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A Hollow SoulI posted this on Soundcloud almost three years ago but never brought it over to the forum - until now. Hope you like it a bit. Thanks to those who listen and comment. The acoustic bass is a wee bit loud in the mix, but when I dialed it back even a little, or dropped the lower EQ back a touch, the song seemed to lose some of its depth/fullness, to my ears, at least. If you have an opinion about that, let me know. Alan File:A Hollow Soul.SGU Key=Ebm, Tempo 65, Length (m:s)=3:11 Style is _SCANT.STY (Scant Dreamy Americana) RealTracks in style: 2877:Bass, Acoustic, AmericanaSlow16thsByron Ev16 060 RealTracks in style: 3101:Piano, ElectricVintage, Rhythm AmericanaSlow16thsMike Ev16 060 RealTracks in style: 2878:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm AmericanaSlow16thsBrent Ev16 060 RealTracks in style: 3073:Guitar, Resonator, Background AmericanaSlow16thEddy Ev16 060 RealDrums in Song: PraiseWorshipSlow16ths^1-H24,SRC RealDrums in Song:BodhranCelticSlowReelEv16^1-a,b:Brushes a
Last edited by Al-David; 01/14/24 11:18 PM.
BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops
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Alan,
This is exquisite and beautiful... Every track works so well together. You really know how to bring out the emotion in an instrumental.
Loved it.
Bob
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Alan, simply gorgeous. You're great at conducting these BiaB elements like a real band and making cohesive, thoughtful music. Loved the chord progression, too. The bass sounded about right in the mix to me, and I didn't detect a lack of depth at all. It all sounds GREAT!
DC Ron
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Alan,
This is exquisite and beautiful... Every track works so well together. You really know how to bring out the emotion in an instrumental.
Loved it.
Bob Hi Bob, That's so kind of you to say. Perhaps I'm able to bring out that emotion, as you said,; but the source material has to be able to contain it in order to bring it out. I credit BIAB and the PG Music staff for providing that opportunity. Again, I appreciate your very kind words. Alan
BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops
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Alan, simply gorgeous. You're great at conducting these BiaB elements like a real band and making cohesive, thoughtful music. Loved the chord progression, too. The bass sounded about right in the mix to me, and I didn't detect a lack of depth at all. It all sounds GREAT! HI Ron, Your comments always put a smile on my face. I like experimenting with atypical chord progressions - I do that a lot. It's somewhat of a challenge at times, but usually, I can find something that works reasonably good. I'm somewhat of an experimenter with styles, track combinations, and nuances. Often the mish-mash I end up with is a bit frightening to the ears, but I keep it anyway, as there might be some elements that would work nicely with something else. I rarely delete anything. Thanks for the input on the bass. I do tend to bring the bass and drums a little more forward in the mix than most other creators do. It just sounds better to my old ears. Again, thank you very much! Alan
BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops
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EXCELLENT Alan, nothing to nit or pick about. Excellent.
Cheers
rayc
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EXCELLENT Alan, nothing to nit or pick about. Excellent. Thank you, Ray! That's quite a compliment from you. Best to you, Alan
BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops
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Al, you are outstanding with all BiaB productions. It sounds like these session folks have been working together for years. The mix sets up an engaging soundstage on our monitors. Airy and open ... our fav! Well done, J&B PS: Do you use Waves Bass Rider? We use it on a lot of electric bass tracks and always on acoustic tracks ... including mine. All it does is allow you to bring the notes to a more constant volume level to the degree you select. It does not color the sound and it is not a compressor meaning it will not kill the track's dynamics. It simply does what engineers did in the old days, i.e., riding a fader during mixing. I did a lot of that way back during my tape mixing years. 
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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Nice acoustic blues.
I feel you on the upright or double bass. It's a hard instrument to get sounding good and mix properly. It can be exceptionally boomy or woofy.
On my last song here in the forum, I used this instrument. Trying to get it to set in the mix properly without loosing its oomph or being too woofy can be a difficult task. What I did was to high shelve it. I think I did a pretty steep cutoff of everything below 100hz and very little else to the overall EQ. I'd have to go back and look at the curve but that tends to be my starting point for just about every bass instrument. I don't want it competing for sonic space with the kick. In this case, there was no kick but the low end woof was the issue.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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I saw that Bob called this "exquisite". That was the exact word I would have used.
Your instrumentals are SO good. So listenable... and easy to "follow". They sounds like Songs, not just "noodling".
Your Acoustic Bass sounds really good. Not too loud. Just right. Easy to hear. No straining. No excuses.
The mix is gorgeous. Delicate.
You have the touch.
fj
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Personally I like the bass, but I'd guess it's a bit much for some sound systems. Got some Eric Clapton vibes from the track!
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Alan, how can something immaterial be hollow?
Nice relaxing song, and I always love bodhrans in a song.
Well done.
The bass could have a bit more high-pass, it is a bit boomy in some places.
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Alan, what a fantastic song.
Excellent choice of instruments.
You made those RTs talk!
Great mix.
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Real cool tune Alan!
I enjoyed it!
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Sounds pretty much perfect to me, Alan, a well constructed, arranged, and mixed instrumental as per usual!
Enjoyed!
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Alan, super arrangement. I drifted to it in my thoughts, only to realize it was over. Had to go back and re-listen Very pleasant tune all around. Mix is great, I wouldn't change anything. Thank you for sharing. Misha.
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This is a great sound Alan. I thought the bass was just right. I wouldn't have thought of putting a resonator up front with this background, but man you did, and you did perfectly. You're a master.
Brad
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Al, you are outstanding with all BiaB productions. It sounds like these session folks have been working together for years. The mix sets up an engaging soundstage on our monitors. Airy and open ... our fav! Well done, J&B PS: Do you use Waves Bass Rider? We use it on a lot of electric bass tracks and always on acoustic tracks ... including mine. All it does is allow you to bring the notes to a more constant volume level to the degree you select. It does not color the sound and it is not a compressor meaning it will not kill the track's dynamics. It simply does what engineers did in the old days, i.e., riding a fader during mixing. I did a lot of that way back during my tape mixing years. Hi Folks, Thank you so much. I truly appreciate such kindness to my music. And, no, I do not use Waves Bass Rider - actually, never heard of it. If it requires a DAW, I'm probably out of luck. I use Audacity for all my mixing and "touch-ups." I have Cakewalk and Presonus Studio One/24C but have no idea how to use either of them. Thanks for the info. If no DAW is necessary, I'll check it out. Thanks again, Alan
BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops
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Nice acoustic blues.
I feel you on the upright or double bass. It's a hard instrument to get sounding good and mix properly. It can be exceptionally boomy or woofy.
On my last song here in the forum, I used this instrument. Trying to get it to set in the mix properly without loosing its oomph or being too woofy can be a difficult task. What I did was to high shelve it. I think I did a pretty steep cutoff of everything below 100hz and very little else to the overall EQ. I'd have to go back and look at the curve but that tends to be my starting point for just about every bass instrument. I don't want it competing for sonic space with the kick. In this case, there was no kick but the low end woof was the issue. Hi Herb, Glad you liked it. I set the low end on the acoustic bass at 80 - probably should have set it to 100 - 110, as you mentioned above with your recording. I added a small of EQ in the 130 range and that helped somewhat. Thanks for all the info! Alan
BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops
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I saw that Bob called this "exquisite". That was the exact word I would have used.
Your instrumentals are SO good. So listenable... and easy to "follow". They sounds like Songs, not just "noodling".
Your Acoustic Bass sounds really good. Not too loud. Just right. Easy to hear. No straining. No excuses.
The mix is gorgeous. Delicate.
You have the touch.
fj BI Floyd, Well, I'm not really sure how to reply to such kind words. I truly appreciate all you said. I'm definitely flattered. I didn't start out with this pre-determined concept, but as I worked on it, it slightly reminded me of parts of the BG tracks on "Whiskey Lullaby." I let that be my guide, to a certain extent - as far as the nuances of the lead track are concerned. Again, thank you very much. Alan
BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops
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