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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 303
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 303 |
I am trying to understand how to sequence parts with BB. I have read the manual and it seems that you have to do about 13 different things before you can record a single track: load a MIDI file,open the notation,mentally decodify the colours of each part,go back to the 'sequencer' (if you can really call it that)...etc etc etc etc
Then,after you record,you choose on which track you want the data to end up. It's all very counter-intuitive....I am an old guy and I remember when I had my hardware sequencers: you just saw 16 tracks,all you had to do was choosing on which one to record,and so on.
Why can't BB be like this? I would expect to see first of all a software mixer for the sequencer,with tracks and icons for each. Instead,I get greeted by that windows 98 kind of grey little window with numbers like '382' to show the events. I am comparing that with the sequencer of Songtrix Gold....there's no comparison! I'd still prefer BB because of the Realtracks and all the rest,but I think that the sequencer really needs to be improved. Why do you need to load a Midi file? A sequencer should be a sequencer, suppose that I want to create a midi file from scratch?
I'd still like to give it a shot.....anyone can direct me on a tutorial video where all the sequencer's use of BB are explained? There's so many tutorial videos and it would take hours just to find out the part I am interested in.
I wish I had more patience,but the days are getting short.....
thank you for any help.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 436
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 436 |
What are you going to record? Audio, like vocals, guitar, or play a midi keyboard? If you want to record a guitar, just plug in your guitar into your computer, (line/mic in) and hit the red Record Audio button and go. It puts it on a track for you, melody or soloist, I think. If you need many tracks, go into Real Band, highlight a track, right click on the track to choose what kind of track, i.e. midi/audio, and hit the record button.
Hope this helps a bit, if you need better information, post more details of your needs, and your system, and someone will answer soon.
Have a good Easter,
Gene
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 303
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 303 |
hi,I am talking about composing with the midi sequencer....yes I too knew that I can plug my guitar in and hit the red Record button  thanks
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 303
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 303 |
my equipment:
BB 2008
Centrino laptop
Edirol asio usb soundcard
M-audio keyboard,etc
Last edited by avatars_the_titletrack; 04/12/09 11:04 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697 |
Quote:
....I am an old guy and I remember when I had my hardware sequencers: you just saw 16 tracks,all you had to do was choosing on which one to record,and so on.
Why can't BB be like this? I would expect to see first of all a software mixer for the sequencer,with tracks and icons for each.
What you're describing is Real Band. This is why RB was created, to answer everybody's questions like yours. As you've discovered, Biab has some very basic and hard to access sequencing functions but that's not what Biab is. Biab is a killer program for creating good backing tracks for you, not to allow you to use it as a sequencer to record your own. You can do some of that if you insist but why bother when Real Band was created for exactly that? It combines Biab with a full functioning 48 track sequencer that still has complete access to all the Real Tracks and Drums.
Naturally there's exceptions depending on what you're trying to do. Biab is much better for live performance for example so if you want to record a specific part for a song to use on stage, then it's best if you learned how to do it in Biab but other than that RB is the way to go for this.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 303
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 303 |
hi Jazzmammal, thank you,well at least now I know that it wasn't my imagination about the fact that BB has an hard to access sequencing method....to say the least!
I am very disappointed with BB though,yes it is a great program ,but considering that the program has one zillion of unique and useful features (and some are not even that indispensable) it seems strange that the sequencer doesn't really cut it,it's not intuitive at all and infact it hardly resembles a sequencer. It's a sort of paradox....
I'll still have a look at Realband,though,it just seems a bit too much to get another program just to sequence with MIDI. I think BB should well able to deal with that on it's own.
Come on PG Music,I am just talking about a 16 tracks MIDI sequencer that you can open and start to record into. It shouldn't be so hard. Some users still might want to combine that with BB's backings. Realband doesn't yet fully merge with all of BB's backing features
thanks and happy Easter to all
Last edited by avatars_the_titletrack; 04/12/09 11:37 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 303
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 303 |
hey jazzmammal, I am watching the Realband intro video....it seems that you were right,though,Realband seem to do what I am looking for. I just didn't understand ,yet,what it is that BB does ,that Realband can't,but it seem to be able to do all the main functions....entering chords,using these mind-blowing Realtracks....
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697 |
Quote:
Come on PG Music,I am just talking about a 16 tracks MIDI sequencer that you can open and start to record into. It shouldn't be so hard.
You're right, it wasn't so hard. Real Band is the answer they came up with. Real Band is a combination of Biab and Power Tracks. All of the PT tutorials apply to RB. Now, considering that Biab is the flagship program, they did not put all of the Biab functions into RB. The thinking is that would create a monster program so complex, nobody would be able to figure out. As it is RB does include all of the Biab song generating functions using the styles, instruments and the same chord grid with part markers. You can do it either by using the first 8 tracks as strictly Biab tracks and that will regenerate a whole song whenever you change styles, or one track at a time which is my favorite way of doing it. One track at a time allows you to mix styles per track. Still, some important parts of Biab that are not in RB are the midi soloists (the Real Tracks soloists work fine though) the Melodist, the Soundtrack generator, the Conductor and a few more.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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