Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 307
H
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
H
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 307
Candidly I don't post a lot in the forum because I find my music to be one off, but I think some of you like to hear something a bit different. I wrote this song as a testament to the old soul groups of Motown and Philadelphia which I loved and grew up with like the Delfonics, Stylistics, Blue Magic, The Moments etc. So I found a decent pattern in BIAB that I could use as the rhythm section and built the song around that. The string arrangements were played by me through a MIDI controller and were the type of string lines that were instrumental to music of that era. For the video I thought I play around a bit and use my cell phone camera taking a gaff at myself. It is 30 seconds or so but I think it sets the song up nicely. This song has just started playing on all the major platforms and Pandora (of course without my foolishness in the intro) :-) so hopefully it will resonate with my existing fan base and grow it a bit more. Of course all vocals (lead and harmonies) were performed by me.

https://youtu.be/GHpjr8oHpaA

For this song I used:
Style: Texas Blues 12/8 w/Guitar Solo
Drums: Real Drums Southern Pop 12-8
Bass: 1922: Texas Blues Rock Slow
Guitar 1: 1923: Electric Blues Rock Slow
Guitar 2: 1924: Electric Rhythm Texas Blues Rock Slow
Guitar 3: 838: Electric Rhythm Pop Ballad Clean
Organ: 688: B3 Background Pop
Piano: 1576: Acoustic Rhythm Soul

Strings: Cakewalk SI MIDI String Synth
M-Audio KeyStudio MIDI Controller
Vocals: Shure PG-42 through Focusrite SOLO USB Interface

User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,434
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,434
Hi Henry,

Wow - what a production!

Yes - you really have the Philadelphia/Motown feel down perfectly.

Vocals - top notch.

BV's - spot on.

Instrumentation - perfect.

All-round very professional song - congratulations.

Best Regards
Nigel


Nigel Spiers
Christchurch, New Zealand
info@nzacoustics.com
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 7,764
C
Veteran
Online Content
Veteran
C
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 7,764
Oh yea. Mr. Nigel set it up perfectly. I'll add you were very accurate with the string arrangements.

Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Charlie


BIAB Ultra Pak+ 2023:RB 2023, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 9,122
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 9,122
I was raised in south Jersey in the 60's and that was a very familiar sound on the radio out of Philly.

I think you nailed it perfectly. even got the Phil Spector wall of sound going on.

My only nit on this is the verb is heavy on the vox and the lead vox is kinda down there in the mix. The lead could stand to come up a few dB or so....

I had a really hard time understanding the lyrics.... in fact.... I didn't get very many of the words at all. Maybe it's just my gunshot and guitars ears... Ease off the verb and bump the lead vox a bit to let it set in the mix. Use Smokey Robinson as your guide on levels and verb.

And.... as far as not posting for one reason or another.... A lot of folks here are "one off" writers. If you got it, post it up. Personally, I like hearing the stuff you write. And this one is well done and worthy to be heard. Cool video editing job too.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com

Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.

You can make excuses or you can make progress but you can't do both.
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,909
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,909
Nigel is spot on!

All I can add is WOW this is fantastic.

To nitpick I also think that the vocal could come up a tad. You have a excellent and very versatile voice so showcase it more.

Also please post more often.


Dear Mother in Law
Don't tell me how to bring up my children.
I'm living with one of yours.

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software and hardware
User Showcase
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,677
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,677
Henry,

as far as I'm concerned you should post a new song here every week - this one is a treat.

I've been a huge Motown fan ever since (spent months trying to find out how James Jamerson did what he did)- if Smokey had known this song he would definitely have recorded it. But your vocal is amazing, too.

The video is really nice, too - good fun.

Like everything from A to Z.

Take care and please return soon !

Stefan

User Showcase
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 3,022
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 3,022
You never fail to please, Henry!! Great voices and a terrific video. I want to say everything Stefan said. Man, this is song is soooo good, and, yes, Smokey would've been all over this. I'm right there with you on the Motown & Philly sounds, and you do it righteous justice, man. Thanks for posting it.


Enjoy whatever happens!
marty

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@babumusic51
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marty-straub
and https://soundcloud.com/babumusic-5080285
Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, Ozone 10
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,378
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,378
Henry

Lovely work on the song, beautifully sung and arranged.

I agree with Herb about the lead vocal processing, but overall an excellent job.

Peter

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,193
B
Expert
Offline
Expert
B
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,193
Whas'sup, Mr. Clark?

Though I agree with 'guitarhacker(s)' observation that the vocal track is kinda in the backfield and processed with a wee bit too much reverb, nonetheless your vocal harmonies are so heavenly and your string arrangement complements them so gorgeously that I couldn't help being swept-up by the song. It really took me a place that I'd love re-visit and remain in.

Cool video, too smile !


"Music is what feelings sound like."-- borrowed from a Cakewalk Music Creator forum member, "Mamabear".
User Showcase
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 392
R
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
R
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 392
Henry, unbelievable!! What a production, reminds me of my favorite Motown group the Temptations!!

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 689
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 689
Love the genre, Henry, which you nailed. And your vocals are exceptionally good. Great song. Keep them coming.
Regards,
Leon

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 307
H
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
H
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 307
Thanks all for the kind comments. One thing is that once it's posted that means it's been released so it's gone. No tweaking the vocals, sound or anything. Regardless the song is doing fairly well. Almost 2k streams on Spotify (and growing daily), 500 on iTunes, some plays on Amazon, Deezer, Tidal, and a few other sites. It's grown my Pandora listener base by around 500% and 27 Thousand views on Facebook resulting in 71 shares and still growing. Thanks again for the kind comments and you guys continue composing the great music you are creating. Cheers !!

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 767
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 767
I don't have enough technical know-how to provide and in-depth critique, but I can tell you that I enjoyed this production from go to whoa. String and vocal arrangements were most impressive. Love the harmonies.


My music may not set the world on fire but if it causes a glow in just one person's heart, it has all been worthwhile smile
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,841
G
Veteran
Online Content
Veteran
G
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,841
A double shot of Henry Clarke (The Henry Clarke Five)!!! WOW, you're making me nostalgic!!! Love the era and you have stayed beautifully true to it. SOOOO. SOOOOO. GOOOD!!! Take care. Greg

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
Band-in-a-Box® 2023 for Mac is macOS Sonoma Compatible!

We're over the moon to announce that the latest Band-in-a-Box® 2023 for Mac Build 707 is compatible with macOS Sonoma!

Refresh your Band-in-a-Box® 2023 for Mac today with this free update to resolve visibility of notation in the Notation Window, apply smoother use of notation features, update to the Drums VU meter, and add the newest version of the DAW Plugin (5.5.13).

Learn more about Build 707 and download it here.

The Band-in-a-Box® 2023 for Mac German, French, and Italian language patches have also been updated with Build 707! Download your Build 707 language patch here.

Revisit: Eyes on Success featuring PG Music Inc., Band-in-a-Box®, and the Updated JAWS Script

In the past, Eyes on Success featured an episode that discussed our company history and Band-in-a-Box® program with Tobin, our chief development officer, including how Band-in-a-Box® is even more accessible with the help of their JAWS screen reader scripts!

Later on this month, Eyes on Success will be releasing an episode that features Gudrun Brunot talking about her new tutorials about how to use Band-in-a-Box® with JAWS.

It's a great idea to pair the two episodes together!

So, while waiting for their Gudrun Brunot episode, take 30 minutes and to listen to this episode from Eyes on Success. To download and listen to the podcast, use the link www.EyesOnSuccess.net/eos_2344_podcast.mp3

Eyes on Success is a weekly radio show / podcast geared to the visually impaired called "Eyes On Success" and that can be found at www.EyesOnSuccess.net.

Find out more about the show and get links to past episodes at www.EyesOnSuccess.net

Find their podcast on iTunes or use the URL: www.EyesOnSuccess.net/eos_podcast

User Tip: How to add drum fills without changing any other tracks

MarioD has shared some great advice when it comes to adding drum fills without changing any other tracks in your song:

There have been a number of questions asking how to add drum fills without changing any other tracks in a song. This is especially important if one is holding a chord for a few measures and wants to add a drum fill prior to the next chord. The following is how to accomplish that:

1-get the instruments/tracks to play like you want but don't worry about the drums for now.
2-generate the song.
3-freeze all tracks
4-unfreeze the drum track
5-add your fills where you want them
6-generated the song again - note this will only generate the drum track and not the frozen tracks
7- when you get the drums like you want them freeze the track

Have your own program tip to share? Post it on our Tips & Tricks forum!

Review - Band-in-a-Box® 2023 for Windows is Overflowing with Features!

Dennis posted his very thorough Band-in-a-Box® review recently, where he dives into some of the new features added with version 2023: Sound-Guy's Band-in-a-Box Review

Read his thoughts on the Download & Install Manager, partial track regeneration, Playable RealTracks, Audio Editing, the addition of SynthMaster, the VST DAW Plugin, and more!

"Band-in-a-Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is, without negative connotation, a monster of a program. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. No DAW can do some of the things BIAB does, while BIAB can do a lot that DAWs do."

Band-in-a-Box® Tutorials for Low-vision and Blind Program Users

Our friends at EyesFree_Tutorials have just released their Band-in-a-Box Tutorials, Bundle 2!

Created for low-vision and blind program users, this collection of Band-in-a-Box for Windows tutorials includes 31 audio instruction files and 19 music files for practice, plus help documents. Specific topics include "ABACA, let's make a song form," "Recording melody and lead-in," "Playing and editing: part markers; the handy clipboard. The play function. Search and replace," and more!

Learn more about their new tutorials, and connect with Roy & Gudrun to order the Band-in-a-Box Tutorials, Bundle 2 here.

Introducing... ChatPG!

Looking for answers to your questions about Band-in-a-Box? From "How do I ____?" to "What do I ____?" to "What is ____?" and more, you'll find your answers when you ask ChatPG!

We will be constantly updating the resources for this powerful addition to our website based on suggestions & feedback, as well as all of the questions that have been asked by program users and website visitors.

Videos! Get To Know XPro Styles PAK 5 & Xtra Styles PAK 16 for Band-in-a-Box® 2023

XPro Styles PAK 5 adds 75 new RealStyles for rock, pop, jazz, funk, and country, and 25 styles based around MIDI SuperTracks that utilize the SynthMaster plugin!

Here's just a taste of what XPro Styles PAK 5 has in store: electronic Latin funk, spacey dancehall grooves, soulful Americana ballads, heavy house beats, vibin' cool jazz, rollicking country train beats, playful pop country jams, gritty blues rock, modern disco funk, moody synthwave, subdued bossa nova, lo-fi jazz, and many more! Pick up XPro Styles PAK 5 today!

What are XPro Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2023 (or higher). Each PAK includes over 100 styles!

XPro Styles PAKs aren't exclusive to Pro users, there's a huge range of RealStyles available for everyone - even Audiophile customers! That's right, XPro Styles PAKs can be used with ANY Band-in-a-Box® 2023 package!

XPro Styles PAK 5: https://youtu.be/QdhS9tc0y_s


Xtra Styles PAK 16 includes an absolute plethora of styles... 200 to be exact! 50 new styles each for Jazz, Country, Rock & Pop, and Praise & Worship!

Take a gander at what you can expect to find: modern disco funk, exciting gospel shout, busy jazz fusion, soulful R&B ballads, various Americana styles, modern pop country, blistering heavy metal, uplifting worship rock, lo-fi hip hop, a plethora of progressive rock, old-timey autoharp, modern surf rock, and many more!

What are Xtra Styles PAKs?
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2023 (or higher). With over 2,600 styles included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-16, the possibilities are endless!

Xtra Styles PAK 16 requires the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® version 2023. They won't work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the 2023 UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition..

Xtra Styles PAK 16: https://youtu.be/KP1svm_RMfI


How do I know if I have XPro Styles PAKs or Xtra Styles PAKs?
You can find out in Band-in-a-Box® by clicking the "Add-ons" button in the StylePicker. Show me how.

Forum Statistics
Forums67
Topics79,818
Posts714,180
Members38,094
Most Online2,537
Jan 19th, 2020
Newest Members
Poky66, SanAntonio Special, geppo510, Blowerat, cpjazz
38,093 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
Rob Helms 314
jpettit 298
DrDan 201
MarioD 199
Al-David 152
Noel96 126
Today's Birthdays
bluestu, J. Rich, Mel Laraway
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5