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I enjoyed this, very uplifting and you have a brilliant voice. I'd like to hear the old version if you have it anywhere to compare the two.
What are your thoughts on the CLA plugins and Ozone? I have the CLA vocals plugin as part of a Waves subscription and I like it so I was considering getting some of the other ones.
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Love the song. Nice write, well sung, nice harmonies thickening the chorus, excellent arrangement. I like how you made the chorus big. Really, really small nit: The strummed acoustic guitar on my left speaker (assuming I've wired it correctly) every now and then "pops" out. Maybe you're panning one of the guitars across the stereo field? It's not terrible, it just feels random, instead of being motivated. Anyway, I really liked this one.  Hi David, I always look forward to reading what you write. Thanks for taking the time. Following your comments, I re-listened to this song a number of times to isolate the popping sound you mention. I suspect that what you are hearing is a soft synth sound that I added from Dimension Pro. I was aiming to add a little movement in the audio. This sound ping pongs back and forth between full left and full right. and dies out after around three 'bounces'. I didn't add this sound until the second chorus and then I used it in a couple of places where vocals rest. I'm going to be revisiting the mix in the next couple of days and I'll have a more critical listen. Thanks for pointing it out. All the best, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Hi Noel
I like this a lot. Very nice lyrics and vocal.
You've labelled it a 'rock ballad' but to me it somehow has a bit of a folky feel about it (maybe its the tone of your voice and the delivery).
Regards,
Leon
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Love the positive messages on your songs. Very uplifting Noel. Super vocal and loved the backtrack. Well done..
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Revisiting old mixes with new skills and new tools is a worthwhile thing to do IMHO, I've been starting to do that too. I'm also a fan of the CLA series, very useful set of plugins. Very good song, Noel, I enjoyed it, and your mix sounds great to these ears  Hi Dave, Great to see you! Although it doesn't always do the job I'm after, I'm really pleased that I bought the CLA signature series. It was a bargain price ($49) so I had little to lose. I've chosen not to follow the 'licence' approach that Waves uses and just stay with my original purchase of CLA 10. CLA unplugged and CLA drums are the two I most use. Glad you like the song. Thanks for the positive feedback. All the best with your song re-modelling! Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Noel
This was sounding nice and full on my side , Its a pleasant listen clear and precise ..chorus was just fitting for the style of this song.
Enjoyed my listen.....
Only one thing left to say..?
Leon1 I enjoyed this, very uplifting and you have a brilliant voice. I'd like to hear the old version if you have it anywhere to compare the two.
So would I.
win 10 64 bit 16gb,i7 chip, ssd 500gb, m-audio air, ,Roland BK-7M, 1000,shure sm7b,sonar,acid,mixcraft, variety of plugins.Sample tank 3,Kontakt. TC Helicon Voicelive 3 2 . https://beatmaster1.bandcamp.com/releases
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Hi Noel Your songs are always so positive and upbeat. Loved it. I am sure that updating this was to BIAB 2019 was a revelation. I would love to hear the original to compare. I tend to cringe a little when Listening back to what I actually produced in 2012 Hi Joanne, Appreciate the visit! Thank you for having a listen. And yes... BIAB 2019 has a ton more stuff than BIAB 2012 had (although, I have to admit that in 2012, I was walking on that proverbial cloud 9 'cause BIAB let me do so much music making). It's an incredible program that just keeps on getting better and better. I'll think about putting the old wav up for you to listen to. I did cringe when I listened to it after working on this. It's good to know I'm getting better, at least. Thanks again and all the best, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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We've also begun to revisit some older projects but unlike you I get so depressed with the way they sound I don't have the heart to tackle re-doing them This has all the Noel goodness. A heartfelt positive lyric and vocal and a well mixed band (excellent RT choices). What better attitude could one have than "The best is yet to come?" No need to parse it out. We like it ALL! Kudos on the remix. J&B PS And, we are huge fans of that CLA series...I'm slowly but surely moving a bit away from Neutron and more toward them...patricularly the CLA drums and CLA unplugged.
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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Very nice anthemic ballad with uplifting simple message. Great vocals and production, BIAB has done wonders again Janne
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Hi Noel. It's as uplifting a message as I have come to expect...but there's also a tinge of melancholy. It doesn't even seem to be trying to "uplift" me. Between the tempo and the chord changes, the build with distorted guitars, as well as the lyric, this "feels more declaratory and inviting rather than emotionally manipulative (for lack of a better word at the moment). All sounds good to me here on phones at mid-volume. Very much enjoyed and appreciated. Hi Tangmo, Thank you for dropping in! I'm really pleased to read that you picked up on the hint of melancholy. Your description is a great match for my lyric and melodic intentions. I wrote these words from the perspective of moving on from one situation in life to another one... e.g. changing jobs, moving interstate, etc., and leaving friends and familiar surroundings behind in pursuit of new circumstances. So, while the song is happy with the excitement of change, for me in my mind -- and I wouldn't expect anyone else to hear this -- there is also an underlying sadness and nostalgia that comes from leaving good things behind. (I hope that that makes sense.) At the end of the day, though, what motivated me to write these lyrics is just a stepping stone to getting cohesive words together. My aim is always to try and write lyrics that leave enough room for listeners to interpret them in ways that are personal and meaningful to them. I sincerely appreciate your visit and your thoughts. Thank you again. Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Wonderful song Noel!! I love the philosophical aspect of your writing....always love deep stuff! Beautiful job on the arrangement and mix as well. A delightful listen!! Take care. Greg
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Noel,
Your work is always top-shelf... This revisit was well worth the effort. Great vocal and mix.
I really enjoyed this piece.
Bob Hi Bob, It's always good to see you. I appreciate the visit. Thank you. Now if only I could master being as clever with words and as productive at songwriting as you are! All the best, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Noel, I really like this one! I particularly like the way "the best is yet to come" repeats. Melodically, it emphasizes and settles the statement. The best is yet to come.
Always the optimist! I love that about your songs. So many negative things happen in this world, it's really nice to be reminded of the good and the potential. Keep up the good work!
Steve
Hi Steve, I always smile when I see that you've visited a thread. Hope things are going well for you! Repetition is such a powerful device in lyrics. It's one of the reasons that traditional 12-bar blues lyrics work so well. Thanks for having a listen. And thank you for the positive comments! All the best, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Agree with Steve Young about liking the way "the best is yet to come" repeats. I read in a song writing book the best way to make a lyric memorable is to repeat and repeat often. A slightly melancholy mood, yet optimistic. Well done vocal, mix, and production. Enjoyed the listen.
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Nice work on this! I don't know if I heard the original, but this one certainly sounds right on the money. I concur with those above me - the mix is top notch, really high quality - and your vocals are great also. Perfectly catchy, and some awesome progressions too. Thanks for sharing Hi Deryk, Thankyou. I really appreciate your comments. Even after a dozen years, mixing is still like a game of tug-of-war for me! A lot of effort and when luck is with me, I'm sometimes a winner. All the best, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Hi Noel,
I really liked this one: A very nice positive write which is perfectly represented by the melody and your singing - superbly arranged and sounding great. Enjoyed the listen a lot!
Take care,
Stefan
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Noel, you totally won me with the first two lines:
Sitting by a campfire
Beneath the Southern Cross
Boy I've done that so often. The Victorian High Country is my favorite place from absolutely everywhere.
Fantastic delivery, lyrics, loved the phrasing 'walked the green and gold'. Perfect.
Trev
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Has an anthemic quality, especially as the chorus kicks in. Well done! Thanks for finding the time to have a listen. I appreciate it. Regards Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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'Noel96'... A Road With New Horizons would be a great song for me to listen to when I don't feel like getting up and going to work in the morning ... I like the loose-feeling rhyme scheme. The pedal steel guitar track sounds so sweet and bluesy that I'd like to try to find a place for it in a jazz composition !!! Your lyrics are like a flag held aloft in the hands of someone at the head of a long line of weary, but hopeful followers, leading them to a place where they might find the things they are looking for, and in abundance... Sometimes I think you might be a minister of a congregation. That's how consoling and spiritually reassuring your songs always seem to be. - bluage -
Last edited by bluage; 09/25/19 04:16 PM.
"Music is what feelings sound like."-- borrowed from a Cakewalk Music Creator forum member, "Mamabear".
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Thanks for sharing this Noel. It sounds great. The mix is so clean; every instrument (and your voice) has its space.
Cheers,
Mike Hi Mike. Thank you. I'm glad you had time to drop by. I appreciate your comments. All the best Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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