Got to agree with the others here about the Floyd feel on this. A very nice piece of work. Is this a one-pass recording or is it built up on separate tracks? I don't think my own playing abilities would be able to figure out such a rich arrangement as that - kudos to you, Paul.

At first I thought the title Man Flu was a play on words about Man. United's dodgy start to the season (being as you're from Manchester), but then I see this was recorded back in May. Maybe you're clairvoyant.

Hi Andy,

Thanks for giving it another listen, and glad you enjoyed it. I wasn't that happy with the lead guitar. I wish I could get some of those SA voices to work, as I'm sure there are better guitar sounds I'm missing out on.

Cheers again mate!

Hi Howie,

Re: one-pass recording. No, this was done the multi-tracking route, but started off in Quick Record. I always try and get as much done in QR as possible, and then take the midi into the PC sequencer for editing and tidying up.

Started off with a style that has the basic drum beat. There was a tinkling piano in the style, in the background that I left in as this being quantised, would keep everything nice and steady. All other parts of the style were removed.

As with all my stuff, I never really know where it's going, and just play along with the drum beat, usually on piano, or el. piano and always with the Quick Record on. Which is also why I never tend to have too many chord changes, I just woudn't remember where they are.

It's then a case of going back, and adding further tracks. I'll usually play along with the whole track, until I end up with most of the tracks recorded. As I'll have way too much going on, I then edit, or remove many parts here and there, to try and get a bit of light & shade. I always like to have a few tracks spare, for adding some percussion multi-pads, which I enjoy using.

I also had to take the drum track into Sonar, (which works like Cubase), because I wanted the hi-hat and tambourine on their own, without a bass drum for the early parts. The bass drum is very easy to remove in an external sequencer.

The ending was also done in the sequencer. Removed a few bars, so the tune finished in a logical place, and then did the slow-down, (rall.) in the last bar. If I'd known the ending was going to be where it is, then I would have played it, but in this case, far easier to let the sequencer do the rall.

The tune's a bit depressing, which is why I called it Man Flu.

Thanks for taking a listen Howie, and hoped the above explained how it was done. Any other questions, please fire away as there's a bunch of here who enjoy talking anything multi-tracking.

Cheers

Paul

Thanks for a great run-through of your methods Paul. I'm ashamed to admit I'm one of those who never delves much into the capabilities of my board. It's almost wasteful, I guess. You make it sound so easy. On the Korg, what you describe as Quick Record is known as Backing Sequence mode. Evidently, up to five tracks can be added as well as full muting and mixing features. I really must give it a shot. Thanks again.

Best regards,
Howie

Hi Paul, Very different from your usual cenre, Had to listen to it a couple of times.and it certainly grows on you the more you listen, It is a very haunting melody...Pam

Thanks Pam!

I bet it's nice being back in the warm & sunny UK!! That's two rubbish summers on the trot. Where's this global warming when you need it.

Thanks again for taking a listen, not everyone's cup of tea this one as it drags on a bit, but all part of the self-learning curve I suppose.

Best regards,

Paul

Hello Paul
I totally immersed myself in this , listening with earphones in a dark room, someone said "haunting" - I thought it more "ghostly", in fact while I was listening if someone had tapped me on the shoulder I'd have had an accident. Wow you put some expression into this, a definite film score for a horror movie. Thanks for sharing it.
All the best
Ewan

Hi Howie,

Cheers for having a listen. I should have posted this in the Halloween section.
The gremlins were certainly at work when I did this one. A whole section, (the trumpets in the build-up) went totally missing off the midi on the T2, and also my backup file on the pc. Yet it was all working correctly when I recorded the midi to the hard-disk. Weird.

Always appreciate your comments, and by the way, when are you going to hit that 'upload tune' button again?

Cheers

Paul