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@Trax, Don S. & Chris: Thank you for taking a listen to the new version and taking the time again to write a comment on it. Much appreciated. Trax: I can hear what you mean by a more processed sound on the new version. I hope I get away with it tho, since the jury doesn't have access to the first version and therefor has no material to compare with. @ RickeG: Good suggestion on the crowd. I don't know that Garth Brooks song (come to think of it: I only know "achy breaky heart"  ), but I have done some experimenting with the effect you mention. I had my VoiceLive 2 "sing along" in the chorus, using a setting that simulates a crowd of people. My skills aren't that good yet, so I couldn't get it to sound right. So I have abandoned that idea for this song. @John: Thank you for your kind words! April 24 will be the day that the winner will be announced. Of-course I will post the result. @Bobcflatpicker: I promised to post the RT's I have used in the song, so here they are: Drums: Country Even8reduced (brushes) Bass: 592: Bass, Acoustic Bluegrass Doc Ev 100 Guitar: 598: Guitar, Acoustic Strumming Bluegrass Doc Ev 100 Mandolin 1: 432: Mandolin, Rythm Bluegrass 130 Mandolin 2: 820: Mandolin Soloist Bluegrass EV 100 Fiddle 1: 595: Fiddle, Rythm Bluegrass Doc Ev 100 (Shuffles) Fiddle 2: 601: Fiddle, Soloist Train EV 130
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Quote:
Any and all critics are most welcome!
I’ll be honest here Mike and say I think this was a poor choice.
It’s OK, but I don’t think that as a style this does justice to your immense talents as a singer.
Most of the time – in the verses, you’re not really singing anyway!
The instrumentation also just sounds so busy, but I guess this is the style you’re looking for.
Sorry to spoil the party, but of course I join with everyone in wishing you the best of luck with the contest.
Marc
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You're not spoiling the party at all, Marc! Honest critics is what I'm looking for! Thank you for taking the time to listen and to comment. I fully agree with you that this is not a song that needs (or has  ) a vocal top performance in it. The reasons I chose this song where: A: It is a song that I can't use on my album (style and language), so it is "expendable" B: The contest is about producing, so creativity in the production is way more importand than my vocals (or lyrics for that matter; I still don't know what the song is all about  ) You find the instrumentation too busy. I have tried to make it sound "open" and not too crouded. To achieve that I have sent the piano player and the banjo player off the stage. But perhaps I should have left out even more...
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Quote:
Mike,
I still think the 1st one is the better mix on this song. The 2nd sounds very processed now, IMO. Either way, you have done a fantastic job with the song.
Trax
I agree with Trax here. Too much 'vinyl' noise has crept in? Plus I think the drums have dropped too far back on the second version for this kind of music (which reminds me of The Soggy Bottom Boys).
Out of interest, what did you use to create the backing vocals in the choruses? Double tracking? TC Helicon? Or something else?
As to the crowd, I wouldn't have wiped it out completely from the main song but dropped its volume to about 10%
Still, I wish you the best, Mike 
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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Quote:
Don't change a thing!
I like this as is!
Straight to the keeper folder.
actually, for a bluegrass style, its quite tame. i hear plenty of 'air' in it. very well done. thanks for posting it. more please.
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Thanks for the listen, Sam. Citaat:
Out of interest, what did you use to create the backing vocals in the choruses? Double tracking? TC Helicon? Or something else?
c) something else: I sang the three harmonie parts myself.
Citaat:
As to the crowd, I wouldn't have wiped it out completely from the main song but dropped its volume to about 10%
I tried several things, but couldn't get a result I was happy with. It just sounded too muddy and too crouded. The crowd got in the way of the instruments, so I dropped it.
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Don, Thank you! To be honest with you: I am not all that experienced in the country and bluegrass music. These styles of music are not much played where I live. In fact I own only two country CD's: One by John Denver and one by the band who probably made the most records in history: Various Artists (ever heard of them ) I do however very much like country and bluegrass and I am glad I get the change here to hear some very fine examples of it. (your own music, Touchers and Bobcflatpickers songs)
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Quote:
Various Artists (ever heard of them)
This reminds me of a story my wife told me. When she was a teenager, she ordered an album (vinyl, 33 1/3 rpm) by mail order called "The Top Original Hits by The Original Artists". When she got it, it didn't sound anything like the original songs. Turns out that it was just a cover album recorded by a group that called themselves "The Original Artists". Serious disappointment...
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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Mike, I know I am a little late getting in before the deadline but I wanted to say how excellent this is and I am very interested in hearing how the song does in the contest. Steve
Steve
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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Holiday Weekend Hours
It's Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada. Our Customer Service hours are:
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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.
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- 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
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- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
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