Hello all I am busy recording an album of some of my favourite songs. Feedback on this mix of The Diary (Bread cover) is much appreciated so that I can take note when mixing the rest of the album. https://joannecooper.co.za/track/3023489/diary
This sounds really good to me. Everyone has different tastes and in my songwriter meetings (one of our young ladies just won a major Nashville songwriting contest this week and a got music deal by the way ) almost everyone has a different opinion on things.
But I love what is there. The guitars and the vocals are great.
I find the strings and the hard panning of them to the right mildly distracting because I think it dilutes the purity of the vocal and guitars.
When the second acoustic comes in hard panned right it sounds fine to me.
Maybe just a wee bit of cello or real track fiddle/violin, very slow??
The authentic wooden-box sound of the acoustics and vocals don't completely mesh for me with the synth-y strings.
For me in mixing (and I am just one person) my first thought is always: "Does the song really need this track?" If the answer is "maybe" then to me you have to take it out.
I think the strength of your vocals alone and acoustics carry the day and you should be careful not to distract from them in any mix.
The balance sounds great though and the tone is very warm.
Does that help?
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
"don't completely mesh for me with the synth-y strings" I would agree with Dave on this. In this type of song I would probably use individual string instruments, or a four part string patch to maintain the organic feel. The attack of the string patch is also a little distracting in this rendition, somehow 'off'.
Singing is fine, right out front, but for me, when the strings were playing, it seemed like something was missing in the guitars. The left side finger picking seemed to disappear a bit. Otherwise nice job. Take with a teaspoon of salt; as Dave mentioned we will all have our own opinions.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
"don't completely mesh for me with the synth-y strings" I would agree with Dave on this. In this type of song I would probably use individual string instruments, or a four part string patch to maintain the organic feel. The attack of the string patch is also a little distracting in this rendition, somehow 'off'.
Singing is fine, right out front, but for me, when the strings were playing, it seemed like something was missing in the guitars. The left side finger picking seemed to disappear a bit. Otherwise nice job. Take with a teaspoon of salt; as Dave mentioned we will all have our own opinions.
My view is exactly the same.
On a side note if you like the sound of the strings I use you could send me the MIDI file and I will use my strings then send you back a wav file via Dropbox.
I'm in a fitness protection program. I'm been hiding from exercise.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Ah thanks so much Rhavr, David and Mario. Much appreciated. I will put a cello instead of the strings.
I currently have the same picking guitar panned hard left and right and then drop off the right one when the other guitar and strings come in. I will adjust this.
This really helps. I am trying to produce this album with as little arranging and instruments as possible so that the focus remains on the vocal and harmonies.
Listening to the second mix I found the harmonies distracting. First the harmony vocal was panned left, then right, then both. Harmony vocals don't typically bounce from side to side.
May I suggest you use the same number of harmony vocals throughout the song and pan them near left and right. Imagine multiple singers surrounding a single microphone. They tend to blend together into one sound. Presently each harmony vocal is too distinct.
Thanks guys! I have reworked the harmonies and put some EQ on the fiddle so it is not buried in the mix (hopefully). More feedback is always much appreciated/
This version has cleared up the conflict in the right channel between the backing vocal, guitar and the cello - so there's a much better balance in the mix.
Are you compressing the guitar in the left channel - if it's a BIAB guitar, you might just need to EQ it and not use compressor, that'll make it sound a bit more clear.
0:17 into the song a very short acoustic guitar appears in the center (and slightly left) for a chord or two and then disappears - is this made on purpose or is it incidental?
1:44 I would fade the violin slightly, to my taste it's a little bit too dominating the vocal.
Your vocal is very strong and carries the song through nicely, and it's a very nice song.
Keep up the good work Peter
MacMini M1 - BIAB2021 - Logic Pro X - iZotope Music Production Suite - Scaler 2 - far too many Waves plugins and Line 6 Guitars and boards + a fantastic Yamaha THR10ll mini Amp - Avid MBOX Studio
Peters' Garage is available on all major streaming services
This is the difference between night and day. MUCH better.
You have a glitch at 34 seconds on the left channel guitar, like an effect produced a momentary artifact or something. A very audible click.
One thing for the future (not that you need it here) but Izotope's RX9 has a tool that takes out guitar squeaks. I am going to mess with it today and see how it works. You use a lot of acoustic and believe me I know it can be time consuming to get rid of all those squeaks!
Also, I don't know if you have any Cat Stevens CDs or albums (like the Best of Cat Stevens even) but if so you may want to check it out and listen to how deceptively simple the mixes are. Really genius. There is a lot to learn from this. Everything is subservient to the vocals.
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
I agree with David about those clicks, there are a few more but they are lower in volume. Get rid of those and you will have a winner IMHO.
I don't mind those string noise sounds (not the clicks) as they are quite common in acoustic playing. I think they add realism to guitar tracks. If you wanted to you could lower a few of those string noises but I wouldn't take them all out.
Again just my opinion.
I'm in a fitness protection program. I'm been hiding from exercise.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
I wasn't saying you had string squeak issues on THIS song but just in general I know peope like you and me use a lot of acoustic and have to deal with that.
I think the RX9 Standard feature for that will save me hours on some songs.
Just thought I would give a tip!!
I got RX9 in February with the Izotope Valentine's bundle so it wasn't that much. It is a little pricey off sale though. But, it is fast!!
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
All the many professionals I know and work with day in and day out (and Joanne is a professional) do this all the time as a matter of course.
It is how you get better mixes and better songs.
I don't know a single soul who has "gone places" who doesn't do it. Good-hearted constructive criticism, sharing, and listening to one another in a professional environment is the way it is done.
Maybe "shyness" is not the only factor. Maybe for some people it is a fear of wondering how they might be treated.
Consistently professional environments feel safer to most artists.
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
FWIW in certain situations I think the string squeaks are important, but some people say I think a lot of weird things
Example: I have added samples of finger squeaks to a track that was *too clean* to make it sound more 'live', real, intimate, whatever your term is. Done sparingly, the response from clients was usually positive.
"How'd you do that??" type comments some trade secrets are better kept secrets, but I just gave one away I think
and yes, accepting/analyzing criticism is important for many reasons especially when the criticisms are suggestions, not really criticizing. Much easier for the recipient to accept
this thread is a good example
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
you might pay a little attention to the sibilance in your lead vocal - since it's more "up front" and crisp - a gentle treatment with a De-Esser might be worth testing. (I've listened to your song on my Sennheiser HD25 Alu + the speakers in my car)
The song keep growing on me every time I listen to it - it's is really quality work from start to finish.
Cheers Peter
MacMini M1 - BIAB2021 - Logic Pro X - iZotope Music Production Suite - Scaler 2 - far too many Waves plugins and Line 6 Guitars and boards + a fantastic Yamaha THR10ll mini Amp - Avid MBOX Studio
Peters' Garage is available on all major streaming services
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows 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)
Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
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)
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
) almost everyone has a different opinion on things.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean