote the words, played all the tracks, and produced the entire song. I hope you like it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApTxbvm34M0

Leeky #474750 05/26/18 08:48 PM
User Showcase
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18,867
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18,867
Hi Lorne,

Welcome to the forum (I'm guessing this is your first post because I don't recall seeing your name before).

We don't see all that many PowerTracks Pro users on here. You're the second or third.

Firstly, that 2-bar rhythmic vamp at the start pulled me into the song nicely. That it keeps on returning throughout makes it a clever instrumental hook. It's got a Latin feel but it's a little different too... very memorable

Kudos on all the work you've put in to get this to the forum. Maggie's vocals are excellent and your writing and performing are a credit to you.

You said that you want people to like the piece. Well you're safe with me. I loved it!

All the best,
Noel


MY SONGS...
Audiophile BIAB 2024
Leeky #474777 05/27/18 03:42 AM
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,520
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,520
Welcome! Really enjoyed this, especially how you took the rock groove up a notch with some unexpected chord changes...also liked the subtle but effective added textures (like the background piano) when you ran thru the sequence the second time...lyrics are nice and tight to the core idea, with interesting variations that repeat the main idea...overall production top grade...looking to hear more, but include your lyric in the post, and any notes about how you constructed your track.

Leeky #474791 05/27/18 05:26 AM
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 11,675
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 11,675
Lorne,

An well done piece. Well played, well sung, well mixed. A good arrangement.

Enjoyed that.

fj

Leeky #474850 05/27/18 01:02 PM
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,495
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,495

I did like it. Very good song, an excellent arrangement, some strong playing and a nice vocal.
Good work all round.

Peter

Leeky #474862 05/27/18 02:23 PM
User Showcase
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,613
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,613
Really enjoyed this. The beggining reminded me of West Side Story. Love the riff and bridge. This would be great ti jam to. Great tune thanks for listing.Rob

Leeky #474877 05/27/18 04:49 PM
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 7,558
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 7,558
Cool intro. Super vocal and lyric. Well done..


Scott Collingwood
https://soundcloud.com/scottt709
https://soundcloud.com/spiritlevel-ca
https://www.youtube.com/@SpiritLevel-ge3hm/
Leeky #474880 05/27/18 05:01 PM
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 43
Leeky Offline OP
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 43
Thank you everyone for your kind words. Very encouraging and much appreciated!

Lorne

Leeky #474912 05/28/18 03:06 AM
User Showcase
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,414
PG Music Staff
Offline
PG Music Staff
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,414
Nice work on this one, Lorne smile I love the upbeat nature of this, and how the piano is the vocal point. It reminds me of Elton John at parts. The harmonies on the chorus are superb. If it wasn't you who sang this, tell whoever it was that they nailed it! The guitar solo was a fantastic touch as well.

Really well done - thanks for sharing!


Cheers,
Deryk
Leeky #474943 05/28/18 05:34 AM
User Showcase
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,426
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,426
I love the very original chord changes I can hear in this, they precisely fits the song's sentiment and lyrics. Top marks for the vocals and guitar break; again just right for the piece.

John


Songs web site
YouTube Channel
BIAB 2019
Cakewalk by BandLab
Studio One 4
Leeky #475032 05/28/18 12:35 PM
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,945
PG Music Staff
Offline
PG Music Staff
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,945
It was really cool to hear a song made entirely in Power Tracks. It had a really nice "bop" to it, and I think you nailed the rock vibe really well. The vocals were perfect for the style. Thanks for sharing!


Cheers,
Ember
Leeky #475073 05/28/18 03:10 PM
User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,635
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,635
Cool! It's got a sort of Wade in the Water feel to it, without sounding derivative.

Interesting arrangement, well played and sung. Lots of interesting things to hear, and excellent use of dynamics, bringing instruments in and out.

Fun listen.


-- David Cuny
My virtual singer development blog

Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?
Leeky #475263 05/29/18 07:34 PM
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 43
Leeky Offline OP
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 43
Greetings all.

Again, thank you for your kind words and encouragement. As you all know, it's not always easy posting your work for everyone to hear.

Because folks have asked, here are just a few notes on how I created the track:

- I first hear the tune in my head and I sketch the idea into a rough piano track.
- I settle on chord structure and melody and then I begin to populate the individual parts, usually starting with a good piano line, bass and percussion to give me a "click track."
- I quantize sparingly.
- I add additional acoustic instruments (if applicable).
- After the piece is done, I mull it around for a while till a lyric theme develops and I stitch it together with my melody.
- I processed it using PG Music effects including: flanger, compression, reverb, and EQ.

Here are the lyrics:

Mama may I go down to the water, see the people wash their sins away?
Mama may I enter in the water, cleanse my soul and live for another day.
Make haste, and don't be late! Keep the fires from burning.
Hold fast, and don't look back! Keep your mind from yearning. Oh, oh, oh.
Mama may I sit next to the water, forget about the past and the pouring rain,
And live my life again?

Father may I look towards the heavens, watch the wonders fold up in the sky?
Father may I glance below the oceans, feel its mighty power that's in your design.
Make haste, and don't be late! Keep the flames from burning.
Hold fast, and don't look back! Keep your mind from yearning. Oh, oh, oh.
Father may I hold on to the future, forget about the past and the pouring rain,
And live my life again?

May I open my heart to my brother, be a friend and not a distant soul.
May I help with truth and understanding, let that be my constant eternal goal.
While I live my life again.

Copyright 2018 by Coffee Notes Music
www.coffeenotesmusic.com

Leeky #475266 05/29/18 07:45 PM
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 18,353
Veteran
Online Content
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 18,353
Pretty cool throughout, the video is really well done, and Maggie's vocals are superb including the layering.

This is really, really musical. I definitely enjoyed it.

I also like the way you've used the intro as a hook. Really nice.


BIAB & RB2024 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
Leeky #475302 05/30/18 04:41 AM
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 783
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 783
Excellent song, lyrics and instruments so well placed, love the vocal on this!!! Great message!!!

Cliff

Leeky #475349 05/30/18 09:11 AM
User Showcase
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,664
PG Music Staff
Offline
PG Music Staff
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,664
Hi Leaky, welcome to the forums and thank you for sharing! Very lovely guitar strums and excellent song arrangement too. Well done!


Cheers,
Joe
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!

Add updated printing options, enhanced tracks settings, smoother use of MGU and SGU (BB files) within PowerTracks, and more with the latest PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 update!

Learn more about this free update for PowerTracks Pro Audio & download it at www.pgmusic.com/support_windows_pt.htm#2024_5

The Newest RealBand 2024 Update is Here!

The newest RealBand 2024 Build 5 update is now available!

Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.

This free update is available to all RealBand 2024 users. To learn more about this update and download it, head to www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#20245

The Band-in-a-Box® Flash Drive Backup Option

Today (April 5) is National Flash Drive Day!

Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!

For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.

Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.

Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!

Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.

Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.

Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!

Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!

With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!

Learn more about this free update for Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1111

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 Review: 4.75 out of 5 Stars!

If you're looking for a in-depth review of the newest Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows version, you'll definitely find it with Sound-Guy's latest review, Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows Review: Incredible new capabilities to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs.

A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."

"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."

"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."

Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!

The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!

There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.

If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.

We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!

Congratulations to the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

We've just announced the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

There are 45 winners, each receiving a Band-in-a-Box 2024 UltraPAK! Read the official announcement to see if you've won.

Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed!

Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics81,589
Posts734,762
Members38,501
Most Online2,537
Jan 19th, 2020
Newest Members
Krystal Mcclain, Tusar Sarkar, RTW, wtsy365, DerFlex
38,500 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 191
DC Ron 110
dcuny 76
WaoBand 75
Today's Birthdays
Vrat Houdek
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5