|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357 |
Lately Spirit Level songs have been loud, high gain outings; here`s something completely different Scott and I worked up and never quite finished. The write happened at the time the Thai cave boys rescue was happening ( a story my family hung on breathlessly as we have connections to the area). Music Underwater Style is _SCARCE.STY (Scarce Dreamy Americana) RealTracks in style: 2877:Bass, Acoustic, AmericanaSlow16thsByron Ev16 060 RealTracks in style: 2704:Synth, Rhythm CloudRapLowOrgan Ev16 075 2705 " " " " Percussive RealTracks in song: 1596:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Pop16ths Ev16 065 RealTracks in song: 1840:Synth Pad, PopModernGrooveMellow Ev16 075 RealDrums Mallets slow Folk 8ths Loops Waterphone/Rainstick/Bodhran Scott: Guitar: Les Paul Amp: Marshall 1974x Effects: H9’s and an Archer. Music Underwater drip drip cavern dark shivering shimmering thoughts fly and spark folding wings inside myself hours of days accordion who will come to help neversinkneversinkneversink weak the arms fighting for me in a tiny ocean the belly of a beast heard that drum once before music underwater the day I was born deep inside this dare drink the midnight cool pray the mountain spirit spares feel her breathe and sigh how to tell you mother when we are eye to eye swimtoyouswimtoyouswimtoyou weak the arms fighting for me in a tiny ocean the belly of a beast I heard that drum once before music underwater the day I was born © Robert Cordrey Jan. 2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936 |
Robert & Scott...
A really cool soundscape. Innovative instrument choices. Carries the narrative well. Scott's guitar fits perfectly.
A good write. "I heard that drum once before music underwater the day I was born" ...nice.
There were a few spots where the vocal gets "muddled up" with similar frequencies resulting in a bit of boominess. (Not sure which track is bumping into it...) It's a cool vocal.
Good envelope-pushing. Keep it up!
fj
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,802
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,802 |
Hi Robert and Scott,
I had to listen several times to this remarkable, intriguing song. It appealed to a lot within me, beside the story of those boys. The melody is the most intriguing part, but Roberts' vocals had a great contribute to it too. Very well done!
The things Floyd mentioned I didn't hear, but that is maybe because of my second line.
Beautiful!
Hans
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,035
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,035 |
Robert, this sounds like a sunrise... Beautiful piece of work.
Bob
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,349
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,349 |
Robert & Scott...
A really cool soundscape. Innovative instrument choices. Carries the narrative well. Scott's guitar fits perfectly.
A good write. "I heard that drum once before music underwater the day I was born" ...nice.
There were a few spots where the vocal gets "muddled up" with similar frequencies resulting in a bit of boominess. (Not sure which track is bumping into it...) It's a cool vocal.
Good envelope-pushing. Keep it up!
fj Thanks Floyd. I was so glad Robert put this song back on the table. Glad you liked it. Hi Robert and Scott,
I had to listen several times to this remarkable, intriguing song. It appealed to a lot within me, beside the story of those boys. The melody is the most intriguing part, but Roberts' vocals had a great contribute to it too. Very well done!
The things Floyd mentioned I didn't hear, but that is maybe because of my second line.
Beautiful!
Hans [/quote
Thanks Hans. Glad you liked it.
[quote=rsdean]Robert, this sounds like a sunrise... Beautiful piece of work.
Bob Hey Bob Good to hear from you glad you like the song.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,317
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,317 |
Robert, Such a contrast from previous tune. Excellent slow write! Your poetry is always a treat. Nice intimate vocals. Scott's guitar sounds perfect. Percussion works very (!) well on this. A good clear mix. Enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing! Misha.
P.S. That cave incident was very intense and emotional. Sadly, that hero diver died.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,605
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,605 |
I was surprised by the style change, closer to Robert's usual song. But it is welcome change. Easy to relate to the feelings in the story, because it was such a big news also here. "Hours of days accordion" - the delicate subject handled beautifully. Nice vocal effect to give feeling of an echo in a cave. Also percussions and loops add to the imagery. Maybe Scott's guitar could have had some bouncing effect somewhere. The guitar works nicely on its own. I like the selected bass.
Janne
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357 |
Robert & Scott...
A really cool soundscape. Innovative instrument choices. Carries the narrative well. Scott's guitar fits perfectly.
A good write. "I heard that drum once before music underwater the day I was born" ...nice.
There were a few spots where the vocal gets "muddled up" with similar frequencies resulting in a bit of boominess. (Not sure which track is bumping into it...) It's a cool vocal.
Good envelope-pushing. Keep it up!
fj Floyd, Thanks for supporting our delving into different styles. This was a tough song to mix - I wanted a "cavernous" sound ( bassy, echoes) which is challenging to keep from sounding muddy. Others with more experience in whatever genre this fits would know better how to sort the frequency overlap; my solution was to record the high harmony vocal and pretty much ignore the tonal balance of modern music. Robert
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,171
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,171 |
We followed that story very closely. It was fascinating in many aspects ... technically, human nature and geographically.
Thanks to your backstory it is easy to envision facets of the news story within your write.
We felt the cavernous vibe that you mentioned. And the ethereal production also adds to it.
Your vocal, Scott's playing, the band choice and the mix all worked well to create that vibe.
Well done!
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: Jun 2017
Posts: 3,007
PG Music Staff
|
PG Music Staff
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 3,007 |
This painted a really strong image and felt like a musical story for sure. Great use of the style. Thanks for sharing!
Cheers, Ember
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,060
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,060 |
Spirit Level,
You folks really have been hitting your stride of late. While a departure from your more recent cuts, this is just excellent. Moody and haunting, with an underlying sadness and beauty. Love’s Scott’s guitar work on this—really resonates. A poetic, wonderful write; excellent vocals—in particular that harmony sits just perfectly behind the lead. Outstanding work, gents!
All the best,
Deej
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,081
Expert
|
Expert
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,081 |
A really beautiful song. A very otherworldly sound, which fits the topic perfectly. The lyrics are poetry, as always, and the guitar work by Scott is thrilling, as usual. Great job here. The band captured a mystic mood too. Nice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,104
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,104 |
Wow, what a cool song. Robert & Scott, you guys are such talented songwriters and performers. I really like the almost haunting harmony. Everything so tastefully presented.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,067
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,067 |
Very cool intro, sets the mood right from the start. Nice production, sounds great through the 'phones.
You guys are pushing the sides of the envelope with every song you do, no matter the genre.
Always a delight to listen to!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 448
Journeyman
|
Journeyman
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 448 |
This painted a really strong image and felt like a musical story for sure. Great use of the style. Thanks for sharing! Well said !
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357 |
Hans - Glad you could relate to the subject and enjoyed our change of pace
Bob- I like that image; thank you for listening.
Misha - I appreciate those positive comments. I`m as hardened to feeling watching news as most; those boys and particularly their equanimity under such duress, got right through.
Janne - Yes, this is my musical ballad self,with percussion,sound effects and Scott`s fine accompaniment. Thanks for your kind comments on the vocals and lyrics.
J&B- I`m happy to hear you found those cavernous sounds convincing. Thanks for your thoughtful comments.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,281
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,281 |
Nice one. Subtlety and nuance...very pre me.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,349
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,349 |
Robert, Such a contrast from previous tune. Excellent slow write! Your poetry is always a treat. Nice intimate vocals. Scott's guitar sounds perfect. Percussion works very (!) well on this. A good clear mix. Enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing! Misha.
P.S. That cave incident was very intense and emotional. Sadly, that hero diver died. Thanks Misha for the awesome comments. So glad you liked the song. I was surprised by the style change, closer to Robert's usual song. But it is welcome change. Easy to relate to the feelings in the story, because it was such a big news also here. "Hours of days accordion" - the delicate subject handled beautifully. Nice vocal effect to give feeling of an echo in a cave. Also percussions and loops add to the imagery. Maybe Scott's guitar could have had some bouncing effect somewhere. The guitar works nicely on its own. I like the selected bass.
Janne Thanks Janne for checking out the song. Appreciate your comments. Glad you like it. We followed that story very closely. It was fascinating in many aspects ... technically, human nature and geographically.
Thanks to your backstory it is easy to envision facets of the news story within your write.
We felt the cavernous vibe that you mentioned. And the ethereal production also adds to it.
Your vocal, Scott's playing, the band choice and the mix all worked well to create that vibe.
Well done!
J&B Thanks Janice and Bud for checking out the song. So glad you liked it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357 |
Thanks to all listening and finding good things in our subterranean musing...we`ll be back with another rocker soon!
Robert
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 1,572
Expert
|
Expert
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 1,572 |
Hi Robert,
Nice research in the instrumentation which creates a very special atmosphere. The reverb is well balanced and allows you to highlight your voice. The lyrics are very gripping. Well done.
Kindly regard alias JaniJackFlash
Kindly regards Derochette alias JaniJackFlash
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed 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 transcribe 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, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
Holiday Weekend Hours
It's Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada. Our Customer Service hours are:
Saturday, May 16: Closed
Sunday, May 17: Closed
Monday, May 18: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Regular hours resume Tuesday, May 19th!
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
Don't wait - order today!
Check out all the new features in the redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,315
Posts803,250
Members40,094
| |
Most Online64,515 Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|