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Joined: Feb 2008
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Here's a little mixing tip I stumbled upon recently that may be useful to some of you. I'm posting it here because it's not really a PGM software tip, more a general music tip.
I had a couple of bass tracks, and more recently a vocal track, that I had recorded to mix with some BiaB backing tracks. In each case the track sounded basically Ok but somehow not quite what I wanted. I tried all kinds of things such as FX and compression and nothing seemed to work.
By accident I pulled an entire bass track ahead by 5 or 6 milli seconds. Since I didn't think you can hear a difference that small I failed to hit 'undo' and when I played the mix I was astonished. Without any other change that small advance in the track made a world of difference. The mix just sparkled, for want of a better term.
So I started trying this on all tracks before wasting time with FX etc. It worked particularly well on a vocal track I recorded.
Now such a short time shift doesn't mean I was behind the beat, at least not audibly, since even 10ms doesn't cause problems with latency for a keyboard. So why does it make such a difference? I don't know. Do any of you guys and gals?
BiaB 2013 b366, RB 2013 b4, WinXP Pro SP3, Toshiba M70, 1.8GHz 2GB RAM 100GB HD. Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, Ketron SD2. BiaB Wiki
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"Live" musicians often push the beat, or lay back from it and what you're doing is using the computer to produce the same effect. We've often used this technique and find it works best on vocals and instrument solos, when it lends a sense of urgency to the playing or singing.
Another thing you can try is moving the snare drum whilst leaving the rest of the kit as it was. Time slipping either way will produce quite a pronounced effect on the feel of the music.
ROG.
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Joined: Feb 2008
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Quote:
"Live" musicians often push the beat, or lay back from it and what you're doing is using the computer to produce the same effect.
Well 5 or 6 ms seemed too small to qualify as playing ahead of the beat. After all, that's a tenth of a beat in a 120bpm tune. When I'm playing my bass ahead of the beat it seems more noticible, maybe 30 to 50 ms although I'm guessing here.
I suppose you are right though. Maybe that's all the 'push' it needs to liven up a mix. Still, I thought it was worth mentioning so others might try it.
BiaB 2013 b366, RB 2013 b4, WinXP Pro SP3, Toshiba M70, 1.8GHz 2GB RAM 100GB HD. Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, Ketron SD2. BiaB Wiki
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Joined: May 2000
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Most DAW programs move the Audio in MIDI TICKS.
You can websearch and easily find the conversion to milliseconds stuff.
Don't neglect to include your MIDI resolution in the calculation.
--Mac
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Quote:
Most DAW programs move the Audio in MIDI TICKS.
You can websearch and easily find the conversion to milliseconds stuff.
Don't neglect to include your MIDI resolution in the calculation.
--Mac
Mac, my experience has been the opposite with the non-PG DAW software that I've used. I won't say it's most because my exposure has been somewhat limited to a few other programs (Tracktion, Reaper, Audacity). However, with those programs, I find a mix of either time format hh:mm:ss:ms, or video frame divisions. PG is the only provider that I've used which has a midi-centric approach to audio time slicing/moving/etc.
That said, one thing that I've appreciated with Tracktion is that with MIDI you can actually create a groove-based quantization template; and it comes pre-loaded with loads of very useful templates, so that you can push/pull individual notes in a measure or all of them or pretty much whatever you like by various amounts. It can make a wooden drum-beat pattern come to life in the right context.
Since you can also beat-detect in audio and re-slice the audio, you can even begin to do this with recorded loops. I haven't dove into that deep end of things yet.
-Scott
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Using the highest resolution setting will help a lot with accurate placement. But as mentioned, the math into milliseconds is much differnt than 'ticks'. PGMusic products use ticks (resolution setting) to move chunks of data in my observations. Interesting how the tempo affects the millisecond to ticks formula though. Slow song, low resolution makes the edits 'quantize' (for lack of better term) more than higher resolution with quicker tempo.. by far.
Somebody check my math;
120 beats per minute = 2 beats per second
3840 ticks (resolution) per beat for two beats = 7680 ticks (divisions) per second
How many milliseconds are in a second? 1000 right? (vs 7680 divisions per second using MIDI)
PGMusic MIDI tick method can be way more accurate than any hh:mm:ss:ms or video frame rate clock.
At least if my math is right..
But it depends a LOT on not using the 120 resolution setting (ticks/divisions per beat),
instead using a much higher setting. Most systems show no noticable loss in performance by doing so. Just more accuracy. It's a no brainer. Just gotta get used to using bigger numbers.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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If there is a MIDI engine included with the DAW software, there is a real good chance that the MIDI TICKS are indeed underlying, whether identified as such to the user or not.
Because MIDI Time Code drives the engine.
--Mac
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I hope my post above turns on a lightbulb for a user (or two) about resolution settings. It's been mentioned multiple times by experienced users but not often acknowledged. Much overlooked if you want more accuracy in both recording audio/MIDI and editing it.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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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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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Watch the video.
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- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
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Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
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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