|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 29
Enthusiast
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 29 |
http://www.soundcloud.com/msfrancisThis song was recorded using only Real Tracks: 701 Bass 676 Guitar Accoustic Strumming RealDrums=Rock BritDrivingEv16 677 Guitar Electric, Rhythm, RockBritDriving 680 Guitar Electric, Rhythm, RockBritSoul 621 Pedal Steel, Background 834 Guitar, Electric, AltCountryMoody I recorded this song in my bedroom studio using Audacity and Ozone4 for mixing and mastering. I am not a singer so the vocals are not of a professional quality. I hope to generate interest from an established artist for recording this song commercially. Any comments would be greatly appreciated!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815 |
I think you did a great job putting the musical tracks together and the melody part fits in nicely. If you are looking for commercial country opportunities, I think you will have to tighten this one down to about 3:30 -- no one wants a 5 minute slow/mid tempo sad country song, unless there is something super special about it.
Country is very "lyric-conscious" and these lyrics are just OK. There is nothing wrong with "OK" (that's about what I can do), but OK won't cut it in the pro world. The main thing that pops out in the lyric is that I can't really "see" enough in the story to make me want to care. Plus you wake up, you go to sleep -- but somehow you are crying until dawn. I would suggest that you join a peer to peer lyric/song critiquing forum and work on the craft. I think you have the potential.
Kevin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,199
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,199 |
Hi msfrancis, Welcome to the forum  I really like the sound that you've managed to produce. It's vibrant and very professional sounding. I read that you don't describe yourself as a singer. You sure sound like a pretty good singer to me. This compositions shines with musical understanding. The harmonic and melodic structures are well created and worked for me. To my mind, there was something reminiscent of the 60s present in the song but I couldn't put my finger on it. That's a compliment, by the way, some brilliant songs came to us via the 60s! Thank you for sharing your work, I thoroughly enjoyed the listen. I'm looking forward to hearing what you next do. Regards, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 29
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 29 |
Thanks Kevin. I "see" what you mean. Good observations. I didn't know there were forums of that type until I just Googled them. Have you had any experience with any of them?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 29
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 29 |
Thanks Noel for the remarks. That was certainly my intention. I am partial to the country sound of the late 50's and all of the 60's. As you said something special about that time period!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815 |
Quote:
Thanks Kevin. I "see" what you mean. Good observations. I didn't know there were forums of that type until I just Googled them. Have you had any experience with any of them?
I think there are probably at least dozens of "active" songwriting sites out there.
I hang out at Just Plain Folks: http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php for most of my peer to peer critiquing needs. It is a fun place with lots of helping people.
For a look at the Nashville business model, SongRamp's Music Industry Insider run by Marc-Alan Barnette is great: http://www.songramp.com/mod/forumpro/ (you may have to sign up to the free account just to see that section). However, he is not going to tell you what you want to hear concerning getting your demos heard by current recording artists! But he always has great advice about everything relating to nashville country music. Not much on the "critiquing" there, though.
Give them both a try -- and I am sure others may chime in with their favorite sites.
Kevin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,085
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,085 |
Hi msFrancis, Welcome to the user showcase! I liked your use of the RTs. Also liked your melody and production. Lyrically I liked the "mind says we are through...heart runs after you" and also the fantasy and reality. I liked the visual of the picture on the pillow. You have a good sense of melodic structure as Noel mentioned. I agree with Kevin - too long. You might can get away with 4 mins. Country is the hardest genre to write. For the non artist the Nashville bar is higher than most people imagine and the number of successful writers competing for a few cuts is staggering. Imo, you won't learn to craft tight Nashville lyrics from any peer to peer group - they are good for feedback and nice communities. It's good to belong to a few. But new and inexperienced writers can get confused with only feedback espeically from peers who haven't bothered to study the craft. If you are serious about writing country it's wise to learn from the pros so you can evaluate feedback from peers knowing what rings true. Nashville lyrics have concrete expectations and specific criteria. Read books, take courses, attend seminars, etc. Spend as much time as you do writing on learning - especially at first. Many people make the mistake of believing the more you write the better you'll get. Imo, this is not true until you are writing while practicing specific craft you've learned. Hope that helps you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 29
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 29 |
Thanks Josie,
I REALLY appreciate the good feedback from you, Noel and Kevin. Your opinions make me want to work harder. It makes me look at the song as an outsider and in a different light. I am in the process of shortening the song and trying to tighten the story line. I hope you, Noel and Kevin will listen to the re-write and give me another critique.
Thanks again!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815 |
Quote:
I REALLY appreciate the good feedback from you, Noel and Kevin. Your opinions make me want to work harder. It makes me look at the song as an outsider and in a different light. I am in the process of shortening the song and trying to tighten the story line. I hope you, Noel and Kevin will listen to the re-write and give me another critique.
I'll try and listen again to the next version. Two other things to consider during the re-do:
1.) All of your instruments seem to start right away and play all the way through. Look for ways to drop instruments in and out more to make it more varied sonically.
2.) Remove, as best you can, the vibrato on your voice on most of those phrase ending notes. It is fine sometimes, but when you do it every time, it becomes a little a distracting. Overall, your voice is just fine for work tapes like this.
Kevin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,987
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,987 |
Hi msfrancis,
Welcome to the forum! This is a nice song, and I like a lot of the lyrics. Very good job of creating interesting phrases/images. I do agree with pretty much all the comments already entered. Country music is a very tough genre to crack into as a songwriter. A lot of really great writers there, very tough competition.
Keep up the good work here, and make sure you have fun with it as you go!
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,427
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,427 |
This doesn't sound country to me - take away the pedal steel and you've got a straight up 60s pop ballad, I can even hear in my head a Beatles-type harmony for it! It's nicely put together but I hope you don't mind if I point out one or two things that IMHO would improve the end result? - Kevin (above) has made a very valid point: everything comes in at once and stays there until the end, so after one verse and chorus the song has said all it's going to say, but it takes a another three or so minutes saying it again. As Kevin says, think of where you can subtract things, e.g. start the song with just voice and guitar only, bring the rest of the instruments in at the first chorus, drop back for the next verse. And there's a neat trick you hear in many pop records but don't often notice - the 'drop chorus'. This is where the listener for the next to last chorus expects a big build, but instead you drop to just vocal and guitar or vocal and piano, and then go for the big build for the last chorusor outro. The main thing is, you've got to give the listener a reason to listen to next bit, then the next bit, and so on. - The tempo feels too slow and draggy at about 80bpm? It just feels like it wants to pick it up a bit. - Another mechanism for adding interest and 'feel' is very small tempo changes. Make choruses slightly faster than verses. If a band plays a song live they will instinctively speed up a little for choruses. I don't know if RealTracks are happy with that, I haven't tried it. - Too much reverb. The whole mix seemed drenched in reverb so it sounded like I was listeng to a band in a school hall or something. Try backing some off. I hope this doesn't come over as harsh, I don't mean it to! The important thing is to have fun.  BTW, is this song called "I'm Still Missing You" per Soundcloud or "I'm Still Loving You" per here? Regards John
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 29
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 29 |
Thanks Journeyman. I know I'm not a singer and the vibrato is a curse in my case but I'm going to try and improve it on the re-make. I actually let the driving guitar continue in the whole song to help keep it moving. The steel guitar and and other guitar sounds come in on the chorus to help lift the song but I understand what you are saying about adding interest through instrument selection.
Thanks!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 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 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Video: New User Interface (GUI)
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 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!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 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 Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 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.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 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!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 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 Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics85,336
Posts791,079
Members39,858
| |
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There are no members with birthdays on this day. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean