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Hi all, Brand new here. Considering purchasing Band In A Box soon. I was hoping to get some direction from the pros in here! I'm a singer/songwriter who typically writes and performs with only my voice and an acoustic guitar. I have a collection of songs that could really benefit from additional layers of music. Currently I use a Zoom H4n field recorder to record my guitar and vocal tracks separately and then I bring those into Reaper for EQ, mixing and output. But I am really not good enough at playing other instruments such as drums, bass, etc. to record those tracks. So I'm looking for a good way to add these other layers to my music. So here are my questions... 1) for a typical workflow, could I bring an existing recording into BIAB or would it be best to lay down a drum track (or other click track) with BIAB and then use that as a backing track to record a new vocal track? 2) can I bring a vocal track into BIAB or is that more of a RealBand (or DAW) function? 3) will I be happy with the acoustic guitar strumming in BIAB or is my live recorded acoustic track going to be better? 4) I worry that using the RealTracks in BIAB will make my song sound like other BIAB songs. Is that something to be concerned about? Or, once I mix it all up will it sound like my song and not like every other BIAB song? 5) related to above, how do the solos work? I am assuming they will be the same solo every time they are used so that would be a problem in an original song. Right? 6) would you consider BIAB to be mainly a practice tool to use for creating backing tracks (for performing or writing) or is its output nice (and unique) enough to be used as accompaniment for a demo? 7) what would the typical workflow be for someone who has composed a song on an acoustic guitar? something like this maybe? - write song - enter chord progressions into BIAB - add various instrument layers in BIAB - export backing track from BIAB - record vocals using backing track in headphones - mix backing track and vocals in a DAW 8) Based on what I've seen so far it looks like I need to spring for the UltraPlusPak or be unhappy with missing RealTracks!  Is that correct? 9) is BIAB the right software for what I want to do? Thanks so much for any assistance you can provide me. I really appreciate it! John
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2007
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JohnJohnJohn (or is it John, John, John -- did you get in trouble a lot as a child? -- ha, ha)
1.) You could bring the live track in and add instruments to it -- but your timing would have to be pretty good. I would lay down the click track with the BIAB drummer and build from there.
2.) You can bring one audio track into BIAB -- but I really use a DAW for that (I user Sonar, but RealBand is a DAW).
3.) I use a lot of the acoustic guitar parts from realtracks. They seem to fit in well.
4.) That is a legitimate concern. The goal is not to use a BIAB backing and plop your vocals on top, but to use BIAB so it is part of the song. That sometimes is easy and sometimes it's not -- but it can be done.
5.) The solos can be regenerated over and over again and be different each time. You can also cut and paste and move things around to make it "different". Yes, after awhile you can hear those BIAB riffs in other folks' songs and recognize them -- that why we always want more realtracks. Having said that, there is a lot of variety available right now.
6.) I think you can use biab to make pretty decent recordings. How good sounding is up to your skill level. Even though a bunch of nashville studio musicians perform a lot of the realtrack samples that I use, Nashville (from what I hear) still will frown on BIAB demos (and probably LA and NY, too). So, don't let them know until it is too late!!
7.) That is probably the exact work flow I use.
8.) UltraPak Plus is the way to go (for me).
9.) I think BIAB is a great tool and a lot of fun. Whether it is right for you, is up to you. Traditionally there is a mid-summer sale in biab-land, but who know what will happen this summer?
Kevin
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I agree 100% with Kevin. I would add that you should go to the user showcase forum and listen to some of the music there. All of the music there was generated by BiaB and/or RealBand and all of the songs are very good. Some of the songs are Biab/RB totally, some with parts of RealTrack cut and pasted together, some were initiated then morphed into what you hear and some are all of the above. This way you will get an idea of what BiaB/RB can do.
I want my last spoken words to be "I hid a million dollars under the........................"
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hey Kevin! Thanks so much for your detailed reply! I was checking out some of your music here http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=1144009 You have some really nice songs! Are there any specific songs there that you did with BIAB? And, yes, pretty much all my life people have been shaking their head at me and saying "John, John, John"! (hey, there's a song in there!)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thanks MarioD, I listened to a few songs they were pretty impressive! Gotta take a few minutes and listen to a bunch more.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I'm just John the John cubed thing makes me feel about 30% of what I should.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Hey Kevin! Thanks so much for your detailed reply! I was checking out some of your music here http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=1144009 You have some really nice songs! Are there any specific songs there that you did with BIAB?...
Those are all BIAB tunes with me adding guitars,vocals and such. If you go to the "full song info" page at soundclick, I show what BIAB did in each song (at the bottom of the lyrics). When I post them here, I detail out exactly what realtracks/midi stuff I used.
Kevin
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Welcome John. Judging from your opening post, you've got a good handle on this, and you've been given some wisdom already. I got into this digital stuff to augment my own songs and it's been perfect. Good enough when I was only using MIDI and even better when the RTs came along . . . you'll want those. As for my work flow - I start with the chord sheet. My own acoustic is only used in RealBand. The better synthsizer you have for midi, the better BIAB sounds. RTs are beautiful. You'll have a great backup band in no time, and you'll want to use RealBand. All my songs on my site are done with PG Projects - beginning to end. Whatever you use, you probably won't add your own acoustic - and if you have a good mic - you should add your acoustic in RealBand or whatever DAW you decide to use. Backing tracks in BIAB, full mix in DAW. Boy are you going to have fun!   Cheers - Ian
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Yo 3 Johns,
All good advise already, so all I will do is welcome you to the forum.
Later,
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Geez Ian I liked you better before the photo.  rotf (What am I doing here...)laughing. Help me up.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
I'm just John the John cubed thing makes me feel about 30% of what I should.
I figure its my hook and if I repeat it enough...
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Welcome John.
Judging from your opening post, you've got a good handle on this, and you've been given some wisdom already.
I got into this digital stuff to augment my own songs and it's been perfect. Good enough when I was only using MIDI and even better when the RTs came along . . . you'll want those.
As for my work flow - I start with the chord sheet. My own acoustic is only used in RealBand.
The better synthsizer you have for midi, the better BIAB sounds. RTs are beautiful. You'll have a great backup band in no time, and you'll want to use RealBand.
All my songs on my site are done with PG Projects - beginning to end. Whatever you use, you probably won't add your own acoustic - and if you have a good mic - you should add your acoustic in RealBand or whatever DAW you decide to use. Backing tracks in BIAB, full mix in DAW.
Boy are you going to have fun!
Cheers - Ian
Thanks for the advice Ian! I'm looking forward to this!!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Yo 3 Johns,
All good advise already, so all I will do is welcome you to the forum.
Later,
Thanks Danny!
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Liked your songs Kevin - nice vocals
Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
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>>>...7) what would the typical workflow be for someone who has composed a song on an acoustic guitar? something like this maybe?...- write song...- enter chord progressions into BIAB ....>>>>> There is a lot of variation in the workflow. I always start with BiaB, then move to realband at some point of development. Which point? ...it depends. My way is that I work out the chords, melody and structure in BiaB. When I am figuring out whether I want 2 verses and a chorus, or 2 choruses and a verse, BiaB is the tool to use. It is much harder to change your u mind after the song is ported over to Realband. When I get to Realband its time to try adding various realtracks. Well this is the idea anyway. I run into various issues with almost every song that have me bouncing back and forth between the two programs a coupleof times. THen again, some people on this forum do everything in Realband, and sometimes I can get everything I need just using BiaB alone. Here are some songs that kind of fit the creative process you decribed. Almost all the instruments are Real tracks. https://www.youtube.com/user/flatfoot50?feature=mhee/
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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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User Video: Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box®
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 German for Windows is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 für Windows Deutsch ist verfügbar!
Wir waren fleißig und haben über 50 neue Funktionen und eine erstaunliche Sammlung neuer Inhalte hinzugefügt, darunter 222 RealTracks, neue RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, "Songs with Vocals" Artist Performance Sets, abspielbare RealTracks Set 3, abspielbare RealDrums Set 2, zwei neue Sets von "RealDrums Stems", XPro Styles PAK 6, Xtra Styles PAK 17 und mehr!
Paket | Was ist Neu
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."
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