Equipment Used

Mac G4 with OWC Processor upgrade, OWC FireWire 800 drive, M-Audio Fast Track audio interface, M-Audio Nova mic, Digidesign MBox audio interface, Brian Moore Guitars iGuitar, Apple GarageBand software, M-Audio Oxygen 8 keyboard (used to program drum track)

I had so much fun with this song. As on most of the CD, I used an M-Audio Fast Track audio interface. I played my iGuitar thru that and used a GarageBand amp simulation for the guitar parts. One guitar was slide guitar in E tuning and the other guitar track was a semi distorted rock sound with "tremelo" effect. I had the song title and concept for the song already but it all really started to come together as a song when I found the "dobro" guitar loop that starts it off. I typically like to get a basic groove and tempo together and then start to write lyrics. I had a verse and chorus quickly and then put some basic chord changes to them. At this point in a song, I usually start to "hear" a more complete sound for the song and begin to lay that down. I usually write a simple chord chart to follow and decide on the form of the song. I already had a drum groove going so I then recorded the bass part and then a basic rhythm guitar part. I usually like to sing along with the basic track at this point to flesh out the melody and check key and tempo. Once I have that done I usually have alot of production ideas in my head and go with that inspiration to help me finish the song.

One of the main challenges is to program a final drum part for the song that sounds as if it was played by someone. This really makes a difference in the final product. I spend alot of time on this step....and all the others too. I did this song over a two day period from start to final mix. When I got to the vocal, I tried the M-Audio Nova mic thru a Digidesign M-Box interface because the MBox had the phantom power required by that mic. I got my sound together and worked my way thru the track getting a lead vocal. I usually monitor my vocal with some reverb, delay and compression so it has a more produced sound that I am hoping for in the end. I found that I used the Matrix Reverb Audio Units plug-in on this and most of my vocal tracks. I also noticed that when you reopen a GarageBand track, the Audi Units plug-ins are assigned to the tracks but you have to go back in and rechoose the preset you want and tweak it's settings. I often used a "large room" preset with about 19% wet and lots of predelay on this CD for vocal. I hope you enjoy the song and that you check out individual tracks on each song by soloing them. Have fun!

RA

Lyrics

You played me – you betrayed me
I never saw it for a moment in your eyes
You took me – hell you shook me
Your smile was a devious disguise
Your lips - your fingertips
Told me what I wanted to hear
But just who do you see
When you look in the mirror
Tell me do you know now honey
How low can you go

Your animal attraction was a fatal distraction
Now I know
You fooled me lord you schooled me
Taught me things I didn’t want to know
You hit me like a million volts
Had me jumpin to conclusions
But the secrets you were hiding
Could have saved me this confusion
Tell me do you know now honey
How low can you go – Just how low will you go

You played me – you betrayed me
I never saw it for a moment in your eyes
You took me – hell you shook me
Your smile was a devious disguise
Your hips - your fingertips
Told me what I wanted to hear
But just who do you see
When you look in the mirror
Tell me do you know now honey
How low can you go – how low will you go
How low can you go