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#18847 04/01/09 02:13 PM
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If I create a song in BB, import it to RB, and there add a vocal track, what are my options for adding harmonies. (Not live, as I can't harmonize)

1. Could I import the vocal as a WAV, back into BB to use the TC, and then export it back into RB to mix on it's own track with the vocal on RB?
2. There I could put harmonies only where I wanted, such as on the choruses?

Thank you;

Gene

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I would sing the vocal in BB. Then add the harmonies with the TC in BB. Just set them so they each save to their own track.

If you sing into BB, you will not have to mess with sync'n em up. Write harmonies to the whole vocal track, much easier to cut out the parts later then to try and write them several times over snippets of a vocal track.

Import them into RB, cut parts, set FX and mix it down.

Trax

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So if I save them to their own tracks, will there be a DRY track saved also? Sounds like not, since once you render harmonies, isn't it all harmonized? If yes, then how do I edit cut out harmonies on , say, the verse, and leave them in on the chorus?

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You can set the TC so each harmony track is saved to its own track. Dry means not using any FX while you are recording.

You will apply the TC to the whole vocal track, which will produce whole harmony tracks. Then you will import each track into RB with your song. Hi-lite the parts where you don't want harmonies and then cut them, leaving harmonies where you do want them.

Then apply the track categories FX and mix down.

Trax

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Muzic Trax;

Oh, ok. Sorry about using dry wrong. I meant "unharmonized" in my post. Ok, the settings are in TC. I looked in BB and could not find it. I will experiment some today.

Thank you,

Gene

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The "settings" are in the TC box that opens when you click on the button to generate harmonies with.

Select generate each harmony to its own track. Each harmony will then be a wave file, like the vocal wave file.

Trax

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I might just buy an outboard harmonizer again, depending on the results I get with the TC built in one. I used to have a vocalist by Digitech, and loved it. Just set the key, and forget it. Real good sounding harmonies. The one at the link below, I have not heard of. Maybe someone has one? It has pitch correction, which I could certainly use from time to time. Needs no midi, guitar or keyboard signal. But has midi in/out, mic, and guitar in, etc. if you want.

http://www.digitech.com/products/Vocalist/Vocalist_VL3D.php

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I've been reading this thread (and the manual) and having a hard time understanding a few points. First, some background. I "wrote" a song in BIAB and added the melody (within the notation area) to the melody track. Now I want to record vocal and add harmony. When the vocal is recorded, where is it stored, Melody, Soloist or elsewhere? Does it bacome part of the song (MySong.MGU)? After the vocal is complete, where does the harmony get stored? Lastly, when I play back the song (MySong.MGU?) will it contain all the pieces (chords, drums, vocal & harmony)?

I know I've asked a lot of questions lately. I'm just trying to get my arms around this so I have a better understanding. Thanks for all your help.

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Vocal would have to be recorded to the single Audio track in BIAB. Located at the far right of the other instruments across the top.


Audio track will create a .wav file in the same folder where the songfile is stored of the same name with .wav suffix instead of a BIAB suffix like .mgu or .sgu, etc.

BIAB will automatically load any .wav file of the exact same name as the songfile to that Audio track when the songfile is opened.



--Mac

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Is there a recommendation for where songs should be saved?

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Quote:

Is there a recommendation for where songs should be saved?




I don't see why there would need to be one. As Mac said, the requirement is that the BIAB songfile (.MGU or .SGU etc.) and the accompanying .WAV audio file must be in the same folder. I have lots of subfolders for my songs, and everything works fine.


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Can anyone point me towards BIAB TC harmonies that actually sounded good -- I haven't heard any. My advice is to start practicing doing harmonies. If you can do the lead, over time you will get the harmony parts, too.

Kevin


Now at bandcamp: Crows Say Vee-Eh @ bandcamp or soundcloud: Kevin @ soundcloud
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I always do this when working on a song I'm going to mess with. (dangle ye participle)

1. Load song.

2. Save to a directory called work1 or work2 etc.

3. Reload (veddy important.)

4. Work on song.

5. Save at each step with new name. ie Mysong1 Mysong 1a Mysong2 etc.

6. I can now delete the audio if I need to and re-do it.


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Music Trax has turned in some good sounding work using that TC, Kevin.

I'm with you on the subject, but from Trax's examples I know that it can be done.

I use the TC Helicon to *write* vocal parts that singers can hear and learn to sing. Sometimes I run just their part on the Helicon in their monitor mix and have them sing along with that as a guide for them, along with the backing tracks.


--Mac

Mac #18861 04/06/09 07:22 PM
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That's what I'm worried about, is the quality of the TC harmonies. I'm sure all you veterans to the forum have heard of the harmony contest they had here at PG. I have listened to the finalists, and it is good. Since I am not familar with this software harmonizer, that is why I mentioned that I have had a Digitech Vocalist. It was, and still is about $300.00. You just plug in your mic, line out and go. I thought I would see how hard it was to get the same results from TC, because it is something we all have. And Kevin, I admire your songs, (don't know how many you have harmonized to) but for me to learn harmony, now. . . . Call me a dog, but I don't want to spend the time to get it really good, when there are electronics that will do the same thing for me. I know, we shouldn't rely on all this stuff, I know. . . and I feel very envious of musicians that can do it all. I do.

I am happy with the songs that I create, and most of the time I have had other singers do the vocals. They have so much dynamics to their voices, that I just don't want to bring down the integrity of the song with my lame vocals. So, there, I said it, I will probably use a "crutch" if you will on any vocals I do, and try not to feel bad about it. I focused on playing guitar all these years, and I will never ( I know, never say never) be a good singer. But neither is Kris Kristoferson(sp), but he is a good songwriter. I will do with my strengths, and seek help for the rest.

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All music boils down to practice. I've had some great moments with the harmonizer, you need to take a short piece, one verse, and experiment. You need the melody to be there to pitch correct you at the start. And like anything else, practice. It's been said, 1000 hours and you are an expert. That's 3 hours a day for a year. No sweat, no progress.

I learned to play the baritone, euphonium and tuba at 51. I'm not 60 quite yet. Get with the program. Fake it 'till you make it. Nothing in your way but your negative thoughts. Work prevails. And it's fun if it's music. Baby steps man. And remember, always learn. 3rd's don't exist in power chords. There are more than one kind of 3rds. Keep posting, keep asking and keep learning. Take some stuff with a grain or pound of salt. And glean the good stuff.

The best use of Biab is practice, practice, practice. Same song new style, new tempo, faster, slower. Study the soloist. Check the harmonies. It's all there like a buffet.


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Thanks John;

You're right, I just had a sentimental moment, I guess. There's just so much time in my day, and some things I have tried for years, already. I'm not giving up on vocals, it's just not my strong point. Thank you for the reality check. You're a good man.

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My Dad (God rest his soul), had a real good ear for music. He could add a harmony to just about anything "on the fly". I wish I had that talent.

Regarding the harmonies in BIAB, is there a "easy" way to get a listing of all the harmonies available. It's really difficult to scroll through the list on the menu using the little presentation window provided. I'd like to able to scan through a larger listing.

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Quote:

All music boils down to practice.





John comes up with some great gems like this one.


Pay attention.



--Mac

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