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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 18
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 18 |
After 3 years of saving my money I took advantage of the Holiday clearance discount and bought the 2012.5 Everything pak. At first I thought the user's guide was long and now I see it could be three times as long and still not cover everything. Part of the learning curve will definitely be learning the interface on my own and experimenting with the layers of customization. But my experience with forums and the staff suggests I can use the experience of other users to speed it up. I even needed help logging into the forums so I'm not afraid to ask dumb questions.
The question that immediately came to mind is how do I visually identify which bars I've added a solo to using soloist real tracks. I know I could write out my own map to record where I put the solos but when I added a mandolin solo to bars 9-16 and then a banjo solo in bars 25-32 when I return to the main screen there is actually no symbolic indication that I've added those solos to the chord chart. And then when I started adjusting the song length the solos stayed in their respective bars and I started custom moving the bars but I ended up with one stray bar of banjo solo and I can't immediately figure out how to delete it or even locate it. I can hear it but even when I killed the whole soloist part the bar of solo remained. Then I deleted that whole bar and it is still there.
So is there a method of identifying where all the solos are and what bars they are in and how to edit them or delete them individually?
Everything Pak 2013 for Windows. w/16-pak add ons.
Jazz Guitar Masterclass
Instruments: Guitar and Piano
B.A. music from HSU 2001
M-Audio Keystation 49 USB MIDI controller
Dell Latitude E6500 4GB RAM Windows 7 32bit
ASIO4ALL
Coyote WaveTable
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,217
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Hi Oggy! Welcome to the forum.
Your request might better be answered by moving your song over to RealTracks. I beleive it is included in the everything pak. The way I create projects is like this:
1. Start in BiaB. Get the basic chords in place, write the melody, create intros and endings. The choice of instruments is only tentative at this stage. If I have a soloist at this stage, it is only in a general way.
2. Save the song as BiaB file, then open it up in Realband. This is where I create and edit the solos. I can cut, paste, copy and delete sections of the solo here. Also there is the MultiRiff feature which is not found in BiaB. This gives a whole nother level of power and creativity to making solos using Realtracks. The solo will be on its own track and it will be easy to see where it stops and starts.
Also, the RealBand stage of the project is where I add and edit effects, record acoustic instruments and vocals, and adjust levels for the final product.
Remember that the original song is saved as BiaB form. You can always go back to create one more tracks and then import the track into RealBand.
Try it this way and see if it works for you.
Last edited by flatfoot; 01/02/13 11:34 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
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Quote:
. . . At first I thought the user's guide was long and now I see it could be three times as long and still not cover everything. Part of the learning curve will definitely be learning the interface on my own and experimenting with the layers of customization.
Oggy,
Welcome to the community, and Happy New Year! We look forward to helping you with your journey and taking advantage of your contributions. Everyone who pursues this cool toy and stays active on the forums eventually has something of their own to offer.
I don't have an answer to your question but was moved to respond to your initial comment. IMO the best way to quickly master a given function is to stay focused. I suggest going as far as writing down your immediate goal (i.e., song input, style change at bar, keyboard control, etc.) and sticking with it until you have got it. There is a definite "Ooh, shiny!" factor with BIAB, meaning that you WILL be distracted on the way to your particular end. The journey is an open-ended thing, meaning that answering one question will raise many more. There is absolutely nothing wrong with pursuing whatever comes up; it will just take you longer to reach your original goal. Again, writing down the questions that arise ("How do I . . . ?" and "What if . . . ?", etc.) and pursuing them later will get you up and running more quickly than chasing all the cool stuff that you encounter along the way.
HTH,
Richard
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
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Assuming you used F5 Bar Settings to mute and unmute the solo tracks, there is an answer, but you're not going to like it, Oggy, because it's a brand new feature in BIAB 2013.
In the Memo button, there is a button called Bar Settings. It will give you a summary of everywhere you have used F5, and what was done.
Good reason to upgrade?
ps This is yet another good example of a feature suggested by the users that was implemented by PG Music.
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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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,608
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Oh, and here is the exact language from the list of new features for BIAB 2013:
A “Bar Settings summary” report is added, available from the Song Memo and the F5 / Edit Settings for Current Bar dialog. This report lists all settings in the song that have been made in the song.
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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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 18
Enthusiast
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OP
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Posts: 18 |
awesome replies. I can learn a lot from you all. I see that I don't have a bunch of project management operations in the right order. I'm not even looking at the right program interface for the information I want. I haven't even opened RealBand yet. so I'm going to apply some of this advice. maybe even read the whole user's manual.
my internet connection is too slow to view any tutorial videos but fast enough to post messages on the forum.
I can tell this has got every feature I wanted and then some, but I figured the three different interfaces Biab, RB, RT were going to trip me up. I've used Finale in the past and movie editing software and I think this is different because of the exclusive applications for each piece of software. Each one has a form and function and they can be used together or in sequence but no one piece of software has the ability to let you see 100% of the picture. They draw from one another but by adding soloists in Biab the solos became embedded and invisible. And by changing styles and instruments in Biab then I was basically unnecessarily importing real tracks into the midi program. right? better to save the biab file and then reopen it where the tracks and solos already belong in Real band.
The initial results have been good so I look forward to learning to be competent.
Everything Pak 2013 for Windows. w/16-pak add ons.
Jazz Guitar Masterclass
Instruments: Guitar and Piano
B.A. music from HSU 2001
M-Audio Keystation 49 USB MIDI controller
Dell Latitude E6500 4GB RAM Windows 7 32bit
ASIO4ALL
Coyote WaveTable
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,608
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Posts: 27,608 |
Yes, each software has its purpose, but there is a lot of overlap here. I recommend you concentrate on BIAB for the moment, then when you feel solid, move a song into RealBand. You don't need PowerTracks, if that's what you meant by RT, since RealBand replaces it (except for one feature using harmony).
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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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 109
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 109 |
Hi and welcome
I agree with Flatfoot about doing a basic arrangement in 'Band in a Box', I may create several different BiaB arrangements and then open in 'Real Band' to add additional tracks.
I also save files with incremental names. "My Song 01... My Song 02... etc" That way WHEN I screw up and overwrite a good arrangement I can go back to an earlier version.
Real Band has the advantage that you can generate multiple Real Tracks and MIDI tracks of the same Instrument. I will do this with most solo instruments - bass - & keyboards.
Although you can edit them in Real Band, I find it much easier to do in a DAW, where I have access to all my VST instruments and FX. I use Reaper, but any DAW should do the job.
I save the song in all three programs under the same name, so if I need to go back and change something, it's not to big a deal.
Eventually you'll find a way that works best for you.
Boyd
Win10 - 16GB-RAM - BiaB 2019 - Mixbus 4 - Slate Bundle - Komplete 10 - Ozone 8 - Neutron 2 - Waves Gold
Ample Sound Guitars & Basses - Pianoteq 6 - SSD5 - SD3 - JamStix 4 - Omnisphere - UVI Falcon - EastWest Play
Sonarworks Reference 4 -
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 18
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 18 |
Quote:
Assuming you used F5 Bar Settings to mute and unmute the solo tracks, there is an answer, but you're not going to like it, Oggy, because it's a brand new feature in BIAB 2013.
I got confused by the user's guide because it's all 2012.5 info. but now that I check the actual version of the software it's 2013 version so I guess I have that feature. thanks
Everything Pak 2013 for Windows. w/16-pak add ons.
Jazz Guitar Masterclass
Instruments: Guitar and Piano
B.A. music from HSU 2001
M-Audio Keystation 49 USB MIDI controller
Dell Latitude E6500 4GB RAM Windows 7 32bit
ASIO4ALL
Coyote WaveTable
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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IIRC F5 Bar Settings for Mute function are quite a few versions older than the current one.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,608
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Posts: 27,608 |
Yes, but the Bar Settings summary report is new.
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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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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Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
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Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
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- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
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- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
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