Featuring:

Waves Audio CP70/80 VST (now replaced with the Yamaha)

Prologue 2 - Synth Bass

Halion - Synth Bass

Padshop - Strings, Pads

Symphonic Orchestra - Oboe

No quantizing at all on this :)

Originally performed on a Yamaha piano the MIDI was recorded and replayed using the Waves Audio CP70/80 VST via Cubase. The Clarinet was recorded via the iMac keyboard (!) and the same with the bass. The backing strings and pads were recorded via the piano with the swell modulation added in post (no mod/pitch wheels on the piano).

Obviously this is not exactly like the original recording and has been worked out by ear (loosely). But I think it sounds pretty good for a first attempt. Quite pleased with the result.

11-April-2021 - Re-recorded the synth basses

Very VERY rough version. The instruments used are not final and merely act as a guide.

I wanted to give this a go - writing is a bit of a blank at the moment. Varying degrees of success and failure on this, but as a first try I'm happy with it. Certain things are missing and the whole thing is unfinished. There's no guitar solo either - cuz I'm a rubbish guitarist.

All VST apart from guitars and bass.

The drums are VST, albeit played live with an e-drumkit.

There are some Simmons samples in this!! Gotta love the 80s!

Revisions:

2022-07-13 - Synth Bass redone

2023-02-14 - Added DX7 (Dexed), re-eq of snare and some guitar

An idea that may evolve into something bigger. I don't know. For when you feel you've been emotionally kicked in the gut.

One of my favourites...I wish my playing were better but I'm no pianist. Think of this as more adaption than replication; an exact copy is just a duplicate! I am aware of the parts that are different.

18-May-17 - Sorted out the first chord (F/C#)

16-June-17 - Added synth bass

10-July-17 - Synth bass too loud - reduced level

11-July-17 - Adjusted chorus on piano to lower in the mix

14-July-17 - Other synths added - still not quite complete but complete enough

15-Sept-17 - Additional organ and synth bass enhancement

5-Oct-17 - Synth-bass enhancement (slower attack)

Slight mix adjustment since using the new control surface.

Another Tony Banks cover from the Soundtracks album. Done from memory rather than reference, it's not an exact replica (what's the point in that).

Done for a bit of fun. It still needs more work on the mixing and effects.

Probably one of my last Banks covers (A few more in me, but I've done enough, I think, to warrant legal action!)

All VST.

Considering I'm going from memory rather than using someone else's MIDI file, it sounds okay to my ears.

28-Dec-16 - Changes the drum voice and increased the solo lower octave level.

This is currently something I'm working on. It's unfinished but a rough mix is there and you probably get the idea of it.

Requires more guitar, singing and plenty of overdubs, of which I have still to figure out.

It's a little bit unusual with 4/4, 6/4 and 7/4 time signatures involved.

All the instrumentation is VST based apart from the guitar lead and power chords hidden in the background. The drums are a live performance (although via MIDI) and have not been programmed!

10 Sept '16 - Live bass guitar added (may require EQ)

(c) 2016 Matt Hogg

All of this is VST work apart from a very low=in-the-mix vocal towards the end. The 'Dance' section starts at around 1:44 and is a repeat phrase of about 4-5 chords with added instrumentation on each repeated phrase...not quite Tubular Bells but the main point in it was to bring in gradual layers.

The title is how I imagine the tune to play out; a meeting of pirates. The atmosphere all moody, tense and sinister, until a dance begins starting with one pirate and with each repeating phrase more pirates join in the jollity until they are interrupted and the jovial mood stops abruptly and the main theme repeats and the pirates return to form.

A bit silly, but the melody was written with the theme of pirates in mind and it manages to sound almost...piratey!

(c) 2016 Matt Hogg

Very rough cover of Genesis' Domino pt 1 (In the Glow of the Night).

No singing...I promise.

Sequenced parts - drum machine.

All other instruments played live.

Deserves to be played loud.

It's got quite a low listen count and I think it's a shame as I think it's got a good groove.

(c) 2016 Matt Hogg