|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 221
Apprentice
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 221 |
Hi here's a personal song in an Americana vein. It's Natural Hope you like it! Comments and constructive criticism most welcome. Style is _ACCNTRY.STY RealTracks in style: ~518:Bass, Electric, Pop HalfNotes Ev 085 RealTracks in style: ~~369:Pedal Steel, Background Ev 065 Mixed in Logic Pro X with the addition of several instruments and 'mastered' using Izotope Ozone. It's NaturalThe hills around this town ring with thunder They ring so loud I can’t hear my name The light inside this cage shines like diamonds If I close my eyes I can almost numb the pain It’s natural that I love you It’s natural that I hurt It’s natural that I think of you Every single moment since you went away Without a word It’s natural An owl is pressed up tight against the window He stares so hard I can almost taste his fear The wind howls all along the rooftops I can’t hear the wind no more Bridge: I keep on looking at your picture I wish I knew what I hope to see I try so hard not to remember But all of you is so much a part of me
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4,067
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4,067 |
This is indeed very American and very atmospheric, one of your best I think!
Very nice build up too.
I do detect a slight syncing problem with the drums, especially in the intro.
(But that's just a small nit ;-)).
Rob
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357 |
Matcham,
I enjoyed this darker, moodier side of your writing.
An excellent choice of style for the song and the layered guitars work very well.
I especially liked the powerful imagery in the verses.
Robert
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,236
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,236 |
Excellent tune. Loved the resonator and vocal. Very cool lyric
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 221
Apprentice
|
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 221 |
Thanks heaps Scott, Robert and Rob. Man I've put some hours into this one. Rob I know what you mean about the intro. I've kinda been ignoring it the way that you do until someone mentions it. It's not the drums; it's my guitar tracking at the beginning. Easy fix in the DAW. Thanks!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,719
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,719 |
Beautifully gloomy. It certainly all hangs together.
A bit of the Leonard Cohen sound in there.
No criticism. Much enjoyed. Cheers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,664
PG Music Staff
|
|
PG Music Staff
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,664 |
Hi Matcham, Great job on this! - The guitars are solid and create a soft vibe. Well done! 
Cheers,
Joe
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647 |
Matcham
Excellent nice moody piece - strong melody - great choice of backing band.
Really well done.
Peter
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 221
Apprentice
|
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 221 |
Thank you again for the comments. It's interesting the Cohen comparison, which I've been getting since I started writing and singing. I'm flattered of course, esp as I've been a fan since my teens. But because of the comparisons I try to keep him at arm's length as an influence. Not working obviously!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,756
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,756 |
Matcham,
This is a very cool sound for you... Love the vibe of this one. Excellent job.
Bob
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,826
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,826 |
Matcham
Excellent nice moody piece - strong melody - great choice of backing band.
Really well done.
Peter My thoughts too. Thank you again for the comments. It's interesting the Cohen comparison, which I've been getting since I started writing and singing. I'm flattered of course, esp as I've been a fan since my teens. But because of the comparisons I try to keep him at arm's length as an influence. Not working obviously! I don't know if he ever covered Cohen, but this song strikes me as something Johnny Cash would be all over were he still with us. I enjoyed this one a lot. Great job on the write, arrangement and production. 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: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,008
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,008 |
We enjoyed the foreboding feel that you established. It works very well with the
lyric which is what around here we would refer to as Southern Goth, a la
Flannery O'connor.
The write, vocal, RT choice and the mix are all in the pocket. Your hard
work paid off.
Kudos!
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,360
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,360 |
Good write, love the moody sound of this one.
An owl is pressed up tight against the window
He stares so hard I can almost taste his fear
The wind howls all along the rooftops
I can’t hear the wind no more
love these lines, very creative
Kenny
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 221
Apprentice
|
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 221 |
Hey thanks you guys. You're right J&B there were hard yards put into this one. Just finding the right electric guitar tone took a day. The free Soundboys tremolator plugin I downloaded late last year (mentioned here in a forum) did the trick.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,981
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,981 |
Really enjoyed this, great mood and a good write, and I like your vocal. I like the way your guitar and the BIAB steel trade off towards the end, very effective.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 5,626
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 5,626 |
Matcham, You are a very skilled lyricist! You have a way of weaving words that I envy. Great job on the track. Everything works so well together! Thanks. Torrey
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 221
Apprentice
|
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 221 |
Cheers Dave and Torrey. Much appreciated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,460
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,460 |
Matcham,
Very atmospheric! The backing is a great fit for your work. You mention above that you spent a bit of time with this one. Seems to me it was time well spent.
Regards,
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics85,890
Posts797,391
Members39,981
| |
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean