Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,243
rayc Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,243
Managed with Strife
I read, AND paid attention - requests for more vocal level (as usual) and some for more bass - I've tried to do both in this slight remix. This is a little quieter and less dense because I've not bothered with faux mastering.
I also moved the piano and the 12 string tag in the chorus.
Manage with Strife mix 2
OK,
Here's the updated mix with the same faux mastering as the original - less oranges and lemons and more apples ...

Managed with Strife - Mix 2 faux mastered
This is much more BIAB for me.
Piano
Strings (2 iterations of quartet + 1 of cello + 1 of fiddle = blended)
Drums
Lead solos - psych march
matched with Vantage Bass, Harley Benton 12 String & Squire Mustang.
I posted this a while back looking & hoping for a singer & lead guitarist and, after the thing sat unnoticed, Misha picked it up -he's done a cool job with melody & vocal performance.
THANKS Rustyspoon!
Lyrics...
When I remember you
There’s nothing I can do
I crawl within my shell,
I seek the night.
Try to move beyond the past
I recall what happened last

You took up half my life
Managed me with strife
Taught me with pain
I‘d have to be insane
I won’t go there again

There’s no need that you be named
It’s enough that I was shamed
You turned your back on me
I slowly died
Now those memories inform
A love you’d gladly deform

You took up half my life
Uncertainty was rife
Taught me with pain
From sacred to profane
I won’t go there again

Hallowed was your name
But to you is was a game
The things I’d thought and lived
For far too long
As I couldn’t see a way
To go up to you and say

You took up half my life
Words cut like a knife
Taught me with pain
Won’t open up that vein
I won’t go there again

Any & all mix comments welcome as this isn't "finished'.

Last edited by rayc; 03/02/20 11:47 PM.

Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
User Showcase
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,605
Veteran
Online Content
Veteran
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,605
Brilliant job, I thought. I'm not the guy for mix comments, haha, but - for what it's worth, I did feel that the voice was a little bit quiet compared to the backing track. But what do I know? I just really enjoyed the song, of course ... just found myself straining a little to hear Misha at times, that's all. But maybe I'm just deaf :-)

User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,885
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,885
The guitars sound really good. They give the song an excellent drive/flow.
The bass track is nice. I thought it could use a bit more punch/oomph (volume, I think).
Drums sound really good. I like that snare. They are at a very good level.

The vocal needs some high end to lift it a bit. It is being overshadowed by the guitars. (And some high harmonies would be nice).

fj

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,298
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,298
This is a really cool tune. Super vocal. Really pushed your low range. Excellent backtrack


Scott Collingwood
https://soundcloud.com/scottt709
https://soundcloud.com/spiritlevel-ca
https://www.youtube.com/@SpiritLevel-ge3hm/
User Showcase
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 362
E
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
E
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 362
This is excellent. I really like the guitar parts and the melody which is playing on ??? instrument - it has a sort of 60's sound to it, that catchy little up/down riff. What's really great about this is that everything just works and blends perfectly - the various parts and the vocals just play off each other.


Ed Z

Soundcloud profile
https://soundcloud.com/user-415064494
BIAB user since 2019
iPad Mini, Garageband for iOS, BIAB for Windows 2020 UltraPAK, Xtra Styles packs 6-9, Windows 10 Lenovo PC, Kontakt Player, SpitFire LABS, SampleTank 4 CS, some Soundfonts


User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,193
B
Expert
Offline
Expert
B
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,193
'rayc' and Misha!!!

Gentlemen, you two truly created a unique mood and feel through your collaboration on your song, Managed with Strife. The lyrics were toxically descriptive (I hope I never run into the person that did all those terrible things, ha-ha smile !!!), and the music threw a darkly revealing and chilling light on them with its driving, despairing anti-energy.

Misha, you sang those lyrics like someone who'd just awakened from a nightmare. Listening to you reminded me of being in the presence of a person who was in a state of temporary shock after enduring a traumatic experience. Their voice was little more than a dazed drone as they attempted to remember what had actually happened to them. As far as my impression of your performance is concerned, I'd say you functioned as much as a perceptively interpretive actor in the song, as you also filled the role of the singer in it.

'rayc', your unsettling composition and its implacable arrangement were clearly (to me, at least) the result of you having a vivid, well-formed idea of what you wanted to hear in the finished 'product'. I say that because the song felt like a sudden eruption of feelings, like something that got out of you before you knew it had freed itself, and not something that you worried over for a long time.

Am I right about that?

Regardless, the song is an intense listening experience that dares the listener to try to escape from it.

Bravo, gents! It's a memorable, 'caught in the headlights' kind of collaboration.

Truly-ooly,

LOREN


"Music is what feelings sound like."-- borrowed from a Cakewalk Music Creator forum member, "Mamabear".
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 8,647
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 8,647
Ray and Misha ...

This is a really interesting song with a nice arrangement. I didn't listen to the original but did to the remix (my time here is extremely limited. Misha has a way of giving a lyric a new and exciting edge that can catch you off-guard in a very good way. The lyric is a bit cryptic but well put together. I particularly noticed the band you put together ... excellent selection of tracks. the only thing I might suggest is the overall volume could come up a bit. I think doing so would better showcase the the energy of the song.

Nice job, gentlemen!

ALan


BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar

Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops

User Showcase
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,042
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,042
Didn't listen to the first mix, this new one sounds good though as far as the vocal levels go.

Good track, I especially like the guitars and that melodic hook. Great drum sound too.

Enjoyed!

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,699
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,699
hi rayc and misha for me I like the first mix they are both very good the first one is more up front on my system and warmer and this is really good stuff guys you should be proud thanks eric


AMD (TM) 5950 4.9 GHz 16Core Processor 64 bit 32 bits of ram windows 10 pro 64 bit os. sound card Antelope ZenQ guitars Ibanez 2202a 1968 les Paul Custom and Cavin ae 185 Guitar boss Gt-100,GT1000 pedal Yamaha HS8 studio monitors
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,885
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,885
The new mix is better balanced (though I did have to really jack up my speakers to get the same level as before - I imagine the earlier "mastering" is the difference?)

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357
New mix vocal levels sound good. Misha is quite restrained on this, which brings something ominous to the song.
The guitars are great- really like the break at 1:35.
I think I actually prefer the denser layered backing on Mix1... but maybe I was influenced by the boost in volume!

Robert

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,080
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,080
"You took up half my life
Uncertainty was rife
Taught me with pain
From sacred to profane
I won’t go there again"

Just enough ambiguity to allow listeners to
"own" the song.

The guitars and bass sound very nice and the snare
has that hard to achieve (for us) leathery pop.

Opinions are a dime a dozen re mixes and at the end you
just gotta go with what you like or as we do just abandon it smile
That's a wordy preface to saying that for us, on our monitors,
the vocal seems a bit buried. But we realize that sound is
systemic to a LOT of rock.

Having blathered all that we enjoyed the good rock tune!

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: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647
Sounds good through headphones - vocals sound fine to me.

Good song, good vocal and some nice guitar parts.

Peter

User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,749
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,749
Hi Ray and Misha,

This is a nice, and also ‘sweet’ collaboration between the both of you. I also haven’t heard the first mix, but in this one vocals and band works fine together.
The lyrics are impressing. The way you make those words work together to form an intriguing lovestory, or better a not-at-all-lovestory is very well done. What happens when you two start working together???
There is only one thing in the vocals that I would have done a bit different, but it’s a matter of taste of course. Now the singing has a somewhat monotonous effect on me. I would have increased the sound a bit towards the end, and also sang it with more variation at that point, if you know what I mean.

Hans


Hans Berkhout
(Birchwood)
https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,586
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,586
Good song, nice vocal, sweet guitars and a good mix.

This is a really good song.


Back in my day the only time we started panic buying was when the bartender shouted "last call"!

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,258
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,258
Great song, I prefer the first mix as it's warmer and has a bit more punch to it. I think the lead voca could come up a tad, but overall a great job guys

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,243
rayc Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,243
Thanks Mr D.
Your ears agree with most folk on the vocal level so you're qualified to offer such a suggestion. It's also my default position I suppose. Thanks for the kind words.


Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,243
rayc Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,243
fj, thanks for the initial suggestion, which I adopted, and for the follow up...yes faux mastering was the diff. & I've addressed that also thanks to you ...ta muchly.


Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,243
rayc Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,243
Thank you Scott. Misha is always up for an experiment and/or experience. Brave lad that he is.


Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,243
rayc Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,243
Thanks EdZ314,
The little riff is two takes on an electric 12 string.
You're appraisal is most generous.


Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!

If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!

If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!

Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.

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!

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics86,106
Posts800,272
Members40,037
Most Online44,367
Mar 4th, 2026
Newest Members
Ahsen, Shakey2, Jeminzlee, Matt1575, Christian210
40,036 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 132
rsdean 99
DC Ron 86
WaoBand 63
Today's Birthdays
Arie Klaassen, rd151
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5