Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
User Showcase
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 129
ThomasS Offline OP
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 129
https://soundcloud.com/user-260742414/let-our-love-be-a-fortress-duet?si=610bd654f7be44948b7536a1604e9e2b&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

[SORRY! I was forced to remove the link because it is an unreleased demo, which some have recognized the performers, but left this thread up (with more details are in a response by me near the end of this thread.) I appreciate everyone's responses and ideas.]

Here’s a simple arrangement of an original love duet, mainly using just 3 instruments (piano/bass/guitar) from BAKHOME.STY Back Home Basic Ctry Swing Waltz.

The tracks were dragged, droped & mixed in Cubase 12 (Windows)
The guitar was doubled by BIAB and hard-panned L/R
The piano part was altered a bit and notes and chords add by Spectrasonics Keyscape in various places
A gentle string pad was added using EastWest Opus Composer Cloud

Lyrics:

Let our love be a fortress to keep us safe and strong
When storm winds are raging all around
We will build a foundation, and no matter what comes along
The winds of the world can never bring it down

Let our hearts be an ocean, the union of two seas
The meeting of waters deep and wide
That a wave of tenderness may surge eternally
Leaving pearls of devotion on the shore of life

Through this world, side by side
We will help one another be strong
Knowing we’ll always be guided as sure as we look for the dawn
In heart and soul united as one

Let our home be a refuge where all can find a friend
Let there be no strangers in our lives
May our love be a fortress enduring until the end
And in all the worlds our union will abide
And in all the worlds our union will abide


Last edited by ThomasS; 10/02/22 06:27 PM.
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,120
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,120
Thomas,

This is an excellent song. Great arrangement and mix. The vocals are so well sung.

Really enjoyed it.

Bob

User Showcase
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 4,454
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 4,454
Oh, so good, Tom & Rachel. What a beautiful waltz. If my wife wasn't working right now, we'd be dancing. Such wonderful lyrics. Absolutely stunning vocals. Had to give it a couple spins. You know, practice a bit before she gets home.


Enjoy whatever happens!
marty

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@babumusic51
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marty-straub
Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, Ozone 11
User Showcase
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 2,388
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 2,388
Good song with good lyrics, and the sparse arrangement works well.

And, you both have very good voices which work very well together. Who is she?

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 8,382
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 8,382
Hi Tom ...

So nice to hear a great song from you. And this is a terrific song in all respects.

The vocals are so good - no additional instrumental backing needed. But some light brushes on a snare would have been nice, too. But dang ... this is just so good regardless. I'd pay to see this permance!

Great job ... truly loved it!

Alan


BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar

Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,574
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,574
Great job all-around Thomas.
Your use of the string pads was especially nice.
Very enjoyable.


https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677
BiaB 2025 Windows
For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
User Showcase
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,556
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,556
Really beautiful, Racheal and JB both did a great job on the vocals. Rachael particularly surprised me because I was expecting a soprano to chime in. If I had her voice at my artistic disposal, I would use all my free time to write songs for her. The production was good, too, all the instruments were balanced to my ears. Great job!


Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,469
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,469
Nice song. Strong vocals. Y'all have a great blend.
Tracks sound good. Well mixed.

Welcome to the Showcase.


fj

User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,344
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,344
This is an awesome composition. Your vocalists really delivered your song well and did it justice.

User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825
Hi Thomas,

Good song with interesting chord structure and good chorus.

Also very well sung and mixed.

Best Regards
Nigel


Nigel Spiers
Christchurch, New Zealand
info@nzacoustics.com
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 6,980
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 6,980
I can hear Kenny & Dolly doing this one.


Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,423
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,423
Good heavens!

Is that the THE Rachel Price of Lake Street Dive? It assuredly sounds like her. And, of course, your composer/conductor background is stellar.

We have long admired not only her vocals but also the remarkable way in which the group supports one another - a pleasure to watch and listen to.

What a superb addition to the forum and welcome!

J&B

PS And many apologies if we got it all wrong but her voice is so unique.


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 are here on our website.
User Showcase
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 129
ThomasS Offline OP
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 129
Originally Posted By: Janice & Bud
Good heavens!

Is that the THE Rachel Price of Lake Street Dive? It assuredly sounds like her.

Yes Janice & Bud, she does sound a bit like Rachael Price! I'm old enough to be her father.

But I didn't know anyone here would recognize this, so now I have to take down the link, since this was just an experimental demo, and the released version will have all real players (not BIAB). But this may explain how I have used BIAB as a tool to arrange and experiment with songs before recording in the studio.

Like once, recording in Nashville in the late 90's I produced a three-album compilation of 30 tracks with top session musicians, and before going into the studio I played around with BIAB tracks using widely different styles, experimenting with arrangement, key, different chords, and other things. Then in the studio I played the BIAB "demo" for the musicians before they recorded and each got great ideas for the feel and style without me having to say or write anything else. I believe it saved a lot of money in studio time. In those days it was all midi (no real tracks) but this was enough to give an idea to musicians, and easily editable. I believe they played differently because of the ideas they got from the various styles. And, of course, they played from the chord charts printed by BIAB.

On another occasion I was orchestrating a piece for a European symphony orchestra, which required a complex ostinato line in sixteenth notes for a swirling string part. With over a hundred bars of complex chord changes, it would have required me to write out over 200 different notes, carefully calculating the notes of each bar, with accidentals, to match the moving chords. It would have taken hours to do that, and I would likely have made a few mistakes if not careful, so I made a BIAB instrument with the exact ostinato pattern I wanted, typed in the chords for the whole song, and within minutes it created the part I wanted perfectly, and I could hear it to make sure. I then imported the midi out of BIAB directly into my orchestral parts and the violins played exactly what BIAB wrote. (I could send you the live performance of this orchestra if you don't believe me)

So BIAB, apart from what most people use it for, is also a great experimental tool for producers and composers to try out chord changes and feels in an unlimited way, even if they never use the output except as a demo. In this case, I was experimenting with the vocals recorded by Rachael & JB Ekl to see what kind of arrangement might work, and I turned to BIAB to see if the vocals could be made full and fat and saturated and then be sustained by a minimal arrangement, just a few instruments. I wanted to see if people thought this worked so I thought this forum would be a safe space to get a few unbiased opinions, and I appreciate what everyone said.






Last edited by ThomasS; 10/02/22 05:24 PM.
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,036
D
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
D
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,036
Thomas,

Sorry to have missed this one--sounds like it was a great listen. Will look forward to more of your posts regardless.

Stay safe, stay well--

Deej

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,423
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,423
Tom,

I truly wish I had not mentioned the info about the performers and thus denied others from hearing both them and your lovely backing tracks. It was fascinating reading about how you use BiaB as demos. There are a couple of classical oriented composers here who post their demo version and the resulting live version by an orchestra and vocalist.

Given your ownership of the master I'm sure PG Music staff would welcome the song here and I can't imagine SC having any issues; however, we certainly live in a tangled music world nowadays when it comes to both the net and streaming!

Again it was a pleasure listening and reading your backstory.

Best to you all,

Janice & Bud


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 are here on our website.
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!

We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!

Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!

Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.

Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles

Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)

And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.

You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.

Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!

The 2025 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2025 49-PAK!

Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac!

With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 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 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK: -For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles. -For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles. -For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
  • Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
  • Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
  • Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
  • Playable RealTracks Set 4
  • RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
  • SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
  • 128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.

Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:

  • 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
  • FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
  • Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
  • Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
  • Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
  • RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe

Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!

New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!

Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.

New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!

We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!

If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!

Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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!

Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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.

New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!

Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.

New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!

We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!

If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!

Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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!

Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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.

Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support

Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins

Join the conversation on our forum.

Forum Statistics
Forums58
Topics84,395
Posts778,648
Members39,646
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
misha pelt, Slick Locrian, daveg68, snares33, The Jam Shop
39,646 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 132
DC Ron 111
WaoBand 104
rsdean 84
dcuny 82
Today's Birthdays
sanityblues
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5