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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 868
Expert
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OP
Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 868 |
I am a guitar player who wants to build backing tracks to play out.
I'm thinking BIAB drums & bass & sometimes keyboards.
Record my own rhythm guitar and perform the lead/solo live.
I need an overview of how to build a backing band using the following gear.
Currently I have biab 2012 PC (win7 64 quad core I7 3ghz 16gb).
I have a MacBook Pro Retina 15 (loaded) with Logic.
I have a Pod X3 for recording the guitars.
I have some familiarity with biab & logic
Some questions
Midi or Real Tracks from Biab
Real Band or Logic.
If I need to purchase biab2015 now i will. Otherwise I will probably purchase later in the year.
If midi should I purchase something like the Roland SC. The midi stuff out of my PC sounds like toys.
A general overview of people's approach would be great to help jump start my effort.
If this has all been covered perhaps just point me to the links
Thanks
biab2025(Mac) Latest Build
Mac OS (Latest)
Apple Mac Mini M2 pro 32GB Ram
Logic Pro 11.2.2
Irwin Vice Grip Fencing Pliers
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 393
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 393 |
Lots of tough questions, and you'll probably get all kinds of opinions on them.
midi or Real Tracks - I'd suggest to use both - whichever fits your particular need better (you can edit midi tracks)
Real Band or Logic - depends whether you want to work in Windoze or Mac - BIAB for Mac does not include Real Band, but if you've got Logic you wouldn't need it
midi stuff out of PC sounds like toys - that's a function of whatever midi synthesizer you use - Logic has some good quality midi synths available - probably way better than your default Windoze synth - take some midi creations into Logic, see what you think about the sound
Bruce
Macbook Pro 2018
2.6 GHz 6-core Intel Core i7, 16 GB RAM
OS Monterey
BIAB for Mac 2022
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,139
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,139 |
You might want to keep it simple to start. BIAB using RT's into Real Band, record your rhythm guitar parts, mix and export to WAV or MP3. Real Band has everything you need to make a very good sounding backing track.
My only admonition would be to do your final mixing/mastering through the PA system you intend to use live. A mix can sound great through phones or good monitors, but horrible through a PA.
Regards,
Bob
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 110
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 110 |
Welcome
I'm using BIAB 2013, so I'm not familiar with what features 2012 doesn't have.
For recording and playback, I use a PreSonus AudioBox USB interface which came bundled with Studio One Artist.
Real Tracks generally sound better than MIDI, although for Bass and keys, sometimes I will use MIDI for those. I take the rough tracks from BIAB and drop them into StudioOne for polishing and editing. MIDI parts are dropped into StudioOne and I use the MIDI instruments that came with StudioOne for my sound module.
I'm not familiar with Logic, so I can't help you there. I'm also not a big fan of RealBand for a DAW, but there are some cool features built-in that you can't get in another DAW.
My general approach is to lay out the song in BIAB in a straight line, with no repeats or choruses. If it's an 8 bar song with three choruses, I lay it out as a 24 bar song. At the beginning, I'll add 4 to 8 bars for an intro. At the end, I figure out if I want any repeats and add those bars, as well. After that, I'll add a couple of bars of held chords of the root chord and then let BIAB generate an ending. If there are open parts like the solo or melody, I'll find a solo instrument part that fits in and add it to those tracks. At this point, the more parts the better. Next I'll play around with different drum sub-styles on different parts of the song. Once I get everything close, I export each track as a wave file.
Once I get the individual WAV files of each part, I drag those into StudioOne. As I listen to it now, I decide what parts I want on each verse and chorus and mute the parts I don't want. The parts I added in the last step in BIAB may not be used at all in the final mix or I may use bits and pieces of them a dead spots in a song. The ending of the song is created by using a combination of the BIAB generated ending, the held chords from BIAB or parts in the song.
Sorry this was so long, but hope it helps.
Rich
Windows 10, 64 bit | BIAB 2019 PlusPak | Studio One 2 Artist
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 10
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 10 |
Before spending money and sweat equity on this project, you would be well-advised to check what your competition is doing at the venues in your area you are considering working at since your end goal is to play out.
While BIAB is a good tool for a lot of purposes and would certainly do well for backing tracks, playing with a "canned band" gets a mixed response in a lot of venues. If there are others working with backing tracks in your area at the venues you want to play at, more power to you. That said, backing tracks will get you laughed out of most venues in my area (which has a surfeit of world-class musicians living and gigging locally). Before getting too heavily invested in backing tracks, make sure they're not going to hinder more than help you in pursuing the end goal.
Take this advice with a grain of salt, but I'm coming up on a 45th anniversary of making music for a living and I reckon that entitles me to an opinion on the subject. As an aside, the only gear I use for 95% of my gigs are a guitar, a mandolin, a dobro and a bouzouki and I usually sing/play unamplified unless there are more than 100 people in the crowd. Your mileage may vary.
Cheers,
Ed
***********************
"We know what we are, but not what we may be"
- Noted bluesman Blind Will Shakespeare
***********************
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,020
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,020 |
I am one of the few musicians here that uses mostly all MIDI. These are my views based on that. There are plus and minuses to both MIDI and RTs/RDs.
If I were you I would for now use RTs and RDs. They will give you instant gratification. The plus side of these is they sound great right out of the box so to speak.
The minus side is you get what they give you. You can cut and paste sections together and in RealBand (which I do not use) you can regenerate areas of your choice. However in most cases you can not get them to play exactly what you might want them to play.
The plus side of MIDI is that you can get them to play exactly what you want them to play. You can add parts, change sounds and notes very easily.(Personally I find this easier than cutting and pasteing RTs/RDs but YMMV).
The minus side of MIDI is that it costs money to get great sounds and you have to learn MIDI to get convincing parts. As you mentioned MIDI sounds from computer motherboards a terrible, but MIDI sounds from more expensive VSTis like Kontakt are quite good. But, and this is a big but, you have to learn how to control MIDI via various MIDI messages (CCs, mod wheel, pitch bend etc. Don't worry its really not hard.) If you buy a good MIDI sound source and drop a BiaB file into it and expect it to sound like a RT good luck. For piano, organ and drums it's great but for wind and string instruments not so great. This is where those messages come in.
So I would start with RTs/RDs. If you want more control I would start with a good MIDI drum sound source for my MIDI drums. Drop a BiaB MIDI drum track into the VSTi and modify it so it fits what you want to do. After you master that do the same with piano and organ and continue to the wind instrument and strings.
I will try to drop a good example of what MIDI can do in the Off-Topic forum a little later.
Again this is just my ideas and it may or may not be what you are looking for.
Good luck from one guitarist to another.
It takes courage for a man to admit his wife was wrong.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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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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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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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.
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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