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Hey Everyone I have a favour (yup Canuck)  to ask - help me make up my mind about this song. This was totally created with BIAB and PT before the RTs broke on the scene. The pitch-bend effect was done by yours truly on a Roland A-30 controller with an SC-33. The piano work is from BIAB’s midi soloists and style riffs. I’d like some feedback on the song production. There will be divided schools I’m sure - RT vs Midi. Everything to me seems to fit together well as midi. Could it benefit the song to mix in some RTs? Adding RT does take my own chosen lead riffs out of the equation. So whatever occurs to you while you listen, I’d appreciate the thoughts. Thanks – Ian Take Back The Night Words&Music Copr. 1997 Jenny used to walk at night, in the warm summer breeze, Give her a chance to think, give her a chance to breathe, Give her a chance to be in touch with the woman inside her skin Good for her heart, good for her soul, for her husband and her kids. Jenny was wise to the ways of the world, no stranger to the news, Hearing ‘bout crimes against women, of course she had her views, I won’t let it scare me none, I’ll take my walks alone, In spite of her husband’s and children’s pleas, she barely made it home. Take back the night, people come marching Take back the night, show that you care Come make the world a safe place for women Take back the night for our wives, loves and girls. In the streets of many cities, in the lanes of many towns, Violence and fear are growing, we’re prisoners one and all, Men and women alike won’t walk at night in the summer breeze, Let’s get together it’s now or never, give us a chance to breathe. Take back the night, people come marching Take back your life, show that you care, Come make the world a safe place for women Take back the night for our wives, loves and girls. Take back the night, people come marching Take back your life, show that you care, Come make the world a safe place for women Take back the night show that you care.
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I can't get it to play without loading a plugin (tried firefox and IE). I don't want to load a plug in.
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Hi Ian,
Good tune and vocals. Nice and catchy chorus. I like the harmonies on the chorus too. I just listened on small computer speakers at work and it sounded good to me. (I probably should be working.) I happen to like both real tracks and MIDI. I ran the jazz MIDI tracks through Garraten big band collection and they sound as good as the real tracks. What softsynths did you use for the midi? The link didn't work for me either at first so I downloaded media player.
Thanks for posting!
Rod M
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Hi Kevin - I tried the link with both IE and Firefox and it played with no problem. Could it be that it is a wma file? I'll link right to the song - give me a few minutes. Ian TakeBackTheNightThis works and opens Windows Media Player.
Last edited by Ian Fraser; 11/21/11 04:01 PM.
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Hey Rod - thanks for answering.
Actually most of the midi voices in this came from my XG Daughterboard DBXG50.
The "slide guit - Res" was done in the Sound Canvas SC-33 using a GM Nylon and GM Jazz Guit (28)
That might be an idea to try a software synth. Good thought.
Ian
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The direct link worked just fine. Some of that pitch-bend stuff you are doing is pretty dang cool. Yea, it does sound a little too midi to me, so I would try some RT's in there. The pitch-bend stuff in the left speaker worked out very, very well most of the time. The right side pitch-bend guitar didn't sound realistic enough at all -- I would can that and add a RT.
Of course, with RT's you won't be getting the licks right where you want them as if you were playing, but I think you can make it work. I think using real drums would also add a ton (although the midi drums are pretty decent already).
Hey, that's a pretty good chorus.
Kevin
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Hey Ian,
Cool vox and harmony. Like the message too.
You might be able to add some RT rhythm tracks and still keep some of your midi sig licks - depending on the RT's you use.
To me, what you have here isn't bad but I think RT's would give the song more "umph" to match the "take back..." message. And I agree with Kevin I'd definately add some real drums.
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Thank you Kevin for the kind comments and input.
Perhaps I need to look at new midi voices. I do like the creativity that the midi soloists of BIAB offer - the issue is sound realism. I also like the easy flexibility of moving notes in the notation window to polish
solos etc.
I'll reassess the right side slide. Maybe an RT might add a touch of realism to add blend of the different sounds.
Ian
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Hello Josie
Good to hear from you and your thoughts on this. Much appreciated.
Do you think it's a message still in vogue?
I see what you mean about "umph" for the chorus - it feels a touch "tight" and "polite".
Maybe could use some "grit". Sometimes a style sheets A and B parts will do that. I find that midi drums gives more flexibility to building an arrangement.
I do hope your EP is doing well in the public marketplace.
It certainly deserves it.
Ian
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I like the song Ian ,if it was me I would use Real Tracks till I could afford a new Korg Kronos or Yamaha Tyros 4 ! Nothing wrong with midi if you have the right equipment or software . Thanks for sharing Ian !
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 Thanks Tommy, glad you liked the song. Appreciate your take on midi vs RT. I have had an offer to replace the midi sounds with a Synth sound. Seems that maybe a rhythm RT might blend sounds a bit. As I said earlier my hearing doesn't lend itself to hearing much difference between midi and RT. CHeers - Ian
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There's a good song lurking in there Ian!
I agree with the comments above and I think the offer of synth sounds could help it no end. To me, the subject matter does imply some 'grit' as well: I'd have probably gone for a 'R. Stones'-type thing. Good luck with taking this one a step further!
NB: I'm not a fan of RealTracks as anyone who listens to my stuff will know. They're far too prescriptive for me. Starting off in MIDI keeps things flexible and I can make all the alterations I want to what I got originally from the style(s) I used. As long as you then use a quality hardware or software synth (and there are lots of the latter) which uses real samples and/or high-level synthesis you'll get great results.
John
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Ian,
Nice song! I agree with Josie that maybe just some RT's for basic rhythm to add some depth of "reality", along with your midi licks.
Enjoyed it!
Steve
Steve Young Music"In order to compose, all you need to do is remember a tune that nobody else has thought of." - Robert Schumann
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