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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 10
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 10 |
Newbie question here. I use the Forte Coyote synth and I render the MIDI tracks in BiAB then export them to my DAW with any Real Instrument tracks. To my beginner's ears, these rendered tracks sound fine the way they are, i.e. I don't think they need more processing in my DAW and they are good to go with the exception of my vocals. Is that the nature of virtual instruments in general, i.e. have they already been processed during sampling by the folks at Coyote? I do assume though that panning and maybe some processing on the stereo buss is still normally done before the bounce. How do you guys do it? Am I thinking this right?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,613
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Yes, that sounds right.
Each of us has a different judgment about what sounds good, especially for reproducing MIDI. I've used Forte Coyote and it has good sounds but only you can decide if it's good enough for your recording.
Although I currently use a hardware module for MIDI, I can often mix the sounds right out of BIAB with no further processing, besides panning.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 10
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 10 |
Thanks much. That puts my mind at ease. By the way, do you guys do much processing with Real Instruments tracks or do you think of them like MIDI samples, i.e. pre-processed? I tried using a GarageBand template with a RealDrum track and it sounded good, but in the end, I thought it was a bit much and I eventually just used the unprocessed track. I know it's probably a matter of taste, but as a starting point, I'd like to know how the pros do it.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,026
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Templates are just a starting point , I use some Logic templates and in the mixer window it shows each plugin . Double click to change parameters . I don't have Garage Band on my mac but I believe they are similar in this function . If you get a setup that you like ,name the tracks (Drums ,ect.),then delete all the audio tracks and save as a template .
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,163
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Don't allow the ol "That was too easy" to sway you when it comes to generating tracks. If it sounds good and you haven't processed it into swiss cheese, 9 times out of 10 your ears are correct. It's our "producer" hat that can throw us off at times, if we think we haven't "done" enough to get what we are hearing. Like Mac always says: Your ears are your guide. If it sounds good, it probably is and there is no need to add this or that and muck up a mix. Just my 5 cents worth  Trax
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 10
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 10 |
I see what you all are saying. If I like it, then leave it alone. I've mucked some things up pretty bad in the past but not knowing it until I heard it the next day or even after several days. Funny how that works. Thanks a lot for all your help. Appreciate it.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Quote:
Thanks much. That puts my mind at ease. By the way, do you guys do much processing with Real Instruments tracks or do you think of them like MIDI samples, i.e. pre-processed? I tried using a GarageBand template with a RealDrum track and it sounded good, but in the end, I thought it was a bit much and I eventually just used the unprocessed track. I know it's probably a matter of taste, but as a starting point, I'd like to know how the pros do it.
"Learn to Trust Your Ears"
I'm agreed with you that *most* of the time, MIDI samples will need no extra massaging on your part, other than adjusting the levels to suit the other tracks within context. Most samples are already massaged by the sample creators and all GM/GS banks are carefully massaged to work and play well together right out of the starting gate.
There are those who will disagree with the above, of course. Perhaps the hardcore PowerRocker or the likes thereof will try to get more punch out of a MIDI track by converting that track to Audio track and then appling various Audio Effects plugins. There's nothing wrong with that either, provided that it is done with good taste, and that's back to Trusting those Ears.
"REFEREMCE RECORDINGS" -- Isolate those CDs that you ahve in your collection in which you think have the best sound within the genre that you are working. Those that have been well-mixed and Mastered.
Use your Reference Recording to do A/B coparisons with your own work as it progresses.
This can often serve to provide you with a "place to stand" as concerns what is needed - or not needed - in your oen project.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 10
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 10 |
I guess that's why if I simply let Forte's GM handle the instruments, my songs sound like they are good to go, but when I import MIDI tracks to my DAW and load individual instruments, the overall results sound disjointed. Got it now.
And as far as reference recording, yes I do that all the time. I always leave one track in my DAW dedicated to a stereo reference song, of course without any processing and with plugins on the stereo bus disabled (only when I solo this track). Sometimes if I want to get really picky, I'll use an EQ analyzer on the stereo bus and A/B my song and the reference song.
Thanks Mac.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Your DAW software typically will open tracks with no Volume, Pan, Tone etc. settings that were in BiaB applied to the tracks. The multitrack DAW software will default all tracks to a certain value, like maybe CC7 90, for all the tracks.
That is a feature of DAW software, it allows YOU to then tailor the tracks to suit the mix the way you want/need them to sound.
Being basically an Autoaccompaniment software, BiaB settings take liberties with those settings in order to make use more user-friendly and simple, hopefully obtaining great sounding results without all the diddling and twiddling. Good thing.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 618
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 618 |
I just installed the demo of Forte Coyote DXI plugin on a new Win7 machine.
I can't seem to get the TR 808 drum kit to play. It's on the dropdown list. The name changes but the patch stays the same.
Any info would be greatly appreiated.
Thank you, Wayne,
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
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See my response in the other thread, Wayne.
--Mac
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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