Some of my Music

[Rubato]

I've been making music for a long time and love sharing it with people. I've put up about 7 songs on a website you can all listen to and/or download at will. I write in a lot of styles so there's everything from 1970's esq Barry Manilow, disco, pop punk, piano ballads, and top40/dance. So let me know what you guys think and if you want any of the background stories from the songs!

http://www.purevolume.com/Rubato37086/albums/2003-2010

BTW, people always ask... this is all me. I wrote, sang, and recorded/programmed everything here.

Note: I was signed to a subdivision of INO records for a while and cannot legally upload their masters without permission and paying royalties. So these are the masters I made. As good as I am, I'm not nearly as good or have the equipment a pro mastering engineer does. These still sound pretty darn good for tracking them in my basement myself.

For the music people, this is what I used:

-Custom 3.2 ghz Quad Core PC with 24 gigs RAM!!!!
-Cubase 6 Pro
-Synthogy Ivory 2
-Vir2 Electr6city
-Vir2 Mojo
-Amplitube 3
-Spectrasonics Trilogy
-M-Audio Keystation 88 Pro
-KRK RP8 Studio Monitors with sub
-M-Audio Axiom 25 key controller
-M-Audio Profire interface
-Gibson SG Standard through Marshal 4x10 A Cab and 100 watt Marshall DSL. I also routed some of it through a Sansamp PSA amp modeling unit.
-EastWest/Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra Platinum
-Arturia V series (mostly Prophet V... I think exclusively Prophet V)
-Korg M1
-American Fender P Bass through ported 4x10 Ampeg cap and SVT-3 Head
-SM57s galore
-Beta 52A
-KSM44
-BFD 2
-Waves Plugins (mostly API series and Masters Series. Also C1 and Q10 occasionally)
-Audio Ease Altiverb 6
-Various stock plugins from Cubase (some of the reverb wasn't bad)
-Melodyne
-And probably others. But those are the main ones.

For reference, on the tracks "When I'm With You", You're an Idiot", "My Mistake" and "Would You have Stayed (Dance Mix)", ALL (100%) of the instruments are sampled. I didn't record a thing except my voice. Everything else was programmed. Midi has come a long way!

 

[JonJaper]

You got a good voice (no homo LOL). I'm no expert but was in my high school choir and did some solos here and there, so I can appreciate it a bit better than the average person. The songs have an interesting pop vibe to them, they're well structured and kindof catchy. If that's what you're going for, then fair enough.

BUT....purely from a perspective of a sosuave member and someone aspiring to Don Juan values...

The song content + lyrics are extremely AFC.

I only bring it up because you wrote the songs, so it's a reflection of you and your inner feelings. The songs kindof reveal your inner AFC lol.

They all sound like you have a severe case of the oneitis.

"When I'm With You" suggests a b!tch completes you and nothing else matters. The great Don Juans of times gone by would be throwing up in their graves.

"You're an Idiot" is you being hurt by a girl but still liking her, it's like the diary of a frustrated AFC. But at least you're saying it's over + ending it. Maybe this song is like AFC ===> Don Juan.


"Would You Have Stayed" and "Claiming my Love" = oneitis AFC... a girl leaves you and you're butthurt. Something like that.

Not hating on the songs btw, as I said they have a good pop vibe to it. Just that the lyrics scream AFC, I thought that was something interesting to bring up on this sosuave thread.

 

[Rubato]

You got a good voice (no homo LOL). I'm no expert but was in my high school choir and did some solos here and there, so I can appreciate it a bit better than the average person. The songs have an interesting pop vibe to them. If that's what you're going for, then fair enough.

BUT....purely from a perspective of a sosuave member and someone aspiring to Don Juan values...

The song content + lyrics are extremely AFC.

I only bring it up because you wrote the songs, so it's a reflection of you and your inner feelings. The songs kindof reveal your inner AFC lol.

They all sound like you have a severe case of the oneitis.

"When I'm With You" suggests a b!tch completes you and nothing else matters. The great Don Juans of times gone by would be throwing up in their graves.

"You're an Idiot" is you being hurt by a girl but still liking her, it's like the diary of a frustrated AFC. But at least you're saying it's over + ending it. Maybe this song is like AFC ===> Don Juan.


"Would You Have Stayed" and "Claiming my Love" = oneitis AFC... a girl leaves you and you're butthurt. Something like that.

Not hating on the songs btw, as I said they have a good pop vibe to it. Just that the lyrics scream AFC, I thought that was something interesting to bring up on this sosuave thread.

Haha I was wondering if anyone was going to bring that up.

I know they're SUPER AFC lyrics.

Part of that is a result of the commercialization of music and the way I needed to write in order be successful commercially. A song with lyrics that put a woman on a pedestal is going to be more successful ("and baby I would catch a grenade for you") than a song that promotes DJ values in our times. Go back to the era of the crooners and I would say there are lots of DJ songs. But not today.

Another reason is because I was a SUPER AFC while I wrote this music. I feel like I've only really started to get my stuff together personally within the last year.

And finally, this may be a fault of myself, but I tend to write a lot more when I'm depressed and have some negative emotions to get out rather than when I'm happy. Maybe that's because out of all of my AFC years, I spent a lot more time being unhappy than happy because I thought a girl was going to complete my life and make me happy (as you can hear in these songs) and I just got used to writing that way.

 

[JonJaper]

Haha I was wondering if anyone was going to bring that up.

I know they're SUPER AFC lyrics.

Part of that is a result of the commercialization of music and the way I needed to write in order be successful commercially. A song with lyrics that put a woman on a pedestal is going to be more successful ("and baby I would catch a grenade for you") than a song that promotes DJ values in our times. Go back to the era of the crooners and I would say there are lots of DJ songs. But not today.

Another reason is because I was a SUPER AFC while I wrote this music. I feel like I've only really started to get my stuff together personally within the last year.

And finally, this may be a fault of myself, but I tend to write a lot more when I'm depressed and have some negative emotions to get out rather than when I'm happy. Maybe that's because out of all of my AFC years, I spent a lot more time being unhappy than happy because I thought a girl was going to complete my life and make me happy (as you can hear in these songs) and I just got used to writing that way.

LOL that makes sense...I guess you gotta appeal to the ignorant masses.

But don't expect aspiring Don Juans on this website to look kindly on the lyrics. The songs represent everything that is wrong with the AFC, it goes against pretty much all the principles on this website...I personally cringed at the bridge and the final key change in "When I'm With You" haha.


Maybe try writing a song with Don Juan principles...you might be surprised at how people would react to it. The guys might identify with it, the girls might fear its message but still be strangely drawn to it.

Plus a bit of controversy is not always a bad thing in music. Think of the popular artists who are edgy etc.

You don't want to be that boring, mainstream, 'plain Jane' guy with no individuality that everyone forgets in 2 months do you?

 

[Rubato]

LOL that makes sense...I guess you gotta appeal to the ignorant masses.

But don't expect aspiring Don Juans on this website to look kindly on the lyrics. The songs represent everything that is wrong with the AFC, it goes against pretty much all the principles on this website...I personally cringed at the bridge and the final key change in "When I'm With You" haha.


Maybe try writing a song with Don Juan principles...you might be surprised at how people would react to it. The guys might identify with it, the girls might fear its message but still be strangely drawn to it.

Plus a bit of controversy is not always a bad thing in music. Think of the popular artists who are edgy etc.

You don't want to be that boring, mainstream, 'plain Jane' guy with no individuality that everyone forgets in 2 months do you?

I don't write commercially anymore. I left the label in 2009 because I couldn't keep up with a medical education and touring the NE United States. I don't really have time to write anymore. Believe it or not, there are more AFC songs than that I have that I have not recorded. But like I said, I was an AFC while I wrote everything that's up there. I was putting it up for those who might appreciate the musicality of the music rather than be inspired by some esoteric Don Juan concept in the lyrics.

But you have a great point about breaking the mold with some DJ lyrics. That may be something to work on over Christmas. Right now, I just recycle piano solo versions of old songs I've written and play at open mic coffee houses and believe it or not, even a night club. On Friday nights they have live music, and you wouldn't believe how easy it is to pull at a night club playing low key AFC piano ballads to girls if you dress sharp, look good, and sound good. I will flat out point to certain girls during my sets and just start flirting with them from the stage. When I'm done, I don't even need to open girls, AFC content or not. I think the confidence and dominance I convey from stage makes up for the AFC message of the songs... and I've even theorized that the AFC messages may even be helpful because they sound like what a girl wants to hear, in contrast to my actions.

I will have to say though, I don't think the song When I'm With You is really that bad, AFC wise. The context I wrote that song in was in the context of a long term relationship, and while some guys on here might start p1ssing their pants at the thought of actually expressing romantic feelings for a girl, I don't think that's such a bad thing. Hell, if Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Perry Como could write a song about how much he loved a woman and how happy she made him, a Don Juan should certainly be able to. It just has to come from the right context. When you find a high quality woman, OBVIOUSLY, everything else should still matter. But dude, when guys get so bent out of shape about having to be alpha and DJ so much so that they can't even get lost in a moment for a few seconds with a girl they've already established a very dominant DJ frame with... D@mn.... I feel bad for those guys.

You're an idiot is the most recent song I wrote. And that was the song that represents my catalyst from AFC to wanting to be a DJ, which you said you could see.

I have written 2 songs since my transformation began. I will find the MP3 of the one I recorded this past summer and will post it. I actually wrote the song from a girl's perspective of being seduced. It's called "My Mistake" and tells a story about a girl who almost realizes she's being used by a dude that just wants to F-her and leave her. But she gets swept up in it anyways KNOWING that she's going to regret it.

Now, let me go find that MP3....

EDIT - Posted that song "My Mistake" and an untitled track I need to write lyrics for. They're at the bottom of the list. I've heard some people say the beginning of My Mistake is a Killers ripoff. I had (believe it or not) never heard Mr. Brightside prior to writing this song, but I have to concede that it does sound very similar. I just don't really feel like changing it since I'm not trying to be commercial anymore.

 

[Rubato]

JonJaper's comment inspired me to write a new song... which was nice because I haven't had any topical inspiration lately. I've been too busy with school to spend much time at the piano.

Anyways, I wrote what I would say is my first DJ inspired song. I took Pook's 15 lessons and tried to make a song out of them. It may be a little cheesy, definitely arrogant, but musically it's a solid song.

Verse 1
I'm not gonna be your friend
But I'm gonna love you
All night

I can't take you seriously
And if I did you know we wouldn't
Be here tonight

You could never love someone like that

Chorus
I am
I am
The Greatest Catch that's sweeping you away
I'll lead
Follow me
I've united every dream and day
I've united every dream and day

Verse 2
I'm not afraid to be
The man to touch your body
How others won't try

And baby, your body's so nice
But underneath the surface
Is there something inside?

I can only use an empty shell

Chorus again

Bridge
I judge by actions
Not by words
Ant I'm not afraid to say goodbye

I take the risk
My purpose is my only goal
If you don't fit I'm leaving you behind

Chorus again

 

[Atom Smasher]

Rubato,

I'm listening to it now. VERY impressive. I think you did an excellent job mastering for a home studio.

I use an Oxygen 49 but I absolutely hate the action. I'm going to have to start checking out other brands. I don't need weighted, just a light feel is fine with me. The Oxygen has an overly-firm yet spongy feel to it that I find very annoying.

Not a fan of the hard-tune but after all I come from a different generation. Enough has been said about the AFC-fest, so I'll leave you alone on that.

I really want to encourage you to write more music reflecting your emergence from AFC-land, perhaps fueled by your frustrations along the way.

Great job. Most people don't know what it really takes to get that quality of mix in a home studio.

 

[Desdinova]

That's fantastic! I love it when people create their music all on their own without a band. It's incredibly time consuming, but the reward is worth it. Hearing a song you created from nothing feels almost as great as the feeling when you're performing a song you wrote in front of an audience of 100 or more.

Here's a couple of mine, recorded all on my own as well. The third song is just me singing to a karaoke disc

http://www.mixpod.com/playlist/86960617

 

[JonJaper]

JonJaper's comment inspired me to write a new song... which was nice because I haven't had any topical inspiration lately. I've been too busy with school to spend much time at the piano.

Haha glad it inspired you bro. That's really what sosuave should be about, supporting and inspiring each other.

 

[Rubato]

I'm going to "field test" that new song tomorrow at a very popular open mic night at a big coffee house in the area. I played it today for one of my girls and she and the rest of the college union loved it. In fact, the entire area went quiet while I was playing and when I was done, they all clapped. No one ever plays that piano... and I don't know if it's because no one knows how or no one has balls. It's a guaranteed large audience, so that always makes me happy. But anyways, I think at least melodically and musically, it's one of my best songs!

Anyways, I'm going to have one of my girls video tape it and I'll put it up on youtube and post a link.

And @ Atom Smasher. I was talking to my wing about what you suggested last night and he agrees that writing some music out of the vein you suggested would be great and potentially very uplifting for men. You've probably seen the "Let's Just Be Friends" music video on youtube. I think I'd like to create a 5 song EP with songs/music with content more descriptive of a "DJ" than an "AFC" and potentially chronicling the transformation.

I think given that we have other musicians on this forum (Atom Smasher, Desdinova, Backbreaker and I'm sure others), a more ambitious project would be to create a compilation CD where each willing member contributes a song. I have the mixing/mastering equipment, I would just need raw tracks (preferably tracks that were recorded well, but w/e) and could make it sound pretty good.

 

[Atom Smasher]

I've been playing with this program called "Riffworks". It seems to me able to allow people to easily collaborate.

The program itself is pretty cool for jelling together ideas. You record song sections (verse, chorus, bridge, etc) and then drag and drop them to create a song. The drums sound amazingly convincing, far better than midi tracks driving BFD, Superior, SS, etc.

Many people use this software to collaborate across the globe. But I digress.

But as far as your idea for each of us to contibute a song, I'd be all for it. I record in Sonar Producer, and have a semi-professional music carreer going on, so I would be at least able to send you tracks that are well recorded.

I say let's do this!

 

[Rubato]

I've been playing with this program called "Riffworks". It seems to me able to allow people to easily collaborate.

The program itself is pretty cool for jelling together ideas. You record song sections (verse, chorus, bridge, etc) and then drag and drop them to create a song. The drums sound amazingly convincing, far better than midi tracks driving BFD, Superior, SS, etc.

Many people use this software to collaborate across the globe. But I digress.

But as far as your idea for each of us to contibute a song, I'd be all for it. I record in Sonar Producer, and have a semi-professional music carreer going on, so I would be at least able to send you tracks that are well recorded.

I say let's do this!

That's really interesting... I have never heard of Riffworks before... I used BFD 2 on all of my tracks and I'm still not satisfied with the drum sounds. If it's a good collaboration platform though, that would be awesome. The only thing I would be concerned about myself would be the degree of freedom it gives you. BFD is a bear to learn, but it has so many different velocity layers and articulations, that was the reason I chose it over DFH. I actually started out with DFH 2, but I've grown accustomed to BFD. Also, does riffworks allow you to actually program your own beats, or are you dragging and dropping pregropgrammed midi tracks?

I used to use Sonar Producer back when it was at version 5... back then most of what I recorded was live, but I've never been extremely happy with its midi support. And now about the only thing I actually record besides my voice might be a guitar. This past summer I switched to Cubase 6 and have been totally digging it! The only thing I don't like is that even though Steinberg invented the VST standard, their wrapper for bridging 32bit to 64bit plugins in AWEFUL! There's a British dude though who programmed a wrapper called jBridge that has worked great with every 32bit plugin I've ever need to run in 64 bit... and he's such a good guy that if you have an issue with a particular plugin, he'll write a custom version of his program for you to fix the issue! At something like $20 depending on the current exchange rate, that's a great deal!

But anyways, I'm in total agreement. I have been paying a lot more attention to the music I've been listening to, whether its on my Ipod or on the radio and there really isn't anything that's very empowering for a man. I believe there's a high level of intelligence on this forum as well as artistic ability, so I'm in definite agreement that a Sosuave.com EP (or heck, even LP) would be great and definitely unique as far as these things go.

BTW, what kind of music do you write Atom Smasher? And besides the Oxygen (which I totally agree with you about the key action by the way... that's why I got the Axiom), what kind of gear do you have?

 

[Rubato]

Those interested can listen to 3 minutes worth of The Pook Song on my purevolume page. As soon as I figure out how to turn an mpg in to something youtubable I'll put the whole thing up there.

Ignore the shoddy vocals and playing. I'm still not sure how I want some of it to go.

 

[Falcon]

-Custom 3.2 ghz Quad Core PC with 24 gigs RAM!!!!
-Cubase 6 Pro
-Synthogy Ivory 2
-Vir2 Electr6city
-Vir2 Mojo
-Amplitube 3
-Spectrasonics Trilogy
-M-Audio Keystation 88 Pro
-KRK RP8 Studio Monitors with sub
-M-Audio Axiom 25 key controller
-M-Audio Profire interface
-Gibson SG Standard through Marshal 4x10 A Cab and 100 watt Marshall DSL. I also routed some of it through a Sansamp PSA amp modeling unit.
-EastWest/Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra Platinum
-Arturia V series (mostly Prophet V... I think exclusively Prophet V)
-Korg M1
-American Fender P Bass through ported 4x10 Ampeg cap and SVT-3 Head
-SM57s galore
-Beta 52A
-KSM44
-BFD 2
-Waves Plugins (mostly API series and Masters Series. Also C1 and Q10 occasionally)
-Audio Ease Altiverb 6
-Various stock plugins from Cubase (some of the reverb wasn't bad)
-Melodyne
-And probably others. But those are the main ones.

holy **** dude!!! how much did all of this cost you????

 

[Desdinova]

I
I think given that we have other musicians on this forum (Atom Smasher, Desdinova, Backbreaker and I'm sure others), a more ambitious project would be to create a compilation CD where each willing member contributes a song. I have the mixing/mastering equipment, I would just need raw tracks (preferably tracks that were recorded well, but w/e) and could make it sound pretty good.

I have no problem writing a song for a project like this, but I REALLY need to know if we have enough contributors to make something like this happen. I barely have enough time to record music for my own project, let alone a different project altogether.

 

[Rubato]

holy **** dude!!! how much did all of this cost you????

It's something I've acquired over the last 10 years or so. Obviously quite a bit!

@Desdinova, I agree. What I can do is when school gets out next week is start putting together a list of contributors... and we can start when we reach whatever arbitrary number sounds good.

 

[Michel Ponting]

I know everyone has a different choice but I feel you will enjoy all the ten songs because these songs are all time delighting. Following best English songs that any music lover must listen are:

1. I knew I loved you - Savage Garden.
2. Love to see you cry - Enrique Ingliasis.
3. Love me - Justin Bieber.
4. Have you ever been in love - Celine Dion.
5. With Arms Wide Open - Creed.
6. Twiztid - AFRAID OF ME.
7. Valentine - Martina McBride.
8.Beautiful - Akon.
9. Can You Feel The Love Tonight - Elton John.
10. Love does’t ask why - Celine Dion.

 

[Desdinova]

^^I had to check and make sure that wasn't a troll post.

Since you brought up the subject, here's my choice for the most beautiful songs:

Girls Go Chopping - Lordi
If You Love Somebody, Set Them on Fire - Dead Milkmen
Orgy - King Curly
Gary's Got a Boner - The Replacements
Broken Hearts are for A55holes - Frank Zappa
Hello Dad, I'm In Jail - Was (Not Was)
I Love Little Pvssy - Shampoo
Fvck Like a Beast - W.A.S.P.
My Uncle Used To Love Me But She Died - Roger Miller
She Loves My C0ck - Jackyl

 

[Atom Smasher]

That's really interesting... I have never heard of Riffworks before... I used BFD 2 on all of my tracks and I'm still not satisfied with the drum sounds. If it's a good collaboration platform though, that would be awesome. The only thing I would be concerned about myself would be the degree of freedom it gives you. BFD is a bear to learn, but it has so many different velocity layers and articulations, that was the reason I chose it over DFH. I actually started out with DFH 2, but I've grown accustomed to BFD. Also, does riffworks allow you to actually program your own beats, or are you dragging and dropping pregropgrammed midi tracks?

I used to use Sonar Producer back when it was at version 5... back then most of what I recorded was live, but I've never been extremely happy with its midi support. And now about the only thing I actually record besides my voice might be a guitar. This past summer I switched to Cubase 6 and have been totally digging it! The only thing I don't like is that even though Steinberg invented the VST standard, their wrapper for bridging 32bit to 64bit plugins in AWEFUL! There's a British dude though who programmed a wrapper called jBridge that has worked great with every 32bit plugin I've ever need to run in 64 bit... and he's such a good guy that if you have an issue with a particular plugin, he'll write a custom version of his program for you to fix the issue! At something like $20 depending on the current exchange rate, that's a great deal!

But anyways, I'm in total agreement. I have been paying a lot more attention to the music I've been listening to, whether its on my Ipod or on the radio and there really isn't anything that's very empowering for a man. I believe there's a high level of intelligence on this forum as well as artistic ability, so I'm in definite agreement that a Sosuave.com EP (or heck, even LP) would be great and definitely unique as far as these things go.

BTW, what kind of music do you write Atom Smasher? And besides the Oxygen (which I totally agree with you about the key action by the way... that's why I got the Axiom), what kind of gear do you have?

Riffworks' drums are pre-programmed patterns, but there is a surprising amount of intelligence built into them. As far as I remember, you can control "power" and a few other parameters which articulate the drums surprisingly nicely. But by far the best drum program, bar none, would have to be jamstix. With jamstix, you first decide on a kit, then you load up a song structure (verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, etc.). Then you pick a "drummer". The drummers are modeled after real accomplished flesh and blood drummers. They are programmed down to the tiniest detail, even to the point of physical limb limitations, and the speed that an arm can go from one lit piece to another is accounted for.

Of course, velocity and timing humanization are adjustable, along with virtually every parameter you can think of. So for example, you can control snares throughout the song from full-on to side stick, anywhere you want. It really does provide the most realistic, human drumming available today. It does NOT use midi patterns. Rather, it generates on the fly, and each measure is slightly different. It can be used as a VST in any DAW. The inventor, Ralph, monitors the Jamstix forum constantly and instantly and thoroughly provides answers. By far, the best support in the industry.

www. rayzoon.com

Oh, it can also drive BFD, Steven Slate, or any major drum program, so you can have the best of both worlds. You can drive your BFD drums not with midi patterns but rather with a human-modeled drummer.

I'm familiar with J-Bridge. Good wrapper. I'm still in 32-bit land and using Sonar Producer 8.53. It's their best one, IMO. I bought the new Sonar X1, and I hate it. They took away some functionality (though added other frunctionality), and now what used to take one click can sometimes take three. The look is flat and cartoony. An absolute terrible design. I'm not alone on that opinion, as the Cakewalk forums reflect lots of dissatisfaction. I think I'll give Cubase a test run.

What kind of music do I write? My stuff is generally very dream-like in nature, with shades of Beatles, Floyd, Keane, Third Day and even classical. Lately I'm tending toward a more "rock" sound, as most of my songs have historically tended to be ballads. In my band (which I recently left but I'm still asked to gig with them) we are very Southern-Rockish. Our singer has a gritty quality to his voice which lends itself to the Southern-Rock genre. We play lots of Christian concerts and church coffee-houses and such, so we do the usual comliment of CCM. I play lead guitar in the band.

Equipment:
Sonar Producer 8.5.3
Sonar X1 Producer
Amplitube
Guitar Rig 4
RiffWorks
Zoom R8 as audio interface
Oxygen 61 Keyboard contoller
Jamstix
BFD eco
Fender Strat
Gibson Les Paul "Black Beauty"
Yamaha Acoustic
Digitech RP-500
Various other pedals
Marshall 100w Half-stack
Fender Princeton Black Face
Hartke 100w Acoustic Ribbon Amp
TC Helicon Voicelive Touch
Boomerang III phrase sampler with sidecar
TC Helicon Harmony G
TC Helicon Voice Solo personal monitor
Mic of choice is Beta 58a
For studio, 2 condensers... MXL 990 for voice and MXL 991 for instuments

 

[Atom Smasher]

I'm currently working on a song about overcoming fear right now. I'd like that to be my contribution if the others agree.