Ross Smithe Posted June 2, 2023 Share Posted June 2, 2023 (edited) **REVISED- Took some good advice from @jack c.@subvibeand @PhonoBrainer, and raised vocal volume and shortened overall song a bit. This is a re-imagining/remix of an original song written way back in 1985. It was a signature song for an LA band I was in at the time called The Program. Originally written as a straight ahead rock tune, the funky and catchy bass pattern was the central component of the song. Our bass player played it on a Mini Moog (props to him, we had no sequencers, lol!). This new arrangement and recording maintains that original bass pattern and vibe, but definitely takes the tune into completely new realms! I originally played the high-bending synth lead part on my very first polysynth, a Roland Juno 60. I don't have it anymore, but I wanted to maintain that original flavor, so I used a TAL Juno 60 emulation on this. The rest of it is a mix of hardware (Korg Kronos, Yamaha MOXF8) and software synths (Kontakt, Surge, LABS, ASDR Loom and Hybrid). Valhalla Supermassive reverb was also used liberally throughout. The most unexpected source is the growling "guitar” solo, done with Keyscape, of all things! There is a Clavinet/Wah Pedal patch that I used, and was blown away by how cool it sounded! Anyway, enjoy and let me know what you think! https://www.bandlab.com/post/7fa45535-2602-ee11-907c-6045bd31b313 Edited June 3, 2023 by Ross Smithe 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack c. Posted June 2, 2023 Share Posted June 2, 2023 real nice.cool funked out bass.bring up vocoder and voice a tad.jack c great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subvibe Posted June 2, 2023 Share Posted June 2, 2023 Hi Great drums & bass sequence that give the song drive agree with jack c vocals could be a bit clearer in the mix the intro is megga got my foot tapping straight away subvibe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Smithe Posted June 2, 2023 Author Share Posted June 2, 2023 2 hours ago, jack c. said: real nice.cool funked out bass.bring up vocoder and voice a tad.jack c great Thanks for listening Jack and for the feedback! I have gone back and forth about the voice volume, I think you’re right it needs to be up a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Smithe Posted June 2, 2023 Author Share Posted June 2, 2023 3 hours ago, subvibe said: Hi Great drums & bass sequence that give the song drive agree with jack c vocals could be a bit clearer in the mix the intro is megga got my foot tapping straight away subvibe Thanks for listening and for the feedback. I’m sold, vocs need to go UP!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhonoBrainer Posted June 3, 2023 Share Posted June 3, 2023 Nothing wrong with that groove! I did notice you wait a full 8 measures before bringing in the next thing, which for the intro could be asking a bit much of the attention spans. Congas, more cunga lines, in the breakdown towards the end, more than the one cowbell hit before the 3. Just an idea! The "Keyscapetar" sounds pretty cool, would never have guessed! Playing that bassline on a keyboard live would be fun! Let's keep the song short! excellent jam! cheers, -Tom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Smithe Posted June 4, 2023 Author Share Posted June 4, 2023 21 hours ago, PhonoBrainer said: Nothing wrong with that groove! I did notice you wait a full 8 measures before bringing in the next thing, which for the intro could be asking a bit much of the attention spans. Congas, more cunga lines, in the breakdown towards the end, more than the one cowbell hit before the 3. Just an idea! The "Keyscapetar" sounds pretty cool, would never have guessed! Playing that bassline on a keyboard live would be fun! Let's keep the song short! excellent jam! cheers, -Tom Thanks for listening and for your comments! Good suggestion about the length, I was thinking about that, anyway, so you kind of put me over the edge! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeEarCandy Posted June 4, 2023 Share Posted June 4, 2023 Awesome! Yeah. The bassline would be a challenge. The drums certainly gave the bass an additional bump too. The growling Keyscape was nice as well. Cool stuff all the way through. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Smithe Posted June 4, 2023 Author Share Posted June 4, 2023 7 hours ago, FreeEarCandy said: Awesome! Yeah. The bassline would be a challenge. The drums certainly gave the bass an additional bump too. The growling Keyscape was nice as well. Cool stuff all the way through. Hey, thanks for the listen and for the encouraging words! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steev Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 Very COOL Ross! Might I suggest using and trying Bandlab's mastering using the "Clarity" preset or "Fire" preset for the Bandlab stream? It only effects the .MP4 streaming version and is nondestructive editing to the original sound file so it can be changed or switched back to its original state. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark skinner Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 Killer ! There are some Really cool sounds here. When I'm done working on my present project , I'm going to learn that bass line and use it for exercise on my bass guitars. Enjoyed it .. mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Smithe Posted June 6, 2023 Author Share Posted June 6, 2023 11 hours ago, Steev said: Very COOL Ross! Might I suggest using and trying Bandlab's mastering using the "Clarity" preset or "Fire" preset for the Bandlab stream? It only effects the .MP4 streaming version and is nondestructive editing to the original sound file so it can be changed or switched back to its original state. Haven't used the mastering tools on Bandlab, I'll check it out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Smithe Posted June 6, 2023 Author Share Posted June 6, 2023 10 hours ago, mark skinner said: Killer ! There are some Really cool sounds here. When I'm done working on my present project , I'm going to learn that bass line and use it for exercise on my bass guitars. Enjoyed it .. mark Thanks for listening and for the kind words! Have fun with the bass line! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry T. Posted June 7, 2023 Share Posted June 7, 2023 Yeas, this is real nice. Clear, pure tones on the synths. Everything well written and played, mixed, mastered. The reverb use was perfect, not too much, not too little. The guitar playing is spot on. Enjoyed the short "cool down" outro🎶🎶🎶🎶 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Smithe Posted June 7, 2023 Author Share Posted June 7, 2023 9 hours ago, Larry T. said: Yeas, this is real nice. Clear, pure tones on the synths. Everything well written and played, mixed, mastered. The reverb use was perfect, not too much, not too little. The guitar playing is spot on. Enjoyed the short "cool down" outro🎶🎶🎶🎶 Hey Larry, thanks for listening in, I appreciate it! Your encouragement is appreciated also! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjornpdx Posted June 7, 2023 Share Posted June 7, 2023 Very cool! Really like the tricky intersecting rhythms which become hypnotic after a while. The intro could maybe be shortened some more and the main synth part extended. Or not. I envisioned this as opening credits soundtrack in a movie where the kind of abrupt ending takes you right into the story. -Bjorn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Smithe Posted June 8, 2023 Author Share Posted June 8, 2023 18 hours ago, bjornpdx said: Very cool! Really like the tricky intersecting rhythms which become hypnotic after a while. The intro could maybe be shortened some more and the main synth part extended. Or not. I envisioned this as opening credits soundtrack in a movie where the kind of abrupt ending takes you right into the story. -Bjorn Hey Bjorn, appreciate the kind words and for taking time to listen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Wilson Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 I'm so glad that I caught up with this song! It's awesome from beginning to end. This is a style of music that I would like to explore, but after this song, I'd be smart to leave it to the experts 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bajan Blue Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 Great stuff, loved that Bassline and the rest of the synths are excellent - agree about vocals up a bit, apart from that excellent Cool Nigel ' 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Smithe Posted June 17, 2023 Author Share Posted June 17, 2023 On 6/14/2023 at 12:24 PM, Lynn Wilson said: I'm so glad that I caught up with this song! It's awesome from beginning to end. This is a style of music that I would like to explore, but after this song, I'd be smart to leave it to the experts Hey Lynn, thanks for dropping in and checking it out! Not usually my style of production, but I'm trying to stretch myself into new areas as well. I thought this bass pattern would lend well to a more electronic arrangement, so I gave it a go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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