Pre-DAW software

[mojobone]

Good idea, bad idea, worth $179, or not?Your thoughts, please... http://www.tanageraudioworks.com/

[weslong]

Sept 3, 2008, 9:05pm, ggalen wrote:Mojobone,Indeed you can. Plus, there are several thousand styles available, and you can mix and match parts and customize.The program, now in something like it's 14th version, is really something. I've even taken some of the backing tracks it generates, added good virtual instruments, setup any needed reverb/compression/sweetening...and left them as generated. They were fine.PGMusic is a good company. Very responsive, feels like Taxi in many ways.It's also easy to return something if you don't like it.Too bad we're still waiting after four years for an update to the Mac version.... Supposedly, it's in Beta test now which means they'll roll it out with the next PC version come November/December-ish...we hope... After taking a look at this program, I don't think it's something I'd like. I've gotten too spoiled with BIAB. BIAB has way more features than this...changed my mind, I'll pass and continue with BIAB instead...even if it means*God forbid* installing Windoze on my lovely Mac just to run the PC version...

[hummingbird]

Sept 3, 2008, 11:08pm, grandmatarkin wrote:I'm curious... do most people here use some sort of "sketch" (other than one that they have in their head) to build songs/compositions before they move to the DAW and get busy? I start from scratch with the DAW and whatever rough idea I have, but this thread has got me thinking about some sort of different first step. What's the general opinion on this? If it would allow me to improve my efficiency, I'd seriously consider purchasing one of these programs. Hmm...I don't think there's any hard & fast rule. Like, some people write words first, some people write music first, some people write both together... and some people do all 3 according to their mood.When working on an instrumental, I tend to work from the ground up... meaning I go the DAW & set a rythm and work on the bottom end for awhile. Once I have that fleshed out I take a break & come back later to start adding in the mid/highs.OTOH, sometimes I will improvise a melody on the piano or recorder/penny whistle & then I'll go to the DAW, play the midi melody track through, and then start building counterpoint around it, adding live tracks etc.And sometimes I have a song I want to create a bedtrack for, so I'll work on the form and structure of the song away from the DAW - planning the # of bars for each section & stuff - and then come to the DAW and start looking for beats... building it from the ground up again.I have sometimes used BiaB to notate a melody & harmony (or a basic reference track), and I have a free version of Finale... but I find that if I write that way it's very mechanical sounding, so now I tend to write in the ways I've described above.HTH

[sgs4u]

Sept 3, 2008, 11:08pm, grandmatarkin wrote:I'm curious... do most people here use some sort of "sketch" (other than one that they have in their head) to build songs/compositions before they move to the DAW and get busy? I start from scratch with the DAW and whatever rough idea I have, but this thread has got me thinking about some sort of different first step. What's the general opinion on this? If it would allow me to improve my efficiency, I'd seriously consider purchasing one of these programs. Hmm...Dave, you are a natural born composer. You and I both know this. You don't need more software tools to make it easier for you. You need a full-time employee to get all your stuff done for you, cause your brain works so darned fast. Wait a minute. Am I talking to you or myself? Shit I always do that, after 1Am.

[grandmatarkin]

Thanks for the info, Hummingbird. I guess you're right about there being no hard and fast rule. I think that IS my rule... no rules. And I know that if I had some pre-DAW software, I would be just as incessantly meticulous and waste as much time as I do now!The only benefit that I can see is possibly the mobility element, where I could be working on song ideas with the laptop. But I do that anyway, just in my head (and my trusty handheld recorder)Quote:Wait a minute. Am I talking to you or myself? Shit I always do that, after 1Am. Trust me, I'm hearing ya. At 1am, I'm just getting started at whatever I'm going to do that day. Darn circadian rhythms

[mojobone]

Yeah, my intended use for BIAB is to plug in chord progressions I come up with, try them in a few different styles to see what other melodies they might suggest. Also to plug in common chord progressions from existing songs to re-harmonize/remelodize; improvisation is spontaneous composition when it's working right, and it's something I'm good at. I should be able to plug in some improv melodies and see what harmonies the program "guesses". It'll boost productivity by allowing me to get more mileage from both melodies and progressions, if it works as advertised. I can separate, mix, and match. (and do it by the batch, natch) Just noticed a commercial had the exact chords from "Bittersweet Symphony", earlier tonight, only done in a non-rock sort of production style-inspired me to focus more on production quality and less on knocking myself out trying to be "original".

[rld]

It's your music so if it doesn't bother you, don't change it on my account. But since you asked, there are lots of short parts but the most obvious sections, IMO, are approximately...:32 - :401:14 - 1:231:55 - 2:06

[ggalen]

RLD,Well, after you mentioned it, I listened and you are right, there were some clunky portions in there that didn't work. It was the same rising phrase that repeated three times in the song, right where you caught it three times.I'm glad you called my attention to it. I think as a guitarist I must listen to the lead and the rhythm guitar more closely.So, I spent about an hour playing in the bass part myself and tweaking it to make it swing a little more. It's better. I'll put it up on the site by tomorrow sometime.Thanks, RLD.

[rld]

Yeah...that's only about 100 times better.

[ggalen]

RLD,Hehe..Thanks.