AndyB01

Very enjoyable instrumental Jack - flute sounds good and the horns - sort of a laid back house jazz meets 70s prog feel, quite the blend. 🙂

Great work!

Andy

Bit of a Smokey Robinson vibe for me there Rex - sounding good - lead guitar sounds a little thin to me and maybe could use some FX behind it just to give it some shimmer or sparkle.

Andy

I deleted the original tracks because they were unlicensed working drafts, but I have now done an official licensed cover version via DistroKid. No changes to the previous mix, so if you've already listened, please feel free to move on. 😊

However, if you want to have another listen - or missed it first time around - here you go:

 Amazon Music

It should be on Spotify and iTunes as well somewhere - I'm not very good with this music publishing stuff. 😂
 
Andy

AI vocals - now that is interesting and uncannily lifelike - although when you know, you can kind of tell. Interesting project indeed - thanks for sharing.

Andy

Minor crit - I'd go for a softer and more subtle string sound - really excellent vocal work as always.

Great work

Andy

Whenever they make the next prequel (or sequel) - I rather lost track after The Empire Strikes Back - they have to use this in it somewhere. 👍

'The Prophet's Arrival' - not a bad working title...

Love the transitions in this - always takes you where you least expect to go

Andy

Came back for a second listen - I enjoyed the original but I think this version is even better - video was just great and really added some context (I think I could create something similar from my own family history).

Great job!

Andy

Superb lyrical craft coupled with a sublime vocal, oh and the rest of it wasn't too shabby either... 😉

Great job!

Andy

RexRed meets Luther Vandross - what more can I say. 😀

Just to clarify, I wasn't having trouble hearing the lyrics. However, knowing Tom's songwriting skills of old, there are probably a few nuggets of gold in there I might have missed and would like to admire for nothing more than the sheer poetry of it.

I am a sucker for a good lyric.

Andy

Lovely ePiano intro Tom and the bass tone is gooorgeous - drums are up in the mix for sure (as is the trumpet) but I kinda like them there. I thought the vox level was about right (listening on my AA Hi-X60 cans). I wasn't expecting the funky guitar, not sure the wah quite works for me but equally I'm not sure what I'd replace it with - maybe something a tad more driven with just a bit of grit - minor crit, taste and fancy stuff.

Really cool track - I wouldn't mind a read of the lyrics either.

Great work

Andy

Great track Nigel - the bass is stellar. 

I got the message loud and clear - very on point as ever.

Terrific work

Andy

Clever use of lyrics as always and very catchy too - really well performed - enjoyed that.

Andy

Top work all round 👏👏👏

Andy

Very much captured the prog feel - I could hear shades of early Genesis (as in Trespass kind of early).

Much to like in here - guitar playing was wild - a project to be proud of for sure. 👍👍

Andy

2 hours ago, El Diablo said:

Your information has enlightened me, and I'm grateful.  Just still on the edge and will wait for more information from others before making a decision.

No worries, happy to help. I get it, lack of a demo version doesn't make it any easier to decide.

Andy

P.s. you can use other VSTs with EzKeys, I tend to prefer Pianoteq than the EzKeys pianos.

There is no best, just difference (albeit with a little crossover).

EzKeys is functionally much richer and deeper than Scaler imho. The quality of the instruments in EzKeys is better (but these cost extra and for many are not the primary appeal).

There are a lot of midi packs for EzKeys (or you can use your own midi loops) covering every genre you can think of - these are also add on cost and can become both addictive and expensive; look for six-pack deals.

Scaler will take you deep into music theory so great for both practitioners and those keen to learn. It has a more limited composition grid but can produce very usable midi parts played by external VSTs - you just have to get your routing right.

Both have a lot of online videos that show you the key features. For me, EzKeys ability to take a simple chord track and play in the style of multiple midi packs is a great feature and the best customisable virtual session pianist I have found.

I have both and enjoy them equally but I use them differently. I will admit to using Scaler less since EzKeys 2 came out. If I could only have one, I'd definitely keep EzKeys but others may disagree.

My advice, spend some time on YouTube before you decide, no doubting that Scaler is fabulous value for money and is often discounted.

Andy

This is tragic and yet sadly believable. They build the walls of these new build properties out of tissue and dope and wonder why you can hear a gnat fart next door.

I can both relate and confirm, the entire country is FUBAR.

#LedByDonkeys

For ease of reference, you can sign the petition here: https://chng.it/VJ5MQFHkbp

I'm neither surprised nor especially disappointed by this news, I also purchased the 'lifetime licence' back in the day, but I have zero expectation of that being honoured or of receiving a preferential discount. Different company, different times, different business model - it can't always be that sons have to pay for the sins of their fathers. Time to let it go in my view (appreciate others will disagree).

An issue for me is consistency, I have put a deal of time and effort recently into learning CbB and establishing a consistent workflow. If I have to re-learn a significantly different product and pay for the privilege, I may as well re-direct that effort into S1 Pro - as I already own a copy. However if the new version remains functionally and visually similar to CbB, then I'm likely to stick rather than twist - as long as the price is right.

Wait and see I guess.

Andy

After months if ongoing investigation I believe I have finally identified and resolved the problem. Certainly heat was the primary problem and the thorough clean and new thermal pad have fixed that - beyond doubt.

The secondary problem was shutdown within a few minutes of starting up for the first time. This, it turns out, is a battery problem. It's an old battery and apparently it's something to do with the battery not holding sufficient charge which forces a shutdown.

If I remove the battery - problem solved.

So where to source a new battery? 🤷🤔

Preferably from somewhere reliable that (a) doesn't lie about being UK based when they're actually shipping from and based in China and  (b) isn't going the sell me something that will burn my house down!

All suggestions for reputable suppliers who will ship to UK welcome.

Andy

On 5/22/2023 at 5:44 PM, markno999 said:

Geno's vocals and guitar solo are quite outstanding. 

Can't help but agree there - the rest of it ain't too shabby either - guitar solo was 🤩

Just fabulous work all round, gets ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me.

Andy

I listened to both (original first). The tempo of the first really does showcase your piano chops but I definitely prefer the rolling tempo of the second - sounds a little more expressive too in terms of light and shade.

Impressive stuff either way, you have great talent and use it well. 🙂

Andy

I have a Scan laptop (it's just a re-badged Clevo under the hood). I've had quite a few issues with it - overheating being the main one and random shutdowns for no good reason. It's an i7 7700 running 32Gb RAM with twin SSDs - about five years old.

Getting a new thermal pad fitted and a thorough professional clean has helped - but not eliminated - the random shutdowns and even after five years, I still have no idea what causes them. It was RTB after a few weeks and came back to me as 'no fault found'.

All in all, they seem to use decent components but mine also has a pretty noisy fan - I work almost exclusively on cans so not much of an issue in my case but would no doubt drive some others insane.

Their desktops may be better, personally I wouldn't use them again based on my experience both from a product and after sales point of view.

Andy

I saw the video and commented, I thought it was harmless and certainly not clickbait.

I get the points some of you are making - @bitflipper is spot on as usual - all I know is that without Mike's help on Bandlab I'd still be floundering hopelessly in the dark.

Andy

Drums are really good (love the toms), the tempo changes mess with my head - in a good way - and who knew Wookiees could sing so beautifully?

Definitely no threat to life here 😁

Great stuff

Andy