MacJams.com - Song: Heads Or Tails by nyakki

thetiler	thetiler said 1330 days ago (April 2nd, 2006)
	Love this fantasy especially right from the start. Nice choir effect. I hear some choir sounds, but I have most JP's and couldn't find the choir one! Way to go- very enjoyable! Check out my latest song called The Bluebird Cafe (with two other guest)

nyakki

nyakki said 1330 days ago (April 2nd, 2006)

Love this fantasy especially right from the
Thank you for the comments.

How I do Choir

Make a Software Instrument (i.e. Midi) track. This track is usually the
same as the instrument track.
Double Click on the track to edit the instrument sound
Choose Choir -> Mixed Choir (I like it the best)
Change the pitch up or down an octive of the track to get Sopranos and
Tenors

---
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Check out my latest song called Maple Leaf Rag v2

nyakki

nyakki said 1329 days ago (April 4th, 2006)

Love this fantasy especially right from the
Added Note: Flipping through my GB JamPacks I found out that Choir is not with
the Basic GB but in JamPacks 1... which I don't think they sell anymore.

I heard that JamPack 1 is now part of the new JamPack 3. So the Choir might be
in that one.

---
Need help selecting a MacJams song? Go 'Random' with MacJams Random Song Picker

Check out my latest song called Maple Leaf Rag v2

Industria	Industria said 1330 days ago (April 2nd, 2006)
	mysterious and dreamlike You do your loops very well. Very well. This is a real good blend and it would do great for the soundtrack of a dream. Worthy of inclusion in my favorites. Check out my latest song called Mr Johnson's bad haircut

nyakki	nyakki said 1330 days ago (April 2nd, 2006)
	mysterious and dreamlike Thank you for your comments and the addition to your favorites. --- Need help selecting a MacJams song? Go 'Random' with MacJams Random Song Picker Check out my latest song called Maple Leaf Rag v2

rsolorio

rsolorio said 1330 days ago (April 3rd, 2006)

Great sound mix
Yes I thought the song was very good, catchy themes. What intrigued me
was the contrasts hi and lows weaving in and out. Are you using a post
GB process cuz my tune came out flat sounding within macjams. My mp3
file sounded fine, but I posted to this site it sounded compressed. How'd
you get the clarity and contrast? Thanks for the tune. I'm hearing some
good stuff here.

Check out my latest song called Bass Thoughts

nyakki

nyakki said 1330 days ago (April 3rd, 2006)

Great sound mix
Thank you for the comment.

Everything can be achieved in GarageBand.

To make an overall adjustment to your song, double-click on any track.

Depending on which version of GB you have, either a window will pop open or
slide inwards. At the top of that new window you'll see two buttons.

The first button will depend on the type of track you double-clicked. The
second will say "Master Track". Click on that button.

From here you can play with the different settings to change the overall song.
For this piece I used Pop->RnB. I found this gave the most range for the
highs and lows that you hear.

Try it on your piece... you'll be amazed at the difference.

---
Need help selecting a MacJams song? Go 'Random' with MacJams Random Song Picker

Check out my latest song called Maple Leaf Rag v2

nyakki

nyakki said 1330 days ago (April 3rd, 2006)

Great sound mix
Thank you for the comment.

Everything can be achieved in GarageBand.

To make an overall adjustment to your song, double-click on any track.

Depending on which version of GB you have, either a window will pop open or
slide inwards. At the top of that new window you'll see two buttons.

The first button will depend on the type of track you double-clicked. The
second will say "Master Track". Click on that button.

From here you can play with the different settings to change the overall song.
For this piece I used Pop->RnB. I found this gave the most range for the
highs and lows that you hear.

Try it on your piece... you'll be amazed at the difference.

---
Need help selecting a MacJams song? Go 'Random' with MacJams Random Song Picker

Check out my latest song called Maple Leaf Rag v2

Macaudion

Macaudion said 1330 days ago (April 3rd, 2006)

Listening...
I that was a delightful listen I'm impressed that you were able to create
the choir sound - That sounded to easy - I just need to learn how to
make a midi track??? - I know this is gonna put my ignorace on display,
but I have lots of practice How do you make a midi track? And is there
any Jp5 in this??? - Any help is appreciated

Good work - that was a pleasant listen - Thanks for sharing - Dion

Check out my latest song called 123 iGetU

nyakki

nyakki said 1330 days ago (April 3rd, 2006)

Listening...
Thank you for the comment.

GB has a lot of "Midi" tracks. They call them "Software Instruments".

They are the sounds in Green and look like dots when you drag them up to
the Track window.

Double-click on any Green Track (where the picture of the instrument is - not
the Green itself) and a window will pop up/slide out. Stay in Software
Instruments and find Choir.

That's all there is to it.

---
Need help selecting a MacJams song? Go 'Random' with MacJams Random Song Picker

Check out my latest song called Maple Leaf Rag v2

nyakki	nyakki said 1329 days ago (April 4th, 2006)
	Listening... I didn't answer your question about JP5... Nope. Don't own that one... yet... --- Need help selecting a MacJams song? Go 'Random' with MacJams Random Song Picker Check out my latest song called Maple Leaf Rag v2

charliechen	charliechen said 1329 days ago (April 3rd, 2006)
	Too short...I wanted more Nice. Very nice. The textures, the interplay of instruments - you've created a tapestry of sound. And I must comment on your generosity. You obviously have a great time with GB, but I love that you share so readily your experience and techniques when answering each comment. Thanks. Check out my latest song called Sparkles in a Lullaby

nyakki	nyakki said 1329 days ago (April 4th, 2006)
	Too short...I wanted more Thank you for the nice comments. I'm just returning the favors from when I first got here. I had a lot of help from a lot of people. It's now my turn to help. --- Need help selecting a MacJams song? Go 'Random' with MacJams Random Song Picker Check out my latest song called Maple Leaf Rag v2

Warren Smith

Warren Smith said 1304 days ago (April 28th, 2006)

One man's loop is another man's music
Certainly, one of the great joys of Garageband is having the means of matching together odd sounds in new combinations - whether those oddities blend or contrast. When East meets West, you're going to get a bit of both elements happening - which is one of the reasons this is an enjoyable piece to listen to.

Particularly ear-enticing are those harpsichord riffs (I'm a sucker for arpeggios!) weaving through the soundscape. So, if I follow this correctly, you aren't actually playing those notes on a keyboard? You have taken a section of a pre-recorded harpsicord and pasted it into a track as a "loop?" And then, either by copying/pasting or dragging on the snippet to "loop it" out further, you build your arrangement?

The more I explore macjams, the more looped-based music I come across. Not surprising, some of it is prosaic, while other pieces have a few interesting parts, but more and more I'm amazed at how many of these completely-looped compositions are simply wonderful listening experiences. And the next thing I find myself thinking is, "just how did they do that?"

The only things I have ever looped are drum tracks. Maybe I need to get out and explore a little more? lol.

Anyway - to get back to your music - this piece has a nice organic wholeness to it. It is filled with textures that blend and contrast, but those elements all seem to contribute, rather than detract, from its identity. I like how the gong-like tone breaks up the flow without distrupting it (it serves as a means to redirect the stream of the music) - and then, in the end, those same bongings are used to bring the piece to a definitive ending. The length seems just right to me - that main harpsichord theme repeats often enough to get ensconced into your head, but not too often to become exasperating.

Heads or Tails? How about East or West?

Check out my latest song called Pushing and Pulling

nyakki

nyakki said 1304 days ago (April 29th, 2006)

One man's loop is another man's music
Thank you for taking the time to make that long comment.

That song was 100% loops and nothing from me except the placing loops.

Usually I put the loop list I used so people can see what I used (and to give a
form of "credit" since I didn't play the music) but I just noticed it isn't listed
above (or is it with any of my other songs). MacJams must have went through
a restructure.

So, without further ado, here is the list of loops I used for this song:

India Tabla 02
Remix Eastern Drone 01
Remix Eastern Drone 02
TU1D Tabla
Indian Tambourine 01

Harpsichord Right Hand 03
Harpsichord Right Hand 04
Harpsichord Right Hand 05
Harpsichord Right Hand 07
Harpsichord Right Hand 39
Longing A Celesta
World Tribal Dance 02

Now, I mess with the voices, effects, length, volume and other funky stuff that
is a whole lot of fun to do.

Drop me an e-mail if you want more details.

About The Title: What I do is when I start a new project, I have no idea what
kind of song I'm going to make. I just randomly make a title. The title rarely
changes and usually helps me with the feel of the song.

I named this one Heads Or Tails and decided to bring two differing sounds
together. Messing around (after trying a 3/4 - 4/4 and a Country/Classical
mesh) I came up with what you hear here.

Thanks again for the comments.

---
Need help selecting a MacJams song? Go 'Random' with MacJams Random Song Picker

Check out my latest song called Maple Leaf Rag v2

MJG	MJG said 1061 days ago (December 28th, 2006)
	Dig the percussion melodies reminded me of christmas time, but the percussion is what really makes this song. Chorus is cool too, job well done, glad i listened-MJG Check out my latest song called Fox River Spirits(Acoustic)

nyakki	nyakki said 1060 days ago (December 28th, 2006)
	Thanks Thank you for taking the time to listen. --- Need help selecting a MacJams song? Go 'Random' with MacJams Random Song Picker Check out my latest song called Maple Leaf Rag v2

	nerisaco said 1050 days ago (January 7th, 2007)
	You did all that with Loops? Hello, I'm new to Garageband and trying to get a feeling for the program. You said you did this all with the loops in Garageband. That is simply amazing.

nyakki	nyakki said 189 days ago (May 17th, 2009)
	Thanks for the comments All done with loops. For this one I messed around with the filters and the fact I was working with two completely different sounds (sitar and harpsichord) made it easier than most of my loop songs. Check out my latest song called Maple Leaf Rag v2

MarkHolbrook	MarkHolbrook said 189 days ago (May 17th, 2009)
	I like experiments and you seem to have a way with them. So far of your three I like this one the best! Very cool beat mixed with chorals and klinky sounds. Very nice! Check out my latest song called Never Say Goodbye - Bond Challenge

nyakki	nyakki said 189 days ago (May 17th, 2009)
	That's me... Mr. Experiment Thanks for the comments. Glad you liked it. One of the things that started me on this loop gig was the fact that I had paid for these stinking loops... I'm going to use them. It's always fun to push myself into making the next loop song better than the one before. Check out my latest song called Maple Leaf Rag v2

Moviz	Moviz said 189 days ago (May 17th, 2009)
	You certainly have a way with loops and you're very eclectic in your choices of styles.... this in particular has an interesting mix of sounds one wouldn't usually place together, but you mix them so well that they sound right..... sort of an Asian Sugar Plum Fairy sound, cheers M Check out my latest song called Come Back Billie

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