|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,559
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,559 |
Ok, well, first of all: I cannot sing :-) ... but this song badly needed lyrics and a voice to sing it, so, lacking anyone else to do it, I volunteered for my own task. Anyway, the song's supposed to be about a man whose wife is travelling the world and who hopes to see her for Christmas at home. In the song, he's reading postcards that she's sent him from her travels ... hence the title. Postcards at Christmas Lyrics: "It was a quiet day in New York City and everything was looking pretty Children running through the snow ..." "It was a sunny day in Cincinnati and everybody was looking happy People smiling as never before" "It was a stunning day in Lake Dakota Everybody's son and daughter Singing loud and clear" ... Only here in London Town I'm alone, creating sound, Stifling a tear; "It was a stunning day in Lake Dakota Everybody's son and daughter Singing loud and clear" Only here in London Town I'm alone, creating sound, Wishing you were here. CHORUS Come home for Christmas, darling Treasured one of mine Come home for ham and turkey, Presents and mince pie The children're waiting, expectantly, For your safe return If just for Christmas, come home. *** The BIAB style I used was _YEARNIN.STY (Yearnin' Country w Piano Solo), but without the Pedal Steel and Piano tracks given, replacing them with a Pedal Steel solo in the middle, bridge passage (1667: Pedal Steel, Soloist CountryPaul, Ev065 [Paul Franklin]). *** This is (thankfully, some may say) probably my last effort before Christmas, so let's hope you genuinely like it (despite my vocal howlings on it), haha ... all feedback welcome! Thanks!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,298
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,298 |
Ok, you had me believing that you couldn't sing AT ALL. I think it's more the recording of your voice than you singing. You recorded it well enough that I could tell what you were doing. What you were doing I really like! I thought you strength with the melody and harmonic support of the melody was strong. Please keep 'em coming; even if you feel you can't sing. Personally, I feel it would be a shame not to your songs being made. I like what I heard! 
Chad (Hope that makes it easier)
TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,559
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,559 |
Thanks so much, HeartoLearn!!!
I trained as a classical violinist and have zero background in music production, so I have absolutely no clue what I'm doing as far as recording things go. When I look at my DAW, I'm totally puzzled (EQ? limiter? normalizer? etc., haha) and tend to learn by trial and error :-) I also have zero background and training in singing.
Trouble is, I love to write music ... and love to sing it, too. I need, of course, to learn much more about the tricks of how to record it properly, I feel ... just a question of experimenting, I suppose. As for the singing quality of the voice, itself, not much I can do there, I suppose ... but, if I AM to produce at least some demo versions of my songs, I'll have to sing myself from time to time, I suppose ... at whatever cost to the listener, haha.
Thanks again for the kind words, therefore. Whenever I sing, people have to look past my voice to whatever I've actually written - but, on here, people are experts, so I'm not unduly worried about that, as I know their feedback will always be fair and spot on, so ... thanks for your words. I agree ... it's worth singing badly if it means I keep writing, I think ... however torturous that may be for my initial listeners? haha :-)
All best!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,236
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,236 |
This was a very nice song. I think you did great. Perfect for this time of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,944
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,944 |
You've got a very nice voice... However, like many of us you may not be use to hearing it on a recording... So go on & sing your songs... You did well on this one! Too bad you're not from Texas, but even if you aren't... You might want to take the words of Ray Wylie Hubbard to heart... So when you write or sing or play... Remember his song... "Screw You, We're From Texas"
Jim
†=☮&♥
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,591
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,591 |
James, I think I have been consistent in my praise and encouragement, as a listener and fan. Your phrasing and pronunciation is infectious, as is your mastery of the language in conveying emotions characteristic of our people, especially this time of year.
Keep in mind, most of us here work at the demo level, meaning that there is another level, that of the full service production and post production studio. It is axiomatic that musicians who have done their songs in a recording studio say they don't recognize their work after the studio pros finish with it. That applies not just to audio, but to video or film as well.
Take a look at the doc on you tube about the Muscle Shoals recording studio for proof of what I am saying.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,168
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,168 |
Nice writing and arrangement. Decently sung, too - I enjoyed it. Two tips you might find helpful: 1. The microphone is distorting your vocals. That means that you're probably too close, and you're overpowering the poor microphone. Don't sing any softer, just move a bit further away from the microphone. In recording studios, audio engineers spend a lot of time setting up the microphones, testing them out at different distances, making sure they get they best recording. You might want to try the same thing - move back a bit from the microphone, and hear how it sounds. 2. You're speaking instead of singing in some places. Think of singing as sustained vowels, briefly interrupted by consonants. If you don't hold those lovely vowels longer than you would when speaking, we won't hear those beautiful notes! An exercise that you might try to get out of the habit of speaking the words is to first sing a lyric with only the vowel sounds. So if you have the line: I love pizza, you'd first sing "Aaaaaay Uuuuuuh Eeeee-uuuuuuuh". That way, you can focus on the pitch and tone, and then add the consonants in once you're happy with that. I'm looking forward to hearing more from you! 
-- 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,559
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,559 |
Thanks everyone :-) Jim, I think that that Ray Wylie Hubbard song is my new favourite song, right now ;-) made me grin from ear to ear. Ed, you're absolutely spot on, of course ... proper production in the studio (plus a little singing advice, I'm sure) goes a long way into making things sound more professional, etc. I'm just fooling around, really, with music ... but that's the whole point, I think ... if one fools around without pressure, who knows what one may eventually create? So thanks everyone for providing such a kind space for me to basically create and somehow experiment (mess about, haha) with music - I am genuinely flattered (in the very best sense of the word!) when you say you like something of mine, because I've listened to some of you guys' work and it really is sublime, all of it that I've heard so far, no exceptions.
Thanks all, therefore, once more - enjoy your holidays, Christmas, New Year, etc. etc. ... looking forward to hear more - this is such an incredible music community ... genuinely feels unique - and, of course, none of this music creation would be possible without the BIAB creators. Nice one, folks :-)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,559
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,559 |
Thanks David! I'll definitely experiment with the distance from the mic. I didn't realise that I was speaking some notes (I should have done, but there you go), so thanks for the singing tip - it (my singing) needs a LOT of work, of course, and that's a great place to start, I think ... there are bits where my pitch/intonation makes me cringe, on listening back ... so I'll definitely try singing the vowels only, at first, as an exercise :-) I guess I may have gotten into the habit of speaking some words to mask what my voice can't do, haha ... but that's cheating, so ... off to work on my voice I go ;-) Cheers and Happy Christmas.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,591
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,591 |
David is absolutely right about those microphone tweaks. Another factor is the mike, itself.
Most of what I know now comes from behind-the-scenes videos on You Tube and from the great minds of PGmusic.com and associates. Back in the day, 60's, I did train as an analog audio tech and worked it for a while. Rest assured, our equipment bore no resemblance to anything available in stores. I used a Nagra II and Seinheiser that could red line the sound of water going down a drain.
Last edited by edshaw; 12/18/18 06:47 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,559
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,559 |
Haha, thanks Ed. I've got a superb Sony recording machine thing, but, since I bought it just for my classical work, I neglected to make sure it has an overdub function - it doesn't - so I cannot record my voice over the BIAB track on it. Believe it or not, I'm actually using my PC mic. But ... a good mic is definitely on the shopping list, as soon as I can afford it, haha ... in the meantime, I'm messing about with music anyway, it seems ;-)
Thanks again for taking the time and for the nice words!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,369
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,369 |
James...great Christmas song, and a wonderful concept for the lyrics..thank you for making and sharing.
My comments:
Your singing...you should try to sing..I’ll bet you can do much better if you didn’t hold back! Take the suggestions here, especially David’s comments about vowel voicing—and I’m sure you’ll see that you can passably “sing” many of your creations. Go for it! You’re in a very supportive, positive friendship group here...I hope you do this!
Regarding the song itself...only thing I would do is that you have a long-ish pause in the verse melody before the last line of each verse. If it were me, I’d look to “decorate” it with some catchy musical element—maybe a sustained piano chord, or some chimes..not more than a beat, but would give that little expectant pause a small listening treat.
Merry Christmas to you James!
Windows 11, Intel Core i5-8600T 2.3Ghz, 16 gig ram, BIAB 2025 MegaPak, SampleTank 4, Keystation49 Kybd, Neewer NW-800 mic
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,559
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,559 |
Thanks Tano! I'm really skint these days, but I nevertheless went out and bought a new, cheap but better than the one I had before mic today ... and did a new take of the track. What a difference a (however slightly) better mic makes, right? Wow. I'm still experimenting with it all (i.e. distance from mic, etc.), but ... genuinely wow :-) Postcards at Christmas (Take 2) Thanks all once more for your kindness, warmth, expertise and patience with me while I figure all this out! :-)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 8,447
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 8,447 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
Posts797,377
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