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Hey Everybody, I'm trying a new experiment in my new songwriting journey to help me return to my roots and be more authentic and less technology driven. To this end, I've created a little Two-Track setup in Real Band. I am writing and recording songs at the same time by playing the guitar while I am inventing the chord progression on the spot and channeling the vocals at the same time after putting myself inside the body of different characters, all singing honestly about their struggles in life. It's literally a one take effort. As I said, the vocals and the guitar parts are being created and recorded at the same time and I'm keeping the first take for both of them for the most part and not doing any second takes or overdubs on either. Then I'm going back and adding in the other instruments including any band in a box parts. I'm not going to fiddle and fool and do retakes because I don't want to spoil the authenticity. While there may be imperfections, with more of a live performance feel than a shellacked production vibe, I am willing to sacrifice that in exchange for emotional honesty at the mic. I'm just going to see where this takes me and not allow myself to do too much editing. Then I will let it all sit for while and see what I have. I like what's going down so far and I hope you enjoy it. Reason to Liveby David Snyder https://soundcloud.com/david-snyder-gigs4/reason-to-liveREASON TO LIVE by David Snyder V1 Sit in my car look at the sky I'm being followed and I don't know why I know I've committed a couple of crimes which one was it now what did I do this time PC and all of the religion in this midnight world can't save me now that I've lost my girl Ch Cause she was my reason to live and she was my reason to forgive and now that my girl is gone I will drive all night staring into these lights and by morning It will still all be wrong V2 I don't remember being born I don't remember growing old but I do remember those times I was hurt and I do remember a lifetime of cold PC and all of the religion in this midnight world can't save me now that I've lost my girl Ch Cause she was my reason to live and she was my reason to forgive and now that my girl is gone I will drive all night staring into these lights and by morning It will still all be wrong Cause she was my reason to live And she was my reason My only reason To forgive All music and lyrics copyright 2025 by David Snyder David Snyder: Guitar and vocals, additional instrumentation, mixing, mastering, production RealTracks in style: 4517:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm IndieFolkGentleSyncDADGAD ev16 065 RealDrums in style:CajonSlow16ths: a: Cajon b: Cajon Shaker Pop Promise Held Piano Natalie Flowing Cello Post Production Mastering with Ocean Way Studio Nashville (Waves)
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What a cool way to do things. Just let it flow.
It seems to have worked well.
One take. Just remember that Take Another Little Piece of my Heart by Janice Joplin was a one take no fixes recording.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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David, this sounds great.
First takes are usually the best takes.
I liked this.
FYI - The method you used is what BobH and I used to use. He would play chords and make up lyrics as he went along while I added some guitar parts. Our workflow differs as we then redid the song into my DAW with Bob's guitar on one track and mine on another. Then we would add the vocal and work up a BiaB backing band. We did a couple of covers live like you are doing but I can't post them here.
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
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David, you really squeezed a touching song from your (very cool) exercise. Very nice layering of the BiaB tracks and other fun stuff over your base tracks. Superior playing, as always. Really like your vocals, minor imperfections and all, as they convey a raw, live feel and a tangible emotional edge. Congratulations on exploring the path back to your roots. We should all do that more.  Probably half the songs in our catalog are from vocals recorded before the song was finished. I'd have the lyrics (of course), a vague sense of the melody for each section and a BiaB backing track. Would hit record with the song on loop and gradually shape the song over several takes. At the time, this approach allowed me to better tap my innate musical instincts and just let them flow with the music. I've since found other ways of getting to the same place, but this one was a lot of fun.
Last edited by DC Ron; 10/02/25 03:21 PM.
DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
Presonus Studio One
ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM
Presonus Faderport 16
Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Dave, I love your voice so much. I think it always has a 'roots' sound and no technology will ever interfere with that. I'm amazed at your process here, I could never pull a decent song out of that. But you did. My favorite song of yours, (despite my being a secular humanist), is Jubal. That song is amazing IMHO. I think whatever your process the results are always going to be special.
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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David,
This is awesome... Love the approach and the outcome. I could listen to a whole album of this.
Bob
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VERY COOL, David. Love that pure approach, and you brought out all the magic of creativity. Lyrics are cool, but these are my favorite from your post: "putting myself inside the body of different characters, all singing honestly about their struggles in life." Yep, I gotta remember that when someone says, "Is this autobiographical?"
Man, what a cool song. I'd say it's my new favorite of yours, but I say that whenever one of yours comes up on my playlist. If she is your reason, we all benefit from her influence.
See what I mean? "Walking Country Song" came on right after this one ended, and it's my new favorite of yours --again.
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Hello David,
You're always up for experiments like this :-)
And only you can sing this song like this.
It sounds excellent!
Really great work, David.
Andi :-)
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… It's literally a one take effort. As I said, the vocals and the guitar parts are being created and recorded at the same time and I'm keeping the first take for both of them for the most part and not doing any second takes or overdubs on either. … Hi David! Firstly, what courage to go-with-the-flow in a one-take experiment, and a really good outcome. I love the raw and live feel of your song. While it’s good that we have the modern tech to be able to shape and embellish our creations, it is also good to be reminded of live performing. Your song is also timely - in the light of increasing AI - to extend backwards into the rawness of live music with all of its imperfections but humanity. You have inspired me to do something similar at some point in the future (I’m not sure I could pull off creating lyrics on the spot though) and I hope others will follow you as an avenue of songwriting with BIAB. Well done. Andrew
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Interesting approach, and it worked really well for you, David.
I would take this over some AI generated absolutely perfect song, that also doesn't have an once of soul, anytime!
Well done!
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Good old DS is back, I like that! Nothing wrong with the technology driven DS either. But in the end, it's the song that counts. And here you have your trademarks, sense of humor in "I'm being followed/and I don't know why" and deeply emotional in "I do remember/a lifetime of cold" & "My only reason/To forgive". And your voice still expresses those feeling sublimely. That RT cello is a nice addition. It really shows your big talent that you can produce quality music with simple steps without retakes.
Janne
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Well done and a very cool approach to the production.
The session guys and your performances made for a fine band.
The above, your write, your vocals and the roots approach made for a tune that we enjoyed!
Reckon you'll take this path for a while given the result.
Have fun,
J&B
PS We are all about first takes … almost always on Janice’s vocals.
Some of our better bluegrass recordings back in the day were first takes also.
i think Roy Acuff once said you lose a little something with each additional take.
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
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David,
I've been listening to you for about nine or ten years. This is my favorite of all your songs. The authenticity abounds in this one. It's clean, refreshing, and such an easy listen. I could listen to songs like this from you endlessly. And that's the honest truth. EXCELLENT!!!
FWIW, that's more or less the way Di and I recorded our vocals. By that, I mean one and done. We never once cut and pasted. every vocal was once through. On rare occasions, we would do a second vocal, but always straight through from first word to last. We've never once used a DAW, other than Audacity, which is, at best, a no-frills, almost basic DAW. But I am trying to learn Cakewalk. I have that and Studio One. Cakewalk looks simpler!
Anyway, this is a terrific song and worth another listen. Headed that way now.
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
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Hi David. I love this journey The music, the lyrics, your singing and your production kept me fully engaged. You are one of the most inventive songwriters on this forum and it's always a delight to hear where your creativity takes you. I see that you used the Ocean Way Studio Nashville. I recently got that along with a couple of other "headphone" studios. It's one of my favourites. It was interesting to read about you created this song. I'm in awe that you can accomplish so much in a single take. That's not something I will ever be able do. I tip my metaphorical hat to your amazing ability. Lastly, you mentioned putting yourself in the body of a character and writing while in that character's shoes. This is a technique that I also use. I've found it very productive. Terrific work! --Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Good one David,
I've used BIAB for the opposite reason - sort of - I was locked into muscle memory chord changes in C more or less.
I needed to break away from that so building progressions in BIAB moved me to other keys and other changes.
Mind you I still can't play Dm without making D 1st!
This song is cool, the immediacy shows through as does the "authenticity".
Mix wise the he right side guitar seems a little different in room/reverb from the rest.
Good vocal too.
Well done.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Thanks Herb. Yeah I think I like doing things that way for sure.
It's a lot more fun for one thing.
I think a lot of people besides Janice did a lot of one take wonders back in the day. And that's a great song you mentioned by her. She killed it.
One time someone asked Paul McCartney what they did back in the days when you didn't have autotune.
He said you had to know how to sing.
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One time someone asked Paul McCartney what they did back in the days when you didn't have autotune.
He said you had to know how to sing. Indeed. I remember a story about the Beatles working on the vocal parts and harmony for one of their songs. A lot of the frustration and animosity in the group came from Paul's obsession to get the vocal parts perfect. He'd often spend a week or more just doing take after take after take chasing the beyond perfect take. After all, like you said, they couldn't simply melodyne the track and call it done. Pitch, timing, groove, emotion, all had to be there from the take. And it's also noteworthy that they didn't have the luxury of digital. They were limited to 4 or 8 tracks in the early days, on real magnetic tape that wore out a little bit with each head pass.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Hi, David. Sounds like a successful song to me! With more and more music going the AI route, it makes sense to step back in the other direction to see what is getting lost.
-- 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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Always enjoy your experiments
Good lyric
Enjoyed the music
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Wow, David. This is a work of art for its authenticity and raw beauty. I'm so touched. In the age of AI feelingless perfection, this reminds us all what it is to be human and have a voice and need to express and share. Just awesome! Your process is going to produce more gems, I think.
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