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I had this one finished by December last year - well, almost - the lead part didn't arrive until Monday of this week. This was built in BIAB which also provided organ & drums. I used JS Spectrum matcher to tweak the drums and vocals...it allowed me to correct the tone of both, making my voice a little less awful. Greg Loyacano played the lead guitar parts - he's the lead player for the Texas punk band Toxic Origin. He played a Les Paul through a phaser pedal into a Marshall full stack. Greg also gave some mix advice. I played a knock off of a Hofner "Beatle" bass through a BDI21 and a Squire Mustang through a Marshall Superbass & 4x12. Mic is a cheap Focusrite red thing. Tracked through an SSL2 interface to Reaper. The basis of this song is my wife's query of why I don't write happy songs. When mastered I'll let her listen and, hopefully, it will explain things for her. Mind you she spends inordinate amounts of time watching Dystopian movies & TV series. C'est l'guerre. PREMASTER: HAPPY SONG MASTER: HAPPY SONG mst MASTER adjusted for streaming She wants A happy song, please She wants the sort of one That isn't creepy One that's fun Happy song A happy song, please One that won't make her frown One that doesn't bring her down 1Happiness is Happiness to you Happy songs too Are not the sort of songs I tend to do What she wants Is what she wants to get She wants the sort of thing She doesn't have yet Clappy song A clappy song, please One that doesn't bring her down One that won't make her frown Clappiness is Clappiness to you Clappy songs too Are not the sort of songs I like to do What we want Is what we strive to get We want the sorts of things We don't have yet Happy song And clappy song, please Ones that don't bring us down Ones that won't make us frown Sappiness is Sappiness to you Sappy songs too Are not the sort of songs I care to do When we smile Is what we feel and yet They 're the sorts of things We should forget Happy songs Sappy clappy songs , please Ones that don't bring us down Ones that won't make us frown Clappiness is Clappiness to you Clappy songs too Are not the sort of songs I wish to do Happiness is Happiness to you Happy songs too Are not the sort of songs I like to do
Last edited by rayc; 01/13/23 05:37 PM.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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That's telling 'em Ray.
Who needs happy songs when there's so much enjoyment in misery?
For me, the drums and vocal can come up a tad. Personal pref. maybe.
Vic
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Oh, yeah, the first thing to hit me was that Beatle bass --not only the instrument, but the accomplished way you play it. You're using a pic, right? Your vocal is awful ly good. That guitar is perfect. Greg was an excellent choice and worth the wait. My guess is his advice was to turn up the vocal. We all usually say that, but either I'm getting used to your ways or it is appropriately featured. So happy this one is not sappy.
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Ha ha Ray, this was a fun one. Thanks for the backstory - it brought a smile the entire time I was listening. I always love the way you work those stereo effects, and this is yet another example. I have to say though, I thought the highlight of this one was the bass. I thought you did a great job!
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Ray,
I listened to the Master . . . sounds great to me. Good mix and elements throughout. I think the vocal is sitting at just the right level in the mix. Happy songs are the hardest to write, IMHO. But this is good stuff (however happy or not happy one may fine it!).
All my best,
Deej
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Ha! Vocal sounds clear, which voids my usual complaint.  Fun song! You just can't make everyone happy - but it made me smile. 
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Ray, I really liked this. The mix is excellent. It made me smile, and you can tell your wife, it made me HAPPY!!!!!! TOO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!  Off to write another song about death row now....
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That's telling 'em Ray.
Who needs happy songs when there's so much enjoyment in misery?
For me, the drums and vocal can come up a tad. Personal pref. maybe.
Vic Thanks Vic, I'll note that for next time BUT the vocals are appreciably louder than my usual on this so I'll advance that with care.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Oh, yeah, the first thing to hit me was that Beatle bass --not only the instrument, but the accomplished way you play it. You're using a pic, right? Your vocal is awful ly good. That guitar is perfect. Greg was an excellent choice and worth the wait. My guess is his advice was to turn up the vocal. We all usually say that, but either I'm getting used to your ways or it is appropriately featured. So happy this one is not sappy. Thanks Marty, I use a pick about 90% of the time. I'm a creature of habit. The Hofknockoff certainly does have the Hoff tone. The vocals are enhanced by use of the Spectrum Matcher VST. It rounded and bolstered my crass tone a bit. Greg plays a mean guitar for a drummer. In fact his current gig is as a guitarist. His advice was to not worry about the minutiae of the vocal and just sing loudly & have it present in the mix.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Ha ha Ray, this was a fun one. Thanks for the backstory - it brought a smile the entire time I was listening. I always love the way you work those stereo effects, and this is yet another example. I have to say though, I thought the highlight of this one was the bass. I thought you did a great job! Thanks Brad. I tracked the draft bass line with my easily at hand Hoffknockoff and then tried to retrack with my preferred bass but the rounder wound strings on my Vantage ripped my little finger tip to shreds on the slides so I stuck with the draft.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Ray,
I listened to the Master . . . sounds great to me. Good mix and elements throughout. I think the vocal is sitting at just the right level in the mix. Happy songs are the hardest to write, IMHO. But this is good stuff (however happy or not happy one may fine it!).
All my best,
Deej
Thanks Deej, The master added a little warmth and a bit more bass but I trust the ME's ears.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Ha! Vocal sounds clear, which voids my usual complaint. Fun song! You just can't make everyone happy - but it made me smile. Thanks sir, I thought this might please "the usual suspects" in that respect. Thanks - your grin put a smile on my dial.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Ray, I really liked this. The mix is excellent. It made me smile, and you can tell your wife, it made me HAPPY!!!!!! TOO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!! Off to write another song about death row now.... David, thanks! What they say of gallows humour, I can say, is just a rumour. The hangman's dad jokes don't crack a smile, When you're at the end of a rope a while. Knot on left, short & swift, Knot on right, hangs all night.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Ray, this is a super song!
Loved those lyrics!
I really liked your lead guitarist and the B3!
You have a very good voice.
Great mix.
It takes courage for a man to admit his wife was wrong.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Ray, this is a super song!
Loved those lyrics!
I really liked your lead guitarist and the B3!
You have a very good voice.
Great mix.
Thanks Mario, you are very kind. I made sure the B3 & Greg balanced each other in the mix.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Ray, I appreciate the fact that you are trying to get the listener to smile. It worked on me! I enjoyed my time listening,Tom
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HappyClappySappy.
Pure Joy.
Killer Bass!
A great Pop Punk sound to the collection of guitars.
The vocal is Just Right.
My ear wants the Drums to be considerably louder.
But you knew that.
EarWorm.
fj
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I like this song. A lot! The chorus is very catchy, I can't get it out of my head right now. But I'm not 100% positive if it really makes your wife happy
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This was right up Bud’s alley as he had just said this morning that he really should write a happy song to go with all the smiling photos he has of me (Janice.) Bud also says Janice was clapping out the perfect rhythm on the “clappiness bit.” Sounded like a cajon track Great song, Ray, in the lyric and the performances and mix! This mix just pops on the monitors. Your bass lines are awesome and Greg’s guitar was worth the wait, it seems. This had us smiling the entire time and we hope it gave Kim a chuckle. Loved it! 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 are here on our website.
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Vocal level was good, say hallelujah! Lyrics were wryly inane and very entertaining. Production was ace all the way except drums could be louder for me. Guitar, bass - both super! Great job!
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
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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!
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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!
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