July 31, 2023 User Showcase Song - Train, Train

Morning folks! Here is a new one from us:

Train, Train (YouTube Video)
Train, Train (audio link)

The train picture was taken by Marty Straub.

The Band:
~674:Organ, B3, Background Blues Roadhouse Ev 120
4249:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm BluesFunky Ev 120
(I used both the regular a held chords versions of the two realtracks)

Drums and Percussion: EZDrummer3

Marty Straub (BabuMusic): Bass Guitar
Chris Spruit: Vocals
I played guitar and also sang.

Mixed in Reaper, mastered with Ozone10.

Lyrics

Train, Train (2023, Dave Bell and Chris Spruit)

Posted at 02:12 PM

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XPro Styles PAK 5 includes 75 new RealStyles for rock, pop, jazz, funk, and country, and 25 styles based around MIDI SuperTracks that utilize the SynthMaster plugin. Learn more about XPro Styles PAKs.

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Posted at 02:56 PM

July 28, 2023 User Showcase Song - You Called Me By Her Name Last Night

Here is an update of one we posted 7 years ago.

You Called Me By Her Name Last Night

All new backing vocals and guitar – remixed and then sent to Bud for remastering.

Lead and backing vocals – Janice
Lyrics - Leon
I played the guitar
General support recording and mastering - Bud

The Band
RealTracks in style: 564:Bass, Electric, Blues Monday Sw 065
RealTracks in style: 565:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Blues Monday Sw 065
RealTracks in style: ~~585:Guitar, Resophonic, Rhythm Blues Muddy Sw 120
RealTracks in song: ~~425:Organ, B3, Background Blues Sw 120
RealTracks in song: 2624:Guitar, Baritone Electric, Rhythm BluesShuffleBassAndLicks Sw 085
RealDrums in style:Nashville128^01-a:Sidestick, Hihat , b:Snare, Ride
Lyrics

Posted at 02:43 PM

July 27, 2023 User Showcase Song - Kaleidoscope

Hi Folks.

Have been out of a loop for a while. Summer :)

Here is something I recently finished.

Kaleidoscope

You are my main audience and to improve I am encouraging you to share your critical comments on ANY aspect: lyrics, mix, structure etc. Thank you for giving this time.

Tech Stuff:
Arrangement, vocals, synths - me
BIAB:
Piano 4290
Drums:BluesBBEven8^01-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride
Sax: 1059
Guitar:1637

various re-programmed MIDI loops / sections
Synths of Halion, Kontakt and Korg
Drums programmed in Session Drummer + bits from RD.
Recorded in Cakewalk

Lyrics

Posted at 10:45 AM

July 26, 2023 User Showcase Song - Summer

Robert and I have also taken a bit of hiatus and should be back in the fall as Spirit Level. We have a couple of a songs that are close to fully cooked.

I ran this one through the final mastering process and thought it maybe ready to go.

Two tracks one slide playing back to the main melody.

Hope you like it.

Summer

the band :

Style is _NEWDAWN.STY (New Dawn Slow 90s Acoustic Rock)

RealTracks in style: ~701:Bass, Electric, PopHalfNotesSync Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 1728:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopBalladJohn Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 3703:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking 90sAcRockSlowGroove Ev 090
RealDrums in style:AmericanaSlow8thsFred: a: Snare, HiHat b: Snare, Ride

Guitar processing was done through a Helix LT

Posted at 02:55 PM

July 25, 2023 User Showcase Song - Cellular Zombies

I am so far out of my comfort zone on this one that if I were playing baseball I would be behind the left field fence!

Cellular Zombies

My allergies and asthma have let up so I quickly put down the vocal track. The other tracks have been really for about a month. I know that my vocal isn't that great but it was the best that I could do.

BiaB style - CC_Avril - Heavy Metal, Alt. Rock
I deleted all but the guitar and drum tracks.

Guitar - Arturia B3 - preset Old 70's sole - note I played the held chords while BiaB played the balance of the track.
Drums - Steven Slates' SSD-5 drums - preset DeLuxe Vintage Funk
I am playing the bass, rhythm, and lead guitars and each one through a different Amplitube preset.

Lyrics

Posted at 11:36 AM

July 24, 2023 User Showcase Song - Mission Out Of Control

Mission Out Of Control

Using the Synthmaster KV-331 added to BIAB 2023 for the first time. Had a lot of fun exploring it!

I haven't yet seen anything posted utilizing any of the SynthMaster plug-ins, so I thought I'd take a look/listen. I found it pretty interesting. So, I played around with it for about an hour and a half and came up with this outer-space soundscape.

I used four of SynthMaster's plug-ins and two of BIAB's synths. There are approximately 1700 sound voices to choose from.

I didn't spend a lot of time making tedious adjustments and the like. I just auditioned a couple dozen of them and selected four or five of them that I liked and thought fit together. I did a basic mix on them - nothing else. This is where I ended up.

Just a quick note: Everything you hear is indigenous to BIAB and the included SynthMaster - no third party plug-ins of any kind. I never once left BIAB during the creation and production of this piece.

Hope you might enjoy the fruit of my 90-minute romp through SynthMaster.

All comments appreciated.

Alan

File: Mission Out Of Control.SGU
Key=Ebm, Tempo 65, Length (m:s)=2:42
No intro. 20 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 20. Repeat x2 choruses
Style is _ABIDE.STY (Abide Folky Synth Pop)
RealTracks in style: 1536:Bass, Electric, PopBelieve Ev16 065
RealTracks in style: 1410:Piano, SynthLayer, Rhythm Soul70sA-B Ev16 100
RealTracks in style: 1840:Synth Pad, PopModernGrooveMellow Ev16 075
RealTracks in style: 2335:String Quartet, Rhythm PopHall Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 1856:Cello, Background PopCountry Ev 085
MIDI SuperTracks in song: 4442:Synth, Pad, SynthMasterNiceStringsPads
MIDI SuperTracks in song: 4440:Synth, Arp, SynthMasterMelodicWave16thsArpeggios
MIDI SuperTracks in song: 4433:Synth, Arp, SynthMasterBalladArp8ths2-note Ev 120
Loop in Song: PercussionFX\Waterphone - spooky with quick rattle.wav
MIDI SuperTracks in song: 4375:Synth, Arp, SynthMasterMelodicWaveArp SyncHits ev16 095
RealDrums in style:PopRock16ths^01-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

Posted at 01:10 PM

July 21, 2023 User Showcase Song - Debt Free

This is a brand new song that I just wrote last week.

Debt Free

_RIDE_ON.STY Ride On Fast Ev8 Country PS Solo
Samson Dynamic Mic
Tascam DP 32sd recorder
Lexicon Alpha Interface
CakeWalk by Bandlab
Lyrics

Posted at 11:18 AM

July 20, 2023 User Showcase Song - Right Now

Hey guys...here's another of my tunes updated and remixed with BiaB from my "Treasure" album... so if you do... thanks so much for listening... I always appreciate your thoughts.... Dan

Right Now

Title: Right Now
Key=A , Tempo 112, Length (m:s)=4:23

RealTracks in style: ~519:Bass, Electric, Pop HalfNotes Ev 120
RealTracks in style: ~405:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 3974:Guitar, Resonator, BackgroundSoloist BluesFunkyRob Ev 120
RealTracks in song: ~1677:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CountryBrent Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 408:Guitar, Resonator, Background Allis Ev 120
RealDrums in style:NashvilleEven8^1-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

I added: Vocals

Posted at 11:16 AM

July 18, 2023 User Showcase Song - You Can't Shape My Dreams

Our latest is a simple “two verses, chorus and I’m outta here” little ditty. But it was fun and we hope you find it to be also. If interested your time to listen and comment is most appreciated. Thanks to PG Music and our music partner Peter.

You Can't Shape My Dreams

Janice: lead/harmony vocals, melody and arrangement
Bud: arrangement, mix, mastering, lyric and photo
Peter: guitar solos/fills, guitar mix, and arrangement

Vocals: Rodes mic > Scarlett interface > Izotope Nectar (Izotope Vocal Doubler on harmony)

Drums: RealDrums NashvilleRadioShuffle > Waves CLA Drums
Snare (doubled) > Waves Magma BB T
Cymbal (doubled) > Logic Pro X ChromaVerb

Bass: RealTrack 3566 Electric,
NashvilleRadioShuffleA > Waves Bass Rider > Izotope Neutron 3

Rhythm Guitar: RealTrack 3702 AmericanaShuffleBrent > Logic Pro X ChromaVerb

Piano: RealTrack 2124 Acoustic, Rhythm CountryShuffleJohn > Waves CLA Unplugged > Ozone Imager

Mix: Logic Pro X
Mastering Chain: (Ozone Modules) Dynamic EQ > Vintage EQ > Imager > Maximizer > Tonal Balance 2 > Logic Pro Loudness Meter > www.loudnesspenalty.com

Other stuff:
We were auditioning a few BiaB Americana based styles when we ran across a demo for which we much liked the progression … so we appropriated it. A first for us as we typically work up our own. And, yes, there is an unusual chord present.

Posted at 12:48 PM

July 17, 2023 User Showcase Song - Stranger in my life

This song was made in 2019 and Ray Cochrane helped me a bit with the lyrics back then.
Still I wasn't pleased with it. Half way it changed to a metal style and instruments.
Because I knew I had to undergo a surgery on my throat I made this remix before that event.
A day ago I finished the mix, added some instruments I skipped before and that sort of things.

It is called Stranger in my life

The song is about changing without really noticing. And sometimes it looks there is someone else.
At least, that was on my mind when making this song. I thought it was an intriguing story myself...
I hope you like it, but in any case tell me what you think of it.

Technical stuff:
Style is _DRYAD.STY (Dryad Cello Chopping Celtic Reel)
Key=F , Tempo 95, Length (m:s)=3:59
909:Bass, Electric, SmoothPoppy Ev16 090
2704:Synth, Rhythm CloudRapLowOrgan Ev16 075
1164:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm CelticReel Ev16 110
3645 Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm FingerIndieFolkAccent2Mute3 Ev 110
3261:Cello, Rhythm CelticReelChoppingNatalieAB Ev16 110
2693:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm ModernPop16thsMike Ev16 075
3075:Fiddle, Background BluesyPopAndy Ev 100
Drums: NashvilleEven8^1-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride
Keyboard 1: Apple loops Overdrive
Keyboard 2: Fabfilter Twin3 / Saint Knarl synth
Keyboard 3: Native Instruments FM8/Boolean
Howard Benson vocals for Background vocals
Storch Filter in Drum Bus
Ozone10, mastering
Lyrics

Posted at 02:46 PM

July 14, 2023 User Showcase Song - A NICE DAY IN DAYTONA

I moved down to the Daytona Beach Florida area a couple of years ago, and wrote this song while walking on the beach boardwalk beautiful Sunday afternoon with my wife.

A NICE DAY IN DAYTONA

It was one of those songs that just popped out of nowhere fully formed.

I'm thinking of presenting it to the Daytona City Chamber of Commerce for their tourism advertising. I may need to change some of the lyrics, to make it more family friendly.

Let me know your thoughts. Thanks for listening.

****** Song Summary *************
Title: Daytona
File:Daytona.SGU
Key=C , Tempo 120, Length (m:s)=3:42
2 bar intro, 106 bar chorus, from bar 3 to bar 108. Repeat x1 chorus
Melody has 945 notes, Melody harmony is < no harmony >(0)
Soloist track has 931 notes, Soloist harmony is < no harmony >(0)
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Song is saved with bar changes for Styles,
Style is _HEAVE.STY (Satisfying British Blues Rock)

RealTracks in style: ~683:Bass, Electric, PopHalfNotesPush Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 3888:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm RockNRollSweep Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 3781:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm RockNRollTremoloHeld 120
RealTracks in style: 3880:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm VintageRockNRollSweepArp Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 3880:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm VintageRockNRollSweepArp Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 3880:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm VintageRockNRollSweepArp Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 3891:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm RockNRollSweep Ev 120
RealDrums in style:PopCalypso^1-a:Snare, Closed HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

Posted at 11:06 AM

July 13, 2023 User Showcase Song - Changing Trains

I dusted off this tune from way,way back and finally recorded it.

Changing Trains

Copyright 2023 Fred Grittner

379:Bass, Electric, Country DoubleTime Ev 088
411:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Train Pickin' Ev 130
378:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming DoubleTime Ev 088
2828:Guitar, Electric, Soloist TrainBeatBrent12-key Ev16 090
378:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming DoubleTime Ev 088
2913:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm CountryTrainBeatBrent12-key Ev16 090
NashTrainEv16^1-a:Sticks Snare , b:Sticks Snare 16th
Lyrics

Posted at 01:52 PM

July 12, 2023 User Showcase Song - A Summer's Day

A Summer's Day

I am not satisfied yet with this track, so I am going to set this aside and come back to it in a few weeks.. The summer month's wreak havoc on my voice because of allergies. I messed with the effects to make the singing sound passable. Some things I am thinking about changing are as follows:
- Rerecord vocal.
- Lower key a semitone
- Do something with last note of the bridge. It doesn't seem to transition well.
- Add BGVs. I had some, but I didn't like them, so I'll give it another shot.

You may noticed that I borrowed from Willy S. on the second line of the second verse, but I gave the line a different shade of meaning in the context of the song.

The Wrecking Crew:
2877 Bass, Acoustic, AmericanaSlow
3101 Piano, ElectricVintage, Rhythm
362 Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming
1543 Synth Pad, PopBelieve
2457 Strings, Rhythm CelticAir
3152 Fiddle, 5-string, Background AmericanaFolk
NI Vintage Guitar
NI Sunburst Guitar
DOD Drum Loops
Lyrics

Posted at 10:52 AM

July 12, 2023 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.

Posted at 10:50 AM

July 11, 2023 User Showcase Song - Spaghetti Western

At last, after a very busy year, I managed to finish a new one from a lyric sent to me by Mike LeBlanc.

Spaghetti Western

The original lyric was quite light hearted but I cant do light hearted so had to re write it a little and write a bridge for contrast.
I was told, after a hearing test recently that my hearing has deteriorated (mostly on the high frequencies) so I hope I have compensated for that.

Some of "The Band" I only used for a few bars.

Bass 1254, 4020, 1825
Synth 1278
Guitars 1681, 2201, 2444, 405, 2534
Drums Mallets Folk slow 8ths
Whistle 3770
Lyrics

Spaghetti Western © 2023 M. LeBlanc & V. Arnold

Posted at 12:40 PM

July 10, 2023 User Showcase Song - Last Chance For Love

A co-write with Mike LeBlanc
An Old Guy Love Song.

LAST CHANCE FOR LOVE

The BAND:
RealTracks in style: ~518:Bass, Electric, Pop HalfNotes Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 1542:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopBelieve Ev16 065
RealTracks in song: ~364:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 065
RealTracks in song: ~369:Pedal Steel, Background Ev 065
RealTracks in song: ~576:Guitar, Electric, Soloist Blues BB Ev 085
RealDrums in style: NashvilleEven8^2-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, HiHat
Lyrics

Posted at 02:50 PM

July 07, 2023 User Showcase Song - Picasso Painted Horses

Here's my take on a Daniel Lanois / Malcolm Burn style of production.

Picasso Painted Horses

Lots of delays, overlapping loops, distant & heavily saturated drums and sonic atmosphere. I've had this one sitting around for a while and thought it was time to set it free.

BIAB Tracks:
2474: Bass, Acoustic, Held Ev 085
2505: Piano, Electric, HeldChords 085
2914: Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Folky16thBrent Ev16 085
3056: Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm, Pop16ths
833: Guitar, Electric, Rhythm AltCountryMoody Ev 075
Loop: Drum n Bass - cosmos_175_Bass_F_sharp_minor
Loop: Drum n Bass - cosmos_175_Pad_F_sharp_minor
RealDrums: PopPromiseEv16^1-a: Snare on 4, HiHat, b: Snare
Lyrics

Posted at 02:38 PM