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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 39
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OP
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 39 |
Consider it Done. I bought it yesterday . Waiting for info on the shipping progress.
Looking forward to it.
I really want to improve my jazz chops and I think this will help.
Thanks to everyone that commented.
jeff
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: May 2011
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Congratulations.
justastarting
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 27
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I play accordion with my friend who plays bass.... We use BIAB to make backing tracks which I convert to MP3s for use when playing live. I have them on a USB stick (which my electronic accordion can read and play)...I just take the generated BIAB tracks into a DAW and mute the bass part and tweak the rest of the tracks....sometimes we throw in another instrument to do a lead part or two as well. The realtracks sound much better than any midi backing tracks so it works great.
BTW...we still have the tracks in the DAW, so we can record our own on top of them and may eventually make a CD of our tunes too....
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 80
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Posts: 80 |
My plan is to perform live with BIAB. I am a Jazz, Pop vocal singer (Old School) and it's not easy trying to pull Jazz Musicians together. BIAB's Real Tracks are live enough to do great background tracks. I also have recorded tracks for CD's. I'm in love with BIAB. Thanks to the Genius of Sir Peter Gannon I as a vocal singer am unlimited to what I can do. In addition, many times I will add my own flavor to the track or tracks to give it a personal feel.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3
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Newbie
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3 |
Hi All,
I am using BIAB 2011 (mac version) for a small one man combo.
I play Saxophones and Trumpet. I find that this software enables me to gig without the hassles of finding musicians in the small town I live in.
Thanks to to PG and the crew for such a great product.
Look forward to developing my skills with the help of this site.
Rgds,
Peter
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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I am lost on one point of the original concept of the thread. "Will BIAB help me play jazz better".
The effective answer to that question is "No. Nothing will help YOU play better but a lot of practice."
What BIAB CAN do is give you backing tracks to play AGAINST and make the process of creating those tracks much easier than a regular music sequencing recording program. With Cubase, Sonar (what I use), Pro Tools, whatever, you still have to PLAY G-2-3-4 G-2-3-4 Em-2-3-4 Em-2-3-4 C-2-3-4 C-2-3-4 D-2-3-4 D-2-3-4. In BIAB you just have to TYPE in the chord names G EM C D in the right place and BIAB will create a backing track with that progression.
"Jazz" really has nothing to do with it. Nor would pop, rock, funk, soul, country.... You just pick an appropriate style for BIAB to emulate when you create the backing tracks and go for it. When you get done with that key, transpose it up a step and play it in A for a while. Then maybe move it to D so you practice in every key. Change styles to play with different grooves, change tempos to play different speeds.....
Maybe your root question is better stated "Will this give me music to spend hours playing along with and thus improving my skills". Then the answer is yes. However, another option is to play CDs of your favorite artists and play along with them if that's what you are looking to do.
Most people I know use this as a writing tool and a backup band for composition. I just finished my 9th song for a CD I am trying to do. I use BIAB to make home studio quality demos to send to the players who will do the CD so they can learn the songs before we waste a lot of rehearsal (or studio) time teaching parts. Writers need to spend their time writing, not teaching parts.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 31
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Enthusiast
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 31 |
Quote:
I am lost on one point of the original concept of the thread. "Will BIAB help me play jazz better".
The effective answer to that question is "No. Nothing will help YOU play better but a lot of practice."
Hi Eddie,
My aim with BiaB is pretty similar to yours, and I certainly agree with the general points that you made. But I'd come at it from a somewhat different angle, so my answer to the question would be "Yes, it can help you play jazz better". My reasoning goes something like this:
1. Jazz Focus. BiaB is surprisingly strong on jazz. Rather than just giving a quick nod in the direction of jazz, as some programs might, it features a wide range of jazz styles. That alone should make it worth a close look for a student of jazz.
2. Motivation and Ease. The biggest factors in whether we just think something is a good idea, and whether we actually DO it usually boils down to two things - motivation and ease. Do I still feel like doing something after the first enthusiasm wears off, and how easy is it to carry out? In my opinion, the quality of the results, and the relative ease with which I can get a useful result (compared to reading a lot of books or researching, tracking down, and buying multiple CDs) puts a tick in both boxes for me.
3. Learning Value. One of the huge bonuses of BiaB for me - across all styles - is its value as a tool for learning. I don’t know all there is to know about the structural differences between the different musical genres, or what characterises the variations in their sub-styles. The more I listen, the more I realise how little I do know… BiaB is proving to be an excellent teacher. I can study the demo songs and see what makes them work. Or I can put together a chord progression, and listen carefully to what BiaB does with it, depending on the chosen style. Then pick another style, listen again, and hear what BiaB does differently with the same progression and so on. If all I ever did with BiaB was use it that way I’d consider it worth the price. They say that with some styles “All you need is 3 chords and the truth”, but jazz can be anything from fairly simple to very complex and intellectual in approach. Knowledge is valuable, and can definitely contribute to being a better player. Knowing what you’re aiming at and why can be a huge asset.
That’s how it strike me anyway. I’d say that BiaB can definitely help somebody become a better jazz player.
Cheers,
Chris
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Anonymous
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We're pretty much on the same page, Chris. I would just take out the word "jazz". It will make somebody become a better player by virtue of cutting down prep time and making more time available to actually practice, but that is true no matter WHAT style they play.
Through my years I have played rock, jazz, Motown, lounge/dance, funk.... musicians should strive to find opportunity to play whatever is out there. This project is a country music CD for that very reason. I have never played country, much less written it. Been an interesting process as I listen to many other artists to become more familiar with different grooves than I have ever worked in.
I am fortunate to live in a city where we have a diverse music base. The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra is something to hear, and when I do hear them I seriously consider selling my horns and never playing horn again. They are THAT good... And then I can drive down the street and hear a blues band, a dance band, a classic rock band.... and learn something from every one of them.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 39
Enthusiast
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OP
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 39 |
Hey Guys, I'm back.
Interesting comments from everybody. I was the one who initially started the topic.
I got BB primarily because of my interest in learning to play jazz better.
I am currently living in Nairobi Kenya and I am playing with a nice jazz quartet/quintet. But being a 50 year old cat that plays the French Horn, (mostly classical for the longest time) I felt like I needed some extra help learning tunes when I am not playing with the band.
Oftentimes I will play a tune such as On Green Dolphin Street and when I get to the bridge I scuffle over the changes in a similar fashion. My fluiditiy is not happening in a lyrical, melodious sense. My BeeBop chops are hurtin big time. So I feel like BB will give me a chance to slow down and even loop the changes.
I have to say I am amazed at the players in our band, The Nairobi Jazz Ensemble. These guys don't read well but the have hundreds of tunes memorized. That is where I am seriously lacking. So I have been using BB to help me memorize the tunes.
Absolutely, without practice we will suck, there is no substitute.
And by the way, I am from New Orleans, but went to the Cleveland Institute of Music. Studied with cats in the Cleveland Orch. I have been to the Euclid Tavern to hear Mr. Stress Blues Band. Are they still around?
Later Jeff
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Anonymous
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Mr Stress (Bill Miller) is still around but pretty much just does jam nights. The Euclid Tavern is on it's 3rd owner in 20 years and not the same as it used to be. Right in the area where you attended the Institute are several small clubs, some so small there is not even parking, and the people tend to pack those more eclectic venues a lot more than the "mainstream" joints. The Boarding House right there in University Circle has jazz a lot. Severance Hall is still magnificent and the Orchestra is still amazing.
Private message me if you'd like to reminisce about Cleveland so we don't tie up a forum. Been here my whole life and love it here. Well, not so much in January and February...
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,026
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,026 |
If you don't buy it all you will regret it once you try it ! I bought the 2004 version and a week later I had to have the mega pack . You will be so hooked and it's way cheaper to get it all than to add on. And with a money back guaranty and useful forums to boot how can you lose !
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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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- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
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- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
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