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I am a recent arrival to the BIAB User Showcase/SoundCloud experience, (first song posted Dec 2018).
The convenience of SoundCloud - allowing me to easily play back my songs on many and varied sound systems - inspires me to finish songs and hopefully helps me to improve my mixing/mastering skills.
However, listening to my songs on various systems also makes me too aware of my mixing deficiencies.
But I think I’m learning. So I hope you will forgive me for posting a new mix of my song, The Forest AND the Trees, featuring some great guitar work from Brent Mason.
The earlier version(s) were a bit lacking in dynamics and balance.
I welcome all comments, tips criticism etc.
Thank you.
Mike

Here’s the latest (and the last) mix:
The Forest AND the Trees

https://soundcloud.com/user-952388172/the-forest-and-the-trees-better-mix

RealTracks in song:
684:Bass, Electric, PopHalfNotesSync Ev 120
RT2201:Guitar, Nylon, Background CountryBrent Ev 120
RT543:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Dreamy Ev 120
RealDrums in Song: NashvillePop16
Rhythm guitar: midi using Session Guitar Strummed Acoustic 2
Keyboard: Kontakt's DX-7


Mike Garry
BIAB 2025/RealBand, UltraPak, Kontakt, EZmix, Ozone 9 Elements, Hybrid 3, Audacity, MSi PC, Windows 11, 64bit, 16GB ram, CPU: Intel i7.

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This is really good. I especially liked that Kontakt DX-7 and how it blended with the RTs.

To nitpick I would bring up the backing track volumes some. But that is a personal choice.

I really enjoyed this.


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I really liked this Mike. Excellent sound and excellent song


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Great mix on this! Really enjoyed the bass channel on this. Well done!


Cheers,
Joe
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Dear Mr. Garry...

I can't tell if the image of the painting of the leafy tree grove mirrors the sound of your composition, "The Forest AND the Trees", or if the composition describes the essence of the trees!

Either way, your song is cheerful, melodic and sunny. The melody itself is instantly hummable. The fairly frequent instrumental changes make the song move like a Spring breeze. Your keyboard skills add even more brightness to the production, too. It's like morning time set to music.

I don't bother much with tweaking technical shortcomings in my songs unless they're glaring, so I leave it to other listeners to point them out to me, which means I'm the last person to hear any "deficiencies" in your mix. The song was too pleasing to my ears and too stimulating to my spirit to notice things like that, anyway.

Thank you for posting such a soul-soothing song for us to enjoy.

Truly,

LOREN (a.k.a. "bluage")


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Sounds great. I love the tone of the mix. Good job!

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Originally Posted By: MarioD
This is really good. I especially liked that Kontakt DX-7 and how it blended with the RTs.

To nitpick I would bring up the backing track volumes some. But that is a personal choice.

I really enjoyed this.

Thanks Mario. Appreciate your comments.
Mike


Mike Garry
BIAB 2025/RealBand, UltraPak, Kontakt, EZmix, Ozone 9 Elements, Hybrid 3, Audacity, MSi PC, Windows 11, 64bit, 16GB ram, CPU: Intel i7.

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Originally Posted By: bluage
Dear Mr. Garry...

I can't tell if the image of the painting of the leafy tree grove mirrors the sound of your composition, "The Forest AND the Trees", or if the composition describes the essence of the trees!

Either way, your song is cheerful, melodic and sunny. The melody itself is instantly hummable. The fairly frequent instrumental changes make the song move like a Spring breeze. Your keyboard skills add even more brightness to the production, too. It's like morning time set to music.

I don't bother much with tweaking technical shortcomings in my songs unless they're glaring, so I leave it to other listeners to point them out to me, which means I'm the last person to hear any "deficiencies" in your mix. The song was too pleasing to my ears and too stimulating to my spirit to notice things like that, anyway.

Thank you for posting such a soul-soothing song for us to enjoy.

Truly,

LOREN (a.k.a. "bluage")

Thanks for your kind words Loren.
I should point out the keyboard solo is from a RealTrack. I adapted the track's Real Chart notation for the DX-7. Unfortunately, I don't have the original file to identify the RT. From memory, I think it was a country piano style featuring John Jarvis but I can't confirm that.
Thanks again,
Mike


Mike Garry
BIAB 2025/RealBand, UltraPak, Kontakt, EZmix, Ozone 9 Elements, Hybrid 3, Audacity, MSi PC, Windows 11, 64bit, 16GB ram, CPU: Intel i7.

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Thanks for listening Scott. I appreciate your comments.
Mike


Mike Garry
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Hello Mike,

what a nice tune - I really love it. And the song title is perfect, I could almost see and feel the trees move in a breeze. A fabulous sound, great mix and the DX-7 sounds fantastic. very good job!.

Tae care,

Stefan

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Very pretty!! Sounds great to me!! I've always been a sucker for that DX7 sound. Really lively, pleasant tune! Great work!! Take care. Greg

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Originally Posted By: Greg Johnson
Very pretty!! Sounds great to me!! I've always been a sucker for that DX7 sound. Really lively, pleasant tune! Great work!! Take care. Greg

Thanks Greg. Appreciate you taking the time to listen.
There have been a few comments about the DX-7. It seems like it was/is a favourite of many musicians.
Mike

Last edited by mkg50; 01/06/19 11:29 AM.

Mike Garry
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Mike,

This is nice. A good listen - really keeps the ear engaged. As Greg said "Lively". Moves well.

The mix is good. (I would bring the drums up a bit though...)

Enjoyed it.

fj


(Thanks for having a listen to "Looking At A Girl")

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Mike,
There`s a lovely flow to this music- well done on the melody ( impressive use of your skills to adapt the RT piano solo).
I agree with Floyd the drums could use a boost.
Very enjoyable!

Robert

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Thanks Floyd for your advice.
On re-listening I agree the drums could be higher in the mix. I will persevere to get the best results I can - don't worry I don't intend to post innumerable mixes on the PG Forum.
The advice and encouragement from everyone has been wonderful. Thanks, Mike


Mike Garry
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Originally Posted By: Robertkc
Mike,
There`s a lovely flow to this music- well done on the melody ( impressive use of your skills to adapt the RT piano solo).
I agree with Floyd the drums could use a boost.
Very enjoyable!

Robert
Thanks for listening and for your comments.
Cheers, Mike


Mike Garry
BIAB 2025/RealBand, UltraPak, Kontakt, EZmix, Ozone 9 Elements, Hybrid 3, Audacity, MSi PC, Windows 11, 64bit, 16GB ram, CPU: Intel i7.

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Originally Posted By: Joe -PG Music
Great mix on this! Really enjoyed the bass channel on this. Well done!

Thanks Joe. I appreciate your taking the time to listen and to comment. It means a lot to get feedback from an 'old hand' from PG Music.
Cheers, Mike


Mike Garry
BIAB 2025/RealBand, UltraPak, Kontakt, EZmix, Ozone 9 Elements, Hybrid 3, Audacity, MSi PC, Windows 11, 64bit, 16GB ram, CPU: Intel i7.

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As others have mentioned there is a very pleasant flow to this...vey organic sound.

Your performance works well with the solo guitar RT and the backing track.

Nice!

J&B

FWIW I'd slight boost all the backing tracks and give the drums a more hefty boost.


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Originally Posted By: Janice & Bud
As others have mentioned there is a very pleasant flow to this...vey organic sound.

Your performance works well with the solo guitar RT and the backing track.

Nice!

J&B

FWIW I'd slight boost all the backing tracks and give the drums a more hefty boost.


Thanks guys. After reading your comments, I found this definition of "organic" (used in a musical sense) on the internet: "Typically music that is organic 'grows' from the seed of an idea and then develops into a different thing."
That pretty much sums up what happens with my music.
Thanks for listening.
Mike


Mike Garry
BIAB 2025/RealBand, UltraPak, Kontakt, EZmix, Ozone 9 Elements, Hybrid 3, Audacity, MSi PC, Windows 11, 64bit, 16GB ram, CPU: Intel i7.

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