Hi,

I just got BIAB MegaPak a few days ago and I am in the first stages of trying to figure out how to use the software. There are a zillion files in BIAB and I am trying to get a idea of what exist at the moment...Fun stuff.

This is a rough draft of a silly song I am working on. Everything came out of BIAB except for the drum line which was played live on a MIDI drum kit. I am going for a sort of a comical hillbilly country vocal and this is the first take.

I would love to meet an get to know people here on this site.

https://soundcloud.com/planobillydfw/mad-dog-2020


Cheers,


Billy

Hi,

I would say that for the first time the software worked well.

Nice country sound and good guitar.

what did you played in the song?

Hello.

Ciao da Florida e grazie !!

Just the drums and the vocal.

I play guitar and keyboards but this was done just using Real Tracks in Band In A Box.

Solo la batteria e la voce.

Suono la chitarra e le tastiere, ma questo è stato fatto usando solo tracce reali di banda in una scatola.

Grazie,


Billy

Welcome to the Showcase, Billy...

Certainly a good first post. A solid mix. The steel seems just a tad low at times, but everything else stands out nicely.

Very nice job on the drums... and the vocals are well recorded...

floyd

Hi Billy.

Welcome to the showcase from me, too.

This is terrific sound. For a first post, it's up there with the best I've heard. I agree with floyd that the pedal steel seemed to get lost in the back of the mix sometimes. Apart from, everything sounds super.

All the best,
Noel

P.S. If you get a chance to post the lyrics, I'd appreciate being able to read them. I didn't catch everything that was sung.

Hello Billy,

well, that's a pretty nice result for a first song with band in a box.
Could you specify which realtracks you used? That's kind of customary here.
Well done!

Regards,
RnAM

Welcome to the forum. Nice first post. Your country vocal was the standout for me. Your vocals were right for the song and fit nicely in the mix. Looking forward to hearing more from you soon.

Charlie

Jeezzz Guys, thanks for all the kind words. I never expected that so many of you would take the time to listen.

I will go figure out which Real Tracks I used and post them.

Thanks for making me feel welcome here.

Cheers,

Billy

PS...I will re do this and fix the steel and re sing the vox as it was a one take and had some issues.

The list of Real Tracks

Bass 359
Guitar 1 528
Guitar 2 372
Guitar 3 974
Steel 370
All 120 BPM
But I recorded at 140 BPM
If this is not enough info just let me know.

One of you ask for the lyrics. The subject matter is kinda dark, but so is real life at times.

Mad Dog 2020

I was sittin on the corner of a dead end street Drinking from a paper bag
MD 2020 mad dog wine will drive you right on out ah your mind
It will make you hot, It will make you cold, it will make you wish you were not so bold
To be sittin on the corner of a dead end street with me

Hey hey Joe can you pass me that straight cause I want’s to get my hit
I can tell by the smell, and the look on your face, that that there stuff is some pretty good [*****]
Well it made me hot, and it made me cold, and it made me wish I was not so bold
As To be sittin on the corner of a dead end street with you

Her come Betty walking down the road, want’s to jump right in the mix
Said she came down, to little brothers town, to give the boy a big herrowine fix
Well it made him hot and it made him cold and now he wishes he was not so bold
To be settin on the corner of a dead end street again

Lordy Lordy Lordy look commin down the road, hell it must be five O
Well, it’s been right fun, but I tell you son, I think I better go
Cause they’ll lock me up, through my [*****] in jail, and ain’t none of you jokers gona go my bail
For settin on the corner of a dead end street with you…again

Hi Billy,

welcome to the forum. Nice first post. Your vocals
really fit the genre. I like the lyrics.
Good job on the drums.
Enjoyable listen.

Guenter

Guenter,

Thank you so much for the kind words and thanks for the welcome to the forum.


Nochmals vielen Dank


Billy

Well Billy, welcome to the forum. One thing people do at this forum is to take the time to listen, specially to the new members, mainly to encourage them to keep on trying and point out weak points, strong points, and so on. We are in a continuous learning process here. So I'll say this; like many others have said, this is a pretty good stuff for a first post, nice voice and arrangement. Keep at it.

Mike B.

Thanks for the welcome Mike. I see you live in Florida also.

I actually live in Homestead but just say Miami as there are people from all over the world on these international forums and Homestead is a small place most likely not very well known. Driving north from my house there is no way to tell where Homestead ends and Miami starts in any event.

The welcome I have received here really makes me feel at home.

I need to spend some time listening and reading what others are doing and saying.

Así como decimos aquí, gracias por todo

Cheers,


Billy

Welcome to the forum Billy!

Very nice 1st effort, hope to hear more from you in the not to distant future.

later,

Sounds cool. It has an old time country feel to it.

Nice to see another person discover the many aspects of BB.

Looking forward to more stuff and as you learn this thing, it will amaze you with the quality of the music you can produce with just a bit of effort.

Nice work.

Get to know the folks here.... lots of really good writers and producers.... and they're willing, for the most part to share their knowledge if you simply ask.

Be sure to listen to the music of the folks who comment on your songs... that's how you get to know us.

Welcome to the group.

Welcome Billy, and great first post!! This is a lot of fun. Well written and wonderfully delivered. Your vocal style is so natural and comfortable. Excellent job!! Take care. Greg

Thank you Greg. BIAB is a fun software and I am slowly finding my way around.

Also...I have updated the song. Do I post it here??


Cheers,


Billy

Hi Billy,

Enjoyed hearing your first effort with Band-in-a-Box. I'm looking forward to hearing many more. By-the-way, really like the sound of your voice and your midi drum track on this song.

Thanks Jim,

I am finding this software very useful for many reasons. It will take a bit of time to learn to use the software and understand how to do things correctly on this forum.

Also I am currently digging into what other people are doing here.

Big fourm....lot of stuff here!!


Cheers,

Billy

Thanks...I like Jamaican Moon. Look forward to hearing more.

Cheers,

Billy

Thank you and I Really liked Suzanne...You have a very nice voice. I have a special love for "The Low Countries By The Sea"

Beste wensen voor jullie allemaal


Cheers,

Billy

Thanks Mike,

I listen to " I'll Remember You" which I like and several others.

Most of my friends here local are Cuban...so I get to speak Spanish every day.


Cheers,

Billy

Got a very relaxed laid back feel going here that
works really well with your voice and the lyric.
Reminds us of a lot of the Americana we listen
to. Cool that you were able to use those RT's
at the upper limit of their bmp range. They sound
fine but often they get a bit funky there.

Nice arrangement and mix!

J&B
www.janiceandbud.com

J&B,

Thanks for the feedback and the kind words. I actually was aware of the BPM limit but tried to go out side the limit anyway.

This has been purely an experimental try at using BIAB. The fact that it worked at all is a indication of the usability of the software.

There is a large learning curve for me to get to the point I can really use the product effectively.

Good news is that I have some basic understanding of music theory and some limited skills playing guitar and keys.

As a vocalist....well...lol...I got a long way to go.


Cheers,


Billy

Welcome:) Great sound. I think someone mentioned that the steel needs to be hotter, but man, what an excellent first BiaB project. The RT's are just right for the song, your nice vocal is in the right space and well recorded.

There is much to learn with the software, we've all been there - are there - and based upon what I'm hearing in this, you're on your way.

Keep 'em coming!

Here is a re do of the original track

https://soundcloud.com/planobillydfw/mad-dog-2020-the-international-version

A bit better but still a long way to go.


Cheers,

Billy