|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,263
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,263 |
Hello Folks, sorry I've been quiet of late - life gets in the way sometimes and chaos often is a part of that. I've been visiting when I can & working on stuff when I can squeeze the time. These two tracks are evidence that I'm still "doing" stuff but nothing, at present, is ready for a big reveal. This one, Blundertown, is waiting on a real singer. I have someone who wants to do it but the when is uncertain. BIAB provides drums & organ. Draft vocal, (heavily tuned), bass & guitars are by me but the lead playing is by Stephen Hutter (Louisiana Steve) a professional musician by trade & a generous collaborator by turns: Here's a slightly updated version...the vocals are a little tidier and the bass n drums nexus more certain: BLUNDERTOWN vii V1 This town, my town This brown, my brown I swim, you frown Don't tear it down Working, living Talking, giving Walking, driving, Still surviving C1 Something calls, I can't hear Calls far, calls near Not quite home Not quite fear. I can't hear Something near Life in Blundertown. V2 This place, our place This case, our case You think, I pace In a rat race Working, living Taking, sieving Running, diving, Just surviving C2 Something calls, I can't hear Calls from afar, calls near Not quite home Not quite fear. I can't hear Somewhere near Life in Blundertown. V3 Living, dying Consuming, buying Faking, trying Making do Working, slaving Seeing, craving Always behaving We've been trained to. C3 Something calls, I don't hear Calls out loud, calls quite near Not my home, feel my fear. A different gear Someone near Live in Blundertown. C4 Something calls, all along Calls out loud, sounding wrong Not my home, feel me drown. Different tread Someone bled Life in Blundertown. This one, PsychB, has BIAB drums, solos, organ and held piano chords. Strings and piano bass are midi while guitars, lap steel n bass are the real thing. No vocals or even lyrics yet. I'VE REPLACED THIS WITH THE MELODY REMOVED SO YOU CAN HEAR THE ARRANGEMENT BETTER. Lap Steel is used quietly to add texture in the transitions mainly. PSYCHB sans melody No need to listen or comment unless you want to. Ears and advice on both are welcome, (except for the vocals as they won't be staying), as these are Works In Progress.
Last edited by rayc; 11/22/25 06:45 PM.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,676
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,676 |
Hi, Ray.
Blundertown has a cool vibe and sounds like it's shaping up nicely. Really like the bass on this one. Also like the melody of the scratch vocals and the lyrics I can make out. Assume the ending is a WIP as well.
Psych B also has a cool vibe (ok, so I think you have a LOT of cool vibes). The opening blossoms nicely. That string pad provides a lot of glue. Very nice lead and rhythm guitars. Not hearing a lap steel, but might not be listening for how you're using it. Super arrangement. A grand, cinematic feel to my ears. That's a great ending.
Thanks for sharing, you're doing some nifty stuff.
DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
Presonus Studio One
ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM
Presonus Faderport 16
Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,686
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,686 |
Hi Ray,
Blundertown - Outstanding bass line and a super groove. Nice guitar chording and leads also. You vocal is really good for a demo. Super mix.
Psych B - Another super bass line. A fantastic intro. Great lead guitar. A great start and I'm sure that the finished product will be fantastic.
Tips on how to fall asleep in a living room chair:
1- Be old
2- Sit in a chair
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: 8,189
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,189 |
Hi, Ray.
Blundertown's got a good, bouncy feel. Looking forward to hearing how it turns out.
-- 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 1,157
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 1,157 |
Hi Ray!
Both songs are really interesting and in genres that I haven’t heard a lot of on the Showcase since I’ve been here. I like how you take the chord progressions to unexpected places, but make the melodies smooth out the changes. I can hear your use of major to minor chord changes (e.g. B - Bm) - always sounds cool. I’m really looking forward to hearing the finished songs!
For Blundertown, I love those ‘stabbed’ guitar strums, and in style, it is a similar sound to Augie March ‘Thin Captain Crackers’ - in style, not in melody or harmonically.
For Psyche, I reckon you’ve wonderfully captured an 80s Brit romantic sound with the synth - I could hear whiffs of OMD or maybe even Split Enz True Colours or Blondie Atomic.
Lovely stuff.
Andrew
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,055
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,055 |
Morning, Ray,
Blundertown has a nice feel, bass sounds good, and Steve did a fine job for you. Couldn't make out much of the vocal, so looking forward to hearing it with the final singer.
PsychB has tons of potential, I like the melody line on top. It actually really works well as an instrumental, so I think it will be really powerful once you add vocals. Is it also Steve playing the solo? Nice!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,055
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,055 |
I really like Blundertown (I live close enough to one here). It's got a good feel. Yes, I can hear the "heavily tuned" Melotron vocal, but I like it. Steve did a fine job and I like the bass. SOunds like southern Louisianna --thinking NOLA.
I like the wild drums on Psyche B, and as Dave says, that melody tells me it's gonna be a great song.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 3,030
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 3,030 |
Blundertown:
I like the overall mood and the vocals (at least the parts I can understand).
The musical part could be a little more varied, with some dynamic changes and, above all, a direction in which the song takes me.
However, it could be that this feeling changes once the final lyrics guide me somewhere.
PSYCH B:
Even without vocals, this song is MUCH more interesting and has much more potential.
I'm looking forward to the lyrics.
I would even go so far as to change the outro, which is really interesting and has a strong Pink Floyd vibe, into a bridge and then add something afterwards (a final chorus or something).
I'd continue with this one first!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,263
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,263 |
Hi, Ray.
Blundertown has a cool vibe and sounds like it's shaping up nicely. Really like the bass on this one. Also like the melody of the scratch vocals and the lyrics I can make out. Assume the ending is a WIP as well.
Psych B also has a cool vibe (ok, so I think you have a LOT of cool vibes). The opening blossoms nicely. That string pad provides a lot of glue. Very nice lead and rhythm guitars. Not hearing a lap steel, but might not be listening for how you're using it. Super arrangement. A grand, cinematic feel to my ears. That's a great ending.
Thanks for sharing, you're doing some nifty stuff. Thanks DC, What are your thoughts on the ending? Lap Steel is pretty quiet & subtle - most prominent at the end as an FX thing.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,263
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,263 |
Hi Ray,
Blundertown - Outstanding bass line and a super groove. Nice guitar chording and leads also. You vocal is really good for a demo. Super mix.
Psych B - Another super bass line. A fantastic intro. Great lead guitar. A great start and I'm sure that the finished product will be fantastic. Thanks Mario, The bass part for Blunder was fun to do.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,263
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,263 |
Hi, Ray.
Blundertown's got a good, bouncy feel. Looking forward to hearing how it turns out. Ta, it was less so until the "jaunty" intro & solo were added. The final chorus solo is a little more tense and I wrote the lyrics to reflect the change.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,676
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,676 |
Hi, Ray.
Blundertown has a cool vibe and sounds like it's shaping up nicely. Really like the bass on this one. Also like the melody of the scratch vocals and the lyrics I can make out. Assume the ending is a WIP as well.
Psych B also has a cool vibe (ok, so I think you have a LOT of cool vibes). The opening blossoms nicely. That string pad provides a lot of glue. Very nice lead and rhythm guitars. Not hearing a lap steel, but might not be listening for how you're using it. Super arrangement. A grand, cinematic feel to my ears. That's a great ending.
Thanks for sharing, you're doing some nifty stuff. Thanks DC, What are your thoughts on the ending? Lap Steel is pretty quiet & subtle - most prominent at the end as an FX thing. Ray, on the ending, well...it may have been "a feature, not a bug". The organ after the quick (and cool) fadeout seemed to linger at un-faded volume for too long and sounded like an editing artifact which one might expect in a WIP. Or it might be an intentionally adventurous ending. So ignore if the latter. 
DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
Presonus Studio One
ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM
Presonus Faderport 16
Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,961
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,961 |
Ray,
I really like Blundertown - excellent song. I also think your vocal fits really well.
I like Psych B as well. Some great bass and a cool tune overall.
Bob
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,319
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,319 |
Cool bouncey groove Ray. Well done
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,121
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,121 |
Blundertown is another very cool lyric.
We enjoyed the progression of the “life in Blundertown” as the choruses roll by.
You and the session guys provided a great groove indeed.
And, as others mentioned, your bass and guitar work and Steve’s guitar are super.
Enjoyed 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,919
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,919 |
ray,
Bass, drums, guitar - a solid base. All sounds good.
I actually like the vocal.
No advice. I don't hear anything "out of line".
(I do have to turn your stuff up to really hear the mix. Quite "soft" compared to others. That might be a good thing?)
fj
I listened to Sancho as well. Also sounds "done")
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,167
Posts801,485
Members40,061
| |
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean