Memo: Slow Ballad with piano, acoustic guitar and bass in A, strings in B. T=65 -
All MIDI. Quintet. Tempo=65 (50-90)
Instruments: M-Fretless Elec. Bass, M-Ac.Piano, M-Acoustic Guitar, M-Strings
[ RealStyle sub=_BALADE.STY Country Ballad w/ Electric Guita]
M1 Standard Drum Kit
M36: Fretless Elec. Bass
M1: Acoustic Piano
M26: Acoustic Guitar
M49: Strings

WITH REAL TRACK FOR LEAD GUITAR. All other sounds generated through ketron sd 1000.

Thought I would try a wee ballad using a midi style.

https://beatmaster1.bandcamp.com/releases


All comments welcome.

A pleasant listen, well done.

Mellow and smooth. Nice job with the vocals and mix.

A few nits: The 6 seconds of silence at the beginning should probably be trimmed off. The guitar solo at 1:39 comes in with a really bluesy riff, which (IMNSHO) doesn't fit the song.

But those are minor nits - the important thing is it's a nice song.

This is definitely a good example of what MIDI can do if people want to use it. Great job.

A smooth ballad with a strong vocal with great sounding backing tracks. Very nice choice of MIDI sounds that fit the song like a glove.

You did a great job on this one and in fact I think it is your best to date. You should do more ballads like this.

Really love the melody in this. Midi is hard to pick. Great production. Rob

Very nicely done ballad! Quite a bit of silence at the beginning, but that doesn't change the quality or enjoyment of the song. Loved your vocal!!! best to you,

Alan

I really enjoyed listening to this… I think everything about it was just right, including the rises and falls of the Chorus and bridge transitions… My only disappointment was the ending where it seemed like you let the BIAB generate it but I think you would’ve been better off with fade out… Otherwise great work!

I'm always a sucker for a good ballad, and this is a good ballad!

Great vocal, track sounds good too. Nice one!

Well done, beatmaster.

Sounds like a classic Sock Hop slow dance number. You vocal really fit the style, too.

Nice use of MIDI. I thought the drums "sounded like MIDI drums", though... the snare rolls had a "stiffness" to them...

Good mix.


fj

Great work on this one Beatmaster It sounds really sincere, and I love how pretty and delicate is sounds too. Some of that guitar work is really nice too. That aside, your vocal performance is top notch.

Good job here - thanks for sharing!

David thanks for your critique, yea fixed the silence at the start, although going with the wee lead.

As the whole purpose of doing this in almost all midi, was to see how it would be received opposed to real tracks.

Would it fit with what's being posted, etc.


I love working on Midi and I love real tracks just me experimenting a bit.

Again Thanks for your input and listen.

Well Thank you Ember, I guess that's what I was asking through the posting of the song.

Sorted.

I agree with David on the solo opening riff. But it is really, really good!! Vocal is particularly strong....pretty much production quality! Very nice job on everything!! Take care. Greg

I never considered these MIDI tracks on a ballad - you`ve shown how they can work well. The song is good - you have a knack for writing pop melodies.
Floyd`s comment on the slow dance feeling sums it up.
I think this is your best vocal to date.

Robert

Absolutely a great song. The vocals are top notch, instruments hit the notes perfectly, EXCEPT the ending, quick fix as Tano said, this song deserves a fade out!!! Love it!!!

Mario thank you for your comments, You post your comments in such an encouraging way .

That I do want to do more.


Again thanks

Thanks Rob

I am happy the way the midi sound held up, It does show that midi is still usable.

Thanks Alan for your listen and comments ,sorted that silence at the start thanks for bringing it to my attention..

Tano thank you for your detailed comments, yes I did let biab finish it.

I have now took on board your suggestion and have added a fade out, again many thanks.

Other than MST's I've never worked with mid but this sounds excellent on our monitors.

It's a strong ballad and we envision a couple fading into the distance as they dance toward the end...so a fade might be cool. But as I always say mixing is never finished just abandoned and it sounds excellent as is.

Your out front, as it should be, vocal carried the lyric and melody very well.

Kudos!

J&B

Dave aka Blue attitude thank you a sucker for a Ballad, God help me , ahhh thank you

Pretty song - very nice vocal, and the midi backing sounds very nice.
Well done.

Peter

Floyd thanks for your comments and time, on hindsight I should/could have maybe put a wee bit of reverb on the drums.

I am sometimes not too happy with the real track drums they can tend to be a bit too swishy on the cymbals, for want of a better word lol.

Thanks

I can easily hear this in a movie.

An incredible mix, the ketron is working out great for you.

What I really love about this is the vocals--really warm and professional, I can hear the vocal chords, and it's beautiful.

What effects did you use on the vocals? I am fascinated. It sounds like old school analog vocals or a tube mic, nothing is getting squashed.

How did you do it man??

Deryk

Thanks for your comments and time.

Greg thank you for your comments and time, I do appreciate it.

David was I think referring to the wee bit of lead I put in after the first verse and chorus.


Not the solo opening riff, Any way I do like the opinion of others in all aspects of a song so thank you.

It is a sweet thing indeed. I have to agree about the solo intro - it's out of character and the blue notes are stretching the relationship with the key.
The guitar outro is similarly unrelated to the general feel of the song.
BUT
it's a cool ballad.

Robert Thanks for your comments.

The song surprised me as well on the midi sounds and how they turned out.

WONDERFUL song, beautifully sung and arranged. I often find midi is way better for slower ballads as real tracks just can't get to the slower speeds yet.

Cliftond

I did do a wee fade out to the song as yourself and some otherssuggested.

Big Thanks

J AND B THANKS FOR THAT !.
Means a lot coming from you guys !.

peter Pretty song - very nice vocal, and the midi backing sounds very nice.
Well done.

Thanks yea the comments I got all seemed to be on the wee rt lead, TBH I should have tried more rt leads etc.

Anyway thanks again.

David

Thanks for your amazing comments, you asked what I used on vocals.

shure sm7b. plugin compressor, plugin reverb both are free with mixcraft.

Master bus izo Elements I do not have the full izo.

Again thanks.

Rayc

thanks for your comments, As I have stated in earlier posts I never gave much thought to the wee solo as it was a wee midi experiment, that did go down really well as it turned out.


But as you say I think this one is Done and Dusted, might change it for the up coming video eehh ! maybe not l.o.l.

Thanks again

Yeah, the songs you are posting are getting better and better each time.

This one you knocked it out of the park with the vocals.

Encouragement is where it is at man!!!

You get people all fired up and you never know what they will come up with next!!!!!!



P.S.Thanks for the mic tips!!

David Do you use a condenser mike or Dynamic or both ?

I have tried/ had both all makes, I always thought condensers where spacy noisy pick up down stair noise etc.

Dynamics are more direct clean solid, especially when you get the boost they need.

Hi, Beatmaster !

What a fine tune this
and so superbly sung
played and mixed !

My Congrats to you
for this superb job !!!

Cheers
Dani

Hello, beatmaster

The intro guitar is wonderful.
This is a very mellow ballad. Sweet melody.
Your vocal is strong and pleasant.
I agree with Ember
This is definitely a good example of what MIDI can do if people want to use it. Great job.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

hi beatmaster great job with the midi sounds mix arrangement vocal all well done thanks eric

Simple but beautiful ballad like from a 60's movie. Great vocals and clean mix.

Janne

Dani

First off I love the Beach Boys always will and your music keeps me reaching for the cd of the boys every time I hear you.

Thanks for taking the time to comment on Leave it up to you.

I have taken onboard all the advise/opinions I have been given and always will.

my best to you sir.

It sounds very professional.... great song....

Shigeki Adachi thank you. for your, support on midi .

I do Believe you are one of a certain nature .who thinks the wee lead fits... well uk. language.
my thanks
.

So did I .L.O.L.

A very nice song and heartfelt performance beatmaster and a good example of how you can mix midi and realtracks.

Beautifully produced! Really enjoyed the chill feel of this tune. Great job!

Thank you everyone for your comments and critiques on Leave it up to you.

The feed back I get inspires me to do better.

Many Thanks.

Eric Thank you for your comment appreciate your time


sorry for late reply ( on holiday ).

Simple but beautiful ballad like from a 60's movie. Great vocals and clean mix.

Janne

Well thank you Maybe a bond movie wishful thinking.

EMG It sounds very professional.... great song....

I think with the right module midi has a place.
Thank you.

joanne .. very nice song and heartfelt performance .

well you would know that Because you always put your heart in to every song you do, you inspired me to do the same when I listened to your songs.


And a few others on here so thank you.

Last but not least.

Mpmcgeehan Beautifully produced! Really enjoyed the chill feel of this tune. Great job!


Thanks I am now busy looking at all the Talented folk,who have commented on my song.


And there is loads of postings I have missed.


Again thanks.