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Good KarmaFor the past several years we’ve posted Christmas songs we either wrote or adapted from the public domain. We weren’t as specific this year but in the spirit of the season here’s Good Karma. Janice has long wanted to work with one of the solo-accompaniment RT’s so we had a go at it. We went with a vey simple chord structure as it seemed that the more chords I removed from my original idea the more I liked the piano. I envision Janice sitting at the piano singing a little 8 bar blues ditty when a jazz drummer and bass player drop by. Peter sees a light on and comes in for some tasty fills  Thanks! Comments are always welcome and we hope it works for you. Janice: vocal, melody and arrangement Bud: lyric, arrangement and the production stuff Peter: guitar Vocal: Rode NT1 mic > Scarlett Interface > Logic Pro > Nectar 2 RT 392: Bass, Acoustic, Jazz Ballad Sw 060 (Very Simple) / Waves Bass Rider / Neutron 2 MIDI SuperTrack 1886:Piano, Solo-Accompaniment Bluesy12-8John Sw 060 - comped from several regens / Logic Pro Grand Steinway / Ozone Imager / EMT 140 Plate Reverb sim RealDrums: JazzBrushesSticks: a: Brushes - fills comped / Waves CLA Drums Mix: Logic Pro X Mastering: Logic EQ > Waves LinMB > Ozone Imager > Ozone Maximizer > Ozone Tonal Balance Thanks to PG Music and mr jane for the golden ears Good Karma Copyright 2018 janice & Bud Merritt V1 i’ve got some good karma in the bank i try hard every day to make a deposit i earn it by trying to do the right thing every little bit lifts my spirit V2 i’ve got some good karma in the bank kind deeds and words add to my balance not a lotta work just open your heart go ahead take a chance V3 i’ve got some good karma in the bank doesn’t take long to pay dividends always show compassion use some to make amends V4 i’ve got some good karma in the bank it pays me a lot of interest the more i use it the more I earn it’s how i continue life’s quest 
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
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Thank you for the wonderful “audio Christmas card”!
Vision realized, I’d say..I could also see myself sitting there listening to Janice spinning out a very seasonal, positive blues at the piano, with able sidemen surrounding her with backtrack and solo/fill-ins to make it an extra-special holiday moment.
Bud, production elements are great,a don thanks you for all the notes..I’m going to research some of your “tools” ‘cause I’d like to ramp up the quality of my stuff to try to reach the goodness that I hear here (here,here!)
Loved the personal Seasons wish at the very end!
Best wishes,
Tom (tanomusic)
Windows 11, Intel Core i5-8600T 2.3Ghz, 16 gig ram, BIAB 2025 MegaPak, SampleTank 4, Keystation49 Kybd, Neewer NW-800 mic
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Janice, Bud & Peter,
You make a great trio... Another stellar production. I love the song and the way Janice delivers the vocal - it just breathes. Some awesome guitar work by Peter as usual - the fills are immaculate here.
The mix is tremendous - I hear all the subtleties in the arrangement and the blending of the tracks and vocal. It does not get any better...
Bob
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Janice singing the blues and sounding awesome? Who'd have thunk?  Nice write, fits in with mellow style. You've got a very warm sound here. Good balance, everything clearly in their own place on the stage, nothing stepping on anything else. Clear and easy on the ears. I like the way you've laid out the signal chain in your comments - very helpful! Thanks for the present!
-- 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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Thank you for the wonderful “audio Christmas card”!
Vision realized, I’d say..I could also see myself sitting there listening to Janice spinning out a very seasonal, positive blues at the piano, with able sidemen surrounding her with backtrack and solo/fill-ins to make it an extra-special holiday moment.
Bud, production elements are great,a don thanks you for all the notes..I’m going to research some of your “tools” ‘cause I’d like to ramp up the quality of my stuff to try to reach the goodness that I hear here (here,here!)
Loved the personal Seasons wish at the very end!
Best wishes,
Tom (tanomusic) You are more than welcome and thank you for the nice review. We are glad that you felt the same imagery for the “band” scene. This whole production thing is definitely a journey and not a destination. The forum is really a great place to learn production chops given that unlike many boards the members here are both civil and helpful. Having said that your productions are excellent and and the texturing and layering is unique. We appreciate your comments! 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
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Oh man is this ever sweet. Great vocals and SUPERB mix. I think maybe your best mix. Love the drum treatment and the guitar is awesome. Utter gorgeosity. Nice photo too!!
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Another good one. I love Janice's voice. Good lyrics, too!
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Today is the blues night J&B&P Excellent tune. Karma Savings Bank is open for business! As David pointed out, everything is very well balanced. I bow to your mixing expertise. Guitar is very smooth and blends in perfectly. Thank you for sharing. Misha.
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Man, Janice can really sing...
All of you have done a tremendous job on this tune...
I really enjoyed it...
Merry Christmas to all of you!
Jim
†=☮&♥
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Fantastic lounge music, loved it.
Janice is one fantastic singer, so smooth and sweet even in a blues song. Peter's guitar fits like a glove, very tasty leads. The backing tracks were spot on and of course your you mix is perfect, as always.
Principal: Your child always causes trouble in school.
Me: My child causes trouble at home, do I ever call you?
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Janice, Bud & Peter,
You make a great trio... Another stellar production. I love the song and the way Janice delivers the vocal - it just breathes. Some awesome guitar work by Peter as usual - the fills are immaculate here.
The mix is tremendous - I hear all the subtleties in the arrangement and the blending of the tracks and vocal. It does not get any better...
Bob
Thank you Bob. We really appreciate your positive comments regarding the vocal and mix. I’m biased, of course, but Janice with 8 and 12 bar blues just riffs out a melody a bit like a guitar player would jam. Usually on one take making my production part much easier! And yes, Peter, knows how to complement a melody for sure. We much appreciate your support! 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
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I envision Janice sitting at the piano singing a little 8 bar blues ditty when a jazz drummer and bass player drop by. Peter sees a light on and comes in for some tasty fills smile Thanks!
This about sums up why it works so well. There is a clear cut vision of what is happening. It's seems real, so it is real. The performers create that via real instruments and knowledge how to make the virtual players work. It takes a man of skill behind a keyboard to make that vision work as well. Otherwise, it ends up sounding like really good musicians in a basement somewhere. Great job to the three of you for creating something so authentic that I too can picture it. In fact, I picture it no other way now. When I feel like it happened; I believe it did. THAT is powerful. Great job!
Chad (Hope that makes it easier)
TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
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Hi Janice, Bud and Peter,
The chord structure must seem simple but the the result is so good and the emotion is present. Christian
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Janice singing the blues and sounding awesome? Who'd have thunk? Nice write, fits in with mellow style. You've got a very warm sound here. Good balance, everything clearly in their own place on the stage, nothing stepping on anything else. Clear and easy on the ears. I like the way you've laid out the signal chain in your comments - very helpful! Thanks for the present! David, we appreciate every word of that! Glad you like the present Thanks for mentioning the vocal and the sound stage. I try very hard to mix in a manner that presents a decent representation of a small live band. Those attempts work to greater and lesser degrees! 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
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Dear Janice, dear Bud, dear Peter,
oh boy, what a lovely heart-warming slow blues song...
I can only repeat it again and again: Janice, the way you sing is not just awesome, it's devine !!!!
And Bud, the whole thing sounds as brilliant as any of your productions - you really know how to turn those knobs...
And, Peter - tasteful as always, I just love your playing.
Happy Holidays and all the best for 2019.
Stefan
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Great pic guys!
love the laid back feel of this
nice write, excellent mix
so good
Merry Christmas
Kenny
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Oh man is this ever sweet. Great vocals and SUPERB mix. I think maybe your best mix. Love the drum treatment and the guitar is awesome. Utter gorgeosity. Nice photo too!! Thanks David! Appreciate you mentioning the mix and the drums. And yeah, Peter found the right notes for sure. "gorgeosity" We like that! 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
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Well, I knew I was going to love this even before I pressed play just based on the power trio involved.
This is seriously good! Love the laid back groove, and the instrumentation is spot on, anything more would have taken away from the feel.
Great tone and subtle licks from Peter, just the perfect approach for the song.
And Janice is .... well, Janice is doing what Janice does! Always a treat to hear her sing.
Killer job on the mix, Bud, listened once though the phones and again through the monitors. And I'll be back to listen again.
All the best to you guys for the holiday!
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If there is anyone with karma in the bank...it is definitely y'all!! It's all been said at least a dozen times already... everything about this is Excellent. The piano, the drums, the bass all sound good. Peter's guitar work is just what it needs to be - subtle, sweet, soothing. Janice is the Star that she always is. A Christmas Star this time, I guess Merry Christmas to you all. And Heart, too!! HA! (or HO! HO! HO!) fj
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Oh yeah, love this one guys
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