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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3 |
Can someone tell me if I can import an mp3 of myself playing guitar and singing into BIAB, and then add drums and bass to it? My attempts so far have been futile. I used the Automatic Chord Wizard, set the beat , and have been unsuccessful past that. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 493
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 493 |
You can do it, but timing issues might crop up unless you recorded your guitar/vocals with a metronome. RealBand might be a better choice for this.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,633
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,633 |
Hi tunaboy,
Welcome to the forums.
As Barry said, it can be done. Under "Audio" on the top menu, there's an option to "Import Audio". You could load the file in via this. That being said, though, as Barry has pointed out, unless your timing is 100% accurate throughout the whole song, it will be very difficult (if not nearly impossible) to get your mp3 to exactly match added drums and bass, beat by beat. Because the bass and drums are electronically generated, they are 100% accurate with timing.
The option, again as Barry has said, is to use Realband. Matching tempos can be done by generating the bass and the drums and then slicing your mp3 into sections (if necessary) and stretch/shrink those sections to match the generated instruments. If you initially recorded your mp3 against a set rhythm, it may fit fairly easily.
In my experience, the best way to add bass and drums is to lay those lines down first and then record the other against them. That way, there will be no timing issues. It might turn out that it's a whole heap easier simply to lay down a chord progression, solo the bass and drums, and then record your guitar playing and singing on top of this.
All the best,
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,278
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,278 |
The Audio Chord Wizard supports the generation of a tempo map. Importing some mp3 and sycing a BB arrangement should be a piece of cake.
Martin
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18 |
Quote:
In my experience, the best way to add bass and drums is to lay those lines down first and then record the other against them. That way, there will be no timing issues. It might turn out that it's a whole heap easier simply to lay down a chord progression, solo the bass and drums, and then record your guitar playing and singing on top of this.
That has been my experience as well. Use BIAB to create the basic tracks first. I normally create my songs while playing my acoustic guitar. Once I get a cohesive chord progression for the various parts (verse, chorus, etc..) and a melody going (lyrics seem to always come last), I'll then input the tempo, time signature, chords, etc. into BIAB and play with various styles until I get something I like. Typically, once I get the arrangement the way I like it, I will drag & drop the tracks (using the DAW plug-in feature) into one of my preferred DAW's (either SONAR or REAPER) and record my extra bits there (acoustic guitar, vocals, etc). All subsequent recording, arranging, mixing , FX plug-in processing & exporting takes place in my preferred DAW's, at this point.
Cheers,
Billy Buck
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 393
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 393 |
tuna,
Martin is right - automatic chord wizard can do exactly what you're asking. You say you've set the beat, then been unsuccessful beyond that. Typically when you import audio via ACW, the midi style is silenced. There's a checkbox to enable it. Can you give us a little more detail about the "unsuccessful past that". What steps have you taken, what's happened, when you play BIAB can you hear your MP3?
Bruce
Last edited by babarton; 01/02/11 11:15 AM.
Macbook Pro 2018
2.6 GHz 6-core Intel Core i7, 16 GB RAM
OS Monterey
BIAB for Mac 2022
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3 |
Thanks for all your imput. It was quite helpful. I ended up taking the path of least resistance. I found a BIAB file online of the song I was playing, and muted the guitar, then played my guitar and added my vocals over it. Thanks again.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,828
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,828 |
Once i open a file in Rb and set the tempo map, i tend to stay in Rb and not drag to another DAW since RB is the one that had the ability to make a tempo map out of a file that did not have one. Then add any tracks you want. and it should all run smoothly to the tempo mapped MP3 file.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3 |
I tried opening the song in Real Band and adding tracks as you folks suggested and that worked perfectly for me. Thanks again, great info.
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