In BB, I have a simple 3 chorus song with the 3 choruses folded and followed by the default 2 bar ending. Very Simple.
When opened in RB, the 2 bar ending doesn't play because those last 2 bars don't even show up. I know it might be easier to unfold the song.
I then figured out that the 2 bar ending has to be checked in RB; so now I have a 4 bar ending with 2 bars of decay. Now the start and end numbers don't jive anymore.
Numbers? I don't even use them so...... It's about the song and the numbers really don't matter. The only time I deal with the numbers is if I need to add more measures to the end of the song in the little BB window that tells BB it's at the end of the song.
Besides...in RB, aren't they measure numbers too?
Once I leave BB and start working in RB, what I did back in BB doesn't really matter much and I don't think I've ever used the measure numbers for anything related to the 2 different programs....
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.
While you may have the song folded in BIAB, it will always unfold in RealBand to the total length of the song. So while in BIAB Verse 1 may be bars 1-32 and Verse 2 goes back to bar 1, verse 2 is going to start at bar 33 in RealBand.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA
I assumed that the start and end numbers of the BB project, once in RB and unfolded, would be accurately and automatically reflected in the RB start and end slots. Should have double-checked right away.
Herb,
Good point about the numbers, what numbers? lol
I've been doing more editing in RB because some of the RT soloists generate too many clams. Unless I'm mistaken, RB regenerates all the RTs as well as the BB tracks, so I'm probably better off moving the project to RB sooner rather than later, as many users do.
Sounds like you are getting a good handle on the difference between the two programs. For some, moving to RB (more control and many options still available) early is better. For others staying in BB until they need to move out (all BB options still open), seems to be preferable.
I'm on your side of the fence.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
I've been under the assumption that when a BB MGU / SGU is opened in RB for the first time, all BB tracks as well as RTs, are regenerated.
Then I came across this info in one of the RB Tutorials- A guided tour of RB.
So, I'm going to try and upload a screen shot of said info, stating the opposite- RB will play the file with the original BB arrangement. What has been your experience?
Apparently, I won't know if uploading is successful until after I submit this post.
Sorry, but I don't know how to highlight pertinent info, yet.
I would expect it would be the same if you save the file right before leaving BiaB. I haven't noticed any difference when saved right before moving. This is because BiaB doesn't regenerate until you hit play, so the last rendition is still in memory.
That was kinda my point. Once in Realband you know what you have to work with every time you hit play. It will be the same unless you 'tell' it to regenerate something .. and then I usually do that on another track. Much more control and much more flexible IMO.
I don't ever expect to end up using exactly what I have when I move from BiaB to RB. I expect to make calculated changes to the song (and keep what I like), so I never even worry about how exactly the BB file would unfold. I view it as my quick starting point.
Like I said, others have a different workflow where they enjoy staying in BiaB longer. Not me, I want to move to RB as soon as I have the chords and basic style down. I work better that way.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
Brent Mason has some great nylon guitar riffs that I had in my original BB MGU file (which I thought I had saved) but then couldn't locate when opening the file in RB.
So now I just started over in BB, generated the desired style, and then opened the file in RB. The Brent Mason track took a number of regenerations, but I got what I needed.
I like the top-down display of BB to structure the song, etc., and then the left-to-right display in RB for the additional RTs, etc.
I think there may be certain tracks in BiaB that need to be 'frozen' in order for them to come into RB .. like maybe the 'soloist' track. Other more experienced BiaB users may chime in with better knowledge on this.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
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