PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase Newly Released CD featuring BIAB

Hello Everyone,

I’m Ed Layola, producer / engineer of a small project studio in Santa Barbara CA. My client Jon Coffin and I have just finished his CD titled “Thank You Very Much” just in time for him to distribute to his friends and family for Christmas. The CD includes his original Christmas song “Red Nose Reindeer Dude”.

All but one of the tracks on the CD heavily features BIAB. Jon Coffin agrees that he should be categorized as a “hobbyist” musician and songwriter. I’m sure there are many of you that think of yourselves as “hobbyists” also.

As a producer, BIAB is a valuable tool to save time and money for my clients by not having to hire studio musicians, not to mention rehearsal time required for arranging a piece of music. I’m grateful that some of these expenses ends up in my pocket rather than in the pockets of mediocre local studio musicians. With the advent of “Real Tracks”, Jon Coffin has embraced the sounds created with BIAB. While MIDI tracks are still useful in proper places, you just can’t beat the sound from Real Tracks.

With Jon’s blessing, I created a web page where anyone interested can listen to the tracks on his CD featuring BIAB. Hopefully they will inspire many other “hobbyists” and sway others who are “on the fence” about using BIAB in their production.

Here is the web page link where you can listen to all 9 tracks featuring BIAB.

Jon Coffin BIAB tracks

Just click on the “MP3" next to each song name.

BIAB was mainly used as an arrangement tool. Each instrument was digitally transferred to my Roland VS2480 dry (no effects). Vocals and any acoustic guitar tracks by Jon was added here. Usually 4 to 8 solos tracks were generated and comp’ed in the 2480. All effects you hear were added in the 2480 using various effects units and on-board effects card. Mixing was on the 2480 and the mastering was done on the Alesis Masterlink and Sound Forge 10.

I’m hoping to hear comments about these tracks. I’ll be glad to answer any questions you might have.

Thank you for your interest and I look forward to hearing from you

Ed Layola

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Track details . . . As best as I can recover :

All vocals by Jon Coffin

Song Name : Honky Tonky Hellcat
Style : Real Track / _CNTRYMF.STY
Tempo : 147
Solos generated separately via separate file and edited in DAW

Song Name :Someone to Love
Style : All MIDI style (can’t find style name - this is a 4 year old song)
Solo generated separately via separate file and edited in DAW

Song Name : Rollin’ the Road
Style : Real Track / _POPH165.STY
Tempo : 161
Solos generated separately via separate file and edited in DAW
One track of acoustic strummed guitar by Jon Coffin


Song Name : Caribees
Style : Real Track / _REGGAS1.STY
Tempo : 108
Sequenced synthesizer steel drums and tuba tracks by Ed Layola

Song Name : Regulate It All
Style : Real Track / _SLBALGR.STY
Tempo : 74
Slide guitar by Paul Ruben

Song Name : Great Ship America
Style : Real Track / =FRANKPS.STY
Tempo : 170
Solos generated separately via separate file and edited in DAW
Additional Instrument tracks:
618 : FIDDLE - Background Allis EV 120
623 : BANJO - Background EV 98 (played at half tempo)

Song Name : Tea Party
Style : Real Track / _TEXROCK.STY
Tempo : 125
Solos generated separately via separate file and edited in DAW
Additional Instrument tracks:
417 : SAX - Tenor, Motown Rock EV120

Song Name : Roads
Style : Real Track / _BALADR.STY
Tempo : 78
Solos generated separately via separate file and edited in DAW
Additional Instrument tracks:
369 : PEDAL STEEL - Background EV65

Song Name : Red Nose Reindeer Dude
Style : Real Track / _TRAINBR.STY
Tempo : 108

NOTES :

* All instrument tracks and solo tracks were digitally transferred to DAW (Roland VS2480) one instrument at a time with no effects as mono tracks.

* Real Drum tracks were digitally transferred to DAW as stereo tracks.

* All effects, EQ and dynamic processing was done during mix on the DAW.

* All vocals were recorded to the DAW and were Auto Tuned in the mix.

* Mastering was done on the Alesis Masterlink and Soundforge 10.

I just sampled all of the nine songs. The mixes sound very clean and everything seems to be in its right place. I am sure that Jon is pleased with the work you did.

Kevin

I love your band and use them all the time ! Best software ever and cheap at Christmas too . Any DAW can record ,I prefer mine with many incredible bands included !

Thanks guys.

The three political protest songs were mixed September 2010 with preliminary mastering. Jon had a video made for the "Tea Party" song and its on his brand new web site. Parts of it is still under construction.

Click here for TEA PARTY VIDEO

The video soundtrack has glitch in it. Jon realized he had a wrong name in his song lyrics. He realized the error on his second day of his vacation in Hawaii. I got a frantic call from Hawaii and he sent me the line he sang into his laptop computer mic in Hawaii. I had to replace the word "Goldman" with the wrong name in the lyrics. The video guy was waiting for the change. We did this change in a few hours.

You can hear the difference if you listen for it. The fix was done properly for the CD track. Just one of those things that happens during production progress.

Thanks
Ed

Kemmrich,

I hear you.

Personally, I stay away from discussions about philosophy, religions and politics . . . I usually have something better to do.

I just help with what my client wants to write and sing about. But I did warn him that right out of the gate he might alienate a small minority of people.

Ed

All true but remember some folks make a living with protest song, most of us kinda remember the 60s!

Fogerty sure made a few.

In the 60's we were the protesters and our elders thought we were nuts. Then as now there was a lot to protest about. Each to his own, I guess we older ones have grown weary, or life's just too good to us.

Oh yes . . . 60s and the 70s . . . The good-ol days. Music was the "hip" way to peacefully protest and make your political statement.

Now that I'm much older . . . I'll leave the protesting to the young ones.


I'm finding it interesting that no one has asked any production questions yet. I'm still willing to answer any questions that you might have.

I'm ordering 2012 Plus Pack tomorrow.

Keep the comments coming.

Thanks
Ed

bump