Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 160
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 160
Hello all,

Still finding my way through BIAB. This is my second fully produced song in Band In A Box. Thx for the ears and any feedback you can offer. Still planning on adding some backup vocals, but no ideas have hit me yet.

LOVE WALKED BACK THROUGH THE DOOR
(c)2018 David S. Becker Music

https://soundcloud.com/gocartmoz/love-walked-back-through-the-door

INTRO
VERSE 1

She said she was leaving
And that it was over
I watched her as she walked out that door
It scared me sober

VERSE 2
Six months later I walked out of rehab
I phoned in a table for two
I sat alone at that table all night
There's nothing I can do

CHORUS
Cause love doesn't live here no more
My love walked out my own front door
I'm serving/doing time for the sins in my past
Love doesn't live here no more

VERSE 3
I phoned up my children
And I left them a message
"Please call back I need to be in your lives"
"I need to fix this wreckage"

CHORUS
BRIDGE

(Stop)
It's a never ending battle I wage
(Think)
Every time I turn the page
(Remember)
I can lose everything that I love
Over and over again

SOLO
VERSE 4

Three years sober
Three chips I proudly embrace
I met an angel who has captured my heart
My children share her face

CHORUS 2 x 2

Cause love walked back through the door
I spend each day with a girl I adore
I served/did my time I remember my past
I pray that this time love will last (x3)

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,602
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,602
David

A really nice sophisticated pro sounding tune, well mixed and performed - sounds like you have a pretty good grasp of Band In A Box already.

Peter

User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 8,120
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 8,120
Dear Gocart,

You asked for feedback and I will give it, though I hope it is what you want to hear, as an enthusiast.

First, if you put the style and real tracks you using it is easier to comment on sound and make suggestions that might be helpful.

This is a GREAT song. Love it. Great construction, good vocals, moves right along, great energy, compelling. Super job.

Mix:

There is some kinda preset you are using that is making this WAY too hot and brittle.

Since I don't know what tracks you are using, I can't say, but here is the basic gist:

Many real tracks such as guitars and stuff have effects already on them unless you are using the Direct Input (DI Versions).

When you start to add effects on effects in the tracks in the mix strip, things can get weird real fast.

Most of the real tracks as they are (if the effects are already there) need very gentle EQ. Drums need to be doubled or tripled to bring out the kick, tom, and highlight snares in each track.

The basses always need eq'ing. Drums and bass will take a while.

When you move to the master bus, be really careful with presets in tools like Ozone that say "CD mix"--generally speaking these presets will make stuff way too harsh. Use master bus settings on things like Ozone that have the minimal impact and add your own EQ from EQ strips. Be super careful with "maximizers."

This is the best free tool I have seen to increase the volume without killing the mix.

https://www.kvraudio.com/product/limiter-no6-by-vladg-sound



Look at your meters.

Your LUFS should be about 14 and your dynamic range should be about 11-12.

So, again, great song, and sounds like a good mix that has some really harsh presets on the master bus.

User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,290
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,290
Wow! If I didn't say it earlier, welcome! You will be a great addition to the forum with songs like that. So awesomely jazzy!

Quote:
It scared me sober


Great and powerful line that sets up the rest of the song. Nice lyrics!

Cool song. Keep 'em coming please!


Chad (Hope that makes it easier)

TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 7,742
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 7,742
Wow I really liked this song. Excellent backtrack. Bass line is really cool. Super vocal and lyric. Well done.


Scott Collingwood
https://soundcloud.com/scottt709
https://soundcloud.com/spiritlevel-ca
https://www.youtube.com/@SpiritLevel-ge3hm/
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 21,863
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 21,863
David I really liked this song. Your lyrics are great as was you vocal. Your backing tracks were very good also.

To nitpick there is something about the mix that takes this song down a notch. As Dave Snyder said maybe it needs warming up. I found the treble to be a little over the top but that may be just me. Sorry that I can't be more help.

Regardless this is a very good song as is.


Have you ever noticed there are no lines to a bathroom at a water park?

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,085
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,085
Dave,

A cool, breezy, jazzy rock sound/feel. Nice use of the BAND.

An interesting story line, nicely done.

I would agree that the high end (EQ) could be knocked down - on the vocal mostly... a bit on the drum track. I like the crispness of the others instruments, so I think warming the vocal up would make it all work together. And adding some harmonies in the choruses.

This is surprisingly catchy. I'm still singing along in my head...

fj

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,992
G
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
G
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,992
Hello and welcome to the forum!! This is really good! Very well put together. It is unusual to put such a deep lyric to a happy smooth jazz feel but I think it works. I'm not listening on a good playback system but it sounded maybe a little sizzly. I have a lot of problem taming treble myself. Great to hear this fine tune.....come back soon!! Take care. Greg

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,946
PG Music Staff
Offline
PG Music Staff
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,946
I really like the flow of this song! Wonderful job. Thanks for sharing.


Cheers,
Ember
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,520
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,520
David, excellent work! Not sure if you did this intentionally, but it sound like the minor-key mood embraced your lyric as it talked about troubles, but then the harmonic background switched to a brighter, major key as you talked about the good to come--really insightful, I thought. Same switch seemed to occur with the jazzy/edgy mood of the style moving to a comfortable pop-type mood. Excellent production and really great use of the elements of BIAB!

In terms of feedback:
on the lyric "I walked out of rehab"..the melody forces an unnatural syllable emphasis..better I think would be something like "I left rehab for good".

I like "doing time" better than "serving time"..the first part of "serv" is not as smooth-sounding as "do".

I really don't like the work "wreck" used anywhere (Amazing Grace is ruined, I think, with the use of that word in the lyric), but I love how you paired 'message' with 'wreckage'.

Excellent design with the "stop/think/remember" calls!

I sense that this song is highly true to your personal story..that is great; however, I think that, for the benefit of the song's best design, sometimes you (we) need to flex the story a bit. I'm thinking about your line about the 'chips'..I know how important that statement is, but I also think that "chips" is another awkward work to the ear, and I would look to modify that line with something that brings the same meaning, but uses words that are, again, smoother-sounding.

Like how you changed the rhyme scheme at the end so that lines 1+2 worked together and that let you marry up 3+4, thereby making your 'final message' resound more strongly.

Just my thoughts.

Great work!

User Showcase
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,414
PG Music Staff
Offline
PG Music Staff
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,414
Really nice work smile It is so smooth, and has a really authentic modern feeling to it. Some really stunning and relatable lyrics as well. That aside, the groove is great and your vocals are on point.

Wonderful job on this one - thanks for sharing!


Cheers,
Deryk
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,709
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,709
Just listening to song in totality...we really like the write, the vocal and the arrangement. It's a very cool vibe. The lyric is very poignant but that's life. And we like songs that reflect all aspects of it.

I agree after several listens with floyd's notion that it's mostly the vocal contributing to the high end feel that folks have alluded to.

Regarding the drums I used to go through all kinds of hoops with RD's, e.g., doubling them, tripling them, adding a snare track, etc...and then I discovered Waves CLA Drums. $29 and I've been drum happy ever since. I use one preset with a couple of tweaks and that's it. Oh, I turn off ALL BiaB reverb on RDs and RTs and set the tone to 0.

This is a very strong song!

J&B


You can listen to our catalog on Apple Music or Spotify by searching on Janice Merritt
Our Videos are here on our website
User Showcase
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,873
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,873
Hello, David

Very nice Jazzy rock tune!
I agree with Peter.
A really nice sophisticated pro sounding tune, well mixed and performed - sounds like you have a pretty good grasp of Band In A Box already.
And I thought that you were used to making songs very much.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,844
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,844
Hello David,

Cool song! This style is right up our alley. We do a lot of Smooth Jazz, Smooth R&B, EZ Funk and Jazz Rock.

Listing the BIAB tracks you used would make it somewhat easier to give more technical opinions. The drums are, perhaps, EQ's slightly too bright, but that's not a real problem for me as I like the sizzle of the cymbals, the tingle of the ride, etc. I bring out the kick by EQing it - bring up lower mids (200 - 300)and the upper bass tones (60 - 100). It works pretty good most of the time for me.

I do agree with a few others about knocking down the upper EQ on your voice. But, not a lott. I'd bring it down from slightly crackling to crisp. But, the quality of your voice is terrific! And the interpretation you gave the lyric was really cool.

All in all, I really liked it - seriously. A few touch ups and this is top shelf all the way. Good luck with it.

Best to you.

Alan

Last edited by Al-David; 08/15/18 04:16 PM.

BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar

Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops

User Showcase
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,250
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,250
David,

I love this sound... so smooth and engaging! Your vocals sit very comfortably with the style as you take us on a memorable musical journey. Really nicely done!

It's definitely two thumbs up from me!

All the best,
Noel


MY SONGS...
Audiophile BIAB 2024
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 160
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 160
Originally Posted By: PeterF
David

A really nice sophisticated pro sounding tune, well mixed and performed - sounds like you have a pretty good grasp of Band In A Box already.

Peter


Thank you Peter. I appreciate the listen and comments.

Dave

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 160
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 160
Originally Posted By: David Snyder
Dear Gocart,

You asked for feedback and I will give it, though I hope it is what you want to hear, as an enthusiast.

First, if you put the style and real tracks you using it is easier to comment on sound and make suggestions that might be helpful.

This is a GREAT song. Love it. Great construction, good vocals, moves right along, great energy, compelling. Super job.

Mix:

There is some kinda preset you are using that is making this WAY too hot and brittle.

Since I don't know what tracks you are using, I can't say, but here is the basic gist:

Many real tracks such as guitars and stuff have effects already on them unless you are using the Direct Input (DI Versions).

When you start to add effects on effects in the tracks in the mix strip, things can get weird real fast.

Most of the real tracks as they are (if the effects are already there) need very gentle EQ. Drums need to be doubled or tripled to bring out the kick, tom, and highlight snares in each track.

The basses always need eq'ing. Drums and bass will take a while.

When you move to the master bus, be really careful with presets in tools like Ozone that say "CD mix"--generally speaking these presets will make stuff way too harsh. Use master bus settings on things like Ozone that have the minimal impact and add your own EQ from EQ strips. Be super careful with "maximizers."

This is the best free tool I have seen to increase the volume without killing the mix.

https://www.kvraudio.com/product/limiter-no6-by-vladg-sound



Look at your meters.

Your LUFS should be about 14 and your dynamic range should be about 11-12.

So, again, great song, and sounds like a good mix that has some really harsh presets on the master bus.


David,

Thx for the suggestions on the mix, as well as all the comments. It is very helpful.

For whatever reason copying and pasting from the BIAB memo is giving me fits. But I will do my best to give you the rundown ...

Style - Sweet Smooth Pop Soul
100BPM in key of Dm

Bass - 2620 Funk Swing 16thsj, SW 85
Electric Piano - 906 - Electric, Rhythm SmoothCool Sw16 100
Drums - Real Drums - SouthernPopSw16^02-a.Hat, Sidestick, b ride, Snare
Solo Guitar intro - 1229Smooth Jazz Cool Sw16 100
The solo electric piano has gotten lost so I can't id it - thankfully I rendered it to audio beforehand

Anyway, thats the rundown. Thx again for the detailed critique

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 160
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 160
Originally Posted By: HearToLearn
Wow! If I didn't say it earlier, welcome! You will be a great addition to the forum with songs like that. So awesomely jazzy!

Quote:
It scared me sober


Great and powerful line that sets up the rest of the song. Nice lyrics!

Cool song. Keep 'em coming please!


Thanks for the review Hear To Learn. I appreciate your welcome and very much appreciate your time and comments.

Dave

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 160
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 160
Originally Posted By: Scott C
Wow I really liked this song. Excellent backtrack. Bass line is really cool. Super vocal and lyric. Well done.


Thank you much Scott. Appreciate the listen and comments. Enjoying the forum and BIAB a lot.

Dave

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 160
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 160
Originally Posted By: MarioD
David I really liked this song. Your lyrics are great as was you vocal. Your backing tracks were very good also.

To nitpick there is something about the mix that takes this song down a notch. As Dave Snyder said maybe it needs warming up. I found the treble to be a little over the top but that may be just me. Sorry that I can't be more help.

Regardless this is a very good song as is.


Thank you much Mario. Appreciate your comments on the mix and your time. Very helpful.

Dave

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 2 1 2

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
Generate Lyrics for your Band-in-a-Box songs with LyricLab!

Need some lyrics to complete your Band-in-a-Box song? LyricLab is here to help!

LyricLab (by Joanne Cooper) is an AI-powered tool designed to quickly create lyrics and chords to fit your music. Just enter a rough idea of your lyrics, and let the AI bring them to life. Once you're happy with the results, simply import the LyricLab file into Band-in-a-Box® 2024 or newer. From there, you can pick your style and generate melodies to match your song’s chords!

Learn more about LyricLab here!

Watch the video.


Band-in-a-Box 2024 Italian for Mac is Here!

Ci siamo dati da fare e abbiamo aggiunto oltre 50 nuove funzionalità e una straordinaria raccolta di nuovi contenuti, tra cui 222 RealTracks, nuovi RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, "Songs with Vocals" Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 3, Playable RealDrums Set 2, due nuovi set di "RealDrums Stems", XPro Styles PAK 6, Xtra Styles PAK 17 e altro ancora!

Tutti Pacchetti | Nuove Caratteristiche

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 German for Mac is Here!

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 für Mac 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 & 7, Xtra Styles PAK 17 & 18, und mehr!

Paket | Was ist Neu

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 French for Mac® is Here!

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 apporte plus de 50 fonctions nouvelles ainsi qu'une importante de contenus nouveaux à savoir : 222 RealTracks, des RealStyles nouveaux, des SuperTracks MIDI, des Etudes d'Instruments, des Prestations d'Artistes, des "Morceaux avec Choeurs", un Set 3 de Tracks Jouables, un Set 2 de RealDrums Jouables, deux nouveaux Sets de "RealDrums Stems", des Styles XPro PAK 6 & 7, des Xtra Styles PAK 17 & 18, et bien plus encore!

New! XPro Styles PAK 7 for Band-in-a-Box 2024 for Mac!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 7 with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 50 RealTracks and RealDrums that are sure to delight!

With XPro Styles PAK 7 you can expect 25 rock & pop, 25 jazz, and 25 country styles, as well as 25 of this year's wildcard genre: Celtic!

Here's a small sampling of what XPro Styles PAK 7 has to offer: energetic rock jigs, New Orleans funk, lilting jazz waltzes, fast Celtic punk, uptempo train beats, gritty grunge, intense jazz rock, groovy EDM, soulful R&B, soft singer-songwriter pop, country blues rock, and many more!

Special Pricing! Until September 30, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 7 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea)! Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box 2024® with XPro Styles PAK 7! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Watch the XPro Styles PAK 7 Overview & Styles Demos video.

XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2024 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

New! Xtra Styles PAK 18 for Band-in-a-Box 2024 for Mac!

Xtra Styles PAK 18 for Band-in-a-Box version 2024 is here with 200 brand new styles to take for a spin!

Along with 50 new styles each for the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, we’ve put together a collection of styles using sounds from the SynthMaster plugin!

In this PAK you'll find: dubby reggae grooves, rootsy Americana, LA jazz pop, driving pop rock, mellow electronica, modern jazz fusion, spacey country ballads, Motown shuffles, energetic EDM, and plenty of synth heavy grooves! Xtra Style PAK 18 features these styles and many, many more!

Special Pricing! Until September 30, 2024, all the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 18 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea)! Expand your Band-in-a-Box 2024® library with Xtra Styles PAK 18! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 18 here.

Watch the Xtra Styles PAK 18 Overview & Styles Demos video.

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 18 requires the 2024 UltraPAK/UltraPAK+/Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

New! Xtra Styles PAK 18 for Band-in-a-Box 2024 for Windows!

Xtra Styles PAK 18 for Band-in-a-Box version 2024 is here with 200 brand new styles to take for a spin!

Along with 50 new styles each for the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, we’ve put together a collection of styles using sounds from the SynthMaster plugin!

In this PAK you'll find: dubby reggae grooves, rootsy Americana, LA jazz pop, driving pop rock, mellow electronica, modern jazz fusion, spacey country ballads, Motown shuffles, energetic EDM, and plenty of synth heavy grooves! Xtra Style PAK 18 features these styles and many, many more!

Special Pricing! Until September 30, 2024, all the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 18 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea)! Expand your Band-in-a-Box 2024® library with Xtra Styles PAK 18! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 18 here.

Watch the Xtra Styles PAK 18 Overview & Styles Demos video.

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 18 requires the 2024 UltraPAK/UltraPAK+/Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

Forum Statistics
Forums65
Topics82,887
Posts753,007
Members39,023
Most Online3,932
Nov 19th, 2024
Newest Members
Jack Peterson, RAB, Uke Berlin, Rodion Shynharov, davesbass
39,023 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 156
DC Ron 104
rsdean 83
dcuny 82
DrDan 81
jpettit 80
Today's Birthdays
Camron, DickR
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5