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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 50
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 50 |
I have a question for our musically-educated and gifted friends about using the "transposing" instruments (saxes, horns, clarinets, etc.) and how I should attempt to add them to my simple, chord-based Rock and Country BIAB tunes.
Please understand that I'm a barnyard picker whose last brush with traditional music theory was back before I was booted out of 5th grade band class around 54 years ago (it's long story and I still maintain I was innocent).
I managed to get through many years of playing live R&R and Country music while not seriously interfacing with any sax, horn or woodwind players. I made decent $$$$ over the years, but didn't get a very well-rounded musical education. We had the occasional sax player sit in with us over the years, but all I ever did was tell him/her "OK, this is a 1-4-5 rock tune in E" and he/she handled it from that point... and they often handled it very well too!
The only charts I ever used over the years were Nashville numbers notation charts - so the sharps and flats in the staff and all the other "real" musician stuff out there is unfortunately lost on me. The total extent of my knowledge over the years was that certain instruments were referred to as Bb or Eb instruments - and their operators generally appreciated some prior knowledge regarding the key a song was played in...
I am aware of the Opt>Pref>Display>Transpose aspect of BIAB, but I'm not 100% clear as to the exact process of adding these transposing instruments into my simple, chord-based 1-4-5 (with an occasional 2 or 6) R&R or Country-based tunes.
Typically I create the song's chording structure first and attempt add the sax, horn or clarinet part at the very end of the process. At that point, I go into the Opt>Pref>Display>Transpose interface and select the type instrument I'm generating for my tune. After selection, the chords all change accordingly in BIAB, and then I go to my Real Tracks gallery and start auditioning my chosen instrument(s). Is this the correct procedure? Is there a better way to do this?
I'm asking for clarification/direction here because a lot of time when I try to add a transposed instrument to my stuff, the result is not pleasant at all - as if the instrument I'm adding is playing in an entirely different key center than the song I'm trying to add it to...
As a fair-to-middlin' guitar/bass/keyboard player, I seldom create anything in a flat keys, sticking mainly to C-G-D-E-A major or minor keys. Are these bad keys for saxes, horns, etc.?
Typically I'm looking to have the sax, or horn, or clarinet play a secondary role in my tunes, stepping to the front for brief solos between verses, etc. (using the F5 key process to bring it in and out of the song).
I like the new horn sections in my 2014 BIAB Everything Pack (I upgraded from 2012 Everything Pack last month)... but they just don't fit in with everything...
Any suggestions/help would be greatly appreciated - and thank you in advance!
just an old analog dog tryin' to learn new tricks...
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
When adding any of the transposing horns to a BB tune, either via MIDI or RealTracks, you don't have to worry about the Transposing, just invoke the horn of choice and it will be generated to sound correctly according to the Key Signature you set in the main Keysig block and the Chords you entered on the Chord Sheet.
Easy, and no problem.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,059
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,059 |
...sticking mainly to C-G-D-E-A major or minor keys. Are these bad keys for saxes, horns, etc.? Depends on who is playing, I guess. As a sideman for CDs by guitarists, I rather expect to be playing a lot in those keys. If you mean for the RealTrack players, no problem. Even if the RealTracks were not recorded in a specific key, BIAB has the Elastique algorithm to shift the pitch without any problem.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 50
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 50 |
Thank you Gentlemen for the prompt and concise responses... Guess I was thinking this one too hard! 
just an old analog dog tryin' to learn new tricks...
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,693
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,693 |
The transposing function is for creating charts for non concert key instruments like most horns. If you had a tenor sax player and you want him to play an exact specific part that's in your Biab song you click on tenor sax in the transpose window. That changes the notation for a tenor sax. You print out the tenor chart and then change the transpose back to concert.
It's when you get interrupted in the middle of this, save the song and forget to change the transpose that will cause you all kinds of grief three months later.
Ask me how I know this...
And yes a good sax player can play in any key just like you should be able to as well. They certainly have their favorites though, usually the flat keys, F, Bb, Eb, Ab and Db. If you have a choice and don't care yourself you'll make them happier if you're in those keys. These are also the jazz keys because of all the legendary jazz horn players.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,383
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,383 |
What Mac said.
I've done quite a few songs in the past using RB to render the tracks and with horns and sax, I've never had an issue with keys. The software did all the right stuff.
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 01/07/14 06:23 AM.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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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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New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
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- Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
- Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
- Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
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- Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
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Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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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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.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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 9 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.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
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