Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
#769058 06/20/23 07:22 AM
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,755
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,755
Background
When I sat down on my keyboard a few weeks ago this song sprang organically with little planning or forethought. By the time my keyboard work was done I not only had no sonic room for BiaB but despite my best attempts I couldn’t get BiaB to fit at all. I’ve noticed a few others that have posted songs here with no BiaB content so I guess I’m in good company. Nonetheless, I’m a bit disappointed in myself for this reason plus it really didn’t turn out like I had hoped. The other thing that happened is that I ended up with little sonic space for my bass which is the last element I add in my workflow. In this regard I kind of painted myself in a corner; not sure if anyone can relate.

This song is about an unknown world somewhere in our galaxy where diamond-like crystals fall upward, grind upon each other in a caustic atmosphere and form colorful cloud-like objects from the resulting powder. Its two moons are in a state of continual gravitational battle with this world such that their crusts are being ripped apart continually. The only thing that is relatively stable are lakes of an acidic liquid that float a few feet above the rocky surface. Life as we know it cannot possibly survive here but life is present.

An Unknown World

Technicals
60 BPM
Key D, Dm or something else with a D in it I think smile

Korg:
Drum Groove
Vibraphone
Acoustic Piano
Synth Guitar
Erhu
Strings
Synth

Studio One:
Percussion Sequencer

Bass Guitar:
My Fender Jazz Bass

Thanks for listening if you do and comments always welcome; I learn much from those that comment.

PS> Anyone interested in collaborating in this genre or other, send a PM.


https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677
BiaB 2026 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: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,885
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,885
BT,

Interesting and creative.
Some nice ebb and flow.
Your bass sounds really good (especially towards the end).
A lot going on. It holds together nicely.
I imagine you had fun piecing this together...
fj

User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,876
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,876
You have a very cool sound here. I could easily hear this on a sci-fi soundtrack.

Great work.

Bob

User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,743
Veteran
Online Content
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,743
Hi Bass Thumper,

All you wrote in your introduction looked like an excuse for not making a song, but you did!
And what a song it is. The repetition of the melody worked out very interesting.
At first I thought "well, that's enough, but while it was continuing in a Trance or hypnotising way, a lot of interesting things happened
Very fascinating to listen to. And I liked it more and more.
For instance, your endplay with the drums and bass from 4:39 to the end was very good.
And at the end that 'machinegun percussion' from the beginning showed up again.
This certainly must be from another galaxy...
And you translated their fybes in a fantastic way!

Thumbs up!
Hans


Hans Berkhout
(Birchwood)
https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130
User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,187
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,187
Interesting!

Songs can take a life of their own - there's plenty of time where I have a vision for a song that ends up taking an unexpected twist somewhere along the way. It's better to follow that path than try making it something it doesn't want to be.

I like how the music stays coherent and maintains direction despite not having a melody.


-- David Cuny

My virtual singer development blog
Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?

BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,755
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,755
Originally Posted By: floyd jane
BT,

Interesting and creative.
Some nice ebb and flow.
Your bass sounds really good (especially towards the end).
A lot going on. It holds together nicely.
I imagine you had fun piecing this together...
fj

Many thanks for the listen fj,
Yeah, there was a lot of piecing together for sure. I started with a Korg drum groove then added vibraphone and kept going.
I think the drum groove put me on a path that made including BiaB content difficult.


https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677
BiaB 2026 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: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,243
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,243
I really like the changes and the return of the BBB BBB BBB percussion.
From around the 4.39 mark where the bass seems to be more constant appeals to me most.
COOL.


Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
User Showcase
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 1,527
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 1,527
Hi Steve
Interesting, unusual song that makes your description to this world audible.
Good sounding sound experiment with lots of good ideas.
Many greetings
Andi ;-)

rsdean #769225 06/22/23 03:57 AM
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,755
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,755
Originally Posted By: rsdean
You have a very cool sound here. I could easily hear this on a sci-fi soundtrack.

Great work.

Bob

Thanks Bob, I appreciate the comment.
Seen any good sci-fi films lately?


https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677
BiaB 2026 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: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,755
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,755
Originally Posted By: Birchwood
Hi Bass Thumper,

All you wrote in your introduction looked like an excuse for not making a song, but you did!
And what a song it is. The repetition of the melody worked out very interesting.
At first I thought "well, that's enough, but while it was continuing in a Trance or hypnotising way, a lot of interesting things happened
Very fascinating to listen to. And I liked it more and more.
For instance, your endplay with the drums and bass from 4:39 to the end was very good.
And at the end that 'machinegun percussion' from the beginning showed up again.
This certainly must be from another galaxy...
And you translated their fybes in a fantastic way!

Thumbs up!
Hans

Thanks so much Hans,
I always seem to struggle with the repetition thing. Personally I like repetition especially in instrumentals as it gives my brain time to imagine something. But others think repetition is monotonous. So I try to to inject various elements to keep it flowing forward. All this for me is experimentation and fun. Thanks again for the kind words.


https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677
BiaB 2026 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: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,573
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,573
I am a huge Sci-fi and fantasy fan, both books, movies, and music.
This would fit perfectly in a sci-fi movie. Picture if you will this being played as a team of space explorers examine a new planet.
Loved that eerie part near the end - brilliant.
Outstanding song!


Back in my day the only time we started panic buying was when the bartender shouted "last call"!

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 8,647
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 8,647
Hello B.T.

Contrary to Mario, I'm not much of a Sci-Fi fan, other than a few of the "Twilight Zone" episodes way back when. Nonetheless, I find many of the musical scores very entertaining. And this one is now among that select group. Very nicely done! Some songs don't need a melody per se. I just finished three that are nothing more than musical beds for a small performance group. Create a memorable mood rather than a memorable melody, I was told. I think they turned out pretty good.

Yours turned out most excellently. I enjoyed it very much. I liked how the overall drive slowly faded near and at the end, yet the exotic ambiance remained. Very nicely done!

Best to you.

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: May 2019
Posts: 5,009
Veteran
Online Content
Veteran
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,009
Wow! First I loved the explanation. In some ways I can relate, but there's always room for bass. smile I can certainly relate to your idea of an unknown world, and, like in the works of my favorite soundscape artist, Mario, I can actually hear those diamonds being made and sense a new form of life being created. Lots of cool, crazy stuff going on in there, Steve, and you make it all work brilliantly. I particularly like the outro with the interaction of drums and bass.


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
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 8,477
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 8,477
I think this sounds very good, definitely soundtrack material.

Great composition and arranging.

Where did the picture come from? Maybe you mentioned but I missed it. Too busy listening.

User Showcase
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 2,967
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 2,967
Originally Posted By: Bass Thumper
But others think repetition is monotonous. So I try to to inject various elements to keep it flowing forward.

That's what distinguished the pioneers of this music like Kraftwerk or Tangerine Dream back then.
And you did that really well, especially in the second half of the song.
Good stuff!

User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,639
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,639
Excellent opening. Unique sound, which I love. All the elements have come together well. Placement of sounds works and creates a heightened interest. Cool, cool, cool!

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,755
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,755
All, many, many thanks for the feedback and words of encouragement. I felt bad that no BiaB content is present but I simply couldn't figure out how to make that work. I think starting with my keyboard percussion locked me out of BiaB . . . always a lesson to be learned smile

Mario, I too am a Sci-Fi enthusiest . . . live long and prosper wink

Alan, Rod Searling? He had a great mind for sure.

Marty, I certainly hope there's room for bass, if not, I really messed up!

David, the picture came from the new MS Edge browser where they have now embedded an AI app called Bing.

BD, I never heard of Kraftwerk or Tangerine Dream, I'll have to check them out. Do you have a favorite track from them?

Storm, I give credit to my keyboard for the various sound elements, it provides quite a pallette to work from.


https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677
BiaB 2026 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: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,298
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,298
It is amazing how some of the songs just come out of nowhere. Very enjoyable. Excellent tune...


Scott Collingwood
https://soundcloud.com/scottt709
https://soundcloud.com/spiritlevel-ca
https://www.youtube.com/@SpiritLevel-ge3hm/
User Showcase
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 5,662
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 5,662
Bass Thumper

No apology needed! The fact that you are conscientious to be concerned about posting with no BIAB tracks says a lot! Sometimes they are not going to fit the vision for the tune. As for me, I will always try to include at least one Realtrack because PG music has provided the stage for presenting the music!
As for your track, It is a mesmerizing piece that has a strange way of holding my attention all the way through! It sounds great and you did a masterful job of putting it all together!

Thanks, TB

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
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!

If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!

If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!

Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.

PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!

PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.

The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.

The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.

Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!

Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.

Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!

Order now!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!

Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!

We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!

Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.

Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.

There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!

Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.

If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!

Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!

We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.

When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.

Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.

Happy New Year!

Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.

Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics86,092
Posts800,109
Members40,033
Most Online44,367
Mar 4th, 2026
Newest Members
Matt1575, Christian210, jaycallahanart, roshan2121, Din
40,033 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 146
rsdean 96
DC Ron 91
WaoBand 77
DrDan 62
Today's Birthdays
astore, Mark lee, PianistNZ
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5