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#242657 03/04/14 03:37 PM
Add-ons and UserTracks for Band-in-a-Box
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I am a little surprised there has not been a bunch of new UserTracks released by now. When PG released this feature I thought within 60 days we would have a bunch to download or buy but I see very little so far. Is that because we are still in the learning curve? Are there some folks out there quietly working on a UserTrackPack that will blow our socks off in June? Or, has this new feature not been that well received?

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Consider how many posts we still see on the forum from people who are wondering whether or not they should try RealBand... and its been around since at least 2008...

Innovation is not always embraced quickly... most of us have to warm up to it. But I have a feeling that at some point the idea will click and we'll see more people experimenting and posting their results.

I'm busy with work right now, but eventually I plan to make user tracks from royalty free loops... if the basic sounds are public domain, then we should be able to distribute the resulting user tracks.

The EASIEST way to make UT would be to run a single-instrument recording (harp, cello, piano, Hammered dulcimer etc) through the ACW, then save the results in the user tracks folder... but you couldn't distribute that because it would be based on somebody's protected performance.

It would be a good way to learn how to make user tracks without having to record all the music, though.

Another good adaptation of user tracks would be for people to make a guitar or bass or keyboard part etc for well-known cover songs (you'd have to leave out the signature licks). But just having a collection of parts catalogued by song name, that could be DL and used in the creation of cover songs would be really useful. For example, the guitar chords to FIRE LAKE are just chords and therefore unprotectable.. but if you wanted to make a cover of that song you'd have a hard time finding a RT with exactly the right cadence and feel. A UT could nail it.

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Hey Pat! Yeah I guess it could take a while but I was hoping to at least hear from someone excited about something they were working on that will be released soon or something like that! Dunno if the comparison to RealBand works as many people use a full-featured DAW already and will never convert to RB. UserTracks, on the other hand, should be very desirable as there is an obvious market with all of us clamoring for more RealTracks all the time!

I guess I need to give it a try...maybe the difficulty in creating quality UserTracks is high enough to keep most of us off the playground!

Last edited by JohnJohnJohn; 03/05/14 03:16 PM.
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I created the Dobro User Track, when the feature first came out, since then I made one of a fingerpicking guitar, but it wasn't good enough to upload. I do have plans to make some more. I'd like to make some of my Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer, as I've always loved how it sounds, especially in Joni Mitchell songs, I'd like to make some Rhythmic chording, both Even and Swing, and also maybe another one with some melodic motifs as well as the chords, as these are unique to the instrument.

Also some folk-style banjo, some octave mandolin, and more fingerpicking guitar.

Just haven't got around to it yet, keeping busy with performing and recording a new Old-Time-Country CD, with my wife Marg.

Somebody requested Hammer Dulcimer too, I have one, but I'm not sure if it would work well. As the main quality of its sound, is one of endless sustained ringing notes, which would get cut off at every chord change.

Sometime I'll get more posted.

Andrew

"Marg and Andrew Lloyd"
Cd's available on itunes and Amazon.com


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Andrew, I was the person requesting hammered dulcimer. I've always enjoyed hearing how the unhammered strings sort of resonate in the background to make what I believe to be a most unique drone sound.

I have a cd of "mountain songs" performed by uncredited musicians. The musicians trade verses using mandolin, flatpicked acoustic, 4 string banjo, autoharp and/or dulcimer. I've spent many an hour traveling down interstates listening to the cd and just fell in love with the sound of the hammered dulcimer. Just select track 3 for their rendition of "Soldier's Joy", set the cd player on repeat and I can drive until the fuel runs out.

Unlike many bluegrass recordings, they don't try to impress with listen to what I can do, they just impress by showcasing each song.


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I wanted to make some up but the UserTrack supplied is Accordion, Rhythm Crossover Sw16 075,
it has holds, shots recorded but when you put them in C... C.. it just keeps playing straight in BB & RB ?? Can someone please try this and see if I have something wrong thanks.
So I don't know if it is all working yet.
If so do I use 9 & 10 in that dir for PopSong_09_ShotsHoldsChording.SGU PopSong_10_ShotsHoldsBassSingleNote.SGU
missing out of the BB\RealTracks\UserTracks\Templates ?


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Hi Jim,

I absolutely agree with you about the beauty of the hammered dulcimer. I'll probably get around to trying to make some user tracks sometime, they'd probably work best with long sustained chords.

Incidentally, a few years ago, Marg and I were in Tennessee, and purchased a "lap harp", which also has a wonderful sound. That would also make a great user track in my opinion.

Andrew


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For me it's been a learning experience, 2 steps forward then sliding down the hill, but that all good.
I just make a test then see what it sounds like and learn more.
I have a feeling others are doing the same, just little bits at a time or maybeit's just me.
Wyndham

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