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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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This is meant mainly for experienced users. BIAB can leave me stymied sometimes. If I grab whatever tracks (mainly drums, but others too) present themselves at the start of a project I can get to work quickly, but may not be satisfied. Yes, I can fix it later, but it really messes with work flow.
On the other hand, if I sit down to just listen to tracks beforehand I get lots of great ideas, but often (really often) get distracted from what I originally wanted to do. How do you guys approach this? Am I even asking the appropriate question? Thanks in advance.
Signed,
Wanna get back to work
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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In the past, Ive selected the style selection.
Then select genre you want.
Then pick 1 style.
Click green start arrow at top. Black box to stop.
Then click next style, etc., etc.
You may find this to work pretty slick.
Good Music!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thanks, Frank. I'll give that a try.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I find the best way is to keep a note of the styles one particularly likes and finds applicable. For instance, one of my notes says "Best Swing rhythm Trio for Mainstream/Dixie is _JAZZSWP.STY (Jazz Swing Piano Trio)".
Grah Jive Talk
"Don't worry baby, they'll swing their arses off."
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I select a workable style that's close enough to work with in BB.
I worry about the individual track details later in RB.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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More good stuff. Thanks, Graham and Herb.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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This is a constant issue with me too. It could be called too many choices...
All I can say is I remember back in the day when I was playing full time so the bands had lots of rehearsals, we would spend hours getting a tune to sound right. We were doing rearranged covers of big hit tunes and even though the leader would write out charts of the basic arrangement it could take days to get it how he wanted it to sound. Trying different feels on the drums or guitar rhythms, all that stuff. Since this was a true pro level act that was booked by a national agency stuff had to be right and professional sounding. It could take several days of rehearsals to get one song right and then of course once we performed it there could still be further changes.
It's the exact same thing now except we can't just stand there and talk, sing or tap our fingers on the snare to tell the drummer or other players what we want. We have to simply audition all the parts. And of course we're all alone, we don't have other players to bounce ideas off of or the luxury of simply telling the band to try it "this way" and hear how it sounds right then and there.
We have all the tools but just like what I just described it can take days to get all the parts together. There's no shortcuts to this either way. You just keep doing it and doing it and then take a break and do it some more until you get something you like.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Bob, that's pretty much what I suspected. The good AND bad news is that the right sound is probably somewhere in BIAB's arsenal; but, just as with actual musicians, it will take time to hunt it down the Style or Track that nails That Sound. Of course, with BIAB, no one is getting impatient, anxious to leave, or any of the other negative operant phenomena of working with live players.
Having acknowledged that, here's a penultimate question: Show of hands here—does anyone sit down purely to audition tracks (taking copious notes, of course) when they are not working on a particular song? It seems to make a kind of sense, except for being enormously time consuming. But how else to know what we have available to us?
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I have done that on occasion and I'll listen to the various demo songs too.
Our problem is we have an enormous library of great midi and audio things to choose from and it can get mind numbing at times.
What really brought that home for me was when Biab was updated a few years ago to allow any RT to be inserted onto any instrument track. Like putting a flute on the guitar track for example. Now for 2015 they finally allow for the track name to change to whatever RT is being used or for the user to rename it. That was a big deal.
But, imagine a noob just starting out. They think when you pick a style, that's it. What you hear is what you get but not so at all. They can change every single instrument to something else until the actual style doesn't matter.
To me that's a very good thing but to your point it's mind boggling how many possibilities there are. You can put a hot country Brent Mason guitar solo onto a celtic jig style or put a heavy metal crunch part into a jazz swing or anything else your imagination can think up.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Ryszard, In learning more about BIAB and RB this last 5 years, I did do hours and hours of auditioning. Do not remember the thousands, but did learn more about zeroing in on genres and songs displayed in each one. There are many boundaries crossed in genre grouping, but great music... Having acknowledged that, here's a penultimate question: Show of hands here—does anyone sit down purely to audition tracks (taking copious notes, of course) when they are not working on a particular song?
Working with users track so many hours, requires me to try out demo music by PG.The demo's can really highlight a new UserTracks for me and folks looking. A very good Style in Song bumps up the wants for folks to try out UserTracks.There is no $$$ in any of this, just satisfaction that folks would use a new UserTracks for their work. Many more auditions then tracks posted. 3-5 styles tried with each new UserTracks. Sometimes get hooked on the nice sounds and do many more. Good Luck on maintaining the good $$$$ !
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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A suggestion for helping with the sampling; get you a notebook, make heading for Bass, Piano, Drums, Guitar, Strings, Solo and when you produce a song in Biab and you really like the instrument sound; write it's number, it's tempo ranges, type ev/swing. Biab keeps a favorite list which most of the time I find I keep going to old faithfuls. But this way you have the instruments written down that stand out to you sound wise; for future reverence. This is also good to do with styles, so that you know which ones for example, the guitar's will do a true hold, instead of just a thud. Which one's have an ending that sounds complete and that do not just end abruptly. Hope this helps!
My TunesPsalm 57:7 My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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What a great idea! I'll do just that.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I am not surprised that others use the notebook method. However, when I suggested more or less the same thing earlier, I forgot to mention that when you do use a style a lot, it gets an 'F' for Favorite shown in the first column of the list of Styles. I am not exactly sure what is the criteria for gaining that Fav notation but the ones shown on my list are certainly those I like to use.
You will also see that the Style button is split and on the bottom half of the button there are "various ways to choose a style" and one of these is "Favorite Styles".
Grah Jive Talk
"Don't worry baby, they'll swing their arses off."
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi Guys,
As a newbee, it was self evident that after hours of moving the Real Tracks from the USB drive to a drive on my computer there would be a zillion hours of listening to do...lol
I went direct to the Real Tracks folder and started listening to the .wav things I assumed I could use and started writing down numbers.
There is so much information in this software the "alligators are so thick the swamp starts to fade into the background"...we were going to drain the swamp right??...lol
The options are a bit overwhelming...so new or old the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.
I think it is very easy to over think this product and get so raped up in the options nothing gets done.
Worse what I liked today may change by tomorrow and I assure you it will change over time.
Just the new guys two cents worth.
Cheers,
Billy
Last edited by Planobilly; 07/29/15 07:06 PM.
New location, new environment, new music coming soon
Seize the moo-ment
If you feel like you’ve herd all these cow puns before, you probably have deja-moo
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Great observation, Billy. BTW, I assume you mean "wrapped up in the options," yes?
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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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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