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Has this problem been fixed in BIAB 2014?

I have my song setup in BIAB 2013 and click GenPlay every time. But this changes the mix within the RealTracks so I get different patterns of playback. Right now I'm working on a song and have exported the audio tracks into my DAW. Now I want to go back into BIAB 2013 and make some changes to one instrument but when I click GenPlay I'm getting a completely different cello melody on my intro. I keep clicking GenPlay hoping that BIAB will toggle through to the right mix but it's very random whether I get back to it. I know about Freezing tracks but have found the mix can still change even when tracks are frozen.

Hope I've explained it properly? So my question is, has BIAB 2014 fixed this yet or is there a solution?

Thanks
Paul

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Hi Paul,

What you explain is normal behaviour for BIAB/RB. Every time Gen/Play is pressed, the tracks are regenerated using the chosen instruments. Each regeneration will have a different variation. This is in keeping with the philosophy that underpins the program. This philosophy is that if a group of musicians play live, each performance will be different even though the same instruments and same chord charts are used.

A couple of versions ago, "Freeze" (as noted by you) was introduced. When you have a track you like and you don't want it to change, simply Freeze it. Then, next time you regenerate, the frozen track will not change; the other tracks will. Freeze is an all or nothing process. It's not possible to freeze part of a track and regenerate another part. To do that, It's necessary to use Realband.

In my situation, all my songs are going to end up in my DAW for mixing so what I do when I come across a particular phrase of notes that I like is to save the track to WAV and make a note of which bars were the ones I want to keep. Then, when I move into my DAW, I simply grab the relevant phrases from the tracks I've saved and create a master track for each instrument.

I also find Realband very very useful for helping me obtain a track that 'works' for me because I can parts of a track when needed. All I need to do is to highlight the area I want to regenerate, select the instrument and then regenerate. It's as simple as that.

From what you write, it sounds like you'd benefit from getting to know Realband.

My usual work flow is:

(a) Create the song in BIAB and save any tracks that have interesting generations that arise along the way.

(b) Open the MGU/SGU file in Realband; tryout different Realtracks; partially regenerate sections of tracks if a particular section doesn't grab me; partially regenerate any parts of a tracks if I decide to change the chord progression.

(c) Transfer all my tracks to Reaper for mixing.

I hope I've understood your problem correctly.

Regards,
Noel


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Thanks Noel, that was really helpful. I thought Realband was just a 3rd rate DAW so I have ignored it in favour of my recent Studio One Pro purchase. But it sounds like I need Realband. Interesting that you mention you can try alternative Realtracks in Realband, I thought that was only something you do in BIAB. Also, interesting that you can highlight a track in Realband and regenerate just a part of it.

I recently did something similar to what you mentioned - create your own edits from various tracks. I wanted a line repeated 4x but BIAB would not play it four times in a row so I edited in CoolEdit Pro to create the track I wanted, took a while and quite time consuming though I thought.

My basic loose workflow has been

1. patiently find a RealTrack for a new song.
2. put the chords together and shape the song in BIAB
3. export tracks seperately in wav form.
4. Important tracks in Studio One and edit my song to suit.
5. Record my vocals & Guitar in my DAW.

Thanks.
Paul

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Hi Paul,

Realband is a great stepping stone between BIAB and DAW. It's fully compatible with BIAB and has all the functionality of accompaniment generation.

In the above list, I'd insert ...

2b. Experiment with tracks and generations in Realband.

Realband is a little slower than BIAB because it fully generates a track before playing it (as opposed to BIAB which generates some, starts playing and completes the generating while the song is playing).

Another function that I've found really useful in Realband is "Multiriff". This allows me to generate up to seven variations of a particular Realtrack in a single step. Compiling a master track from these seven usually gives me everything I need to get the best sound.

The below link will take you some Realband videos.

http://www.pgmusic.com/videos.realband.htm

Good luck with it all,
Noel


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Within 2min of adding tracks into RealBand I was frustrated with it. Can't seem to find a way of moving a track backwards or forwards if you want to insert it at a specific point. Usually you would just click and drag but that didnt work and I couldn't see how to move it?

I have other reservations but they all come down to ignorance on my part. RealBand seems to me as a beginner to lack common sense of what is common to other programs you have to learn differently and with no real video tutorial backup I'm not off to a great start. I must persevere. Most of those videos are old and just seem like intros rather than a broader "how to"?

Last edited by PaulH; 12/11/13 03:08 PM.
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Originally Posted By: PaulH
Within 2min of adding tracks into RealBand I was frustrated with it. Can't seem to find a way of moving a track backwards or forwards if you want to insert it at a specific point. Usually you would just click and drag but that didnt work and I couldn't see how to move it?


Highlight the section of the track you want to move by dragging - then hold down the Ctrl key and drag the selection to the required location. You will be presented with a set of options about whether you wish to replace, merge etc.


Richard Williams
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