PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase Title: 君の子供 (Translation: Your Child) by male vocal with strings

Hello, forum friends

After a little blank, this is my first post of this year.
This song is written for the latest recording session of our music circle in this winter.

Our circle holds recording sessions twice a year, but last summer's session was canceled due to covid-19. We considered canceling this winter as well, but we managed to hold it after taking various measures. Normally, many people gather in the studio, such as many circle friends, performers and their disciples, but this time there are only teachers who perform in the studio, and only engineer, composer and director in the mixer room. In addition, the vocal booth was carefully sterilized with alcohol after each song was recorded.

I would like to introduce you two versions, which are the live band version and the RealTrack version.
The RealTrack version performed by a vocaloid was made for the vocalist to lean this song.
I usually give a BIAB version in advance for vocalists for the recording.
Any comments encouraged.
Always welcome.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Title: 君の子供 (Translation: Your Child)

Vocal: Tsuyoshi Tamada, my circle friend

Link of Live Band Version by Yamaha Teachers:
https://soundcloud.com/animarorecords/your-child-live-band-version

Following additional VST instruments played with EastWest Symphonic Orchestra
Ist Violins, 2nd Violins, Violas, Cellos, Oboe scored by me.

Link of RealTracks Version:
https://soundcloud.com/animarorecords/your-child-vocaloid-version

Style is _SJAZBL2.STY Smooth Jazz Ballad w/Electric Guitar
RealTracks in style: 908:Bass, Electric, SmoothBallad Ev16 065
RealTracks in song: 3336:Piano, Electric, Rhythm LoungeFunkJeff Ev16 080
RealTracks in style: 1072:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm SmoothJazzBallad Ev16 065
RealDrums in Style: SmoothJazzBallad^1-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride
MIDI Instrument played with Steinberg The Grand 3 added
Performed by a vocaloid Ken(Male)

Summary of lyrics:

I remember the day I first met your child
His little hands were adorable for me
The little child with lovely round eyes you brought with you was staring at me
I feel as if it seemed like yesterday

I was just worried he would start crying
And I tenderly called for his name.
He nod and gave a very cute smile to me
He seemed to find out immediately
That I was a very important partner for his mother

We started living together and I felt the great happiness.
He cling to me and wherever I went he always followed me

Such a happy time has passed
One day we started to see a big break in our relationship

You already decide to go out of this house with your little child?
He was gradually becoming my treasure
I might meet next love again someday
But just thinking I can't see him anymore crushes my heart

Great use of Band in a Box! The Real Tracks sound amazing, but, of course, the studio version is better. I've used BiaB to give other musicians examples of what to play and practice. Sure paid off in the studio. So many uses for this program. Thanks for sharing this masterpiece, Shigeki Adachi.

The BiaB/Vocaloid is pleasant, but there was little in terms of the instrumentation to differentiate one section from the rest, which would have made the song much better.

The Vocaloid is well done, but has a lot of nasal buzziness in the resynthesis. There were some parts in the first half where some phrasing sounded wrong, because each syllable started with a strong emphasis. But this was largely absent in the second half, and the breaths really helped "sell" the idea that there was a real singer there.

The Vocaloid held notes are pretty static - the vibrato increases, but the volume remains pretty much the same. That makes them a bit robotic.

The song is pitched a bit low, so I was curious to hear how the singer would deal with the range.


The live version started with strings, which really made a difference, with subtle guitar. I though the drums were a bit harsh in the mix, but that's just how I want drums to sound.

The singer did a nice job in the lower range! Loved the string runs!

The oboe worked really well. Even a single additional woodwind makes the sound more orchestral.

Bringing the bass up at the end helped give a bit more "lift" to the song.

A few minor thoughts about the strings. For the most part, I really liked what you did with the strings. But there are some parts that - to my unprofessional ears - came across as less successful than others. There's a figure at 2:57 that appears several times, and it feels like the strings never quite perform it the way it was intended. It sounds a bit sluggish, or perhaps the register is low.

At 3:16, on the descending string part, it feels like the strings are a bit disconnected from the rest of the instruments. It's like they can't be lush and precise at the same time, and they're missing the downbeat. A more contrasting texture - like giving the strings a trill on the strong beat, and then a short accent on the second - might have been interesting here.

The guitar takes the ascending chromatic line at 3:27, but it would have been nice to hear the strings something dramatic here also. You're saving it for the big build at 4:03, but something else, like a quick descending chromatic line to contrast with the strings might have been cool.

In general, it would have been nice for the strings to have a few more different types of articulations. Sure, they're background instruments. I'm guessing that you had limited rehearsal time, so making sure that you didn't write anything too difficult so that it would be played well is the key to a good arrangement.

Vocally, the "high point" starts at 2:27. The range goes up, and I can hear the singer coming closer to their upper register. There's a bit of melancholy in their voice. But it doesn't feel like he's giving it all - he's still holding back. This is the place where he's supposed to be breaking my heart. I would have been nice to hear a bit more of that in his voice.

In contrast with the Vocaloid, there are no audible breaths. That makes it lose some of the "sighing", sad quality that the first had.

I really like this song.

Shigeki,

Musically, both version are really good—a different feel to each but both so well done, a testament to just what a skilled person as yourself can do with BIAB. The vocal in the live version is much richer and with the strings behind it . . . it’s definitely my favorite of the two. The song itself is wonderful . . . heartbreakingly sad, really. But an excellent listen nonetheless.
Very well done—a great first offering for 2021.

Kind regards,

Deej

The RTs sounds good but the live band version is the best.

Super scoring on those EastWest Symphonic Orchestra parts.

Hello Marty,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
And many thanks for listening to the both versions.
I am really glad you like this tune.
BIAB is really useful software.
I am also helped by this software in every situation.
I am very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

David,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
And many thanks for listening to the both versions.
I am really glad you like this tune.

And I much appreciate your analyzing this song in detail.
I'm glad you like the oboe.
Certainly the strings phrase from 2:57 may sound late.
I thought the notes in this part should be moved forward a little, but after all I left them as they were.
It may be worth rethinking.
Also, as you pointed out, I had limited rehearsal time.
This is because nearly 10 songs are recorded in 6 hours, so the time per song is limited to 30 minutes.

I am surprised at your really sharp analysis.
And I am deeply grateful for your analysis.
I am always very encouraged by your kind words.

Sincerely,

Shigeki Adachi

Beautiful Shigeki. Lovely song. Super backtrack and vocal. Love you instrumentation. Well done

Hi Shigeki,

I think both versions are quite good. Of course they are different and the "live/studio"-version is probably the best one, but I kind of like the vocaloid voice as well... think about how many modern tracks that use autotune... doesn't sound much better than the vocaloid voice.

Well done!
Will

Lovely...we like the live version best but the idea of using BiaB to create a demo including a vocal was very creative.

This is a great demonstration of yet another way to use BiaB.

And we enjoyed it!

J&B

Live wins again.
The BIAB version is a wonderful draft/transcription piece but the real voice and the variation amongst the live players works for me.

Deej,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
And many thanks for listening to the both versions.
I am really glad you like this tune.
I much appreciate your comment to the lyrics.
I am very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Mario,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
And many thanks for listening to the both versions.
I am really glad you like this tune.
I much appreciate your comment to the scoring on EastWest Symphonic Orchestra parts.
I am very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Hi Shigeki ....

This i such a wonderful song! I listened to both versions and also vote for the live version. Live musicians can add so much more intimacy to a song. The BIAB version is really nice. But I enjoyed the strings in the live version, plus your live vocalist was excellent.

I always enjoy your music. It never fails to show the very best of what talented musicians can achieve. Thank you for another wonderful listen!

Wishing you the very best ...

Alan

Shigeki Adachi,

Nice to hear the RT version and then the live band version in comparison.

The strings and vocal in the live version really lift it to a high level.

Beautiful. Excellent mix.

Great to see you back posting again...

fj

Beautiful song Shigeki!! You are the melody master!! Vocaloids are getting pretty darn good... Ken is impressive! Very nice!!! Take care. Greg

Shigeki,
Live wins hands down, with the vocalist sounding especially good on low notes ( though that`s one of the better male vocaloids I`ve heard).
A lovely melody and your string arrangements are among the best presented on this forum.
10 songs in 6 hours is impressive- your group must be as focused as they are talented.

Robert

Scott,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
I am really glad you like this tune and my instrumentation.
I am always very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Will,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
And many thanks for listening to the both versions.
I am really glad you like this tune.
I much appreciate you like the vocaloid voice as well.
I am always very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Janice & Bud,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
And many thanks for listening to the both versions.
I am really glad you like this tune.
I much appreciate you like how to use BIAB and the vocaloid demo.
I am always very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi