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npac Offline OP
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I'd like to mute a specific instrument for an entire chorus then bring it back to normal for the next chorus. I used to do that a lot by going to Bar Settings and choosing the bar where I wanted to mute it for a given chorus, then set it back to normal at another bar in the same chorus or the same bar in another chorus. Once I selected a bar the instrument woud remain muted until it saw a return to normal in that chorus or another chorus. I went to do that and it would only mute it for a specific bar in that chorus but not the entire chorus. So I would have to repeat that action for every bar in every chorus. Either I forgot how to do it or the interface changed. Can someone help me with how to do that?

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FWIW I would unfold the song into 1 big chorus (Edit/Song form/ unfold) then mute that instrument where you want it muted. This of course only works if your song is 255 measure or less. Note that I always work in the unfolded song form as I find I have more control over my song. YMMV


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I'm not sure if this might work or how you created the mute / return to normal, but try setting by individual choruses as shown:
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Make sure to press 'Apply'.

Last edited by AudioTrack; 02/17/25 08:27 AM.

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AT, did you check to see if it still works? Don't worry, I did and it does. grin


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Thanks Dan. I didn't have a chance to actually check it out, but it was a way to achieve this that the O/P perhaps hadn't tried.


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Audiotrack's answer is the easiest way to do it, however for more control it's better to switch to using Volume Nodes to control volume for tracks - you can fade volume in and out within a bar, while Bar Settings only lets you make changes on a bar-by-bar basis. You can learn about it here:


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Bar Settings mutes also are working on my version of BIAB.

Audiotrack's answer is easy and Simon's solution provides more control on track volume. There's a third option that allows BIAB to provide the best quality and smoothest transition between the track audio and the muted silence. It's as easy as Audiotrack's method; It's activated from Bar Settings Window the same as his answer. The Bar Settings Dialog window can be opened and accessed in the Chord View, Tracks View, Notation, Piano Roll and the Audio Edit/ACW view.

BIAB has a special RealTrack designed especially for arrangement situations described in the initial post. Inserting RT-1152 Silence onto a specified region on a Mixer Track with a RealTrack assigned, tells BIAB that you, the user, wants silence for that specific selected track region. It can be a Bar, several bars or like in this case, an entire chorus.

Telling BIAB where you want silence works the same as telling BIAB what chord you want to sound in a bar or series of bars. Knowing where you want silence, BIAB generates endings and intros encompassing material just before the silence and the material just after the muted region creating a 'Smooth Transition'. This creates an arrangement performance that's plays like a real session player would approach playing the song and knowing where to stop and start.

The difference in quality is displayed in the two attached screenshots of a post-generation edit using Bar Settings or Volume Automation compared to BIAB generating the same region of silence as it generates the track.

I used Audiotrack's image of the Bar Settings Dialog to show the RealTrack Button in Bar Settings. In my demonstration screenshots, I selected Guitar 3 to mute bars 3,4,5 using the track's post-generation mute/ Return to Normal selection and having BIAB generate the silenced bars 3,4,5 region on the track in the second screenshot.

Attached Files (Click to download or enlarge) (Only available when you are logged in)
F5 set to mute bars 3-5.jpg (311.6 KB, 72 downloads)
1152 set 3-5.jpg (279.08 KB, 72 downloads)
2025-02-18_3-24-08.jpg (45.67 KB, 70 downloads)
RT-1152.jpg (133.72 KB, 71 downloads)

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npac Offline OP
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That's exactly how I do it, but it doesn't work. It used to work but now it doesn't. I have a new windows computer, wonder if that's the problem.

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Sorry for the delayed reply, I was pulled away the rest of the week. But I answered you above, didn't work frown

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npac Offline OP
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I couldn't open your link but I found a youtube video that addressed that, it may be the same one. So yes that's what I need. I went throuhg and followed the steps to mute a track at the start of chorus 2 and bring it back at the start of chorus 3 then saved the song. But it didn't save the volume adjustments. I looked for an "apply" or "ok" button but couldn't find one. I'm feeling pretty dumb but how do I save the changes I made to the chorus?

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Update: Thanks for all the resposes. Unfortunately, neither bar settings nor volume control worked for me, the settings were ignored when I played the song. However, unfolding and muting selected bars did work so at least I have a workaround. I just have really long songs now smile

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I think there is one thing that was not mentioned and that is the back to factory setting using the most option. When BiaB doesn't behave well here back to the factory setting always worked. It may or may not work in this instance but it is worth a try.

I hope this helps and good luck.


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XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

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Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

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