Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3
Newbie
|
OP
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3 |
Hello everyone. This is my first post. Song: What Was I Thinking? https://soundcloud.com/rene-muir/what-was-i-thinkingI wanted to test out several string libraries along with my BIAB tracks. I was hoping for an old school country sound but I got something else. I used the Audiophile version of BIAB Lyrics: V1 I thought you'd come around and that you'd settle down and that you'd would be home when the lights went out But lying cheating coming home stinkin' What was I thinkin'? V2 I thought your were a prince and that I was a queen and we'd be like stars on a magazine But yelling screaming and just being mean What was I thinking? CH1 What was I thinking saying yes in that old party dress with bottles all over the floor? What was I thinking in my head when you held me and said "I'm sorry" over and over again? V3 I thought you could be changed or at least rearranged it seemed like a small thing the first time around But scheming stealing and double dealing What was I thinking? CH2 What was I thinking saying yes in that old party dress with bottles all over the floor What was I thinking in my head when you held me and said "I'm sorry" over and over again. I thought you could be nice And that you'd pay the price To stand in the love light with me But fibbing, fighting And gaslighting What was I thinking? What was I thinking? What was I thinking? Tracks by me: Vocals, background strings (SWAM Strings), some Kontakt Strings from their standard library (cello), some midi Piano (PianoTeq plugin) Tracks by BIAB: BBdrums_RealDrums PopRockWaltzEv,SideStickHatRide BBDrums_RealDrums NashClassicWaltzSw^6-BrSdtk,BrSn BBBass_Real 1123 Bass, Acoustic, CountryWaltz Sw 140 BBGuitar_Real 1109 Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming BluegrassWaltz Ev 140 BBGuitar_Real3146 5-string, FolkWaltzChops Wonder BBPiano_Real 781 Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopWaltz Wonder BBPiano_Real 3146 Fiddle, 5-string, Background FolkWaltzChopsAndy FiddleRythm-cm-01 Fiddle1 cm-107 Recording in Pro Tools on an ancient 2010 Mac Pro (cheese grater) Plugins used: Melodyne, VSS Reverb, Space (Avid) reverb, Trackspacer, NovelTech Character, Ocean Way Studios (UAD) Vocals recorded with a Warm Audio 251 Microphone into a GA Pre-73 Vintage Pre Amp clone, Every instrument group was fed into it's own separate Ocean Way Studio room. Mastered by CloudBounce
Last edited by Paxalot; 07/25/23 10:36 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 6,259
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 6,259 |
The song is cool, the string arrangements are a little over the top for the most part. They may sit better lower in the mix. I like the string arrangements mind you - some clever & funny bits too. Just too loud. Again, very cool song. Your vibrato almost gets out of control in the 1st verse...you could probably soften that in your DAW. Your voice is grand though. Thinking back the strings were probably grabbed and pushed forward in the "mastering" process.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,665
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,665 |
Hi, Rene. Welcome to the forum! Well, this was a pleasant surprise! A clever "country" write, and I really enjoyed what you did with the strings. Those slides, harmonies and echoes of the melody? Sweet. There are points where you vocal seems to be stepped on. You've got TrackSpacer going, so maybe it's just the volume imbalance and your low voice. I think perhaps the stereo spread was working against you as well - especially at the bridge. As lovely as the strings are, there are times when they have to be subservient to the melody. Anyway, love this. What a fun listen!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 3,399
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 3,399 |
A big welcome to the forum, Rene. Wow, those strings sound terrific. I appreciate that they are too loud. They really are featured, but they do cover up a really cool vocal at times. Love the waltz time, and you did an incredible job scoring those strings. I'd like to hear a mix with the strings lowered. This is such a good song.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3
Newbie
|
OP
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3 |
I struggled trying to find the right volume for the strings. The consensus seems to be they are definitely too loud. So I'll remix. Great feedback.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3
Newbie
|
OP
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3 |
What's great about this place is the targeted criticism. You play stuff for friends and they just say "great!". I presume it's because everyone here struggles with the mix and are more finely tuned to the results.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 5,792
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 5,792 |
Rene, A very fun tune. Great arrangement. Pretty cool string work. Excellent vocals and overall very well composed tune. On critical side, I think it's not the volume of strings, it is an overall balance between musical bed and vocals. I think vocals can be a little more upfront. But that's just my amateur opinion. Nice one and thank you for sharing. Misha. P.S. I am exploring couple of plugins that do sidechaining. Ha...While I was typing this I went back and saw that you are using Trackspacer So here goes. I have Trackspacer too and I love it for fast sketches. However, what I find limiting is that you can not select specific "ranges" on it. You can only do upper or lower EQ spectrums and that often "eats" away other stuff. One of the plugins that I have is by Melda called MSpectralDynamics. It is a monster of a plugin, but a bit complex. So I am exploring it to do more advance ducking than Trackspacer offers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 479
Journeyman
|
Journeyman
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 479 |
Rene, I love the production and, along with the lyrics, kept me listening to the end! Awesome vocals, too. The raspy delivery fit the song well. Great job all around.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,083
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,083 |
Welcome aboard! Cool write, vocals and BiaB tack choice. Regarding the above comments. We are partial to open upfront vocals (fully realizing it's not to everybody's taste). But for this Americana feel we could hear the vocals a wee bit more forward In effect agreeing with Misha's thoughts. It's a good mix and you might want to move the vocals up 2db's or less to see if it works for you. Irrespective of our blather we enjoyed our listens! J&B Now for the caveat: Great mix opinions are offered here and we have learned a lot over the past 12 years on the forum. We also learned that if irrespective of the opinions we are happy with a mix and have stuck the proverbial fork in it then so be it. The longer you stay here and listen a lot to other's mixes you will find those productions that are similar to yours and from which you can learn and vice versa.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 20,821
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 20,821 |
A big welcome to the forum, Rene. Wow, those strings sound terrific. I appreciate that they are too loud. They really are featured, but they do cover up a really cool vocal at times. Love the waltz time, and you did an incredible job scoring those strings. I'd like to hear a mix with the strings lowered. This is such a good song. I agree with Marty. If you remix and lower the strings you will have a masterpiece. Great vocal and lyrics. Super writing for those strings and you have a super backing band. IMHO remixing will turn a very good song into polished pro-sounding song.
I want my last spoken words to be "I hid a million dollars under the........................"
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,795
Expert
|
Expert
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,795 |
Hi Rene. Apart from the strings being a little loud it's a great song and original vocal sound.
Vic
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Video: Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box®
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 German for Windows is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 für Windows Deutsch ist verfügbar!
Wir waren fleißig und haben über 50 neue Funktionen und eine erstaunliche Sammlung neuer Inhalte hinzugefügt, darunter 222 RealTracks, neue RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, "Songs with Vocals" Artist Performance Sets, abspielbare RealTracks Set 3, abspielbare RealDrums Set 2, zwei neue Sets von "RealDrums Stems", XPro Styles PAK 6, Xtra Styles PAK 17 und mehr!
Paket | Was ist Neu
Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!
The Newest RealBand 2024 Update is Here!
The newest RealBand 2024 Build 5 update is now available!
Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.
This free update is available to all RealBand 2024 users. To learn more about this update and download it, head to www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#20245
The Band-in-a-Box® Flash Drive Backup Option
Today (April 5) is National Flash Drive Day!
Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!
For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.
Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.
Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!
Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.
Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!
With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!
Learn more about this free update for Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1111
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 Review: 4.75 out of 5 Stars!
If you're looking for a in-depth review of the newest Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows version, you'll definitely find it with Sound-Guy's latest review, Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows Review: Incredible new capabilities to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs.
A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."
"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."
"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums66
Topics81,662
Posts735,546
Members38,532
|
Most Online2,537 Jan 19th, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|