Jump to content

AndyB01

Members
  • Posts

    892
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by AndyB01

  1. Agree with many comments, I've always been a huge fan of Mike's work and his videos have quite literally transformed my understanding and ability in using Cakewalk, and DAWs in general. Also subscribed, and the fact he is sticking with Sonar makes it more likely that I will do the same. Andy
  2. 'the smell of closing time' - such a good lyric. Nice work. πŸ’› Andy
  3. I do both, I had lyrics for a song about two years before I found the right melody for it - I'd tried a few but nothing really worked and I didn't want to compromise on the words. In the end, an EzKeys track proved to be the answer. Other times I have a melody or chord track and think 'I can write a song that goes with that'. It varies, but generally I'm a lyrics first songwriter. If I'm emotionally invested in a song (i.e. if it's personal in some way), it's always lyrics first. I think you should do whatever best works for you. Andy
  4. If you look at how classical guitarists hold their guitar, you'll notice the fretting hand is higher than the picking hand and the weight of the guitar is supported at an angle - often using a footstool (an upturned waste bin works just as well). You don't have to be extreme about it, but tilting the guitar in this way and modifying your playing position can radically improve your technique and help you develop an effective barrΓ© that you can play with a relaxed hand. It's not for everyone, but worth a try to see if it works for you. It's not a magic trick however, you still need to practice and persevere. Regards and good luck Andy
  5. Oh yes - great work - love the bossa feel of part two. This has definitely improved my mood this morning. Great song title btw (private joke - I wrote one a few years ago with the same name - very different groove and feel mind you and most definitely not in this league) πŸ˜†πŸ˜‚ Larry stole the show (again)! Looking forward to the album. Andy
  6. I have an i7700 CPU quad core - the one with a TPM that MS refuse to support officially on Win11, despite lots of user evidence that it works fine. After a full backup, I applied the registry hack yesterday, downloaded the ISO and did an over the top install; I couldn't face reinstallation of all my programs and VSTs. Early indications - it is working fine and I don't mind the look and feel. MS do force you to click a waiver that says 'as your PC is unsupported, you are not entitled to updates and patches' but that's very carefully worded and doesn't mean they are going to restrict access or stop you getting them. I did a fair bit of reading around on that. So if you are trying to squeeze a few more years out of a device with an i7700, the workaround install does work. Andy
  7. 'Is that your actual singing voice?' (er no, I borrowed it off a mate); and 'Why did you want to record such a depressing song from the 1970s...?' My sister after hearing my cover of Alone Again (Naturally) by Gilbert O'Sullivan. She has about as much tact as your average house brick. πŸ˜‚ Andy
  8. AndyB01

    Come Away with Me

    Killer vocal, as for everything else - it just works. Well worth all the effort. Andy
  9. Really very good indeed, great all round performance. Andy
  10. Sorry, I wasn't trying to confuse people, SMS does indeed stand for short message service but the use of text messages (i.e. a PIN number) as a secondary authentication factor for a login is generally known as 2SV. https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/setting-2-step-verification-2sv The term is used interchangeably these days to include 2FA, but strictly speaking there is a difference in the level of security, Andy
  11. SMS is actually known as 2SV (two-step verification) which is not the same as 2FA (two factor authentication) which is much more secure, because it uses an app or token, unlike a text message which is easily spoofed. Once you get used to it, 2FA via an app is a breeze but do you really need it for a service like SoundCloud? Debatable. Depends how serious you are about your content I guess, but if the platform has enforced it there isn't much you can do apart from go elsewhere. Should be a given for all financial sites though. Andy
  12. I had a listen to the most of the album earlier - really great stuff. Always a fan of your work.πŸ’™ Andy
  13. We're in the process of helping my lad renovate a 1980s semi he bought that needs a fair bit of TLC. On the advice of the electrician we decided to have a full rewire done and some of the crimes he has uncovered are absolutely unreal. People have no idea what is lurking behind their sockets, light fittings, up in the loft or behind stud walls and plaster work - genuinely jaw-dropping bodges that are off the scale and positively lethal! Andy
  14. Great job Nigel - loved it - exceptional work as always. Andy
  15. I agree, very reminiscent of The Shadows (I think Wonderful Land was one of the earliest things I learned to play at the tender age of eleven). πŸ™‚ You've absolutely nailed the style here - some neat playing too. Well done Andy
  16. AndyB01

    Here We Are

    Thanks all for taking the time to listen and critique. The harmonies are kind of fake, in so much as they have been largely (although not exclusively) produced with Melodyne. The objective was to try and produce something with a bit of a gospel/ soul feel with fairly lush harmonies. I guess it kinda missed the mark - ah well - got to have a few duds along the way; all part of the learning curve. πŸ˜€
  17. Agree with others, great song, perfect soundtrack and video for some really well-crafted lyrics. Andy
  18. Wow Gary this is a killer track - definitely cooked and done. So much to enjoy here - really terrific work - congratulations all round; I loved it! 🀩 Andy
  19. AndyB01

    Love is Real

    Hmm more variety on the guitar arpeggio would add some colour I think. First class work again though, different style for you but same high quality of execution. Well done πŸ‘ Andy
  20. AndyB01

    Here We Are

    Hi All I hope you're all keeping well. I've had zero time for music lately, big project at work is just closing out and my son has bought his first house. In the UK we call a house like this a 'fixer-upper' and to say it needs some TLC would be quite the understatement, so all my spare time is spent honing my DiY skills to make it habitable. Still, the end goal of him being out of my hair in his own place is worth the pain. Anyway, here's a bit of fun using EzKeys (it's made from one of the midi packs), some simple lyrics and a few harmonies - some sung and some 'faked' with Melodyne. I did this in a couple of hours I managed to grab recently. Here We Are Please forgive the odd discordant harmony - I can hear it but, with so many tracks, I can no longer find it. πŸ˜‚ There are some dips in the vocal volume I need to fix too (caused by comping and inconsistent mic technique) and some of the mix levels might need work. Be nice - it's more of an adventure into the art of the possible than a serious piece of songwriting and recording. Andy
  21. AndyB01

    /

    Hmm very good - some excellent chops on show here - sounds great. Andy
  22. Late to this one - great job as always Nigel - best for the season and 2024. Andy
  23. Not sure that dissing Mike is super helpful, everyone has to make a living and if he's covering both bases - good for him. I use both platforms and am currently mulling over an upgrade to S1 Pro 6 (from 5) so I'll watch this with interest. I've always used Sonar/ CbB as my main DAW for donkey's years, but there is a lot about S1 I like so when the cost comes in for new Sonar (and I have absolutely no issue with them charging for what I think is an already excellent product), that might be my time to make the switch. So I for one, am grateful for Mike for this and his other videos - they have helped my production skills considerably - long may they continue. I get it, his style and content are not for everyone but better to just go elsewhere for your tutorials than to criticise the guy. Just my 2c Andy
  24. AndyB01

    Love in Time

    Magical vocal - loving your work - as always. The accompaniment is a picked guitar I think (unless my ears deceive me)? Did you quantize it, as it sounds very 'perfect' to me. Maybe back off the quantize a little to allow some swing, so it sounds a little more rubato? Depends if it's a recording of you playing guitar or whether it's a VST I guess. Either way - it's taste and fancy stuff - it's still a wonderful song. Well done. Andy
Γ—
Γ—
  • Create New...