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Post your own Tips and Tricks here
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,299
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OP
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,299 |
After moving from BIAB to RB, I discovered a WORLD of difference in creating songs and the layers of sound that make them "sing". I suppose there are many ways to do any task, but I'd like to share what has been working for me.
This CD I have been working on is country. I have had to listen to a LOT of country, a genre that has not been my favorite over the years. I needed to learn the correct palette of sound for these songs I have been writing. (A lot of country music television....) I am using "The One That Got Away" as my example.
Song written..... on to programming. I laid down my chord progression on paper (the theory background never goes away) and then put it into the chord chart in RB. I then experimented with styles, finally deciding on which drum beat is right, which bass line fits (More on bass later) and generated. That gave me the canvas.
From there I needed to "paint" that canvas. I added some strummed 12 string, some picked acoustic.. all "country" Real Tracks. I got it to where the rhythm was acceptable, but needed some punch, something ear catching and emotion evoking.
Using the "rhythm" pedal steel parts, I generated 3 different tracks. Once they were all generated, I played it back with only drums and pedal steel tracks. That gave me a chance to listen to, and make notes on, where there were loud patches that needed to have gain cuts, where the expression or chord voicing of the generated track did not work with the other tracks.... things like that. Blending the guitar parts back in, I found something still lacking. So in the second half of the intro, I decided to add some fiddle. Now this song is a slow tear-jerker ballad kind of song, and that fiddle really added some emotion to the piece. It took a LOT of experimentation with gain changing and using fade in and fade out as if there was a volume pedal doing swells. It took me SIX regenerations until the fiddle part blended just right, and a little bit of pasting to move sections around.
That was all done, but I still needed a solo. Okay, on to bar whatever, select the bars, and start playing with the Brent Mason samples. Again, several regenerations on several tracks, I came away with enough to segment together a good solo, to the point where had Brent been playing it in my studio I would not have changed a note.
The "more on bass later" is not that big a deal. One of my songs has a lot of "over" chords, like A/D, G/D... the style was not staying faithful to that, but with some quick copy and paste, it took all of 3 minutes to fix that. When you have something really specific in mind, you may have to work with it a bit.
Then the live tracks... vocals, some drum fills to bring back the song after a pause late in the song tapped in on a drum machine, and some organ under the chorus. Played those in, and sat down to mix it. Again with pen and notebook, taking notes where this has to boot and this has to cut.... but I don't like using the mixer sliders, so with those notes I use gain changes to do those volume adjustments rather than turn on automation and having the software remember my mixer changes. That also includes a lot of fading in and out in different places.
Then a dump to the hard drive, one at 320k for my use, and another at 128k for uploading, and it's done.
It sounds like a lot more than it is, because when you factor out not having to play every instrument in, and play it again and again to remove clams, not programming a drum machine.... it really is a streamlined process and well worth the time it takes to learn the software. I can't imagine a song going from conception to MP3 in 8 hours or less without Real Band. It would take me 8 hours of just PLAY time.
Then factor in the level of support offered by the company, and the brotherhood in these forums....
Folks, it doesn't get any better than this.
I am using the new 1040XTRAEZ form this year. It has just 2 lines.
1. How much did you make in 2023? 2. Send it to us.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!
The Newest RealBand 2024 Update is Here!
The newest RealBand 2024 Build 5 update is now available!
Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.
This free update is available to all RealBand 2024 users. To learn more about this update and download it, head to www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#20245
The Band-in-a-Box® Flash Drive Backup Option
Today (April 5) is National Flash Drive Day!
Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!
For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.
Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.
Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!
Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.
Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!
With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!
Learn more about this free update for Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1111
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 Review: 4.75 out of 5 Stars!
If you're looking for a in-depth review of the newest Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows version, you'll definitely find it with Sound-Guy's latest review, Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows Review: Incredible new capabilities to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs.
A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."
"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."
"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."
Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!
The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!
There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.
If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.
We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!
Congratulations to the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!
We've just announced the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!
There are 45 winners, each receiving a Band-in-a-Box 2024 UltraPAK! Read the official announcement to see if you've won.
Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed!
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