Jim,

Seems like you are getting everything except an answer to your question..

All that stuff is, of course, valid - and useful. But that doesn't mean that you cannot get what you want from BIAB (most of the time, at least).

For the most part, I always have in my head what I want a song to be.
75-80% of the time I can make that happen. Of the other 20%, half is a new direction because something in the process sends me down a terrific new path (as expounded in most of the responses) the other half (10% ?) is because I just can't get what I'm looking for.

Here are some ideas that might help you get what you are after...

Start with just drums and bass. They are your backbone - and if you can get the right feel there, you can build on that. They can come from that "close style" or from building from scratch - find a drum kit (the Nashville Even8 will cover a LOT of territory) and audition every bass until you find the one that works (perfectly) for the song at hand. Don't add anything until you have this right! You should be able to sing along with just the drums and bass, comfortably - thinking "that sounds right!"

Once you have that, add ONE rhythm instrument. An acoustic guitar - fingerpicking or strumming. Or a piano (a simple one). Occasionally, an electric rhythm guitar will work. If you cannot find one, play the part yourself (I'm assuming you go to a DAW to mix).

At that point, it should still have the backbone (sound) that you envision.

Then... record your vocals (and harmonies) - even if they are scratch at this point. Mix that. It should still sound like what you are after - even more so... One place to really "go wrong" is to try to get it ALL worked out before doing the vocals...

NOW... go forward - adding in the sweetening. Audition electric guitars to add - add them to your mix one at a time. If they don't fit (perfectly) delete them and move on. A background pedal steel? Audition them. Sometimes you simply won't find the right one. So.. try a fiddle... an accordion... work at the addition of other rhythm instrument before adding any soloing - save that for last ...

When you've finished that process, your song should still sound like what you had in mind (and usually better than you imagined!).

Then go back and record your final vocal - to a track that sounds the way you wanted it to...

Hope that helps a bit...

floyd

150+ Songs produced using BIAB RealTracks
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