MichaelJohn

Retro Kind of Mood by Michael John I recently got Sample Tank 4 MAX and finally made this piece to put it to the test! Using only Sample Tank 4 MAX instruments. I wrote this piece 10 years ago originally called "Positive Vibe", with Yamaha keyboard sounds. I reworked it now with ST4 instruments and featuring the Alan Parsons Imperial Grand, which I like a lot. No post-mastering done, I just tweak the mix in the tracks. All of the effects are from each instrument in ST4. My instrument list is shown below. Cakewalk by Bandlab is a joy to use. However it would start to stutter and crash randomly as I had all 7 instruments and their individual effects all going at the same time. Even though cpu and ram not even half way used. I do have a soundblaster card installed, so that might be an issue, not sure. I have to say I'm pleased with the result. Photo of piano by Beth Jnr on Unsplash Instruments I used in SampleTank 4: More about the Alan Parsons Imperial Grand:

Updated new mix! Overall db was a bit low, and I made other improvements.

wow I like this song a lot, soft acoustic vibe is nice. The way you sing is gentle and reassuring.

Thanks! Sounds loud on my PC. Also see the signal strength lines in the soundcloud player? About same as others.

Just uploaded new mix.

I had to listen again, so electronically fun. Like that dissonant chord. Question, how do you get the soundcloud player to appear? I past link but doesn't appear

I agree everything is too much n the center. Pan rhythm guitar to the right or left some. That may sound unbalanced, so you need to pan another guitar, same part is ok, on the other side. It removes it from the center. Basic panning tips I start with are: bass- center, no reverb lead instrument or vocal - center with some reverb ok drums- kick and snare in center, start with no reverb on the kick. Toms and cymbals panned left/right rhythm guitars- panned, some reverb ok

Nice work! I'm not familiar with the show, I would have thought this was the original score.

o my gosh when the sax comes in! great vibe and mix- make more, will breeze along

I wrote this piano/guitar instrumental in 2009, one of my favorites works. Made with Sonar 8 and Sampletank 2.5. I still have the Dell GX620 Win XP but I haven't used it in many years. It was time to remake it so I tried to install Sampletank 2.5 on my current PC but it wouldn't run. So I decided to see if Sonar 8 and Sampletank were still installed on my old XP? Wasn't sure. Both still there! Sonar 8 was still working great on my old Dell but then on a reboot I got beep code 1-3-2.- memory fail. I only had a 504mb memory card available, installed it, and Win XP booted right up! Would Sonar and Sampletank even run on 504mb ram? They did! Very smoothly! I was able to finish this remake with 504mb ram on XP, in Sonar 8! It didn't even glitch. Until I started deleting tracks I didn't need- then it started glitching. But I had the work done. And here it is. This piece has two finger acoustics, two electrics, and piano, strings, bass, drums and of course, clarinet. All Sampletank 2. 5 in Sonar 8. This is a soundtrack type instrumental meant to evoke the dream she has... NEW MIX 11.19:

I listened to the whole track too. Something new every 8 bars and unexpected chord changes. I have the Arturia mini moog but it can't do this. Make more, will listen!

Much better to my ears! Now, it rocks! This is classic guitar rock genre and guitar rock needs rock drumming. That's all that was missing to me. The bass is great. Sorry I got nit-picky but you write great guitar rock. Your style is close to Stevie Ray Vaughn. Listen to any song by him and drums are always strong.

I think it's better! It might be my speakers but the bass is still the loudest part in the song- I would bring the drums up a small touch, and lower the bass, to make drums and bass equal. The drum kick is really nice with the bass. The panned guitars are on fire! Super nice whatever you did.

I like it! Kinda Beatle-ish to me. Middle 60's vibe. This tempo and song style is very shag dance style friendly. If you up the tempo I think the song would still work, and then it would start sounding bubblegumish I think. The wide spaced background vocals really sound amazing!

Sounds really good to me. Can't hear the drums, are there drums? I like the minor mode and those chords in the pre-chorus. Nice work

very nice, enjoyed it! great work on the vocal parts! Like the organ!

Nice track! Sounds futuristic in a way. Especially like the synth work and mix. Checking out your youtube next

Fat bass! Funk will never fade away and this is an example of why it should stay. Studio quality mix and everything else. Sounds like 4/4 to me.

You guys were right. I've remixed the song with the vocals more up front. And a few other improvements. Video in OP looks the same but has been replaced.

What you got here is that good dance vibe that fills the dance floor. Also has that Keith Urban feel good type vibe. The wide panned guitars, I think two, are perfectly mixed to my ears. Make more! Will listen!

I watched both. I liked both. I like watching video clips to music. With random clips you can make up your own story with the music. Your music is unique and creates laid back moods. That organ or keys lead part in Hey Dawg is captivating.

Ah yes a little doodle to test the amp sim. If I could play doodle guitar like that, well, I would. Smooth skillful playing and the tone is sweet. Does have a Santanish vibe. I don't think Santana ever uses a blues pattern. But Santanish over 12 bar blues sound very good!

yes! Uplifting instrumental, I could listen to more like this. Everyone at pro level here. The arrangement progresses steady and smooth, just right, up to that nice key change. Guitar, bass, and drums masters at work! What's great about the video is using several cameras to stay on the music focus.

I like the vibe and uptempo and energy of this piece- especially the extended soloing in the middle section. I hear a cool synth solo in there. The mud seems to sound like too much reverb on the instruments but if there is no reverb on those, and only the vocal, maybe there are too many instruments which are clashing. I hear something, a synth maybe, that is playing long whole notes. That can be completely removed. However, this sounds like a live recording made on a phone in the audience, even if you didn't intend it that way. The musicianship is great, and I've always said I'd rather hear good musicians on cheap instruments and so-so mix, over amateurish musicians on expensive instruments and pro mix anytime.

Your music is perfect for the video clips- hadn't seen those before! Space ambient synth work is superb, ready for PBS broadcast! Nice!