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I am going to be recording a song using Band-In-a-Box and producing it in Reason, and singing my own backing vocals.

Next time America's Got Talent is in Austin, TX which should be around December or January, I am going to be auditioning.

I have a 4+ octave range. I do Country, Rock, and Christian music.

Like "Carpie" on Facebook. My channel on youtube is Carpiesong.

Watch for me.

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In another post you spoke highly of your version of the Rose, so I followed your link and listened to it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp5ccj0h148

I generally refrain from replying to musical posts unless I can say something nice. But I've watched with horrified fascination as too many people walk out onto the stage of an American Idol audition with the misplaced confidence that could only come from the encouragement of people who are unwilling to give the poor soul a reality check.

This song is so pitchy that listening to it is painful. You may have 4 octaves of range, but you don't have sufficient control of the notes within that range to make it work. If the Rose is your flagship song, then my advice is to skip the Idol audition.

Recordings offer a best case scenario for presenting your talent... you can make it in the privacy of your home when you're calm, and you can redo it until it's perfect.

In contrast, an American Idol audition takes place in front of a large audience while you're nervous, and there are no retakes as you get about 1 minute to wow the judges... Which judges are merciless even to those whose presentation is well executed but not breathtaking.

Your demo song, done in a controlled environment, is better than you will do live; but it isn't good enough for a prime time internationally broadcast show that delights in publicly humiliating its participants and posting the train wrecks on youtube for posterity. And what goes on Youtube can stay there for a very long time, whether its favorable or unfavorable.

You are free to accept or reject my opinion; But I predict that if you ignore this advice and audition anyway, you'll end up as one of those contestants who walks out of the studio in a rage of disbelief that the judges didn't respond the way your close friends do.


SIMON COWL-O-METER
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Quote:


In another post you spoke highly of your version of the Rose, so I followed your link and listened to it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp5ccj0h148

I generally refrain from replying to musical posts unless I can say something nice. But I've watched with horrified fascination as too many people walk out onto the stage of an American Idol audition with the misplaced confidence that could only come from the encouragement of people who are unwilling to give the poor soul a reality check.

This song is so pitchy that listening to it is painful. You may have 4 octaves of range, but you don't have sufficient control of the notes within that range to make it work. If the Rose is your flagship song, then my advice is to skip the Idol audition.

Recordings offer a best case scenario for presenting your talent... you can make it in the privacy of your home when you're calm, and you can redo it until it's perfect.

In contrast, an American Idol audition takes place in front of a large audience while you're nervous, and there are no retakes as you get about 1 minute to wow the judges... Which judges are merciless even to those whose presentation is well executed but not breathtaking.

Your demo song, done in a controlled environment, is better than you will do live; but it isn't good enough for a prime time internationally broadcast show that delights in publicly humiliating its participants and posting the train wrecks on youtube for posterity. And what goes on Youtube can stay there for a very long time, whether its favorable or unfavorable.

You are free to accept or reject my opinion; But I predict that if you ignore this advice and audition anyway, you'll end up as one of those contestants who walks out of the studio in a rage of disbelief that the judges didn't respond the way your close friends do.


SIMON COWL-O-METER
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Well stated, Pat. I posted a similar thought on the Showcase Forum. Oftentimes, a reality check is painful and not easy to hear but necessary, nonetheless. I tried to comment on the positive but really had to dig to find something. Sorry.

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Sorry but I agree with Pat and Don here.
It might be best to listen to what they told you and work more on your vocals.
I think you have potential, but you're not ready yet. IMO.
Best of luck.

Tim

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I have to throw in with the rest, here, but the positive side is that, as Tim said, you've got some potential. Try to get past this set-back and concentrate on the future. Some vocal coaching from someone with lots of experience would work wonders.

ROG.

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I have to plus 1 this as well. While you sing a little better than I do, for comparison I will say that you likely also run faster and jump higher. Those things lose value when you consider that I am almost 61, 280 pounds, and need a knee replacement.

Keep at it but I would wait one more year.

Nothing personal, but that demo isn't even good karaoke, and you get as many tries as you want when you record at home.

Most of us here are long time musicians and singers, some at a higher level of accomplishment than others. Nobody here wants to hurt your feelings, but I hope you stop, think, and consider what a crash and burn would do to your psyche at this stage in your career. Because honestly, you will crash and burn if this was your best game. I couldn't even make it to the last verse to hear the "5 part harmony". Your very first note was a clam.

Work hard for one more year and try it then.

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The recording companies will blow smoke at you and tell you you're the new Elvis then ask you for US$1,900 to promote you. As ROG suggested, put that money into professional voice training. A 4-octave range is admirable but sing into Melodyne or AutoTune and see what your accurate, usable range really is. You my be in for a shock and those applications are honest and unbiased. Not influenced by personalities.

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Quote:

The recording companies will blow smoke at you and tell you you're the new Elvis then ask you for US$1,900 to promote you. As ROG suggested, put that money into professional voice training. A 4-octave range is admirable but sing into Melodyne or AutoTune and see what your accurate, usable range really is. You my be in for a shock and those applications are honest and unbiased. Not influenced by personalities.




it *IS* eye opening to import your vocals into Melodyne and see graphically where the notes SHOULD be... and also see graphically where they actually are (for some of us the difference between the two is wider than we would have guessed)

It is hard to make corrections without first having an accurate perception of the problem... somewhat like trying to miss the trees while running full tilt through a forest while blindfolded. It's less painful if you know where the trees are.

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It is hard to make corrections without first having an accurate perception of the problem... somewhat like trying to miss the trees while running full tilt through a forest while blindfolded. It's less painful if you know where the trees are.




There's the key, Pat. This is like the music version of Restaurant Impossible. They go in and the resident chef is shocked to see bad he is because he has never had better food to know better. If you sing only for the "hometown" crowd, all your friends who think they are doing you a favor by blowing sunshine up your butt.

I recall a time when I was in a very good band that did Motown. We were eating the city up. However, ever show, we saw the same 50 people following us from room to room. So one afternoon over too many beers, I asked our leader and booker, "You think we're really any good?" He said "Yes we are." And I told him "Then let's go somewhere that is too far for our following to show up and see how we do." 5 weeks later we were playing Tuesday to Sunday at the Holiday Inn in Saginaw Michigan. Tuesday was just the regulars, 25-30 people. Wednesday there were 50. Thursday 80-90. Friday, Saturday and Sunday were turnaway crowds. THEN and only then did I know we were good.

Moral of the story, it has to play in Peoria.

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Moral of the story, it has to play in Peeoria.




whatever you do, DON'T say this in WienSam's restroom thread.

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Well, I guess I have heard a few good things come out of Bay City/Saginaw, but it wouldn't be the market I would count as a true test.
(ducks)

Last edited by rharv; 05/20/12 02:00 PM.

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They wanted to put us in a Ramada in Ann Arbor, but it was far to close to... well, you know....

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If you want to sharpen your vocal skills, give Singsnap.com a shot. It is a karaoke type site that will allow you to sing and practice. It has helped many people's vocal abilities, believe it or not.

Trax

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Carpie,

I have nothing to add to the ongoing discussion. What I am interested in is you as a fellow Reason user. I assume you mean Reason 6? As far as I know you and I are the only BIAB/Reason 6 users here. It would be great to have someone to compare notes with.

I look forward to hearing back from you.

Richard


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