|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 84
Enthusiast
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 84 |
"She Looked Back" (instrumental) 1 of 7 - Tangled Roots Project I plan to share all 7 tracks and welcome any feedback! Lead Guitar (clean): 511: Guitar, Electric, Soloist Dire Ev 140 (Darin Favorite) Lead Guitar (efx): 1530: Guitar, Electric, Soloist PopPower Ev 120 (Dave Cleveland) Rhythm Guitar: 1099: Guitar, Electric, Rhythm JazzSwingFreeComp Sw 110 (Oliver Gannon) Electric Piano: 1772: Piano, Electric, Rhythm JazzFunkMovin Ev16 130 (Jeff Lorber) Flute: 704: Flute, Soloist Bossa Ev 140 (P.J. Perry) Electric Bass: 1769: Bass, Fretless Electric, JazzFunkMovin Ev16 130 (Alex Al) Drums & percussion: Mino Cinelu (courtesy of Loop Loft) Additional Percussion, Keyboards, Composition & Arrangement: MW Gilbert https://soundcloud.com/mwgilbert/tangled-roots-ep-01-she-looked-backHere's some background; I'll post this once and link back with other tracks. Tangled Roots Project: I grew up listening to all kinds of American music, jazz, blues, rock, folk, bluegrass, R&B. When I started composing my own music, even though these many wonderful influences were shaping my compositions, I never worked directly in these idioms. Since my own music is a coming together of many tangled roots, I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and try to write pieces that went back to this rich pool of musical influences. The initial step of each piece was the entering of the music/changes (first worked out and hand-written) into the BiaB lead sheet view. As the instrumentation and the arrangement (in this case which instruments play in which bars) were also already worked out, these details were entered in the (mute/back to normal) dialogs for each relevant bar. After, there was a long time spent ‘auditioning’ RealTracks for each instrumental part. I ran three takes of each chosen part, exporting individual tracks as clean audio; each instrumental part had three audio stems. The stems were then imported into Pro Tools. The big task was editing each part, picking excerpts, bars, or phrases from each of the takes to create a hopefully coherent part for each instrument. This was done in an order allowing for some perceived virtual ‘interaction’ between instruments; a part being worked on could be edited to respond to an already completed part. Once the performances were set, in some cases I added additional parts, either live or sampled percussion/loops, or some other instrumentation or doublings. In one case I did not use the RealDrums part I started with, constructing a new drum & percussion part from samples and loops. Finally, the pieces were mixed in Logic Pro X using my usual array of plugins and techniques, and then mastered by Tom Waltz ( http://waltzmastering.com) in Boston, who had just done a phenomenal job on my most recent album release (Secret Stories http://www.mwgilbert.com/recordings.html) . While some things were done a little bit differently from piece to piece, the process overall was about the same for all of them. I invite anyone who thinks that this process has “the computer just writing all the music”, or thinks this will not be an incredibly time-consuming amount of work, to try it for themselves! Band in a Box is a very interesting tool, especially given the overall incredible quality of the RealTrack performances. Making these into real music takes a lot of work and artistic choice, but is well worth it. It became a challenge to myself to produce finished tracks that would honestly represent my musical intentions. It felt like the role of a producer working with session musicians and then slowly crafting the results into the final product. I hope you find that the results fit together as a project, and stand alone as representative of related but distinct genres. - MW Gilbert
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,052
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,052 |
Welcome mw!! I think you did an amazing job linking these fragments into a very coherent musical piece. My only issue is the percussion seems too busy at times. For the most part, the segments work wonderfully. Looking forward to more!! Take care. Greg
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,888
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,888 |
Hi MW,
welcome to the forum.
Great first post.
I enjoyed my listen.
Thanks for the background story.
Guenter
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,848
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,848 |
Quote: "It felt like the role of a producer working with session musicians and then slowly crafting the results into the final product." is and excellent explanation of half of the Band in a Box experience. The other half is from the 'artist' who derives the melody, chord progression, lyrics and the vibe of a song. The one that gives life to the song, then the producer has to make sure the right energy is there to convey the intended mood and message.
You did a good job on both counts. I'm looking for to hearing more of your Tangled Roots Project.
Charlie
BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4,067
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4,067 |
Hello,
Welcome to the forum!
We tend to agree with Greg about the busy drums.
Apart from that, this is a very nice post, a professional sounding song.
Well done!
Rob & Anne-Marie
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,646
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,646 |
Like it; seems to have a bit to much verb on it as a whole. Still outstanding programming here; thanks for sharing! One tip is try ducking instruments in and out of the mix as you do toward the end maybe either every 4 or 8 bars throughout. Sometimes just killing the drums for 1 bar changes the whole song feel. Do this with the lead instruments as well, Still outstanding work; thanks for sharing!
My TunesPsalm 57:7 My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 84
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 84 |
Thanks for all the feedback- it's especially useful as it comes from musicians who use BiaB and understand the way it works, and themselves work in a whole range of different kinds of music. I'm traveling so I will post the next track after the weekend.
I've also started listening to other forum members' music and have been impressed by the talent. I will try to take some time and weigh in on tracks I especially enjoyed.
- MWG
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 148
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 148 |
MW,
I think you've done a great job with this - sounds great already, and the suggestions given may make it even better.
I enjoyed the description of the background and production of your song. I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of the project as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,011
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,011 |
I think you're going to be impressed by the journey you've decided to take. Enjoy the experience.
I found "She Looked Back" to be busy, unconventional and experimental but well crafted. The drums are too out front.
Dispite the negative feel of my feedback I had an enjoyable listening experience and I'm looking forward to hearing future releases.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,831
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,831 |
gotta love that fretless bass! I enjoyed the song very much and like the tonal changes in the guitars as the song moved along
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
Order now!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,050
Posts799,397
Members40,018
| |
Most Online44,367
Mar 4th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean