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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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OP
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I have a song for which I am trying to find the appropriate 'Style'.
It needs to be about 80 bpm, 12/8 beat, a little bit calypso, a little bit reggae, a little bit of backbeat, with a 'wistful' nostalgic feel.
I own the BIAB 2011.5 Mega-pak, but can find no included styles that satisfy (for this particular song).
Can anyone recommend a real track set that I can buy that might have something like that? Or maybe a 3rd party product?
Thanks
Doc K
Last edited by kerkenat; 09/24/11 05:51 AM.
If ever a man had it all, it would have to be me, and ooh I love you
Climax Blues Band
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Unfortunately, word descriptions are not able to convey enough information about music. This is a common problem, in the studio the conuctor or producer or even the vocalist may request the musician to accomplish something with such verbal commands, "warmer" or "tighter" etc. -- and six different accomplished musicians can and usually will interpret those verbal descriptions entirely differently. Quote:
It needs to be about 80 bpm, a little bit calypso, a little bit reggae, a little bit of backbeat, with a 'wistful' nostalgic feel.
Man, that covers quite a bit of ground <grin>.
Would you perhaps be able to give a specific song example, a song name, that exemplifies the type of style you are looking for?
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 80
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OP
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Examples would be Sloop John B, and Kokomo(Beach Boys), Southern Cross (CSNY), Brandy (Looking Glass).
You know, kinda like those, Nautical, tropical, bongos and ukeleles and acoustic guitars, but a little bit reggae, 12/8 rhythm.
If ever a man had it all, it would have to be me, and ooh I love you
Climax Blues Band
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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None of those tunes are in 12/8. They are straight 4.
There are quite a few styles that I could use to do those tunes with, though. Realstyles inclusive.
Perhaps this signifies that it may be time for you to upgrade to a version that includes all styles. I have found that having all styles available is very enabling, once chords are entered on the Chord Grid, I check the "Loop" box, hit Play with whatever style that sounds even close, then open the Stylepicker, check the box down below, "Load Style on Doubleclick" and then use the Filters to go down the styles, doubleclicking and almost instantly auditioning each style selected while the target song plays in the background.
Do you have BB2011.5, the latest version? If so, the Web Demo Song button in the Stylepicker can load and play the .wma demosong file off of the web from the PGMusic servers, this can let you audition the feel of any styles that you do not currently own and might help you to find what you are looking for.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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OP
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Yeah, I realize that none of those songs are in 12/8, which my current songs' lyrics are, but then, actually, 12/8 is merely 4/4 with triplets. (BAH bah bah-BAH bah bah-BAH bah bah-BAH bah bah)
I think you are right that I need to invest more $$ to get more available possibilities into my BIAB setup, but I'm a bit overwhelmed and confused about what exactly it is that I need, and I dislike just throwing $$ at problems.
If I upgrade to the UltraPlus Pak, I will get all the other RealTracks and Drums that are available, but is that what I really need/want.
I am basically a composer/lyricist, not a gigging musician.
I assemble my self-created lyrics into cool sounding tunes, but I am not much of a stage personality or performer. I have adequate musicians available to 'play' the music once I arrange it and print it out. (Which is what BIAB is perfect for)
Would the Norton MIDI stuff be more sensible for my needs, or the UltraPlusPak RealTracks.
(or something else completely?)
Doc K
If ever a man had it all, it would have to be me, and ooh I love you
Climax Blues Band
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi kerkanat, I use BIAB exclusively for writing songs. Having the UltraPlus Pak has been a real boon for me because it has allowed me to write songs in many, many different styles. I have never regretted getting the version I have. I originally started with the a lower priced edition but, at the first upgrade opportunity, I went for everything. Just my tuppence worth  Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
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Quote:
I think you are right that I need to invest more $$ to get more available possibilities into my BIAB setup, but I'm a bit overwhelmed and confused about what exactly it is that I need, and I dislike just throwing $$ at problems.
I don't like to spend money that I do not have to spend either. This is a much different case, though. Read on.
Quote:
If I upgrade to the UltraPlus Pak, I will get all the other RealTracks and Drums that are available, but is that what I really need/want.
Absolutely.
Quote:
I am basically a composer/lyricist, not a gigging musician.
And that purpose is the reason that you should have ALL available styles installed.
I have had so many serendippity moments with Band in a Box and Styles possibilities over the years that it is hard to think of just one example, though I could but words don't describe music well enough to waste the space with the attempt at that here.
But I will tell you unequically that there is something to having as many styles as you can afford for those creative times. Often is the case where the feel and even tempo or beat of some project I've been working on and had in mind changed -- for the better -- simp;ly because I auditioned a few different styles with the same songfile.
Having all the styles available is also dynamite for those times when we need to get the creative juices flowing. Some days I will just opem one of the included Demo Song folders using the Jukebox and lt play in the background while surfing the web or doing other work on the computer. And often is the case where BiaB will play something that gets my attention for some reason or other. Might be catchy, might sound like it could fill the bill for a song I've been working on in my head or on paper, might be something entirely new to me that I dig the sound of. If I were to limit myself to only the styles that I already know, then I wouldn't know what it is that I don't know, which is often very beneficial to the process.
Quote:
I assemble my self-created lyrics into cool sounding tunes, but I am not much of a stage personality or performer. I have adequate musicians available to 'play' the music once I arrange it and print it out. (Which is what BIAB is perfect for)
Would the Norton MIDI stuff be more sensible for my needs, or the UltraPlusPak RealTracks.
(or something else completely?)
Doc K
Doc, I use both from both companies, my advice here is to upgrade to the full pgmusic supplied pak first, with an eye towards adding Norton styles as needed in future. PGMusic styles are not as object-oriented as Bob "Notes" Norton's good styles, meaning that Bob often makes a style available for use as cover song work, targeting a specific song or at least a genre trend. So for a songwriter, I'd say that the first thing to have is all the pgmusic styles, but don't lose track of Norton styles as well. With All-MIDI styles, I find it important to obtain and use a very good sounding MIDI synth to really wring the best out of them, which generally means investing in a Hardware MIDI solution at some point in time.
Mixing MIDI styles with RealTracks and RealDrums can be extremely effective. It is not an either/or situation and I try to encourage people not to fall into the habit of viewing things from that limited standpoint. After all, in the commercial recording studios day in and day out, I often am called upon to play a MIDI-based keyboard track or two which gets mixed in with the "real" instruments. And it is getting to be virtually impossible for the listener to hear a MIDI based piano in a recording and be able to tell it from a real live acoustic piano recorded with microphones. As an example.
When the Realdrums first came out, we all marveled at how just having that one real addition to the old MIDI Styles seemed to make the whole song sound more realistic and less "cheezy". Then when the Realtracks were added, we all found out yet again that using a MIDI style but adding RealDrums and mybe just one or two realtracks, a Realtrack Guitar in there maybe, or a horn, or both -- changed the overall sound of the MIDI-based song to something much better than could be found using MIDI alone.
"The more Style files you have available, the more you will be able do." Period.
That goes for anyone using this marveloous program for any purpose, songwriting, performance, practice, recording, education, self-education or any other uses one might conceive.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 80
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OP
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Thanks for all that, Mac,
Could you elaborate on the MIDI hardware solution you mentioned.
I have a XP Pro setup with 4 GB of RAM, and three 7500 RPM hard drives (2 internal, and 1 external), and several TB's of storage.
Right now I have an MAudio internal sound card with 8in-8out cord 'snakes', (and also 2 external AI's: an MBox 2 Pro (firewire), and a Tascam US 144MKII (usb))
hooked up to little desktop MAudio Studiophile AV20's, some good Sennheiser headphones, a few Shure mics, an MAudio Axiom 49 MIDI keyboard, several other various MIDI keyboards, and the following soft synths and software:
NI Komplete 5
Reason
The BIAB soft synths
Real Guitar
Reaper
Acid Pro
ProTools LE 8
Sibelius 6
etc
I have often wondered if I should invest in a MIDI hardware module, but I just didn't know what I need/want.
Last edited by kerkenat; 09/26/11 02:22 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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A hardware module is always nice. I have a Roland JV-1010 with which I am very pleased. I also have both hard and soft synths in my 'antique' Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro PCI card with breakout box. Hard to beat.
But you have potent weapons in your arsenal. You don't say which version of Reason. It alone can take you a long way. I'd say that it has limits, but that may be due to my experience or lack of it. In any case, it takes a while to find them. I haven't had my hands on Kontakt yet (I will soon) but I have heard only good things about it.
It looks like you have plenty of quality tools to work with. I'd say invest in BIAB and see how far your existing tools will take you. I think you will be pleasantly amazed.
Richard
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Thanks for all that, Mac,
Could you elaborate on the MIDI hardware solution you mentioned.
I have a shelf full of MIDI hardware modules, plus several keyboards that also contain built in MIDI synth/samplers here. *g*
But I do reoommend that you check out the Ketron SD2 hardware module sold right here by PGMusic. I love that little thing, great sounds, small size, easy to operate.
--Mac
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