My Brother

****** Song Summary *************
Title: My Brother

Key=Am , Tempo 85, Length (m:s)=3:57
2 bar intro, 80 bar chorus, from bar 3 to bar 82. Repeat x1 chorus

Style is C_SWEET.STY (Sweet - Contemporary Country Bal)

Style MIDI Instruments are :
Finger Electric Bass (34),
Acoustic Piano (1),
Acoustic Guitar (26),
Synth Strings 2 (52),
MIDI Drums : Drum Patch # 2 (2)
RT626:Harmonica, Background Travis Ev 085
RT1760:Fiddle, Background Pop16ths Ev 085


If anyone is interested here is how I compiled the song.

1st I set the chords in Band In a Box then chose a style, as it happened it was a midi style (see above).

I saved the song as a midi file then imported the midi version into Realband.

In Realband I set the individual midi instruments to the Sample Tank BIAB instruments as follows:

Finger Electric Bass (34) to Acoustic Bass T
Acoustic Piano (1) to Acoustic Grand Piano
Acoustic Guitar (26) to Warm Acoustic Guitar
Synth Strings 2 to Movie Strings


I added the RealTrack Harmonica and Fiddle (see above)

I used the Daw Plugin mode and transfered the files to Reaper.

In reaper I set the volumes of the individual instruments, I also set the FX with reverb and EQ.

The last thing I did was a little bit of an experiment, I set the speed to be 12 cents slower.

Here is the result.
My Brother

Lyrics

My Mother said she loved him
My Father said the same
My brother was more distant
Wonder what he became

He left on that summer Sunday
Ran away to sea
Never saw my Brother again
Heard he was in Capri

Funny how I think of him
A hero in my mind
A sailor of misfortune
Not a word unkind

Postcards he would sent us
From lands overseas
Stories he would tell us
Think he was with me

Funny how I think of him
A hero in my mind
A sailor of misfortune
Not a word unkind

Miss him oh so sadly
Heard that he had died
Now at rest in the land of hope
His ship tied up alongside

Funny how I think of him
A hero in my mind
A sailor of misfortune
Not a word unkind

I cannot visit to say hello
That time has long since past
My Brother lives within my heart
It's there that he will last

Funny how I think of him
A hero in my mind
A sailor of misfortune
Not a word unkind

Very nice George. Poignant song.


Regards,


Bob

Hi Bob,

Thanks for taking a listen.

Regards
George

Dang, those midi instruments sound pretty dang good. I don't think I have installed the "SampleTank" player properly or used any Hi-Q sounds. I might have to look into that.

Good job on the production, excellent story and fine performance!

A few comments, George..

1) HOW I ENVY YOUR VOICE! such depth and substance! it's just perfect for the genre in your collection of songs !

2) I agree with Kevin that the MIDI in your song sounds surprisingly good. I haven't spent any time messing with Sample Tank, but now you've got two of us looking at it. Maybe you should contact the company that makes SampleTank and ask for your commission!

3) regarding the production, mix etc... I'm not the guru in that department... but the vocals were right on top, nothing sounded muddy... I would be proud if I made a song that sounded that good (and I hope you are too)

Wonderful George. Very poignant lyrics and mood. I’ve been practising my soloing in A Natural Minor along with it.

George,

I can't help but believe that there is more to the story that the song. I.e. as Paul Harvey used to say, the rest of the story. I say this because this lyric and heartfelt performance tells me that you must have a close connection with both.

If not I am even more impressed as to how you can take such a heavy personal subject as this lyric and do it justice without that personal connection.

Nice work.

Later,

Really pretty. I enjoyed it.

Hi Kemmrich,


The midi styles are often overlooked.
They can be very good used with SampleTank or other vst's (you just have to tweak them until they sound good to your ears).

Thanks for taking a listen and your nice comments.

George

Hi Pat,

Your post has me blushing (well I think it's blushing - might just be wind)

Thank you so much for your positive feedback.

I have no affiliation with SampleTank, it just works very nicely with Band In a Box.

I have found that (for my voice) I only use Two FX patches (sorry, can't remember proper name)
One is PG Reverb (default setting) set very low dry/wet mix.

The other is Classic Compressor (Kjaerhus Audio)

These give the clarity that I like.

Other than that I use Mac's suggestion and turn everything down low so that I can hear rogue instruments that are competing with the overall mix.

Regards

George

Hi Joanne,

Thanks for taking a listen.

I'm glad that you are using the song for your soloing practice.

Regards

George

Hi Danny C.,

You are right about the song, it was just made up kinda'

I did have a Mother, Father and Brother.

My Brother did go to sea as a Merchant Seaman.

He used to send us postcards to tell us where he had been.

The rest of the song is just my imagination (could be my medication )

Thanks for taking a listen.

Regards

George

Hi Josie,

Thanks for taking a listen.

Regards

George

George,

This is quite nice. Good song and an excellent production. I think it's your best yet. Keep it up!

Good job

floyd

Hi floyd,

Thanks for your comments
Well I don't think that, but you know (if you are anything like me), you strive to do the best that you can, but are never totally satisfied with the final mix.

Regards

George

like the style of the whole piece very much. Voice, instruments, effects, clarity, songwriting. Liked your others on soundcloud also but this one reminds me of my brother. Touches a spot. This is the kind of country that I love. Thanks. Looking for more.
- Richard.

Hi Richard,

Thanks for your positive comments.

Regards

George

As poignant as My Brother is, I think using Sailor of Misfortune would make an awesome title.

Hi David,


You know, I think you are right, that would make a good title.

See what happens when your too close to the song - can't see the wood for the trees

Thanks

George