One of the things I love most about arrangers is the ability to use them like drum machines. Most have pretty refined patterns and they're easy to use, as implemented on an arranger. The one I used on this 'scratch' arrangement is from the PA1x Pro and is called 'Swing Hip Hop'. It's 'un-tweaked' : other than turning the tempo down to 69). The tune is an old Bill Withers 3-chorder called 'ain't no sunshine when she's gone'. The bass is a G7 patch but here's the kicker, the chords are from the same patch. The sax (which Diki hates ) is from the PA1x. The EP is from the G7. The guitar is from the Tyros 2 (as usual). The piano is from the G7. The BGV's are me mumbling through the VP-550 (I can't sing and it does a great job of disguising your voice). The organ is the Nord C1 (what else). There's too much 'verb on everything but that's deliberate, to set a mood (and drown out all the flubs).

I always thought I could put together a simple tune from scratch in 30 minutes if I knew the tune. I was wrong. Although everything was done in one pass (I never do do-overs, too lazy. I try to hide a flub with the next dubbed instrument), it still took me 1hr and 15mins. No effects other than what was already on the patch and only a rough mix (turned down the organ, piano, and bgv's). Naturally, all of our homemade stuff sounds like puppy-poo compared to factory styles but I still like the 'live' feel over stuff that never contains a single mistake. I also like to make up the parts as I go along and since I don't play those particular instruments, it always sounds a little weird. But what the hay. Nobody else is posting.
http://www.box.net/shared/ziia6cg456

chas

PS: recorded volume is kinda low, so it sounds pretty lousy(er) through PC speakers.

[This message has been edited by cgiles (edited 10-03-2009).]

I hate to have to tell you this, chas but...

... it sounds pretty damn good.

Hi Chas,
I really like this one.
Nice Mix of Instruments. To me it has more of a Jazzy feel, which is great.
I also like the way you mixed the vocals in the background.
Great Lounge music
Thanks for sharing.
Eric

I Liked it a lot, once I run it through the sound wall and got the volume up. The bass woffer really made it talk big too
thanks for sharing.
bebop

Who cares what dicki thinks....
good job Chas I enjoyed the listen.

I like, thanks Chas

Dosage still giving you problems..?

Nice stuff chas...

Thanks guys. You're right, Bebop. It sounds pretty crappy through small (as in PC) speakers; no bass and no detail. It obviously needs some compression, an area most of us know the least about. One of these days I'll get Diki to come up here and teach me some basic recording techniques . I know what the problem is but I'm too lazy to figure it out (like reading the manual ). I want to know that technique that record companies use to make recordings sound good on anything from monster sound systems to clock radios. If anybody knows how they do that, please share.

chas

Chas, this is very nice...you smoothie, you.

Yes, the mix could be a bit better (I would have liked to hear the organ more), but the arrangement is really interesting.

The Sax, is played with a confident touch, and sounds great, even though after hearing and playing the SA Sax on the Yamaha, I find the every note attacks on anything else, less realistic...you'd sound just perfect using an SA voice coupled with that fine technique you have.

The piano sounds cool.

Your playing has a "seasoned" sound about it...very relaxed and confident (yes, that word again...it fits, though) and I really like the beat...I'm a Bob James, George Benson, Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin kind of guy, and your music has that same polished feel.

Nice work, buddy.

Bill Withers' hit and hiphop beat have more in common than the names of the genres might suggest, matter of fact, one is standing squarely on the shoulders of the older R&B stuff anyway.

Most times, combining the HipHop beat with an older R&B tune falls squarely into the "SmoothJazz" category and this offering does that well, I think, could play on any Smoothjazz FM station and play well IMO.

HipHop beats over older R&B songs might just be the "bread and butter" of the Smoothjazz genre, actually.

Nice job.


--Mac

Nice job, chas. A successful venture, methinks.

Thanks for the music,
Dan

Hi Ian, you touched on a couple of things; the SA Sax for instance. Yep, no question it sounds better than the Korg sax but therein lies the rub. I've found that (for me) the closer the board comes to the real thing, the more it exposes your emulation technique. In other words, I find the Korg sax more forgiving...plus, I sort of like the 'smokey' sound for this type of tune. Of course you're correct about the attack on every note (Korg) being a dead giveaway but I try to use touch dynamics to mitigate that somewhat. Of course, you'll never fool a sax player with either the korg or yammy . The other thing you mentioned; the beat. Yeah, that's what I think I like most about the Korg. I just think their drums (patterns and sound) are the funkiest out there. I think for midi drums, they're hard to beat. The Roland drums (from my SonicCell or Fantom G7) aren't too shabby, either. I just did a quickie recording of Monk's 'round midnight (I was chasing Diki's G70 piano sound) that shows them in a pretty good light. I'll post it sometime. I haven't heard the Audya's drums but the instrument is too expensive for me just for drums, and frankly, I don't like Ketron styles. Just the type of music I like, I think. For some types of music, it's probably the best out there.

How is the weather up there? Have you bundled in for winter yet? If it gets too cold, you can always go visit your alter ego, Diki, in sunny Florida . Anyhoo, take care of your health and stop spending money on all those Bosi (I don't think DonM knew what he was doing when he unleashed (coined) that word .

chas

http://www.acoustica.com/mixcraft/

Good one Chas! Well done!
I play this song for one guy who always thinks it's worth a hundred. He'd probably give you two!
DonM

Chas: I like your laid back bluesy playing approach. Good stuff. - Scott

My apologies for not having responded earlier, Chas.

I really enjoyed that.

Don't listen to Don. That guy actually pays five times as much but Don collects 300 dollars finders fee.

Regards

Taike

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Bo pen nyang.

chas ... this sounds really nice ...

One of the great things about listening to other 'Zoners' play, is that it gives me new ideas for playing ...

thnx, chas ...

t.

My old friend, Winston Walls played this tune often on a "dirty" old B-3. Would love to hear you rip this one on your C-1.

Played it lots of times with Winston, but things are a little "fuzzy" from back then.

GOOD JOB!

See you soon.

Russ

[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 10-05-2009).]

I agree, Chas...I'm no expert at mimicing Sax on a keyboard, and even though I can play the real thing fairly well, I probably do better with a keyboard...if I'm to be really critical.

I think why I like the SA Sax, is that it responds so well to legato and technique, and I don't need to use the wheel as much to make it sound good, to my ears, at least.

I doubt if I'd fool a real player, but, for me, the idea is to have that extra color to work with, rather than just piano or organ, instruments that are more familiar to play.

When someone is watching me play, they know it's a keyboard, and I'm trying to imitate a Sax...with recording, although I doubt I'd fool a real player, the ears don't have the eyes along to absorb the music(some people hear with their eyes) and it may fool a non-musician, although I can't really say my technique is that good.

Google Cape Breton Island and you'll see where I live...voted one of the most beautiful islands in the world, by many tourist magazines.

I live in a small ex-coal mining town, called Glace Bay (Ice Bay in English), I can see the ocean from my window.

I love it here, and I love the seasons...the leaves are just beginning to change color, and my girlfriend and I are going to do a trip around the Cabot Trail, which is mountainous, and just gorgeous in the Fall.

Weather is +30 Centigrade in the Summer, and -30 Centigrade in the Winter...never a dull moment.

I don't think I would like to have the same basic weather all year 'round, so I'm pretty content being a Canuck and a "Caper".

Chas,

Very well done !!!

I don't know what the people complaint about the sax. I think it sound great.
When I grow-up I want to play like you.

A pickled Canuck!

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Bo pen nyang.