This is a song I put aside several months ago. It's a guitar Jazz instrumental. I've been a fan of Larry Carlton for many years and decided I would try to compose an original in his style. I think I got pretty close. The busy bass line and semi-aggressive drums are significant markers for his style, so I concentrated quite a bit on getting those two elements as close as possible. And on his live performances, he always has an EP to fill the soundstage, so I went with that, too.
If you're not a Jazz fan, this may not be your cup of tea. If you are, hope it rings true to my intentions. I have 7 or 8 hours invested in this one, quite a bit of time for me.
Thanks in advance to all who listen and drop a few words for me.
Alan
Here are the people to blame for this having happened:
File:Driving In The Passing Lane.SGU
Key=D , Tempo 125, Length (m:s)=3:17
Style is _ZOOMIN.STY (Zoomin' Soul Jazz Guitar Soloist)
RealTracks in song: 2260:Bass, Electric, FunkyGroove60s Ev 100 RealTracks in song: 4856:Organ, Rhythm SoulJazzGroovinFunkRHComping Ev 100 RealTracks in style: 4885:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm SoulJazzFastFunk Ev 130 RealTracks in style: 4886:Guitar, Electric, Soloist SoulJazzFastFunkBrent Ev 130 RealDrums in Song: BongosEv8 RealDrums in Song: TambourineSteady8ths RealDrums in style:SoulJazzFastFunkEv16: a: SyncSnare&Kick,HiHat b: SyncSnare&Kick,Ride
About My Mixing For This Song - Some Of It Applies To All My Mixes:
For anyone who might be interested, here's most of my reply to Bob (Robert Dean) regarding the dynamics of my mixing approach. Although it's specific to this particular song, much of it applies to my general approach to most songs.
I particularly appreciate that comment as that's the direction. (He was commenting about the dynamics of this song). I was attempting to take this. As far as dynamics, that took a little extra work, primarily with the bass line and the drum kit.
For a bass line that busy, tone is crucial - otherwise it can quickly get mushy or too thin. I gave the bass a fair amount of attention, mostly using BIAB's five-band EQ. I slightly pulled back on the bottom (everything lower than 60 was brought down about 10%). I then added a little more to the mid-range - not much, just a small amount- mostly between 200 & 250). And voila!
I did two things slightly differently with the drums. I usually give the drums a small amount of reverb (30 -40) to make them meld a little better with the other instrumentation. Sometimes I also give them a small amount of upper-mid EQ to enhance the toms a bit and, to a much lesser degree, give the cymbals a little more body. But in this case, I gave the entire drum kit less reverb (10), and I gave some additional high-end EQ to emphasize the cymbals while also brightening the smaller toms.
Anyway, that was my process. I'm fortunate - and thankful - to receive some nice comments on my mixes. Drums and bass play a large part in my listening preferences. I've read up a lot on mixing drums - instrument placement, too.
This is an excellent piece of music. The drums and lead guitar parts are real standouts! I love the dynamics in this track - a lively and robust mix. It sounds like it was captured "live".
Your time investment in this piece really paid off. Outstanding in every way!
Hi Al, Very good song. As Bob already mentioned, the mix really sounds like a live recording. Really very good. If you could mix in some applause at the end, the illusion would be perfect ;-) Your work has paid off, Al. Great job! Andi ;-)
While BiaB is great for making backing tracks, capturing a particular performer is a whole different thing.
I'm not familiar with enough of George's music to say it works, but I'll take your word for it. It certainly gives that feel of a soloist working his ax while the band works behind him!
As Bob says, it's got the energy of a live performance.
Love that vibe which for us leans more toward a great jazz band doing an excellent job playing some funk. That Brent guy nailed it! Outstanding RT solo work. And that Al guy nailed the arrangement and mix!
Another high, high bar BiaB in toto production and we enjoyed it!
J&B
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Hi Alan! I agree with others - this has a very live sound. All the players work well together and sound like they’ve been doing it for years - like a well-oiled machine. Well done. Andrew
Very fantastic Jazz Guitar tune! I can feel the 4 beats in the 16 beats, which makes this tune very stylish and cool. The guitar solo, bass, drums, and rhythm guitar are all perfectly matched, and the instrument selection is great. It reminds me of your long history as a jazz musician.
Super tune, Alan! That bass really sets the pace, and your "Larry" does a fine job threading a tune through the changes. Quite a clear mix, with a very present ambience. Always admired "Mr 335", and this is a sizzling tribute for sure. Well done!
DC Ron BiaB Audiophile Presonus Studio One ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM Presonus Faderport 16 Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
This is an excellent piece of music. The drums and lead guitar parts are real standouts! I love the dynamics in this track - a lively and robust mix. It sounds like it was captured "live".
Your time investment in this piece really paid off. Outstanding in every way!
Bob
Thank you, Bob. You mentioned, "Lively and robust mix".
I particularly appreciate that comment as that's the direction I was attempting to take this. As far as dynamics, that took a little extra work, primarily with the bass line and the drum kit.
For a bass line that busy, tone is crucial - otherwise it can quickly get mushy or too thin. I gave the bass a fair amount of attention, mostly using BIAB's five-band EQ. I slightly pulled back on the bottom (everything lower than 60 was brought down about 10%). I then added a little more to the mid-range - not much, just a small amount- mostly between 200 & 250). And voila!
I did two things slightly differently with the drums. I usually give the drums a small amount of reverb (30 -40) to make them meld a little better with the other instrumentation. Sometimes I also give them a small amount of upper-mid EQ to enhance the toms a bit and, to a much lesser degree, give the cymbals a little more body. But in this case, I gave the entire drum kit less reverb (10), and I gave some additional high-end EQ to emphasize the cymbals while also brightening the smaller toms.
Anyway, that was my process. I'm fortunate - and thankful - to receive some nice comments on my mixes. Drums and bass play a large part in my listening preferences. I've read up a lot on mixing drums - instrument placement, too.
That's probably a lot more than you wanted to read!
Hi Al, Very good song. As Bob already mentioned, the mix really sounds like a live recording. Really very good. If you could mix in some applause at the end, the illusion would be perfect ;-) Your work has paid off, Al. Great job! Andi ;-)
Hi Andi!
It's great to hear from you again. I'll listen to your new song later today. I'm looking forward to it.
Thank you for your very nice words about this song. I'm glad you liked it. Take care. I'll be over this afternoon for your song.
Definitely a jazzy good feel driving instrumental! It's a really nice mix and production. I enjoyed the ride!
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Alan, you did a fantastic job of capturing the Larry Carlton vibe. Great work on that bass and drums. Along with the guitar it does sound like a Carlton song; I like him also! As mentioned this does sound like it was recorded live. Add some bar noise (talking and drinking glass sounds) and you would have fooled a lot of people. Outstanding use of RTs and RDs. Great mix. Loved it.
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While BiaB is great for making backing tracks, capturing a particular performer is a whole different thing.
I'm not familiar with enough of George's music to say it works, but I'll take your word for it. It certainly gives that feel of a soloist working his ax while the band works behind him!
As Bob says, it's got the energy of a live performance.
Nicely done!
Thanks so much, David. Larry Carlton is most known for his great song "Room 335". Interestingly, he was playing an ES-335 when recording it and does so on most of his live gigs. I was very pleased with how this one came out.
If you're interested, here's a link to one of his live performances doing Room 335: It's one of his more juiced live performances!
Thanks for the visit and always supporting my music.
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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