Second Helping by Dan L. Hollifield -- Studio-D

My second album of instrumental songs composed with the MAGIX Music Maker program. This is another eclectic mix of styles and genres. However, it is also a very fun collection of my most recent work. I build these pieces in the computer program. Then I edit them, sometimes having to change the key on several instrument voices so match the ones I wanted to build off of, or just the pitch of a single note of one instrument. Sometimes I can't find a sequencer pattern, or a drum part, or background SFX that i like for a song. When that happens, I build what I want using tools the program provides. Sometimes I have to search for a particular sound effect, then convert it to a format I can use. And there is always the mixing, to insure that everything in the song, every voice, is the right volume for the song as a whole. I'm sometimes using half a dozen different software programs at once to blend every element together just how my mind's ear wants it to sound. Rarely does a single song take less than a week to develop from a blank canvas to the finished piece. And then I burn a temporary mix CD to listen to, endlessly, searching for errors or possible tweaks, or even full re-writes. I might wind up with a 20-minute composition, which eventually gets edited down into the best shorter arrangement I can devise. Some songs may take a single day to become what I wanted. Others might take months.

From Jazz to Pop to Rock to Orchestral to Electronica, this album delivers my best on every song. I believe that listeners will enjoy this album. It's quite a good blend of the differing styles and genres, As I was editing the final track selection, I was reminded of how good each song sounds. I think that this is a wonderful album, to be sure. I had a lot of fun putting it all together.

I hope you enjoy it!

I just celebrated my 66th birthday in early November of 2023. Music has always been a big part of my life. Radio, school bands, garage bands, computer programs- I've loved it all. I can't remember a time when there wasn't music in my life. Now I'm trying to get it out of my head so other people can hear what I imagine. I hope you like what you hear. I'm having a blast creating it! Thanks!