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For a songwriter without a band, the combination of Band-in-a-Box and Power Tracks has enabled me to create versions of dozens of original songs, which otherwise would not have seen the light of day. I do use other software in combination with them, but only insofar as mastering a song or final mix. I usually start off a song by scouring varying styles in BB for the drum and bass tracks which I will use for the rhythm section. Often, I will render several drum or bass tracks I think might work well from BB into wav files and then import them into Power Tracks (I've nothing against 'Real Band', just prefer PT) If I am unhappy with a given one as is, I will edit the bass or drums by copying and pasting various bits together from the several different real tracks I have chosen. Next, it's time for me to record myself playing the guitar tracks of my song. Once that is done, I go back to BB and repeat the aforementioned process with respect to piano or organ or whatever else may be desired. I use only 'real tracks', despite I have been using these PG programs even before they existed, because they sound better, obviously. Anyway, I think it pretty amazing that I can present my music to listeners as as tightly knit as I do with full musical accompaniment. Now if only computers could sing, as well  Here is a link to an original song of mine, if there is more than one song showing, I can't help that, it's just the way a ReverbNation link works in this forum. (In any event, all of my current releases, have been produced via BB & PT). But since, I am really not a bad guy, because I would like to get my songs heard any possible way I can get them out. Let's just leave it at that. Thanks for listening to 'No Bad Guy' and kudos to PG Music. Feedback, good bad indifferent - highly appreciated. Pariahdise - No Bad GuyR.F. Goggin (Pariahdise)
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Hi RF, Welcome to the forums And congratulations on posting a song. "Bad Guy" is certainly very energetic! You must have had a lot fun putting this one together. It might be my system but the vocals sounded quiet in comparison to the backing. Have you tried creating a version with the vocals increased by around 2 dB? It would be an interesting comparison. Keep up the good work! All the best, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2025
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Hello, Noel
I don't think I will ever completely master the art of mixing tracks properly, but I will certainly keep trying, and have look at my vocal volumes, per your suggestion. Thanks to you, indeed, for the listen, and the welcome..
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Hey, good and energetic tune. It has a Tom Petty flavor a little (nothing wrong with that, for sure). Noel's probably right about the vocal levels. The DI acoustic guitar might be a trifle loud, too. Have you thought about just putting a mic on the acoustic? Nice lead break, too.
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Thanks, for listening, Kevin. I usually mic the acoustic on every song I record, just to have a version of it if I elect to use it. I will go through my files and see whether your thoughts might improve the song.
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Hi R. F.,
Welcome to the forum!
Sounds like you are having a blast rocking out on No Bad Guy. I enjoy a rocking foot tapping acoustic guitar tune. Thought I heard a little British influence in there too.
NIce feel on this one.
Thanks for sharing.
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Yes, can't hide the British Invasion in my blood But also have some Country roots to go with it via Mom & Dad (Lorreta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Hank Williams, Conway Twitty, Merle Haggard - you get the idea), who would spin the old vinyls constantly. And since 'Bad Guy' was about Dad who has passed on, I decided therefore it needed to be country-fied somewhat, not sure if I succeeded on that front, but the slide guitar bits helped Feels like a real friendly place hereabouts, it's a wonder I didn't think to come around sooner. I didn't realize it existed actually. A person can learn quite a bit around here to better present their music to the public. I've got a lot of reading to start doing, I reckon, it can only improve my work. I cut the gain on the electric acoustic and lowered the backing vocal on the song this morning, per the suggestions I received in this forum. Also, uploaded a new one to RN this morning, called 'Visions'. Maybe I should just post it here, instead of starting a new thread if anyone cares to listen or critique. It's tempo is a lot slower by comparison, almost a ballad I'd say. If I am breaking any rules or forum etiquette, I am sure someone will let me know? I shall be and am willing to listen to anything by anyone, but although I have been using BIAB and PT for quite some time, I still consider myself an amateur at recording and mixing, so I can only comment modestly from that standpoint, as I've quite a bit to learn yet. I just listened to 'I'm Moving On' from your link, and liked it, it's got a cool groove to it, sounds like a studio recording.. http://www.reverbnation.com/open_graph/song/15116785 - Visions
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Good stuff that, it has a really catchy hook with "never a bad guy" and it doesn't sound like it uses Real Tracks. The only advice I can give is raise the vocals a little, I know all too well that that is hard especially if, like me, you don't like the sound of your voice  Alyn
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Jeez, some energy going on there RF! Yes, just a little lift on the vocal volume would be just right. Keep on rocking like that!
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Quote:
...Also, uploaded a new one to RN this morning, called 'Visions'. Maybe I should just post it here, instead of starting a new thread if anyone cares to listen or critique. ...
It might be better to wait a week or so and then start a new thread for it. Folks might not notice it in a follow-up post.
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Thanks for all the suggestions, will get on the vocal volume. I wonder if Bob Dylan likes the sound of his own voice, gibson? I'd say no, the way he mumbles half the time You get used to hearing and appreciating your vocals if you keep at it, however, and if you are not a natural singer, then you have to work at it, try different approaches, breath differently, whatever must be done. Including, were you myself, countless attempts to get a worthy vocal or even those one or two notes you just can't quite hit. Thanks Kemmrich, I will just leave well enough alone and make no thread for 'Visions'. When I woke up this morning I listened to it and realized that in order to make the song shorter (because it's so long) that my increasing the tempo - should not have been done, so it wasn't quite ready to be promoted to start with, I was just excited to have it rolling. I have restored its natural tempo, while I edit the vocals on the fly. I do that quite a bit, live edit I mean. Which, I am sure is not such a good thing, but once a song is out in the public arena it has a wonderful way of highlighting its inadequacies for me..
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And the drums and bass are indeed 'real tracks', as well as guitar bits that sound countryish.
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Quote:
Including, were you myself, countless attempts to get a worthy vocal or even those one or two notes you just can't quite hit.
My comment was written from the heart as I too have countless attempts to get the vocals right. My DAW incrementally numbers each take and I have seen that the final accepted take can be up to 20 and above!!! I am getting better these days as I now rehearse the vocals at an early stage so that I can change the key easily if nescessary in BIAB. It does mean however I now need the capo more on my old songs to be able to strum as I want. I pay more attention to my vocal range when I write these days!! I still dislike my voice tho'  
Thoroughly enjoyed "No Bad Guy" and that hook
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I know not everybody can sing well and I am including myself, but only lately have I realized that for all my life I have been belting out vocals with pure, wreck-less abandon or bombastic emotion. Emotion is good, of course 98% of the time. But if you're singing with one side of your brain (your subconscious, perhaps?) and not paying attention to what you are doing with other side (your intellect), then for me at least, my limitations will surely come into play along the way. So only for the past few months or so, I use both my head and my heart, and I have been doing a lot of critical thinking about my singing; trying different things, staying conscious of how I breathe, using stomach muscles I never used before. Identifying 'laziness' in my style (that's a big one I think), and paying close attention to pronouncement. It's paying off, slowly but surely, but it is a very repetitive process that taxes my patience, which is always in short supply to begin with.
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Quote:
it is a very repetitive process that taxes my patience, which is always in short supply to begin with.
Yup I agree with that too!!!
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Well, you have one up on me----struggling voice and don't play an instrument worth a lick!
Your guitar playing is very good, and I agree with some of the other posters here...I think that with repetitive takes, cut/paste, punch-in, etc. you can get to a very acceptable representation of your work.
I find that the hardest thing about this is not having patience--with the vocal recording and with tweaking the arrangement to get it to match what's in my mind. Plus, I'm always being drawn into the "next thing" and, if I don't stick with it, would probably abandon some work before getting the best that I can out of it.
--And, don't forget this: no matter what you think of your "production", sharing your creative work gives others (like me) lots of ideas and creative inspiration--so the sharing is very important!
One suggestion I would have about this particular song is for you to get in closer to the mike and make your singing more "present"--you sound too far away, and I think that even upping the volume on the voice wouldn't be as effective as getting closer and a bit more intimate on the recording.
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Thanks for that, It's something I needed to be told, as I have been struggling for three days on the vocals for my next release. My biggest problem seems to be my desire to sing my lungs out as a rock artist basically might vs. the limitations of my range. I capitulated on the number I am working on and sung much softer, save for the very last chorus at the end. That's staying in, just because I am stubborn enough to leave it
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hi rf welcome to the forum vocals need to be more out front keep them comeing eric
AMD (TM) 5950 4.9 GHz 16Core Processor 64 bit 32 bits of ram windows 10 pro 64 bit os. sound card Antelope ZenQ guitars Ibanez 2202a 1968 les Paul Custom and Cavin ae 185 Guitar boss Gt-100,GT1000 pedal Yamaha HS8 studio monitors
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Thanks FMM for listening. I just cut the gain -1 on every track except the vocals and replaced the mp3 @ ReverbNation. I appreciate all the advice I have been given and as soon as something is ready, I will be sure to run it here first.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
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