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I wrote these songs about a year ago The first song, Walk with me http://www.box.net/shared/vi8msquh3cuses edited real tracks of BIAB The second song I know it's true http://www.box.net/shared/t06oc9r7v3uses some midi tracks from BIAB and some played on CVP509 Any comments would be much appreciated. hanks Jim
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Hi Jim, As I'm typing this, I'm listening to "Walking too fast / Walk with me". Well done! I really like the relaxed, blues feel you've assembled. The weaving of the organ and piano in and out of the arrangement is good and works for me. Is that you playing the solo guitar sound? I can tell from the song that you have a well-developed sense of music and of production and that you know how to make BIAB/RB work for you. The only criticism I have is that at 5' 26" the song seemed a little long. That's just personal taste, though. I'm aware that it is not unusual to have rather lengthy works in this genre. Thank you for taking the time to share your work. It's always great to hear what others are doing. All the best, Noel P.S. One thing that occurred to me as I was re-listening was to wonder if you have tried playing the song in a slightly higher key (say, raise the key up a 3rd). That could work because it might add a little more "edge" to your vocals. This is just a thought, for what it's worth, and something that I'd try if this song was mine. Ultimately, the choice is yours, though. I hope you keep up the excellent work 
Last edited by Noel96; 03/05/10 06:33 PM.
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Hi Jim,
I'd like to mirror Noel's comments and add a few more. On my end the vocals stood out more than they usually do on home recordings... very clear and unobstructed by the background music. What did you do to accomplish that?
Both songs have a very pleasant sound, and the lyrics show a great deal of thought. Did you happen to author the lyrics? If so, great job!
My only negative observation is the same for both songs: the pattern remained a bit too constant for my taste. Especially with long songs, I enjoy it when the composer changes it up a bit with one or more techniques to introduce variation (eg. changes in dynamic intensity, tempo, key, chords, style, instrumentation, harmony, embellishment, bridges etc )
But if that's the worst observation I can come up with, life is good! The purpose of creative endeavors is not so much to please the sensibilities of every listener as it is to take an abstract idea and preserve it so it doesn't get lost.
Thanks for posting! Keep 'em coming!
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Hi Noel,
Thank you for listening and your very kind comments and I am very pleased you liked them.
I played the piano and also other parts on second song.
The point of rising the key up a third might be quite interesting.
I took a look at your site - very impressive and enjoyed your songs. I will listen to more later.
Thanks again for listening
Best Regards
Jim
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Hi Pat,
Thank you for listening and your very kind comments and I am very pleased you liked them.
I use Ozone 4 for mastering. The voice is recored via the Clavinova CVP509 with its mike input and apogee duet interface. I take your point about variation.
Thanks again for listening
Best Regards
Jim
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Quote:
Hi Pat,
Thank you for listening and your very kind comments and I am very pleased you liked them.
I use Ozone 4 for mastering. The voice is recored via the Clavinova CVP509 with its mike input and apogee duet interface. I take your point about variation.
Thanks again for listening
Best Regards
Jim
Jim,
In Ozone, did you use a specific preset, or a custom setting? If you used a preset, I'd like to know which one it was. I have Ozone, and I can't seem to get the same vocal clarity you got in this recording.
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Hi Pat,
I use CD setting in Ozone 4 but this is for the whole thing - master track. For vocal track you can eq to get the vocal to stand out - I often use the vocal plug in from Garageband but also Alloy from the same company as Ozone is very good. There is a vocal preset called excite which works very well but be careful not to overdo it and adjust the eq for your voice with that preset. Hope this helps.
Jim
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Jim, “Walk With Me” is a super blues song. Great backing tracks and vocals. The only thing I didn’t care for were the midi guitar leads – of course what would you expect from a guitarist  Replace those with either a B3 solo, a RealTrack guitar lead or a real guitarist and you will take it over the top. “I Know It’s True” is just perfect IMHO. Again the backing tracks and your vocal fit like a glove. Great job on these songs.
Principal: Your child always causes trouble in school.
Me: My child causes trouble at home, do I ever call you?
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Hi Mario,
Thanks for your very kind comments. A B3 solo would be great - since I play B3 - well NI's B4 version 2 - I am surprised that I did not include it.
Jim
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Nicely done! Great vocal clarity, nice feel.
I agree with Mario, use the B3!
Thanks for sharing.
Mick
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Hi Jim I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with points made by Mario  Seriously though those are two infectious songs you have there - the more you listen the more you want to listen. The B3 would sound great - better still because you are a keyboardist - if you played blues harp, I'd suggest some trade-offs with the B3. I differ from Mario in that I don't mind midi guitar. In my tunes I often want a Willie Nelson nylon-type guitar, so since I don't have one here or know a player of that style, I'll use one of BIAB's soloists and program short fills which often sound more realistic and fit exactly where you want them. In "I Know Its True" I wasn't sure I liked the percussion - too prominent - but after the third listen hardly noticed it at all in the song's hypnotic flow. I'd like to hear a bit of harmony - particularly in the repeat lines - "Yes I know it's true". Really nice balance on both, Jim. Man I wish I had your vocal control for slow songs. Cheers - Ian
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Regarding the comments on adding guiter (or any other instrument) to a mix using strictly midi notes applied to a patch:
There are lots of people here on the forum who LOVE to collaborate. If you want a real (insert instrument of choice here), but you play some other instrument, post a request for collaboration and somebody will gleefully download your song, add a part and send the resulting track back to you.
In this group we have virtually every instrument covered. What an opportunity!
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Thanks for sharing these tracks Jim
Although Walk with me is nicely played and put together, my lasting impression is of a track which lacks variety.
Over 5 mins of an identical chord structure with not even a verse/chorus variation to break the pattern puts a lot of strain on the other aspects of the track (solos, breaks, lyrical story,…) if it is to hold the listener’s attention.
I like some of the lyrical effects (the unexpected internal rhyme in the last line of each verse) but other parts sound clunky « the wheels of proGRESS ? ».
I much preferred I know it’s true, with its Chris Rea like soft-rock groove.
Like other commentators, I also appreciate your vocal clarity, even if I detect a slight Noel Coward like exaggerated delivery here and there.
Lyrically and in your interpretation, it really sounds that this song comes from the heart. But for all that, I find it hard to put my finger on the exact message in the song :
- true love will outlast all of life’s changes
- it’s impossible to understand kids
- where are the kids going wrong (or right ?)
- all of the above
Maybe you’re taking on too many different themes all in one piece, which is causing the confusion.
Also, and this is my last complaint ! as a non-Yammy man, I didn’t know what a CVP509 is and had to web search it.
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Quote:
Jim, “Walk With Me” is a super blues song. Great backing tracks and vocals. The only thing I didn’t care for were the midi guitar leads – of course what would you expect from a guitarist Replace those with either a B3 solo, a RealTrack guitar lead or a real guitarist and you will take it over the top.
“I Know It’s True” is just perfect IMHO. Again the backing tracks and your vocal fit like a glove.
Great job on these songs.
Getting in a bit late here but I see Mario said it as well or better than I could. All I'll add is congratulations on two fine songs.
Later,
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Quote:
I like some of the lyrical effects (the unexpected internal rhyme in the last line of each verse) but other parts sound clunky « the wheels of proGRESS ? ».
I much preferred I know it’s true, with its Chris Rea like soft-rock groove.
Like other commentators, I also appreciate your vocal clarity, even if I detect a slight Noel Coward like exaggerated delivery here and there.
Lyrically and in your interpretation, it really sounds that this song comes from the heart. But for all that, I find it hard to put my finger on the exact message in the song :
- true love will outlast all of life’s changes
- it’s impossible to understand kids
- where are the kids going wrong (or right ?)
- all of the above
Maybe you’re taking on too many different themes all in one piece, which is causing the confusion.
Marc,
I must say, you really make good observations! In order to say the things you've said here, you really had to invest some time listening and evaluating what he laid on the table for examination. Not everyone takes time to do that. Your comments always sound like the sort of thing a person would normally only hear if they paid big bucks to attend a songwriting workshop.
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Hi Pat, Marc, Danny,
Thanks for your comments
Marc:
Yes chord structure very simple for this song - I usually use quite complex chord progressions but this was just a simple blues. You are right about a little more variation.
As my imaginary Noel Coward once said "one man's groove is another man's clunk.
The message concerns the difficulty of each generation to fully understand another. The song does not say kids are going wrong. An older couple finds difficulties in understanding the next generation but this older couple view is rather optimistic. Each generation understands the present in relation to their understanding of the past. I do not agree there are too many themes in this song.
Good that you picked up the internal rhyme - you must have listened quite carefully - I appreciate your care.
Danny: I appreciate you listening and glad you liked them.
Pat, you are right about collaboration - people here with expertise in many instruments.
Jim
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Just listened to Walk with me. Nice blues. Well done! Citaat:
P.S. One thing that occurred to me as I was re-listening was to wonder if you have tried playing the song in a slightly higher key (say, raise the key up a 3rd). That could work because it might add a little more "edge" to your vocals. This is just a thought, for what it's worth, and something that I'd try if this song was mine. Ultimately, the choice is yours, though. I hope you keep up the excellent work
I second that.
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Quote:
As my imaginary Noel Coward once said "one man's groove is another man's clunk. "
Jim
that is a very profound quote in my opinion.
There is a tendency to evaluate art forms as though they have some sort of fixed rules that cannot be breached. That is not only untrue, it violates the very idea of art as mode of expression.
When Van Gogh painted. his work was disparaged because it did not line up with the rules that drove all of the realism so popular in his day. He didn't want to paint realistically, he had a different vision, so he disregarded the rules that lead to realism and made up his own.
Interestingly, now there are rules that apply to impressionism. It seems that in every endeavor, the creative types invent the rules, and the non-creative types institutionalize them.
This is much like the difference between "fashion" and "style"
To be fashionable is to be in line with the middle of the bell-shaped curve.
to be stylish is to separate from the group and create a personal style.
Those who are stylish change the world, but those who are fashionable make more money.
As WienSam so frequently says: "Follow the dream"
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I love that easy going shuffle boogie. I'm with the others, especially on the guitar. Get rid of it or use a synth. Learn to take advantage of the piano roll editor to put some action in your midi lead. This is too deadpan for the song. Good on ya with the blues feel.
Russ Anyday above ground is a good day Computer is Hp Pavillion Vision 6 Ghz quad core AMD processor 8 Gig memory 1 TB hard drive 6 GB hard drive Windows 7 Premium Loose nut behind the keyboard 
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Hi Mike, Pat, Russ
Mike: thanks Mike and I am pleased you liked it
Pat: you are right - my quote inspired your thoughts lol
Russ: you are so right about that guitar lead - sounds deadpan is a good description. PLeased you liked the song.
Jim
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