JPF Home Page Forums Lyric and MP3 Feedback MP3 Feedback Forum Piano Song # 1

We have a big conversation going on above about BIAB, Recording Software, etc, and I have been complaining that Im unable to get enough variation out of them to really make a finished product. I think thats why I stopped after adding piano. I have bragged about Toonstracks drums, I can tell you I spent HOURS and HOURS and HOURS fine tuning the drums, but in the end, its what I heard in my head, I cant seem to do that with other instruments.

These few were probably the better ones Ive done with it. I remember I bought EZ keys, and knocked off about 20 songs with it in under a week. I was left with 3 or 4 I consider good, but still was frustrated cause I couldnt get more out of it.

This one I think the piano sounds great and a perfect match for my song. And the drums i take great pride in, they sound great!
I have others to post but this is a start:

Mind you, this was written on guitar before I had either the drum or piano software.
I think its about wanting to believe in something, even though you know its not real. I guess I wasnt happy enough with piano to continue adding more stuff to it. I moved on. But I think if I could get a feel that fits like this id be happy


Trick Me For A While

https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13980907

You dont know me
you pull me from the crowd
they all laugh loud
they dont believe that you hold the power
A concrete flower

Not sure what I believe
Haven't looked inside your sleeve
but...

There's a magic on the street tonight, girl
every corner there's a star shone bright
it's so tragic I can finally make a smile
work your magic wont you trick me for a while

You're a gypsy
they pay you by the spell
the lies you tell...
my back been broke
woman I'm weak
you kiss my cheek
The clowns all stare ashamed
they believe that I've been gamed

There's a magic on the street tonight, girl
every corner there's a star shone bright
it's so tragic I can finally make a smile
work your magic wont you trick me for a while
trick me for a while
trick me for a while
trick me for a while

The wino says "good luck"
dont need it, but here's a buck
cause,

There's a magic on the street tonight, girl
every corner there's a star shone bright
it's so tragic I can finally make a smile
work your magic wont you trick me for a while
trick me for a while
trick me for a while
trick me for a while

"it's so tragic I can finally make a smile..."

I think you should try this one in E

Thanks, I write in head/ on guitar for some reason they key ends up being either D,G,C, Am, F but I dont think I have any in E, which is a nice open key, just never land there.

If I stretch it to E i think id lose some of the crooner, think its kind of a Lou Reed vocal....Eddie Vedder.Pearl Jam? But I can always try it.

Thanks for listening.

I listened to both piano songs and thought that both sounded pretty good.
My personal suggestions based upon my sensibilities and what they sound like coming out of some cheap Tascam speakers on my desk...

1) The drums sound too far away. They sound good but they need to push up against the vocals more for the type of song.
2) The velocities on the pianos sound too hard to my ear in both songs.
3) The piano in #2 sounds too saturated with reverb and too far away.

That's what I hear, but notwithstanding that I think you did a solid job with the software and am glad to get a chance to listen to what you are doing, talk about it and learn things from your approach to the softwares.

Marty

Thanks Marty, I didnt post this as an example of good mixing...only two instruments in there. I posted mainly cause the parts on piano and drums all work, which was a rarity for me. I ended up getting ticked off with EZpiano, and stopped using it shortly after. Once in a while you can find something that fits.

Once I have the right performances, then I can think about the sound of the instruments.

I like this. It's my kind of music. I think you did a solid job with EZ Keys. I bought it a little while ago because it was on sale, but really haven't been able to squeeze anything out of it that didn't sound incredibly machine like. Not the tone of the piano but the way one bar leads into the next one.

Throwing some Melodyne on the vocals would improve this a lot.

Thanks Gavin, If Melodyne is pitch correction, im not really into that, I guess its standard now.

I wasnt worried about the master effects of this as its only two instruments deep, and by the time I sang it, I was knowing this wasnt THE recording of the song. I think that was one vocal take

You might like this, I think this was a bit better overall, and NO MELODYNE!
http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1174535/piano-song-2.html

Yes, it's pitch correction, but it is an amazing tool. It's unnoticeable, unless you're trying to correct something that's a couple of whole tones off or something. I'm pretty sure that all the pros use it. Some DAWs come with it now, including Mixcraft, which I use. Otherwise, the basic program is $99 when it's not on sale.

These are things I have never considered, ive been frustrated about getting the performances I want, so the other stuff never comes to be, lol.

Yeah I guess everybody uses it today, I just havent felt the need as of yet to dress up the pig....

One day when I have all my chit down, we can have this conversation again. Im trying to get software to behave like humans. Who knows maybe even go out for a beer after the session...