Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 6,641
rsdean Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 6,641
Hi All, here's another original done entirely in BB/RB. Thanks again for listening.

Bob

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=9528479

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,583
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,583
Hi, Bob -

I really liked the sound of this one.

I would play a little with the mixing to better blend the vocal with the accompaniment. But loved the song.


John

Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD
Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA

BB2024/UMC404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/MixBus/Notion/Finale/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK

http://www.sus4chord.com
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 6,641
rsdean Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 6,641
Hi John, thanks for listening. I agree - I had a couple of different mixes and couldn't decide. After hearing all of them for a couple of hours, they all started to sound the same

Bob

User Showcase
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,074
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,074
Nice song, Bob... Reminiscent of another Bob (Dylan)

I agree with John about the mix. One of the challenges when mixing live parts with midi or audio backing tracks is to get them all sounding like they reside in the same "sonic space". One thing that affects this is having inconsistent reverb in the mix. In this song there is clearly more reverb on the vocals than on the backing instruments. If there isn't too much difference, sometimes the mastering process can tie everything together with a final blanket of reverb.... but in this case it sounds like the vocals just need less reverb. As is, it sounds like the instruments are in a different room than the vocalist.

To my ear, this is true across the board in your songs.

The good news is that it's an easy fix, especially if you preserved and muted the dry vocal track track so you could experiment with varying effects on the vocal track until you were happy with the mix. (If you didn't do that, it's a good idea.)

Having said that, I want to congratulate you on your compositions. All in all, your songs sound well done to me. Good job! I look forward to hearing more!

User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 6,641
rsdean Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 6,641
Pat, thanks for your advice and kind words. I agree with both you and John - the vocals are too reverb heavy. I really need to work on my mastering skills and pay more attention to the final mix.

I have just recently come back to BIAB, having used it in the mid 90's for a while. I am floored by the capabilities that this program has and how far it's come - I look forward to getting to know it really well.

Bob

User Showcase
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,074
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,074
Quote:

Pat, thanks for your advice and kind words. I agree with both you and John - the vocals are too reverb heavy. I really need to work on my mastering skills and pay more attention to the final mix.

I have just recently come back to BIAB, having used it in the mid 90's for a while. I am floored by the capabilities that this program has and how far it's come - I look forward to getting to know it really well.

Bob




BIAB and RealBand really are great music-making programs! I look forward to hearing more from you.

It's intereseting to me that most of us used to focus on getting the song down... and then we didn't worry about mixing or mastering. But Now that BIAB/RB have made it possible to create great-sounding compositions in record time (pardon the pun), everyone seems to be focusing on the mixing and mastering now. I see that as a positive trend, one I haven't seen on most other music product forums.

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 169
E
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
E
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 169
Hi Bob,
A very nice song - I enjoyed it very much. Very good lyrics and you sang it very nicely. For me the mix was okay. Well done - I look forward to more songs.

Jim

User Showcase
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,426
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,426
Nice song, Bob. Reminded me of 'Me and Bobby McGee'!
Suggestions: (1) as already said above, reverb on the vocal is too strong. It's what I would call an intimiate song, where the listener should be made to feel they're sitting close to the singer and his guitar as he tells his tale. Reverb changes perspective: less=close, more=distant, so the effect on your song is to make it sound like the singer is way across the other side of the hall whereas the acoustic guitar is up close. Try a tiny bit of reverb on the vocal (you did record it dry didn't you, so you can change FX?), just enough to give a little space. (2) Use EQ to put some upper mids and high frequencies on the guitar, it sounds muffled and needs to be bright as it's the main instrument. (3) The song would benefit from a bit of added interest about two thirds through, another guitar part coming in or similar.
I think with these adjustments the song's lyric and arrangement will have a better showcase. I hope this is helpful!

John


Songs web site
YouTube Channel
BIAB 2019
Cakewalk by BandLab
Studio One 4
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 6,641
rsdean Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 6,641
Jim, thanks - very appreciated.

John, excellent suggestions. I really appreciate all the great feedback I have received.

Bob

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
Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!

Add updated printing options, enhanced tracks settings, smoother use of MGU and SGU (BB files) within PowerTracks, and more with the latest PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 update!

Learn more about this free update for PowerTracks Pro Audio & download it at www.pgmusic.com/support_windows_pt.htm#2024_5

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."

Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!

The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!

There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.

If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.

We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!

Congratulations to the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

We've just announced the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

There are 45 winners, each receiving a Band-in-a-Box 2024 UltraPAK! Read the official announcement to see if you've won.

Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed!

Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics81,620
Posts735,183
Members38,518
Most Online2,537
Jan 19th, 2020
Newest Members
vasilich, maxrob61, TonyInManchester, jslynbrrs01, amdwilsns01
38,517 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 185
DC Ron 99
dcuny 87
DrDan 74
Today's Birthdays
Bernard Rasson, John Temmerman
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5