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Moonlight on the Magothy River. #663305 07/08/21 03:43 AM User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,081 jptjptjpt OP Expert
OP jptjptjpt Expert Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,081	I've been listing to AABA style compositions lately. I really love the simple format. Here is my first attempt into the genre. The song features the Magothy River, which is between Baltimore and Annapolis, Maryland. After WWII many residents of Baltimore spent the summer in beach houses they built on the shores of the rivers south of the city, including the Magothy. Today, all those small beach "cottages" or "shore shacks" have either been torn down and replaced by million dollar homes or they've been converted into expensive real estate. Song references: "Gibson Island" is an exclusive, gated island, of expensive mansions, at the mouth of the Magothy River, on the Chesapeake Bay. "the Bay" is the Chesapeake Bay, which the Magothy River empties into. The particulars: BIAB 2012 (still clearing out old projects before moving on to BIAB 2020) J!Mancni Jazz-Mancni-Slow pop sw.bal. 110 BPM Key G 33 Acoustic String Bass 1 Acoustic Piano 1 Standard Drum Kit 50 Slow Strings Yamaha PSRE403 (I play the high octave piano on the track) I recorded the vocals on my LG smartphone in my car. I put padding around me to absorb the sound waves. I then transferred the recording to my PC. Everything mixed in Mixcraft 5. Thank you for any listens and comments: Moonlight on the Magothy River Here is the Youtube version: Moonlight on the Magothy River Moonlight on the Magothy River tonight Sailing away with you, our future looks bright Moonlight on the Magothy River is fine Passing Gibson Island, I know you are mine I remember lonely days in Baltimore I couldn't find my way back down to the shore Moonlight on the Magothy River is bliss By the time we reach the Bay, you give me a kiss I remember lonely days in Baltimore I couldn't find my way back down to the shore Moonlight on the Magothy River tonight Sailing away with you, our future looks bright Copyright 2021 Sean Tully All Rights Reserved Last edited by jptjptjpt; 07/09/21 04:04 PM. My music can be heard at: The Cracks

Re: Moonlight on the Magothy River. jptjptjpt #663317 07/08/21 05:10 AM User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 10,727 Middlesex, NC Guitarhacker Veteran
Guitarhacker Veteran Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 10,727 Middlesex, NC	This interesting. I spent a few summers in the Chesapeake bay area as a kid...... not that that matters.... The cool aspect to this is how you recorded the vocals. In a car, with your phone. Because, yeah, they actually sound really good. I'd have never guessed by listening. I'll assume the car was parked in the driveway, but if it was during rush hour on the highway... a whole new level of respect is due. You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.

Re: Moonlight on the Magothy River. jptjptjpt #663382 07/08/21 10:40 AM User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2016 Posts: 7,199 Cooran Queensland Australia rayc Veteran
rayc Veteran Joined: Apr 2016 Posts: 7,199 Cooran Queensland Australia	I reckon this lively, lovely tune would benefit from either a more subtle drum track or none at all... Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe

Re: Moonlight on the Magothy River. Guitarhacker #663412 07/08/21 12:13 PM User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 24,317 Hamlin NY MarioD Veteran
MarioD Veteran Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 24,317 Hamlin NY	Originally Posted By: Guitarhacker .................... The cool aspect to this is how you recorded the vocals. In a car, with your phone. Because, yeah, they actually sound really good. I'd have never guessed by listening. I'll assume the car was parked in the driveway, but if it was during rush hour on the highway... a whole new level of respect is due. I was thinking the same thing! I liked this, good mix and a super vocal. After reading your intro information I thought this vocal is going to be weird but man was I wrong. This is an excellent vocal and backing track. A super tune. I think my wife has started to show the first signs of dementia. She said she can't remember what she ever saw in me! 64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware

Re: Moonlight on the Magothy River. jptjptjpt #663470 07/09/21 01:22 AM User Showcase
Joined: May 2019 Posts: 4,900 Dallas, PA, USA BabuMusic Veteran
BabuMusic Veteran Joined: May 2019 Posts: 4,900 Dallas, PA, USA	In your car with your phone? Man, that sounds really good. Interesting that you decided that approach --that impromptu vocal booth. What were you thinking? haha. If the idea was to challenge your ability to make it sound just right in the mix, you have definitely accomplished that. Cool song. It sounds like one that will be sung by those at the Magothy River forever. A great sing along. Well done, Sean. Enjoy whatever happens! marty YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@babumusic51 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marty-straub Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, Ozone 12, EZDrummer

Re: Moonlight on the Magothy River. jptjptjpt #663498 07/09/21 04:38 AM User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 8,226 Edmonton, Ab, Canada Scott C Veteran
Scott C Veteran Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 8,226 Edmonton, Ab, Canada	Very cool song Sean. I really like the way you recorded the vocal as well. Very unique. Gave the song a very cool feel. Excellent vocal and lyric. Well done Scott Collingwood https://soundcloud.com/scottt709 https://soundcloud.com/spiritlevel-ca https://www.youtube.com/@SpiritLevel-ge3hm/

Re: Moonlight on the Magothy River. jptjptjpt #663515 07/09/21 07:03 AM User Showcase
Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 7,062 Rustyspoon# Veteran
Rustyspoon# Veteran Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 7,062	jptjptjpt Solid composition & melody. Vocals sound very interesting. There is an interesting split in the mood (which I think is a good thing) between verses and choruses. I think it would benefit if you use a different drum beat and / or a better sounding VST drum kit. "vocals on my LG smartphone" cool. Thank you for sharing. Misha.

Re: Moonlight on the Magothy River. jptjptjpt #663518 07/09/21 07:27 AM User Showcase
Joined: May 2020 Posts: 1,572 Belgium Derochette Expert
Derochette Expert Joined: May 2020 Posts: 1,572 Belgium	Hi jptjptjpt, Well-chosen suite of chords with a pleasant harmony. The whole thing makes us relive your memory with a certain nostalgia. Well done. Kindly regard Derochette alias JaniJackFlash Kindly regards Derochette alias JaniJackFlash

Re: Moonlight on the Magothy River. jptjptjpt #663590 07/09/21 04:15 PM User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,081 jptjptjpt OP Expert
OP jptjptjpt Expert Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,081	Thank you everyone for your listens and comments. There seems to be an interest in the vocal recording. Here is the story: I find it very hard to record vocals if I think someone can hear me. I don't know why. I can sing at open mics. But, if I think someone is listening to my recording vocals I freeze up. Anyway, I live in a small Baltimore City rowhouse. I used to have two old neighbors and they were both very hard of hearing, so I could belt out my vocals with no worries. But, atlas, both of my neighbors have passed away and younger people have moved into the houses. And, because of the COVID shutdown, someone was always home (in my house and the neighbors). I basically stopped recording new song vocals for much of the shutdown, with a few exceptions. Then, one day, the idea came to me, to record my vocals in my car using my cell phone recording app. I found a quiet place behind a small shopping center. I put padding in the car (a yoga matt) to absorb some of the sound. I then played the music track on my laptop through headphones and sang into the phone. One of the main problems is that you don't really know how your takes are until you get home and transfer the recordings to the PC. I am glad the recording seems to have come out good. Thank you. I will come up with something better, but, for now, this recording method will have to do. Last edited by jptjptjpt; 07/09/21 04:17 PM. My music can be heard at: The Cracks

Re: Moonlight on the Magothy River. jptjptjpt #663592 07/09/21 04:28 PM User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 1,193 Washington State B bluage Expert
bluage Expert B Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 1,193 Washington State	Dear 'jptjptjpt'... It's always a treat to listen to a song with a romantic subject that celebrates what's good about a relationship, instead of what is wrong with it! Your sang your lyrics as though you were overwhelmed by loving memories of a time, a place, and a person that's been burned into your heart. Also, I agree with 'Guitarhacker' that the vocal recording through your smartphone sounded surprisingly good! If you had not informed us of that, I wouldn't have known. The video image magnifies the sweet and sundown feeling of the song, too. 'Precious' is the word that comes to me when I consider the total impact of the production. Thank you posting a song with such a nice 'vibe'! "Music is what feelings sound like."-- borrowed from a Cakewalk Music Creator forum member, "Mamabear".

Re: Moonlight on the Magothy River. jptjptjpt #663593 07/09/21 04:41 PM User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,081 jptjptjpt OP Expert
OP jptjptjpt Expert Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,081	Thank you bluage. I appreciate your listen and comments very much. guitarhacker, I think it does matter that you spent some summers in this area when you were young. Hopefully they are good memories. My music can be heard at: The Cracks

Re: Moonlight on the Magothy River. jptjptjpt #663608 07/10/21 02:08 AM User Showcase
Joined: May 2019 Posts: 4,900 Dallas, PA, USA BabuMusic Veteran
BabuMusic Veteran Joined: May 2019 Posts: 4,900 Dallas, PA, USA	Originally Posted By: jptjptjpt Thank you everyone for your listens and comments. There seems to be an interest in the vocal recording. Here is the story: I find it very hard to record vocals if I think someone can hear me. I don't know why. I can sing at open mics. But, if I think someone is listening to my recording vocals I freeze up. Anyway, I live in a small Baltimore City rowhouse. I used to have two old neighbors and they were both very hard of hearing, so I could belt out my vocals with no worries. But, atlas, both of my neighbors have passed away and younger people have moved into the houses. And, because of the COVID shutdown, someone was always home (in my house and the neighbors). I basically stopped recording new song vocals for much of the shutdown, with a few exceptions. Then, one day, the idea came to me, to record my vocals in my car using my cell phone recording app. I found a quiet place behind a small shopping center. I put padding in the car (a yoga matt) to absorb some of the sound. I then played the music track on my laptop through headphones and sang into the phone. One of the main problems is that you don't really know how your takes are until you get home and transfer the recordings to the PC. I am glad the recording seems to have come out good. Thank you. I will come up with something better, but, for now, this recording method will have to do. That is cool, thoughtful and creative. A lot of us don't like to sing when the only thing others hear is our voice belting out the song. But on a cell phone? Man, that worked out so good, but I can imagine how nuts I'd get when I got one or 2 phrases wrong. Drag the yoga mat & laptop back to the car, cue the song, punch in, then take it all back inside to see if it's better. Sheesh. Well done, jptjptjpt. But now I need a better phone. Enjoy whatever happens! marty YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@babumusic51 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marty-straub Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, Ozone 12, EZDrummer

Re: Moonlight on the Magothy River. jptjptjpt #663612 07/10/21 02:39 AM User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 12,800 Florida floyd jane Veteran
floyd jane Veteran Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 12,800 Florida	Sean, A nice write. Good images, nice melody. You always "say a lot in a short space". An interesting way to record your vocals! A full closet (maybe a coat closet?) that has enough room to get into might give you the same kind of sound isolation without having to leave the house...? I thought the vocal could use a bit of EQ shaping to pull the mid-highs down slightly to increase the "warmth" of the vocal. Looking forward to hearing what you do with the new BIAB stuff!! fj 150+ Songs produced using BIAB RealTracks And 50 more... and some more...

Re: Moonlight on the Magothy River. jptjptjpt #663623 07/10/21 04:50 AM User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2016 Posts: 2,660 Netherlands, Haarlem Birchwood Veteran
Birchwood Veteran Joined: Sep 2016 Posts: 2,660 Netherlands, Haarlem	Hi Jptjptjpt, or Sean, Everyone here discussed your way of recording your vocals and I do the same. I am amazed they sound so good! A car is not exactly a surrounding where you can expect good recordings. At least I think. But you did a good job there. It gave the song a vintage image. And because of the topic that is the right image! I liked that. I can agree with all that was said about the drums. I think you better take them out. Louder drums will spoil the sphere you achieved here. And the thin drums do too. But it's a matter of taste, as always. Nice weekend, Hans Hans Berkhout (Birchwood) https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130

Re: Moonlight on the Magothy River. jptjptjpt #663678 07/10/21 11:53 AM User Showcase
Joined: Jul 2015 Posts: 5,626 United States Torrey Bliss Veteran
Torrey Bliss Veteran Joined: Jul 2015 Posts: 5,626 United States	jptjptjpt, Wow, as others have mentioned, your use of a phone for recording the vocal deserves praise! I've heard recordings done with a studio condenser that didn't come out that well! Nice job with your tune also! It's kind of got that Bob Seger "Shame On The Moon" vibe going on! Thanks, Torrey https://torreybliss.bandcamp.com/

Re: Moonlight on the Magothy River. jptjptjpt #663858 07/12/21 06:33 AM User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,081 jptjptjpt OP Expert
OP jptjptjpt Expert Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,081	Thank you everyone for the listens and comments. I appreciate it very much. This is what makes this forum (and others like it) tick. My music can be heard at: The Cracks

Re: Moonlight on the Magothy River. jptjptjpt #663867 07/12/21 07:19 AM User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 10,727 Middlesex, NC Guitarhacker Veteran
Guitarhacker Veteran Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 10,727 Middlesex, NC	Originally Posted By: jptjptjpt guitarhacker, I think it does matter that you spent some summers in this area when you were young. Hopefully they are good memories. Camp Sandy Hill near the town of NorthEast Md. looks to still be there.... changed quite a bit over the years. How can a summer camp not be a good memory? I went there every year for 7 years until I turned 15.... Horses, rifles, bow and arrow, crafts, swimming in the pool twice a day, lodge devotion time, the Chesapeake Bay right down the path to the boathouse and canoes, the Wednesday night camping trip I always sighed up for the horse ride trip to the girls camp at Camp Sandy Cove.... which is still there to this day...... bug juice and Sandy Hill stew on the beach..... man.... great memories. It's also where I first played Capture the Flag using the entire camp as the playing ground.... Yep... fun. And Chief Billy Neff playing taps on his trumpet at night to tell everyone another day is done. Last edited by Guitarhacker; 07/12/21 07:20 AM. You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.

Re: Moonlight on the Magothy River. jptjptjpt #663994 07/13/21 01:21 AM User Showcase
Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 5,955 Ontario, Canada BlueAttitude Veteran
BlueAttitude Veteran Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 5,955 Ontario, Canada	Good vocal! And good song, nicely written and produced. Cell phone in your car?! I have to try that sometime. Enjoyed! Dave Blue Attitude Website Blue Attitude YouTube channel

Re: Moonlight on the Magothy River. jptjptjpt #665154 07/21/21 03:16 PM User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,081 jptjptjpt OP Expert
OP jptjptjpt Expert Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,081	Thank you for the listens and comments. I do appreciate it very much. My music can be heard at: The Cracks

Re: Moonlight on the Magothy River. jptjptjpt #665333 07/23/21 05:21 AM User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 15,975 GA USA Janice & Bud Veteran
Janice & Bud Veteran Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 15,975 GA USA	That was a cool listen and a great backstory. Not only the history of the topic but also the mic story. We would say you win the gold medal for the User Forum's most interesting vocal recording technique! Enjoyed it all. 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

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