"This road is the journey that I’ve been given So I keep on walking from day to day Where I’m going, I don’t know And though I’m in destiny’s hands On this road, I plan to travel as far as I can"
Wow! That is lovely and wonderfully produced. Janice is neck and neck with you on positivity and me (Bud)? Well, lord knows, I try!
Everything -- absolutely everything - about your production sounds superb on our monitors. The soundstage is lovely and the vocal sits so nicely. And that midi super track just nails it (we really like those tracks - so much flexibility in the sound).
You certainly picked a great song for your first post this year.
J&B
Kudos!!
J&B
Hey J&B.
Thanks for passing by. It's always good to read/see you.
It took a while to get this song up and running and then mixing left me scratching my head a number of times. Still, trial-and-error seemed to eventually make a bit of headway.
What a great song! Philosophical introspection with a beat!
This is so strong. The lyric is captivating and draws the listener right into the song. We think the percussions were just perfect ... and totally unexpected. You outdid yourself, my friend. Our ears are still smiling.
"This Road" was interesting to listen to. The opening bars of solo piano made it sound as though it would be a wistful ballad. But then, the addition of the medium-tempo "bossa nova" percussion and rhythm was rather startling, and gave the song a novel sound. In another way, it had the effect of somehow enlarging the emotional "space" around the song after that plaintive opening, as though I had been listening to it standing in front of a door that you opened suddenly so I could hear the fullness of it rolling out on a breeze. The subtle, measured dramatic build delivered me to an ending/beginning that summoned a strongly visual impression/image of the road stretching out before you.
I agree with the other respondents about the uplifting lyrics, too. No head-hanging in this song! There was obvious inspiration and passion in your singing voice. It would fit nicely as an anthem played before the commencement of an Olympics event.
Another excellent example of the BIAB school of songwriting!
LOREN (a.k.a. "bluage")
Hi Loren,
Thank you for taking the time to comment so thoroughly. I sincerely appreciate the smile you brought my way when I read through it.
In all honesty, BIAB has spoilt me. Writing songs with Dr Gannon's software is just so easy. Every time I use the program, I'm amazed at how straightforward it is to come up with a really professional sound. BIAB has DEFINITELY unleashed my inner-songwriter
Your lyrics as always, are clever and thought provoking and you sing them as though you mean every word.
An excellent start to the year.
ROG.
ROG,
Thanks for the feedback. Mixing always challenges me and I'm grateful for all the help I can get! I'm glad you you had the opportunity to have a listen. Appreciate the visit!
Originally Posted By: 44kfl
The road of life, great write, love the mix and piano nice performance, enjoyed
This sounds great! I love this! A really excellent vocal, great lyrics, magnificent production. Great job!!
Hi David,
Thank you. I appreciate your taking the time. This is the first song in which I've fully explored what a MIDI Supertrack makes possible. The individual control over a note, what's played and how it's played, that MIDI allows is excellent. I'll definitely be developing my understanding further in this arena.
Thanks for popping in again! I'm glad the mix works for you. I've listened to it so many times now, I think my ears a numb.
Originally Posted By: MarioD
I'm late to the party and everything that I wanted to say has already been said but I couldn't have said it any better than Janice & Bud said:
Originally Posted By: Janice & Bud
..........
Everything -- absolutely everything - about your production sounds superb on our monitors. The soundstage is lovely and the vocal sits so nicely. And that midi super track just nails it (we really like those tracks - so much flexibility in the sound).
You certainly picked a great song for your first post this year.
J&B
Kudos!!
J&B
This is a keeper
Hi Mario,
It's always great to see you.
When I was putting this together, I thought of you a few times because I know that you're very enthusiastic about MIDI.
This was my first real excursion into the 'nuts and bolts' side of MIDI. I learnt a lot putting this one together. I now have a glimmer as to why you applaud MIDI so much. It's capabilities are amazing.
Noel, this sounds really good. Nice pianos. The piano has a mellow acoustic sound that to me is exactly what I like to hear in a piano.
Your vocal sounds good. I thought I was hearing tuning artifacts throughout the vocal track.
Nice job on the composition and writing of the melody and lyrics.
Yep... I enjoyed it.... in fact, it's on the second time through. Thumbs up! Well done.
Hi Herb,
Thanks for taking time to have a listen. Appreciate it. Thanks for the comments, too. It's always good to know how others hear a song.
In relation to the piano, I decided to mix two different synths because I was trying to get a rounded mellow sound (PG Music HiQ piano) with a hint of brightness (Dimension Pro upright piano).
Also, with the vocals I didn't tune too many notes and those that were a bit off were around the vicinity. I suspect what might be happening is due to a combination of settings I had in Nectar 2. While working on 'This Road', I watched a Youtube clip on using Nectar's parallel compression and FX settings. I thought I'd try those settings. (I ended up using a small amount of Chorus as the FX.) Just in case it's of interest, the images below show those settings.
"Sometimes my legs get weary And it hurts with every step I take Sometimes I fall or stumble But I keep walking, ‘cause that’s the only way"
A terrific start to a "journey" song, Noel. A good write - with your usual positive message...
Well sung and nicely produced. The piano-only start sounds great. The build is nice. The shaker was a clever idea for verse 2. Nice use of BIAB throughout.
Really enjoyed the listen.
floyd
What he said!
Regards,
Bob
Thanks Bob. It's always good to see you. I appreciate your support.
Very beautiful and very positive song! Conga and Shaker are so effective. The deceptive cadence before ending you often use is so nice as usual. As Robert said, this is your best vocal performance. And as Janice & Bud said, you certainly picked a great song for your first post this year. Enjoyed my listen a lot.
Best regards.
Shigeki Adachi
Hi Shigeki Adachi,
It's good to see you. Thank you for passing through and having a listen. I appreciate your thoughts and support.
What a great song! Philosophical introspection with a beat!
This is so strong. The lyric is captivating and draws the listener right into the song. We think the percussions were just perfect ... and totally unexpected. You outdid yourself, my friend. Our ears are still smiling.
Wishing you the very best,
Alan & Di
Hi Di and Alan,
Thank you for taking the time. It's always great to see you both in the forum. I have to say that I like the concept of "Philosophical introspection with a beat!". That made me smile. Maybe one day I'll work out how to to do that on a regular basis! In the meantime, I'll just keep on going where BIAB takes me.
Take care and may everything good come your way, Noel
forgive me for being so late for commenting but I´ve just been too occupied among other things with travels abroad !
I am glad I did not miss out on this beautiful tune. you know that I love your tunes and this is no exception !
Keep walking that road, Noel !!!
Cheers Dani
Hey Dani,
Every time I see your name pop up in a thread of mine, I smile. It's always good to see you. Thank you for dropping by, listening and commenting. I appreciate it. From the sounds of things, you and Li are having a terrific time up there in the northern hemisphere!
Hi Noel! I have been in and out of the forum (mostly out) since the middle of December, due to some health issues. I almost missed this wonderful song of yours. I'm so glad I noticed it today. This is probably my favorite of yours so far. I really like the piano. As you know, I am a big user of the Realtracks with BIAB. But piano is one instrument I will go to midi for pretty often. There are some great, realistic piano samples out there. And as you pointed out, you can carve out space for the bass (which you did nicely on this one).
As has been stated frequently on this thread, this was a good way to start the year. You have set the bar pretty high for you to build on for this year. Looking forward to see how high you will go. You are certainly capable.
Steve
Steve Young Music "In order to compose, all you need to do is remember a tune that nobody else has thought of." - Robert Schumann
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
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XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
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No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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Another exciting new addition is the amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Mac® to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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