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Hi, floyd jane. A nice write. So hopeful. Really like the melody.
A sweet, "gentle" production. Very supportive of the lyric and its message. Thanks! I think it's a bit too gentle - people heard the melody, but didn't seem to notice the lyrics.  Your singers do a good job - all of them.
Well mixed. Thanks, I appreciate that. I enjoyed the listen. Something about it made me "feel good" by the end... It was probably all those Maj7th chords.  Thanks for stopping to listen and comment!
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Hi, Mario. David, you do absolutely fantastic with those synth voices. You make them sound real. Well, it helps that I can write to the voice, instead of the other way around. I can listen to the "emotion" in the "la" that the synth voice is singing, and try to match that lyrically.  Loved the groove and the backing band.
You can never go wrong with a Maj 7 chord.
Super mix
Loved it Thanks!  PS - I am also a big fan of the UFX Reverb. I got the "complete" UJAM collection, so now I'm obliged to try to use them in my songs.  Thanks again!
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Hi, B.D. To answer your questions: yes, it works, releasing too early is better than not releasing at all, and yes, you tend to overthink things a little  Heh. Also, releasing it "early" means people can steer me in the right direction when I've gone wrong, or stop me from overthinking things! This Oscar dude is a pretty good singer and suits the song very well.
Good choice. He's got a bit of a "cry" in his voice, which I think works well for an understated song. Also good choice of instruments minus the hihat in the intro, it sounds a bit cheap and MIDI-esque. Do you mean only the intro, or into the first verse as well. It would be easy enough to pare it down to just the kick drum, which was my first inclination. I'll play around with holding off the high hat until a bit later, and simplifying the kick, after a couple of days. The chorus could be a little more dynamic (both in terms of volume and instrumentation) so that it stands out better from the verses. I'll give that some more thought, thanks. I'd considered adding some orchestration to it, but wasn't really hearing it. But overall, the production is pretty good ![[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]](https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/images/icons/default/thumbs_up.gif) Enjoyed my listen! That's enough for me! PS: Get a faster computer to run Synth V in your DAW.
It's much more natural not to constantly switch back and forth between DAW and Synth V, and you don't have to constantly leave "the zone". My computer is fast enough. Part of it has to do with being leery of making the DAW crash (early versions of SynthV didn't work well in DAWS). But I like being able to toggle back and forth. It's fast, and when I'm in SynthV, I can focus only on the vocal. The workflow works for me, although what you suggest would probably work better. Thanks for your feedback, I appreciate it!
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Do you mean only the intro, or into the first verse as well. Mostly in the intro, later it blends in and is less noticeable. You're using a MIDI track, so I would just use a smoother sample and some volume automation to make it sound less robotic.
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I think you may get the award for the longest song introduction. I don't mind the synth vocals. I think it would be to cumbersome for me to put them together. It's easier for me to make 10+ vocal takes until I get it halfway right. Beautiful melody and arrangement. Yes, there is some 70s flavor but the sound is a style of its own.
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A pleasant pop song, what else to expect That chord progression leaves a luscious aftertaste - you surely know how to keep it interesting - and you surely know that I love maj7ths The melody is beautiful and the lead vocalist brings out its nuances nicely (although his breathiness sounds bit harsh). The arrangement & mix is mellow but not too sweet, the bass and the drums add the needed punch. And I like how all the instruments sound equal and let the song shine. Nice hopeful message. Janne
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Hey David,
I really enjoyed multiple listenings of your lovely song.
Your art is more than just art, it's a whole new thing, especially with those SynthV notes you make. You really make those voices come alive, it's like magic! I think your songs have hidden beats.
And those notes you write? They're awesome stories and really interesting. I look forward to reading them almost as much as listening to your music.
Each time you put out a new song, it feels like you've made things even better than your previous creation.
Keep doing what you do. I'll be here, listening carefully and learning a lot.
Best,
Mssr. Seriass
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Do you mean only the intro, or into the first verse as well. Mostly in the intro, later it blends in and is less noticeable. I edited the drum track a bit, and simplified it in the introduction. I also switched the hihat into ride for the last chorus, because the ride doesn't get enough love in my songs. I also adjustment some levels, added a drum flam, extended the drums at the end, editing the bass part a bit on the second verse with a bit "disco octaves", added some bass harmonics, and some other polishing. Basically, nothing anyone will ever notice.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Hi, Scott. I think you may get the award for the longest song introduction. What? There's an award for that? I don't mind the synth vocals. I think it would be to cumbersome for me to put them together. It's easier for me to make 10+ vocal takes until I get it halfway right. Everyone has a system that works for them. When I do my own vocals, I'm usually lazy and only do a handful, and then fix the timing and pitch manually, because after a while I just get depressed listening to me miss the notes over and over again.  Beautiful melody and arrangement. Yes, there is some 70s flavor but the sound is a style of its own. Thanks! I appreciate the feedback.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Hi, Janne. A pleasant pop song, what else to expect That chord progression leaves a luscious aftertaste - you surely know how to keep it interesting - and you surely know that I love maj7ths Who doesn't? I'm sure there are some people who don't like chocolate, but they live a sad life. The melody is beautiful and the lead vocalist brings out its nuances nicely (although his breathiness sounds bit harsh). Sorry, I liked the "rawness" of the vocal, so I didn't do that much to the high end. I'll have to listen again. The arrangement & mix is mellow but not too sweet, the bass and the drums add the needed punch. And I like how all the instruments sound equal and let the song shine. Nice hopeful message. Thanks! I'm glad it works for you.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Hi, Izzy. I really enjoyed multiple listenings of your lovely song. Well, that's high praise right there. Your art is more than just art, it's a whole new thing, especially with those SynthV notes you make. You really make those voices come alive, it's like magic! I think your songs have hidden beats. I can't really take credit for the SynthV voices. I'm just happy they let me make songs without having to hear my own voice. As Clarke said, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. And those notes you write? They're awesome stories and really interesting. I look forward to reading them almost as much as listening to your music. Ha! Only interesting to another songwriter! I find the story behind songs fascinating, and everyone's got an different approach to doing things. It's cool getting a peek behind the curtain, and I've got no qualms admitting that (at least for me) songwriting is plain old hard work And sort of magic when it all comes together! Each time you put out a new song, it feels like you've made things even better than your previous creation. Thanks! And each time I start a song, I feel like I've forgotten how to do it. Keep doing what you do. I'll be here, listening carefully and learning a lot. Thanks, I appreciate you taking the time to listen and comment!
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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What a cool song David. Loved the lyric and message. Excellent job on the vocals and harmonies. I did check out how these voices are done and it takes allot of work get these vocals to sound that good.
Super production and mix. Well done
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Firstly, we were amused and engaged reading your backstory. We thoroughly enjoyed it. The synth vocals sound good. No need to apologize for them. Heck, aren’t they like scoring and playing an instrument? The entire and and mix sound excellent on the monitors. You definitely accomplished the Americana band vibe Like you, we sometimes change the feel of the song several times in the making. Particularly after we match Janice’s melody/progression with Bud’s lyric. And we always enjoy your mix data. Wish more folks did that. Well done! J&B
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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David,
Thank you so much for your thorough answer.
You wrote it so thoroughly and clearly.
I'm afraid I didn't catch that twist in the text about leaving her. Sorry for that.
Still it was a bit a 'sweet' song...
Hans
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Sounds like a lot of work, but worth it in the end. I have one criticism about the vocal. It's almost too exact in sound, dynamics and timing. Maybe introduce a little cough or sneeze? Vic
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Beautiful sounding track David! Sure, the vocal track is "perfect", but the arrangement deserves it!
Love the blending in of the harmony vocals mid-way through some of the lines.
You are great at these soft pop/rock tracks!
The mix and production are fab!
Thanks, TB
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Hi, Scott. What a cool song David. Loved the lyric and message. Thanks! Excellent job on the vocals and harmonies. I did check out how these voices are done and it takes allot of work get these vocals to sound that good. Yes - almost as much time as it takes to make me sound good. What I enjoy about this method is the flexibility it gives. I can change my mind about a phrase, decide to rewrite a melody, and so on without having to worry about re-recording it. But I can see how this method could be mind-numbingly tedious for others. Super production and mix. Well done Thanks again - I appreciate the feedback.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Hi, Janice & Bud. Firstly, we were amused and engaged reading your backstory.
We thoroughly enjoyed it. That's why it's there. The synth vocals sound good.
No need to apologize for them.
Heck, aren’t they like scoring and playing an instrument? Yes, very much so. But unlike real instruments, music has to be adapted to fit the instrument, not the other way around. The entire and and mix sound excellent on the monitors.
You definitely accomplished the Americana band vibe Like you, we sometimes change the feel of the song several times in the making. Particularly after we match Janice’s melody/progression with Bud’s lyric. It's interesting how different people have different methods. Al Stewart apparently often wrote lots of different lyrics for a given melody. On the other hand, Elvis Costello would write different settings for the same lyrics until they fit. Whatever gets you to the finish line! And we always enjoy your mix data. Wish more folks did that. Mixing is one of the more mystical parts of this process. I'll work for hours and think I've got something perfect. They I'll hear it the next morning and wonder what I was thinking. And last-minute uploads can be horrible! I'll upload a song, and then hear a click somewhere, and spend the next 15 minutes trying to track it down, fixing it, re-uploading it, only to find something else I missed. And that's the easy part of mixing. I want to know how other people make the magic happen, so I can steal their ideas! Thanks again!
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Hi, Hans. Thank you so much for your thorough answer.
You wrote it so thoroughly and clearly.
I'm afraid I didn't catch that twist in the text about leaving her. Sorry for that.
Still it was a bit a 'sweet' song...
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Hi, Vic. Sounds like a lot of work, but worth it in the end. I have one criticism about the vocal. It's almost too exact in sound, dynamics and timing. Maybe introduce a little cough or sneeze? Heh. I've got a cold right now (the test I just took says it's not Covid), so I've got plenty of coughs and sneezes to spare. Thanks for listening and commenting!
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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