Background
A couple weeks ago I happened to open up BiaB just to noodle around and I noticed that a song file was auto-saved. (I must have experienced an OS update or a power failure days earlier). So I opened the file and discovered I had completely forgotten about a song I started which only contained the chorus. So I picked up where I left off intending to finish it in Studio One. This occurred on Saturday night, hence the song title.

Special thanks to Deb who explained how to “pause” the band in Studio One which led to me figuring out how to do this in BiaB. And thanks to Dan who put a fine point on it by explaining it’s called “stop-time”.

https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=102408&Number=776237#Post776237

It turned out that finishing it in Studio One was too difficult, so BiaB came to the rescue

Technicals
100 BPM, Key Em

BiaB:
2617:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Funk16thsWahWah Ev16 100
2618:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Funk16thsMutedWahWah Ev16 100
2616:Guitar, Electric, Background FunkSingleNoteWah Ev16 100
1408:Piano, SynthLayer, Rhythm Soul70sHeld Ev16 100
1949:Piano, Acoustic, Soloist PopRootsyJohn Ev16 100
1080:Piano, Electric, Soloist SmoothJazzCool delay Sw16 100
587:Sax, Tenor, 2-Beat Rock Ev 110
RealDrums in style:FunkHalfNotePulse: a: Snare, Kick b: Busy Kick, Snare

Me:
Bells & Trumpet: Korg Keyboard
Bass Guitar: My Fender Jazz Bass

Saturday Night Funk Down

Thanks for listening if you do and comments always welcome; I learn much from those that comment.

Hi Bass Thumper,

I listened to your funky song that was developed in such a strange way, as you described.
Funny story by the way.
The song has very nice elements, but also some that are a bit monotonous, starting half way.
The sax and trumpet were very nice and did their best to lift the song, but I fear it wasn't enough.
I was thinking of what could have caused that feeling I had.
Of course the absence of singing mattered a lot, but also your bass guitar (now it's getting tricky for me, I fear).
I think you need to play a more interesting bass line then what you did.
And last but not least, I think some drum fills can also help.

Altogether, not a bad song at all, but it could do with some improvements to make it more interesting/dynamic.

Hans

Nice one.
I thought the electric piano lead parts were a little lost...it'd be worth experimenting with running that as mono, dropping a high pass over it, (sometimes the piano bass & your bass compete for space), and centring it so it's not competing.
Your bass part is fine but could probably use a little EQ tweaking to get a "funkier" tone.

Pleasant bed, but like Hans I started thinking "It's not over yet?" about halfway through.

The parts all work, but to keep my squirrel-sized brain engaged in an instrumental longer than two minutes, it needs to have a bit more direction.

But add a vocal and a funky bass to it, and I'll be with you all the way!

Steve, isn't it funny how some songs arrive via strange and weird processes? Been there - had things like that happen to me!

I didn't find anything really wrong with on this one. Maybe a little more repetitious sax part, but that is only my opinion. You don't need a vocal to have a great song.

Good mix.

I liked it.

PS - I forgot to add that this sounds like an after hour jam session.

Pleasant laid back funky instrumental.

Peter

Thanks for the listen and feedback Hans. Some of this is personal taste and preference. By today's microwave time standards, I like a long song, 4 to 5 minutes and even longer. Without time, subtle differences in the phrases (in this case the sax) can't be heard. I know people disagree, that's fine.

That said, my bass lines can definately be improved. I took up music late in life and am not a pro bass player by any stretch, but I'm having fun and learning all the time.

Hi Bass Thumper



I am glad you looked this way on my remarks. Of course I don't want to be negative, always looking on how you/I can improve things.
I've learned by trial and error and had hoped people gave me ideas how to improve things. Some did, some don't.
I try to, but know how sensitive it can be. Especially because i'm from a country known by their blunt people, although we think we are only straight ;-)

Have a nice day,
Hans

Let me just say that I'm already an aerospace and medical device engineer, but if I follow your advice I think I'll end up as a mixing engineer as well!

I already updated my bass EQ procedure per the "Tradecraft" thread where you suggested I compress before EQing; and I'm detecting a slight improvement because of that suggestion.

Now you are enlightening me on EQing the tracks exported from BiaB; this would never have crossed my mind; I've always just used them "raw"; perhaps assuming they are already EQed. I'll put this "high pass instruments like e-piano" idea in my tool box for sure. This does make sense to prevent the low end from competing with my bass. And yes, I'm also trying to separate the solo instruments in the stereo field via panning.

Needless to say, I've got my plate plenty full with just composing, playing and arranging; mixing is a whole 'nother world. So thanks for your inputs.

We enjoy funk and hear a lot of it on Daryl’s House.
You have captured the vibe and it would be nice backing for a good funk singer and some hot solo guys/gals! Your experimentation in different genres is hopefully a lot of fun. We certainly enjoy branching out and learn from each effort. So good bass work on the funk vibe and we enjoyed it. A few mix thoughts follow.



Yes, mixing is another whole world but it’s a means of well presenting one’s musical efforts to others (short of gigging). If you export tracks for your DAW you have an option to render them dry, i.e., no fx or panning or eq. You can also remove it with the BiaB mixer. All fx, including eq and reverb are typically added and tweaked to allow the track to “work” within the context of your mix. Any track that has had fx applied before you add yours can be problematic.

Our productions are very sparse track wise but we spend a lot of time getting them to cooperate with one another. I like to render Bass RT's DI and then try out different amps and fx per the mix. Same with guitar RT's. Balancing the kick drum, bass and the lower end of a piano range drives me nuts sometimes. Likely because I really don’t like any mud in a mix. Finally and as you know Ray is the man on bass fx so I’ll shut up.

J&B

So sorry it didn't keep your brain engaged David. Not really sure what you mean by "it needs to have a bit more direction". There's an intro, chorus, verse, key change and outro.

As for adding a funky bass, that may take much more study. I've been playing bass now for not yet 8 years; writing songs for less than half of that; still a youngster, I know. But I appreciate your comments.

Many thanks for the listen and kind comments.
I agree, for some the sax may be a bit repetitive.

Thank you Peter. I appreciate your listen.

BT,

A nice musical bed.
Mix sounds good to me.
Your bass sits in the mix nicely.

fj

Very pleasant funk tune with a laidback rhythm. Many instruments are lifted up on their turn nicely, definitely not boring - more like cruising on a Saturday night, not a clear direction where to go but the scenes are beautiful and calming, I surely enjoyed the drive The sax and the piano are like smooth breeze.

Janne

Hey Floyd, many thanks for the listen and feedback.
The mix sounds good to me too, but I'm on so many learning curves my head is spinning

Thanks for the listen and feedback Janne.

There's nothing like finding a forgotten song.

That opening reminded me of watching a 70s cop flick.

Band sounds good, although my shot ears thought the piano could be brought down a hair.

You got that "stop" down pat.

I like the song. It's groovin'!

Hey Storm, many thanks for your comments.

Yep, I do think I learned how to do stop-time, in no small part from helpful folks here.

Bass Thumper, I think your track has great potential. While I agree with some of the comments I think you're absolutely right that a lot of it comes down to taste and preference. An example is that Ezekiel's Storm wrote that the piano could have come down a hair, but I feel the opposite. I'd like to have seen more gain, particularly on the sax solo as solos should stand out. Even in a laid-back track like yours more gain adds feeling. I've so far only posted 4 or my instrumentals but in all of them everything stands out, even in my more 'laid-back' compositions like the recently posted "Loving You". Like you, I also like longer tracks, vocal or instrumental, but that's definitely preference. My priorities are composition, arrangement and getting the mixes right.

Steve,

Sounds funky to me! Love the pacing and the mix. Very nice work.

Bob

Thanks for the feedback WaoBand.
The funny thing I find about music is that although there is a lot of personal taste involved, for the vast, vast majority of us there are "boundaries" and "rules". And if we cross those boundaries few, if any of the us (including the general public) will like it. I may not understand all the rules but there are reasons why Mozart and others from long ago are still popular today. It's neat that us humans have that common "glue".

Many thanks Bob.

Cool, Steve. Fun groove and you develpped well. I don't hear the piano left hand and your playing conflicting as Ray mentioned, but his ears are a hundred times better than mine. I really like what you added with Krog, too. Cool solos, and, man, your bass sounds really really good. Excellent timing and tone. Much enjoyed.

{Our son and I are going to see the Wooten Brothers on the 12th.}

Many thanks for the listen and feedback Marty.
And thanks to folks here, I'm slowly making progress on my bass tone . . . so much to learn, so little time.

BT,
Good effort, a lot of detail that came together well painting a single picture. Nice bass playing. Clear mix.
Thank you for sharing.
Misha.

P.S. I assume you explored Shots, Rests, Holds and Pushes in BIAB?

Hi Misha,
Thanks for the listen and feedback.
I did explore Rests in BiaB thanks to the help from Deb and Dan. And I think my rests in this song worked out pretty well.
I haven't looked at Shots, Holds or Pushes yet because the need hasn't yet risen. But if you use any of these devices in future songs you share, do point them out when you post so folks like me can better learn what they are and how to use them.

Cool funky, jazzy tune!! The sound brings me back to the good old days!! Great bass track.....you were one with the boys in the box!!! Take care. Greg

Hey Greg, thanks so much for the listen.
HaHa, "boys in the box"; I never heard that phrase, very clever.
Truth be told, it's often difficult for me to keep up and blend with those boys, but it's sure fun trying

Aw yeah! That's what I'm talking about.

This is one groovy song.

I dig it soul brother!!

Just one question.
Has anyone ever told you you're a HOOT? . . . . I'm guessing yes

Thanks for the listen. Feedback from seasoned muscians like yourself means a lot.

PS> Every time I see your name I remember your Circle of 5ths song, I wish I was half as creative.

Cool tune BT. Love using the wah. Took me back to the late 70's. Really well done..

Hi Bass Thumping man
Here's some feedback for you.

Technical feedback:

• Nice mix, a bit busy at times but still good.

Artistic feedback:

• Expected you to slap the bass, but even without slapping the bass part is what I like most.
• I love the saxophone, but not the trumpet. It sounds a little dull.
• Needs a singer

Many thanks Scott.
I too love that wah guitar, nothin' like it.

Many thanks for the technical feedback.
If I could slap I would but that's not yet part of my skills matrix . . . hopefully someday.
Yep, now that you mention it the trumpet is a bit dull. If I ever do a remix I'll play an octave higher or choose something brighter in tone.
Singing is in the same category as slapping for me; care to write some lyrics and sing on this ?