Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,030
D
Deej56 Online Content OP
Veteran
OP Online Content
Veteran
D
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,030
Hi, all:

I remain somewhat inactive on the music front, but ray c sent me this mix some weeks back and it totally caught my ear. I gave it some heavy listening while on vacation recently in Portugal, and the choral refrain came as I sat in the vineyards of my hotel, on a misty day, looking out over the Duoro river. It all evolved from there.

Ray did most all the heavy lifting on the mix, though he did accommodate a couple of chord changes I suggested to support the melody I came up with . . . mainly to help resolve the chorus back into the verse. What’s left is a poppy rock tune about finding purity in love.

This is not yet final, so comments and feedback are, as always, welcome. Hope you enjoy!

[Update: The file is updated per Ray's comment below with the latest version of the song.]
[Update #2 as of 7-4-25: In light of of the comments below, we've updated a new version of the song. Details below]

Deej

Here's the song:

WALKING ON WATER

Here are the lyrics:

Sea winds and raindrops in my face
Sound and vision yet reveal you in this place
Can I express so honestly
If you could ever let me be
Wrapped up in your mystery
And ever in your space

I’ll be walking on water
Every day
In your sweet light
Come what may
In your light ’til the
End of days

So now I have your sunlight on my skin
Penetrates and resonates on everything within
Every flaw that I possess
Will ever flee at your behest
And when your whisper tells me yes
The miracle begins

So let the rain keep falling from the sky
Let the wind blow endlessly, the seas and rivers rise
‘Cause all the storms and floods will be
Nothing more than scenery
As long as I can ever be
Here and by your side

And here's the band:

BIAB Real Tracks:
GtrL 3943
GtrR 3944
Gtr 1021
Gtr lead 3729
Organ 4380
Synth 1278

ray cochrane Tracks:
HB elec 12 string chorus & accents
Squire Mustang high power chords in verse & low power chords for chorus
Vantage bass

Last edited by Deej56; 07/04/25 11:09 AM.
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 6,960
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 6,960
Don't let Deej fool you about his involvement it started when he suggested a more exciting key: he was right. He suggested the tag ending: he was right. He suggested a better resolution, (you know me I like to avoid them), and he was right again.
THEN you add his melodies, lyrics and performances - not to mention mix collaboration.
Oh, this mix is a bit tame. There's nothing on the stereo bus apart from a VERY gentle, almost hands off, limiter though the mix has been processed to -14Lufs (M) for streaming purposes.
Deej now has a slightly more UP one to upload at his discretion based on your suggestions & comments.
Let us know what needs doing - other ears are important.
As usual, collaborating with Deej was easy and fun.

Last edited by rayc; 07/01/25 09:24 PM.

Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,080
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,080
Deej / Ray,

Love the energy in this song. Both in the vocal and backing band. The pacing is just great. I also love the overall production and that excellent guitar solo. Very cool ending as well.

It sounds like the perfect "summer song" to me!

EXCELLENT!

Bob

User Showcase
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,663
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,663
Superb song, energetic performances, dynamic arrangement...GREAT job, guys. Vocals and bass are top level. Productive use of BiaB soloist in a vocal-based song was rare and cool. The chanting BGVs near the end are also neat, as is the false ending.

Constructive feedback? The mix sounds a tad over-compressed to my ears, and could breathe a little more. Personal preference though. The ending after the false ending COULD have a longer decay. Otherwise...perfection.

Honestly, you guys really put together a special song here. Congratulations!

Last edited by DC Ron; 07/02/25 01:00 PM.

DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
Presonus Studio One
StudioCat DAW dual screen
Presonus Faderport 16
Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
User Showcase
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 296
Apprentice
Online Content
Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 296
Hi Deej and Ray!
A brilliant, high-energy, melodic pop rock song. I love some of the chord moves throughout, and that chorus with repeating first line followed by ‘Every day, in your sweet light …’ etc - that is gold.
My preference would have been to end on what DC Ron referred to as the false ending with layered vocals drifting off in the reverb/delay - somewhat clichéd I know.
A really good song.
Andrew D


Regards,
Andrew D
Adelaide, Sth Aust
Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/SQE4btVvNVkLq74e9
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@andrewoftheantipodes
User Showcase
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,525
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,525
Great to hear you again Deej! This is an instant smash! You two really turned it out on this tune. I do have some suggestions. I would've liked a longer intro. Maybe double the current length. And a better ending would be nice. JMHO, take it in stride. Everything in between is stellar. Super track!


Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,216
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,216
Gentlemen this is dynamite!
Outstanding backing band - loved that bass
Outstanding arrangement
Super vocals and mix
Loved it


Whenever I get something stuck in the back of my throat, I dislodge it by drinking a beer.
It's called the Heineken Maneuver.

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 7,584
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 7,584
Hi Deej and Ray.

Big, loud an in your face! smile

Like Ron says, it's sounds a bit compressed, but that might just be the nature of the beast.

I enjoyed this a lot!


-- David Cuny
My virtual singer development blog

Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 6,960
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 6,960
Thanks for the suggestions so far. I'll give everything a trial.
I'm interested that the file sounds compressed. There's a MIX BUS preset limiter on the stereo out but it's very light. No comp on Deej's vocal - perhaps it's the "normalizing" to achieve -14Lufs. I've been using that so I can compare mixes without having to "gain match". It may be that -14 isn't what Soundcloud likes.
The soundcloud file sound a bit mono in my net listening comp. I'll have to check that elsewhere.
"...a better ending..." is interesting. That's a subjective thing I'm willing to try if quantified so that I can have a crack.
This song did have held chords and slow fade organ on the last two bars but I elected to chop it all off with a touch of delay...as an experiment.
Longer intro...I'd like to but that'd depend on the soloist ...I'll have a squiz.
Drifting vocal fade...yeah, yeah, yeah I can hear what you mean.
I'll consult with Deej.
THANKS.


Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
User Showcase
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,680
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,680
Good song Deej and Ray! On my first listen I thought the (excellent) vocal could come up a db or two, but listening again I think it's just about perfect.

Enjoyed!

User Showcase
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 4,421
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 4,421
Man, I love it when you guys "get together." Very cool song with a lot of catchy energy. Love the strong melody that propels us to that contagious chorus. Super write. Cool guitar work, but it may be sitting to close to the driver. Deej, you are always a favorite vocalist, and if you rework the mix, I'd like to hear it more out front. I listened to the song a second time cuz I like it so much and also so I can answer the question that burned from the first listen: What the heck was that ending? The question wasn't answered, but I listened again cuz i like it.


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: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,030
D
Deej56 Online Content OP
Veteran
OP Online Content
Veteran
D
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,030
Bob, Ron, Andrew, Bob, Mario, David, Dave and Marty:

Thanks for the listens and a the comments so far. You've all given us a LOT to think about. Ray and I will have to put our heads together and figure out next steps, but here are some of my initial thoughts on your feedback:

Intro: I'm pretty satisfied with the length right now. This is a short, poppy song in my mind and the intro gets right to it. Of course, it's all subjective and the guitar is compelling, so I can understand wanting to hear more. Worth a try, if nothing more than to confirm shorter is better.

Vocal Level: From my side, I didn't want the vocal too far out in front at risk of overwhelming the mix . . . so tried to find that fine line between present but not buried. I thought it was pretty close in this version.

Compressed Mix: So I can't speak for ray on the music tracks side, but on the lead vocal, where I normally use a pre-set "Warm Vocal" on my EQ, I did use a "Compressed" EQ pre-set here. Largely because it otherwise sounded too high-end and tinny, and not the right fit for the other tracks. So there may be something to the comments here. Definitely worth a closer look on ray's and my ends.

The Ending: I think this likely falls more on me than ray, as the "yeah, yeahs" to the closing harmony was my suggestion. We could have faded out on the harmonies, but I liked ray's chord's kicking back in at the end, which to me fits the "poppy" element of the tune. In the last version, ray added the delay stacatto fade out, which I do like. Extending it out a bit, per Ron's suggestion, might be worth a try. More for us to experiment with.

Thanks again so much for the thoughtful comments. They are all very helpful!!!

Best regards to you all:

Deej

User Showcase
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,325
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,325
Deel and Ray...brilliant write and production...as soon as I saw the title I thought this will be interesting...I was not disappointed...I love the energy and ANYTHING that you sing Deej goes on my listen to list...as a gospel writer I made a presumption as to who you were addressing in the song... it seemed obvious to me
"So now I have your sunlight on my skin
Penetrates and resonates on everything within
Every flaw that I possess
Will ever flee at your behest
And when your whisper tells me yes
The miracle begins"
This is so good I wish that I had written it (my highest compliment BTW)...Ray...just a super production...Deej, a stellar performance!


www.soundclick.com/firesong
BiaB 2024, Steinberg Cubase Pro 13, Wavelab 11.2, SpetraLayers Pro 10, Audacity, Steinberg UR44 Interface, Yamaha Genos, Roland FP60 and FP10, Windows 10

You are who you are because you do what you do because of what you believe.
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,013
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,013
Lots to like about this! I especially liked:
The step-wise build up of the melody in the verse--so skillfully done.
The genius inspiration to repeat the "walking on water" line--you'd be tempted to make each phrase something different, but repeating it works perfectly.
The frantic pace of it is so full of positive energy, loved that
The way that the chorus led back into the verse--liked that progression.
Re the ending, I would have probably just repeated those last two bars; again, my own preference.
Really glad I tuned in!! Masterful work, both.


Windows 11, Intel Core i5-8600T 2.3Ghz, 16 gig ram, BIAB 2025 MegaPak, SampleTank 4, Keystation49 Kybd, Neewer NW-800 mic
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 8,362
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 8,362
Ray & Deej,

I'm back for a while. Still reeling from Di's passing. But I'm slowly getting better. That's what she would want. But it's tough.

A really nice energetic song that commands the listener's attention. And that's the point, I would say.

A bit too much compression? Maybe. But that's a personal choice. I would like to hear just a bit more higher EQ - not much, just a small amount.

Great composition and performance. You gentlemen make good music!

Best to both of 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: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,327
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,327
Ear candy for sure. I love the rise in melody at the end of the verse---perfect transition to the memorable chorus. Power pop magic all the way. Yeah!

User Showcase
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,456
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,456
Good song, Deej and Ray! I love that climbing F major scale, which goes into the chorus. You've got an enviable vocal technique, Deej smile ... rare when one hears someone who is technically AND musically a master of their craft.

Ray's work is evident throughout, yet completley unobtrusive (as I feel it should be), letting the solo voice shine, without the listener's ear being jarred by anything else. It takes skill to make it sound so, so easy ... well done, Ray.

Well done, gentlemen. Both of you are incredible musicians, so it's a pleasure to hear your work, and a collaboration between the two of you is particularly enticing. Deej: more, please (if at all possible, of course), out of you. THAT voice, and your overall incredible musical skills, are not for hiding smile Hope you get enough inspiration, in future, to continue to grace us with your creations. Ray: a pleasure to hear your musical stamp on this song. I can't wait to hear yet more smile

Bravi.

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,030
D
Deej56 Online Content OP
Veteran
OP Online Content
Veteran
D
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,030
Dan, Tano, Alan, Ezekiel and James:

Thanks for the kind words . . . really appreciate the listens and feedback. Some more specific comments:

UPDATE 2 as of 7-4-24: Ray sent me a new file. The limiting is removed and it should be otherwise clear of compression. I think it's sounding better, but you all be the judges. The ending has also been altered to a fade out with the guitar and organ.

Dan re the lyrics: I was really hoping someone would pick up on it. Much like a song I wrote a few years back ("I Can't Wait") there is certainly an intentional dual meaning to the lyrics, and this could just as easily been characterized as a Christian Rock Song, rather than just plain old pop rock love song.

Alan: My heart aches for your loss. Time, family, friends . . . and music . . . never fully heal it, but they help an awful lot!! All my best wishes to you!

Once again, thank to everyone for helping us shape this tune.

Deej

Last edited by Deej56; 07/04/25 11:24 AM.
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 520
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 520
Hi Deej and Ray,

This is very fun. It puts me back in college listening to the underground bands on weekends... REM being one of them. This song reminds me of one of theirs. Love the yeahs and harmonies.

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,030
D
Deej56 Online Content OP
Veteran
OP Online Content
Veteran
D
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,030
BYOBand,

Well, Dan picked up on lyrical influence and you just nailed the musical influence. I very much had R.E.M in mind and that’s one reason I wanted to err on having the vocal sit a tad lower in the mix than more out in front. Good pick up on your part!!

Deej

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 2 1 2

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
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.

Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac Videos

With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll also keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.

From overviews of new features and walkthroughs of the 202 new RealTracks, to highlights of XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAKs 18, the 2025 49-PAK, and in-depth tutorials — you’ll find everything you need to explore what’s new in Band-in-a-Box® 2025.

Reference this forum post for One-Stop Shopping of our Band-in-a-Box® 2025 Mac Videos — we’ll be adding more videos as they’re released!

Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac is Here!

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac is here, packed with major new features and an incredible collection of available new content! This includes 202 RealTracks (in Sets 449-467), plus 20 bonus Unreleased RealTracks in the 2025 49-PAK. There are new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 4, two new sets of “RealDrums Stems,” XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAK 19, and more!

Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac with savings of up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special—available until July 31, 2025! Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.

2025 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
We've packed our Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK with some incredible Add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is automatically included with most Band-in-a-Box® for Mac 2025 packages, but for even more Add-ons (including 20 Unreleased RealTracks!) upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49. You can see the full lists of items in each package, and listen to demos here.

If you have any questions, feel free to connect with us directly—we’re here to help!

Band-in-a-Box 2025 Italian Version is Here!

Cari amici
È stata aggerate la versione in Italiano del programma più amato dagli appassionati di musica, il nostro Band-in-a-Box.
Questo è il link alla nuova versione 2025.

Di seguito i link per scaricare il pacchetti di lingua italiana aggiornati per Band-in-a-Box e RealBand, anche per chi avesse già comprato la nuova versione in inglese.

Band-in-a-Box 2025 - Italiano
RealBand 2025 - Italiano

Band-in-a-Box 2025 French Version is Here!

Bonjour à tous,

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 pour Windows est disponible en Français.
Le téléchargement se fait à partir du site PG Music

Pour ceux qui auraient déjà acheté la version 2025 de Band-in-a-Box (et qui donc ont une version anglaise), il est possible de "franciser" cette version avec les patchs suivants:

BIAB 2025 - francisation
RealBand 2025 - francisation

Voilà, enjoy!

Band-in-a-Box 2025 German Version is Here!

Band-in-a-Box 2025 für Windows Deutsch ist verfügbar!

Die deutsche Version Band-in-a-Box® 2025 für Windows ist ab sofort verfügbar!

Alle die bereits die englische Version von Band-in-a-Box und RealBand 2024 installiert haben, finden hier die Installationsdateien für das Sprachenupdate:

https://nn.pgmusic.com/pgfiles/languagesupport/deutsch2025.exe
https://nn.pgmusic.com/pgfiles/languagesupport/deutsch2025RB.exe

Update Your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 to Build 1128 for Windows Today!

Already using Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Windows®? Download Build 1128 now from our Support Page to enjoy the latest enhancements and improvements from our team.

Stay up to date—get the latest update now!

Forum Statistics
Forums58
Topics84,303
Posts777,506
Members39,612
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
Claudio Paolini, bjornen71, CATBELLOU, Banjopotamus, BudLab
39,612 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 148
zedd 120
DC Ron 106
nonchai 104
WaoBand 102
rsdean 88
Today's Birthdays
Manos
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5