Brand new here (and to B-i-a-B). I am a MAC user and desperately trying to get to know the software so I can use it to more easily create tracks for myself.
I have created a simple song to start with and am using Realtracks: _HANKPS1.STY Med Country Swing with Pedal Steel
The drums have a sidestick sound which is great through the verse. Now.. I get to the chorus and, at a specific spot, I need to do a little fill and then change to snare sound rather than the rim-shot.
Can anyone help me with this by telling me how to make the change and then, when I'm done with the chorus, to go back to the side stick sound?
Realdrums are not individual drum sounds that are assembled into a track, they are live performances of a drummer. As such, they do not have individual control over the different components of the drum kit.
For such control, it would be necessary to use something like EZ Drummer which uses midi to create drum tracks from sampled sounds.
In the meantime, some things that you might try that could help get something that works for you would be...
1. Enter into Realdrum picker and have a look at the variations that are available with the Nashville Sw8 Rhythm that _Hankps.sty uses. (See IMAGE 1 below.)
2. Experiment with part markers. The Blue and the Green Part Markers will activate a drum fill. They are obtained by clicking on the bar number. The fill will occur in the bar before the part marker. (See IMAGE 2 below.)
In the part marker image, the blue part marker at bar 3 will force a drum fill in bar 2.
Thanks for coming back to me on this one. I tried the change by right-clicking the beginning of the bar I want a drum fill and a change to snare. I changed one of the settings and got the little red underline. (See image)
Does this look like I'm in the right place? I wanted to change the style of play at that point.
I think I've managed to figure out how to get the effect I want. Steps I took:
1. Select bar where I want the drums to change 2. Right click until I get the box in the Step-2 image attached 3. Tell B-i-a-B that the bar is the start of a chorus 4. The drum sound changes to snare tap rather than side-stick (much more aggressive) 5. Right click where I want the chorus to end and change drum sound (Step-5 image)
It seems to work. I Generate the song again after each change.
Does this sound like I'm doing what I should be? Terribly confusing...
I'm glad you got it working. I had a listen to the audio and it sounds good! The blue part marker was what you needed to instruct BIAB to create a fill in bar before the chorus. And choosing the variation you did, gave the sound you were after. Your process looks fine.
While it's easy to create a simple backing track, there's definitely a bit of a learning curve associated with getting BIAB tamed and doing what you want. It's well worth the effort, though.
I'm glad you got it working. I had a listen to the audio and it sounds good! The blue part marker was what you needed to instruct BIAB to create a fill in bar before the chorus. And choosing the variation you did, gave the sound you were after. Your process looks fine.
Thanks very much for coming back to me, Noel. Really appreciate it.
Originally Posted By: Noel96
While it's easy to create a simple backing track, there's definitely a bit of a learning curve associated with getting BIAB tamed and doing what you want. It's well worth the effort, though.
Yes - this is one of the scary things I'm facing. I'm no lead guitarist but I need to try and create a lead solo (perhaps 8 bars of piano and then 8 bars of guitar) but have absolutely no idea how to get BiaB to do that. Any pointers would be so appreciated. I only installed the package today and still trying to get to grips with it.
Have a play around with bar settings and muting instruments and then bringing their volumes back to normal. This is accessed by right-clicking on the chord sheet. (F5 is the shortcut key.)
Alternatively, because you are looking to create two solos, this would be easier to accomplish in Realband. Simply open your present song file in Realband. It will generate and then you can add extra Realtracks and use volume envelopes to take the sounds in and out of the mix.
What I normally do is...
1. Create my song in BIAB.
2. Use Realband to add extra material.
3. Save the Realband tracks and load the files into Reaper to arrange and mix, and to create a final overall wav file.
Regards, Noel
P.S. Thanks for having a listen to my song Appreciate it.
I apologise. I forgot that I was in the Macintosh forum and made a mistake. Realband is part of the Windows suite but it is not available with the Mac version of the program. Sorry for the confusion.
Chris, there is no Real Band in the Mac version - only in the Windoze version. Also on the Mac, you've got to use "fn" plus "F5" to access the bar settings. Hope that helps a little.
Oops - posted the same thing at the same time!
Last edited by babarton; 06/18/1701:42 AM.
Macbook Pro 2018 2.6 GHz 6-core Intel Core i7, 16 GB RAM OS Monterey BIAB for Mac 2022
Chris, there is no Real Band in the Mac version - only in the Windoze version.
OUCH! I feel like I've been ripped a little. I could have purchased the Windows version of the software but chose the MAC version because my daily driver is a 27" iMAC and my Windows is running as a virtual machine using Parallels.
So... without RealBand I guess I have to revert to calling on live musicians to help with the various solos. That would be such a shame - I was really hoping to be able to construct the entire song within BiaB.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Do I try and get PG Music to give me the Windows version rather than or as well as the MAC version of the package?
I always put my solos together in a DAW. To do this, I generate the instruments that I need and I always do multiple generations. I then load the audio files into my DAW and cut/copy/paste sections of the solo instruments until I get what I like.
Generating solos in BIAB and then saving is straightforward.
When I'm creating my songs in BIAB, I always generate a new solo every time I generate the song. If one generation appeals to me, I always save it immediately! I do this because I will generate a song a couple of hundred times (at least) during the writing process. By regenerating over and over, I get to hear around 200 versions of the solo and some of them definitely sound better than others.
If you have a listen to "Tomorrow I'll Be Fine", you'll hear an 8-bar guitar solo followed by an 8-bar violin solo (which are similar back-to-back solos to the ones you mention you'd like to achieve with guitar and piano). I did this in a DAW.
I always put my solos together in a DAW. To do this, I generate the instruments that I need and I always do multiple generations. I then load the audio files into my DAW and cut/copy/paste sections of the solo instruments until I get what I like.
Generating solos in BIAB and then saving is straightforward.
How you actually play the solo. For example the guitar sounds very real but was this actually played on a guitar or did you use the keyboard in BiaB and then "turn it into" a guitar sound thereafter, before importing into your DAW?
Originally Posted By: Noel96
When I'm creating my songs in BIAB, I always generate a new solo every time I generate the song. If one generation appeals to me, I always save it immediately! I do this because I will generate a song a couple of hundred times (at least) during the writing process. By regenerating over and over, I get to hear around 200 versions of the solo and some of them definitely sound better than others.
You've definitely lost me now. How do you set BiaB to regen the solo as well and the whole song each time?
LOVE what you did in the song. That's exactly what I would like to be able to recreate. I see a long and large learning curve ahead! heh heh
I use Mac Band-in-a-Box 2017 Audiophile version to initially capture my musical ideas and then a DAW ( such as Mac Digital Performer or Logic Pro X ) to manipulate those audio tracks, especially the drum tracks.
Those drum tracks are live performances by for real drummers and therefore it is a huge undertaking to record nearly every possible drum play a user would want.
Now since those two DAW's i mentioned cost big bucks you may not want to buy them.
In your situation if you very recently purchased the Mac version you may ask PG for an refund or exchange by stating your dissatisfaction.
On the other hand you could also ask PG to help you thru your problem.
In both matters I know from personal experience that PG is excellent in customer service and satisfaction.
Yours truly, w/MisterMagoo
Last edited by w; 06/18/1710:12 AM. Reason: additional comments
Adding to what w has said above, if you wanted to get BIAB Windows and you purchased BIAB Mac less than 30 days ago, PG Music do have a 30-day money back guarantee option that would allow you change over. It may be worth following that up with sales staff if it applies to you.
I have been using Logix X Pro for a long time and also have Adobe Audition CS6 which I swear by - love it.
My problem is that I need to have some way to create the solo tracks I need for my backing tracks. Being a total BiaB newbie, I'm still playing with the chord screen and I have the Pro version, which doesn't have that many Real Tracks compared to some of the others.
I've dropped PG Music a support Email asking what I should do about the fact that Real Band is not included with the MAC version of the software. Waiting for a response and then we'll take it from there.
Thanks - yes - will have the discussion. Don't really want to change away from MAC as I use it for all my music mixing etc. but really quite desperate to ensure that I can make the solo tracks I need if I'm to try to be self contained.
Please note my additional comments in my first post.
Also
Quote:
I have been using Logix X Pro for a long time and also have Adobe Audition CS6 which I swear by - love it.
My problem is that I need to have some way to create the solo tracks I need for my backing tracks.
There you go, I use my DAW's to create drum backing tracks and many other audio tracks because DAW's have far more built in and third party software such as AU/VST's whereby the my song project is a blend of Band in a Box and what ever DAW i need to use.
Mac Band have come a long way but to some extent limited and perhaps good enough for the average musician.
Although, it is fun to play the same song using the 5 thousand plus styles. ( just kidding about playing 5 thousand styles )
A number of people use Mac BIAB over in Users Showcase and their songs are amongst the best on the forum. A couple of Mac users who spring to mind are below.
Add updated printing options, enhanced tracks settings, smoother use of MGU and SGU (BB files) within PowerTracks, and more with the latest PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 update!
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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!
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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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!
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Appreciate it.
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