Sounds like you have some good gear there to start with.

Once I discovered and started to use Band in a Box (BB) I pretty much stopped using midi to the extent I had done so previously.

I still use it on occasion but it's pretty rare actually now for me to have midi tracks in a project.

Reason being...... BB & Real Band. (RB)

I use BB to write the songs.... then I save them and reopen them in RB. RB renders the tracks with audio and I can ask it to render other instruments as well that may not be in the BB style..... such as adding steel guitar, dobro, mandolin, fiddle to a hard rock basic style. RB lets me do that.

I then save the RB project as a SEQ file and I export the tracks, one by one to a folder where I keep them.

I open Sonar and import the tracks and do the mixing, editing, EQ, and other things towards the goal of the final mix. I also record my live parts... generally guitar parts and all vocals in Sonar at this time.

Have a listen to the music I write and record in this manner on my website.

The way I do this is but one way you can use BB/RB in conjunction with the other programs. After trying a few different ways, you will settle into a method that works best for you. I settled into using mainly audio tracks and have never regretted leaving midi behind. Of course, I do still use midi, but only when I can not get the results I need for a specific part. I haven't used some of the synths I have for several years now..... Of course, country doesn't use many synths either.

Always ask questions if you get stuck or just need to understand something better.

Last edited by Guitarhacker; 06/20/14 06:06 AM.
You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.