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Journeyman
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OK, my 1st attempt with the new Garritan Jazz & Big Band plug-in. I can usually put on my 'producer hat' and judge a mix without regard to individual tracks, but I'm having a hard time 'hearing' this one. Is the mix OK ? Horns too loud etc ? I like the horn arrangement and I 'think' I like the overall sound of the horn tracks but 'something' has me not quite settled on things and not sure what it is ? Opinions welcomed. http://soundcloud.com/mitchc-1/steelin-home-c6-1
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Mitch,
it sounds pretty darn good to me! Love your playing! And the horns sound totally realistic to my ears... did you enter those parts yourself, or is that song partly generated by a style?
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Thanks Pat,
Hand written horn parts in the Piano Roll, rendered by Garritan. The JABB is so new that I feel I might be overemphasising the horn tracks. Sometimes I listen and sounds fine, other times, the horns 'stick out'. I don't usually have this 'problem'. More time with the Garritan stuff will help solve it I hope.
BTW, my favorite part of this whole tune is the Soloist guitar player !! Just love these soloist guys !
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to my ears they definitely don't stick out... they sit nicely in the background. great job!
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Ditto.
Wouldn't touch a thing.
The horns fit perfectly in the mix to my ears.
Good job Mitch!
Carkins
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Quote:
Ditto.
Wouldn't touch a thing.
The horns fit perfectly in the mix to my ears.
Good job Mitch!
Carkins
great stuff, don't mess wifit!
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Apprentice
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Cool tune Mitch! You're a very smooth player, and the horns seem well arranged harmonically, and rhythmically. The mix of horns may be just fine, though I found my ear trying to find some saxes, perhaps for a broader big band type sound with a recognizable reed somewhere in the throaty, tubular throng. (I listened to your song over laptop speakers, so may have missed some nuances. If so, please forgive.)
I also love the RT soloist options, and personally might have considered another replay with the one you selected for a better second half of the solo section ... Did you audition any other guitarists? Is this one Oliver G? He's incredible.
Everything builds on your sound, and it's silky smooth. Did you use a horn section in a single stereo track, or a mix of single horns? And how easy is it to use GPO with 2012 BIAB?
Thanks for sharing your talents.
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DrDuBose,
Thanks for the very constructive criticism. You may have hit on the 'what's missing' element ie, more sax timbre. Listen with phones or speakers if you can and advise.
I used 3 separate tracks for the horns. There is a nice barritone sax (which may not come through enough on just the PC speakers ?), but may not be mixed up enough ? One track of 2 part horns using the 'Snappy Brass' patch in Garritan and a trombone track.
The Garritan part is easy, just apply the Aria Player and select an appropriate patch on the corresponding midi channel the part was written on. The trick is in writting the midi with expression. I may need to try some different horn patches to get it 'just right'.
As for the guitar solo, I like the way it came out and not considering changing it. It is Jack Pearson RT #819. He was the best guy available at this tempo and swing feel (country swing vs Jazz). I regen'd his solo until I got the result recorded.
Thanks you guys for taking the time to listen and critique !
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As a Brass Band person I really think anything with a reed is a mistake. I'd add tuba tracks, in stereo for effect. No big delay on it. If you have a sousaphone feel american and add it to the mix.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Agreed. I don't think reeds are called for in this tune except the Bari Sax which I think works. Tuba eh ? Well, as soon as you develop that midi Tuba, I'm all over it ! Actually, there's a Tuba in JABB....off to try it out just for grins. But it's MIDI so forgiveness in advance ? 
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Mich, as a fellow long time (among other things) steel player, including Hawaiian stuff, I have to say I love it. Your site now lives in my "Favorites" to play any time.
Hank
P.S. Mixes all sound great to me.
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Great job, Mitch, with nothing crying for attention that I can hear. Very enjoyable.
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Thanks guys ! I 'may' have one more pass at this mix. Listening this morning, there are spots that I want rebalance things just a tad.
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Western Swing at its finest. Sounds great!
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Gave it a go with airline issued airbuds (duds!), and while the baritone sax may be in there, it's not easy to find. Perhaps a brighter eq on it would bring it out, or separating it out, or relocating it in the stereo field. And one more sort of "gilding the lilly" thought is that the horns altogether might reveal added color if you considered an octave hit (up) every so often maybe... The horns as they are, are mid to low tones, and an octave shift might brighten the color, if an alto or tenor in the mix isn't desirable for added reed presence.
Thanks much for the GPO tips and your example of quality production, and don't take the tuba tip to town... I fear it would reduce the already throaty throng to one muddy blunderbust... Peace..
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DrDUBose,
Thanks once again for your input. I did try some higher octave trumpets but those samples up in the high registers start to sound a bit wimpy and GM2-like, so I opted for lower harmonies. I may fiddle with it a bit more though... try doubling, tripling parts and detuning some and panning off-center etc.
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I think the balance on the horns is fine.
My only thought is that the track is drenched in reverb. It's a great sound in general, but seems to take some of the "bite" from the horns. But if you like the sound the way it is, don't change a thing.
-- 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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MitchC, I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s very good as it is now. It sounds very real to me! Great job on the orchestrations and the mix.
PS – I have been know to try and polish something but what I end up with is something dull. I like the feel of this and I personal believe that a lot of tweaking could kill what you have.
Dad, how will I know when I've become an adult.
When your day is ruined because they rearranged the grocery store.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Great playing Mitch and as many have already said very good job on the horns.
Later,
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Hey thanks again guys for taking time to listen and comment. OK, I think I'm done with the horn tracks (?)... BUT, now I need to look at my confessed addiction to REVERB !! 
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