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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I am new to BiaB. I've got the 2010 Everything Pak external HDD. Since I'm just starting out I'm trying to take it slow, read the manual, view the Tutorials, ETC. I've been trying to edit tracks in the "Editable Notation Mode" window. Nothing major, just a note or two. I can edit the notes, get my ideas into place but as soon as I hit "Play" all the edits disappears. If, after editing, I press the "Play From" button everything shows up, but not when I press the "Play" button. I've tried saving the piece and then loading it, but none of the changes show up in the saved file. I've gone back over the tutorial again, and re-read the manual again & again. No Joy. I get the same results in the "Staff Roll Notation Mode" The other stuff I've been working with, changing/adding chords, changing tempo, changing styles, etc, seem to work fine but I can't figure this part out. Since this is so elementary I figure I'm just missing something, but I don't know what.

Your assistance is appreciated.


Above all else, to thine own self be true.
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The only tracks you can edit are the Soloist and Melody. If you're trying to edit the others, each time you hit play the tracks get re-generated. If you want to edit the other tracks, you have to copy them to either the Soloist or Melody.

Hope this helps.

R

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Someone else will be able to discuss this in a more informed way than a fellow newb like me, but a new feature in BIAB is "freeze tracks" that should allow you to do what you want. Look for the snowflake icon, it is your friend. You can freeze instruments or the whole track, preventing them from re-generating.

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Welcome to the forum, miteymitey .

Follow Rachael's advice; it's correct and is the safest method. The Melody and Soloist tracks are the ones to play with in your editing. Not only are all the other tracks regenerated when you select Play, as Rachael said, but they will be regenerated when you re-load the song.

You discovered "Play From". That's good; it doesn't regenerate. There is also Replay, to play the whole song without regenerating.

When you get more accustomed to the program, check out the Freeze Tracks function, new in version 2010 that you have. It is now possible to edit any track, freeze it, and keep your changes, including when reloading a song.

You also received a separate program, RealBand, with your BIAB 2010 purchase. This program will load your BIAB song and you can edit any track.

[EDIT: Bandmoose answered about Freeze Tracks while I was typing. Good.]

Last edited by Matt Finley; 05/27/10 06:39 PM.

BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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The purpose of the program is to take a simple song and enter the chords and have the ability for the software to generate the backing tracks. This means you play melody.

Or if you go to some site that has a lot songs you can grab, like google "Allanah Band in a Box", and grab some songs, say the A folder. Now some will have melodies. You could embellish them.

The you chose various styles and audition them, so you can have a rock band or jazz band, or whatever. You need to ensure your style is in the right genre more or less, and the right 'feel', ie swing or waltz etc. Then you get parts generated for you.

If you are a bass player you could decide you really like what you got, and freeze the track and it would always be the same, letting you print it out.

As I play melody on keys or horn, I sometimes use someone else's version of a solo, along with the actual melody.

I'd suggest starting with a genre, and entering the first few chords and notes from Row Row Row yer boat..and go from there....


John Conley
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Mitey,
One of the things that would help us help you is tell us what your goal is, and how you planned on getting there.

You've spent a serious amount of money on a program, and it wouldn't really be nice if you purchased it for the wrong reason, or because you thought it was something it wasn't.

As others have said, the concept behind Band In A Box is to take a chord progression and combine it with a style to produce an automated backing arrangement. The program is also intelligent, in that it rearranges the backing tracks each time you press Play. Hence, any changes you make won't stay.

As one person said, you should also have Real Band, which is a DAW, or Digital Audio Workstation, and in that program you can edit to your heart's delight. A lot of this is going to come down to 'use the tools for their intended purpose.' The BIAB/RB combination is a very powerful team of tools, and to add the third most important element, this forum is available, so don't be afraid to use it.

So, Read the manual, put in your chord progression and style to get the basic sound you want, save the file and open it in Real Band, edit the parts you want for the backing track, and then add whatever else you want to it. Refer back to this forum for things you don't understand, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Eventually, everything comes together.

Gary


I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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