Here is a link to the first song I've completed using 2014 Band-in-a-Box and RealBand. Down In The Valley It is also the first song where I've tried to apply what I've been learning about the art and science of music production.

Styles used include: CMPFBF3.STY, _FIDSOLG.STY & _MAN65SL.STY.
RealTracks include: ~712:Bass, Acoustic, Bossa Ev 085 (A:simple), ~364:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 065, ~368:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev, Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Spirited Ev 065, Fiddle, Soloist CountryAndy Ev 065 and Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm CountryBalladJohn Ev 065.

A few notes of each instrument are midi with Hi-Q SampleTank instruments.

I welcome any comments pro or con. I believe constructive feedback is the best way to continue to grow and learn.

Jim, it is a good first production and appears it is more complex production than it sounds. I think it is a good mix and an excellent first attempt. Good choice of instruments and your vocals are just as I remember.

Charlie

It sounds like you're catching on fast! It's an incredible program. Enjoy! Take care. Greg

Like that voice! The fiddle fits great. Enjoyed the intro and outro also. Cheers.

Jim,

I listened last night, but today Soundcloud just spins on your song (others don't)... anyway...

Good mix on this. And I liked the fiddle (as I recall). I like the idea of doing a traditional song - it never occurs to me to look for such things... I'll try to listen again later, but the last time this happened on a particular song, I was never able to listen... I thought Soundcloud was getting things cleaned up - and I use the old version...

floyd

floyd jane: Thank you for letting me know you are having trouble listening to the file. It appears something happened to it so I deleted the file and uploaded a fresh copy. I also changed settings so the song can be downloaded.

RichMac: Thank you for the compliments; especially concerning my vocal!

Greg Johnson: Thanks for the encouragement. The last six months have been an amazing learning process.

c_fogle: Hope you were surprised when you heard it. You don't know how many times I resisted sharing works in progress. By the way, I'm wondering if "your vocals are just as I remember" is a compliment or a back hand salute LOL.

Jim, that's a great sounding first production with RB. It's got a really pretty "sheen" on it listening in my headphones without being muddy or too bright. And you did a sweet arrangement as well. A+


Josie

always a classic song, sounds to me like your mix is well balanced and I too like the fiddle. Your vocal is unconventional but so are a lot of great artists and to me that enriches the experience, and gives music and songs a deeper more engaging and personal touch.

much enjoyed!

Hi Jim

I hadn't heard that song before so I don't have anything to compare to but I enjoyed it. As mentioned the fiddle in the break adds a nice touch.

Hello Jim,

That's very good for a first production!
You've also chosen a good set of real tracks, we especially like the sound of the strumming guitar. A good basis for the song.

Keep up the good work, and we are sure you will!

Regards,
R & AM

Great old song. Enjoyed the listen.

Love the simplicity on this, in today's music world it is easy sometimes to go overboard with tracks, just because we can, LOL! Thanks for sharing!

Josie: Thank you for the kind remarks about the mix. "Sheen" was exactly what I was hoping to accomplish.

gruverider: I'm glad you enjoyed the song as it has always been one of favorites. I spent a lot of time to try and make my voice sound the way I'd like for it to sound in real life so your complement on the vocal is most welcome.

Joanne: Thank you for listening. The fiddle turned out to be a good choice; it didn't take a lot of "fiddling around" to match it up to the song.

Rob and Anne-Marie: Thank you for listening and commenting on my song. I greatly admire your skill with writing, performing and producing both audio and video. As a newbie to BIAB, your productions set the goal VERY high for other newcomers.

Charlie McG: I enjoy your songs and feel a kinship to the songs you do so I'm pleased you enjoyed my first song choice.

PgFantastic: I agree. Simplicity in music can be a very nice thing. Some of the most simplistic sounding songs I've heard have the most difficult production to understand. Normally, when it sounds easy, it rarely is.

This could have well been one of Johnny Cash's songs, Jim. Your vocals kinda remind me of him a bit. At any rate, this is really well done all around. Enjoyed the listen.

Mike: Thanks for listening. Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Roseanne Cash and K.T. Oslin are some of the artists that have covered Down In The Valley. A blues artist wrote additional lyrics and recorded the song under the title, Birmingham Jail. Each version is distinctive so the song has a long and rich history.

Nice production and great first use of biab 2014. I think at 0:27 you might consider scaling the instruments in. By bringing everything in at once, there is nothing to change up when you go into the 2nd verse. The fiddle worked out quite well here as did the slight change in percussion during the fiddle part.

Maybe you have too many guitars in there so it is a bit sonically the same. Swap out one for a mandolin or ukulele (if the uke fits). To me everything has the same volume level all the way through. Might want to experiment with changing volumes here and there to add more sonic variety.

Now, of course, I use too many instruments all the time myself -- that's how I can see it in other folk's work (ha, ha).

Hi, Jim !:))


It has been said already, but
I do like your tune and production
really much !:)) Congrats !:))

Cheers
Dani

Hi Jim,

We enjoyed the simplicity of this one. We tend to agree with Kevin that you might want to introduce the full compliment of instruments in two stages. Other than that, sounds great. Nice work! best to ya ...

Alan & Di

Kevin: Thank you for listening and your feedback. I value your comments as I admire your songs and hope to produce as well as you someday in the future. All your ideas have merit. I'm sure at some point I will revisit Down In The Valley and implement some of them.

Dani48: Thank you for listening. I appreciate it very much.

Alan and Di: Simplicity is best when attempting something new. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for listening, your encouragement and feedback.

Sounds like you have a good handle on things. The mix is just right. Good choice of instruments. Nicely done. Tom