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A FRAGILE PIECE I’ve been away from the User Showcase for a while because of health issues but I’m happy to report I’m well on the road to recovery. I look forward to hearing some new tracks from old favourites. Here is a new song I’ve been working on. It’s called A FRAGILE PIECE, which is a play on the words “piece” and “peace”. The song is hard to describe; maybe “ambitious” is a fair comment. I’d love you to have a listen or two and let me know what you think of the song, arrangement, sound, production etc. All opinions, flattering and flattening, are encouraged. Cheers, Mike The intro piano part is edited from SuperTrack 1892: Piano, Solo accompaniment PianoWaltzJohn SW140. The intro drums are RealDrums (JazzWaltzLewis). The other parts are mine.
Last edited by mkg50 (Mike G); 11/11/23 06:55 PM.
Mike Garry BIAB 2025/RealBand (5), UltraPak, Kontakt, EZmix, Ozone 9 Elements, Audacity, MSi PC, Windows 11, 64bit, 16GB ram, CPU: Intel i7. https://soundcloud.com/user-952388172
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Mike, so glad your recovery has led you back to making music.
This is a beautiful song. Love all the transitions that keep the theme going while taking the listener to new places. For me this would be "ambitious" but sounds very natural in your hands.
Nothing negative to say whatsoever. Very much enjoyed the listen!
My only question is...which of the instruments are BiaB? Some of these musical turns are not easily achieved with BiaB. At least not the way I know it.
Hope you contribute many more!
DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
Presonus Studio One
ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM
Presonus Faderport 16
Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Thanks Ron. I'm always nervous before the first comment arrives so I appreciate your kind words.
I don't use BIAB much. Most of my work is done in RealBand, using RealTracks and Real Drums and writing midi parts using VSTis (mostly from Kontakt).
The intro piano part is edited from SuperTrack 1892: Piano, Solo accompaniment PianoWaltzJohn SW140.
The intro drums are RealDrums (JazzWaltzLewis).
The other parts are mine.
Thanks again,
Mike
Mike Garry BIAB 2025/RealBand (5), UltraPak, Kontakt, EZmix, Ozone 9 Elements, Audacity, MSi PC, Windows 11, 64bit, 16GB ram, CPU: Intel i7. https://soundcloud.com/user-952388172
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Nice work Mike,
Some parts remind me of the Mad Monster Party soundtrack.
The intro flue had some distortion or something going on over the right side.
The drum fills around 2.05 could use a little body - they sound midi-ish when so naked.
Otherwise this is a fine jaunt through sounds, themes and rhythm.
COOL
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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So good to hear this, MIke, and so glad to hear of your recovery. This one is a very strong instrumental with so much reward for the listener --so much creative content from the composer. That piano is the leader, but the whole band plays your creation perfectly. Love the guitar, so tastefully perfect. This reminds me of some Andreas Vollenwieder would write, which I love. Good to hear!!
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Nice work Mike,
Some parts remind me of the Mad Monster Party soundtrack.
The intro flue had some distortion or something going on over the right side.
The drum fills around 2.05 could use a little body - they sound midi-ish when so naked.
Otherwise this is a fine jaunt through sounds, themes and rhythm.
COOL Thanks Ray. I always look forward to your comments. So glad you liked A Fragile Piece. I hope to catch up in the next couple of days with the latest tracks from you and other User Showcase regulars (and newbies). Cheers, Mike
Mike Garry BIAB 2025/RealBand (5), UltraPak, Kontakt, EZmix, Ozone 9 Elements, Audacity, MSi PC, Windows 11, 64bit, 16GB ram, CPU: Intel i7. https://soundcloud.com/user-952388172
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Definitely movie soundtrack of the 60s and and early 70s feel and certainly Morricone-like in parts. It had me interested all the way through. You put a lot of hard work into the arragning to get all of those sountrack-like changes in, so well done. 
Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
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Hi, Mike. Very much an early '70s vibe here. Some very pretty major 7thy stuff here. I didn't expect the horns and strings! Clearly a lot of work went into it, and I'd be interested in hearing more details about it. Very cool! 
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Mike,
Always enjoy your music.
Well thought-out and extremely well executed.
A ear-catching arrangement.
Well mixed.
What piano vst are you using???
fj
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I thought this was well done.
A pleasant arrangement and pleasing sounds.
On the mix, there COULD have been (not to say there needed to be) more dynamics in the volumes, instrumental tones, and mix (when stuff comes in and out )
With instrumentals, you have nothing but instruments to add dynamic rise and fall so you really have to work those faders in my humble opinion.
Just a thought.
Nicely done.
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Mike,
Cool mood and instrument changes throughout the composition. Like listening to several different tunes that have something in common., which is not a bad thing by any means. Interesting listen and thank you for sharing.
Misha.
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Piano editing works well. Pleasant, easy-going melody in the first part. I like the changes. A bit of a medieval feel in the middle. This was just a plain cool and interesting piece.
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Mike,
Great opening to this song . . . then the flute (or synth?) kicks in and it’s soothing, then back to the opening riff before picking up . . . and then slowing down into those horns. Very ambitious arrangement . . . I’m typing my comments here, and then there comes a new sound, a new direction . . but it all hangs together wonderfully. Brilliant instrumental!
And, I’m glad you’re back in action after the health challenges. Good to have you back on the forum and hope it continues to go well.
Best regards,
Deej
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So good to hear this, MIke, and so glad to hear of your recovery. This one is a very strong instrumental with so much reward for the listener --so much creative content from the composer. That piano is the leader, but the whole band plays your creation perfectly. Love the guitar, so tastefully perfect. This reminds me of some Andreas Vollenwieder would write, which I love. Good to hear!! Thanks for listening Marty. I appreciate your kind words. Mike
Mike Garry BIAB 2025/RealBand (5), UltraPak, Kontakt, EZmix, Ozone 9 Elements, Audacity, MSi PC, Windows 11, 64bit, 16GB ram, CPU: Intel i7. https://soundcloud.com/user-952388172
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Mike,
Glad to hear you are doing well.
This is quite the beautiful and epic sounding piece! Loved it!
Bob
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Mike, glad to hear your recovery is going well. This is a very interesting piece or should I say pieces. It is a testament to your hard work that you were able to bring together several different sections and make them work as a whole. A fascinating listen, Tom
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Mike, this is on outstanding instrumental.
Great work on the arrangement, nice changes.
Loved all of those instruments you so expertly played
Great mix.
I'm glad you are feeling better.
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Welcome back and glad you are on the road to recovery.
Wow! ... epic in sound, great arrangement and engaging dynamics all through.
We can envision all kinds of imagery which makes it very cinematic in nature.
It could work in a variety of visual productions.
All of your track performances are standout!
Enjoyed it,
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! A few of our videos are here on our website: https://www.janiceandbud.com/our-music.html
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Could be a movie score.
Beautiful piano parts, and I like how you fade the different instruments in and out, a bit like in prog music.
Amazing drum parts, even if the drums sound a bit thin and artificial in places.
Overall, one of the best instrumentals I've heard here in a long time.
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Mike,
Very clever and ambitious.
Had me engaged throughout.
Peter
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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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!
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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.
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