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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11
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OP
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11 |
Just created a basic 12 bar blues progression and selected a Brent Mason guitar solo track.
Seems to be having a hard time selecting decent sounding guitar licks for the last four measures each time.
Has anyone else experienced this type of issue. I am new to BIAB so maybe I am doing something wrong?
Thanks for any help.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,593
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Can you be more specific about what you mean by "seems to be having a hard time"?
Also please give the info for the specific RealTrack so we can try to duplicate the problem.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11 |
Here is a link to a video I have uploaded on YouTube which demonstrates what I am talking about. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W96dTVJA3b8Style: _TBLZSLS.STY Blues, Texas 12/8 with Solo Guitar Solo, SW 60. This style loads with the following soloist: 1926 Sol Philcox. The soloing was worse than what I changed it to which is: 1925 Brent Mason. I am wondering if I am missing something that I am supposed to do with the settings. The note choices by the soloist are not good. If it were a band situation I would fire the dude after the first solo if he actually played like that at a gig. lol Thanks.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,989
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I am wondering if I am missing something that I am supposed to do with the settings. Well yes and no. First, You are firing Brent Mason one of the top studio musicians in Nashville so that may not go well for you in the business.  But really the problem is you have selected 72 bars (3 x 24) of prerecorded licks and are expecting every thing to meet your needs. That is not how it works in BIAB. You need to pick and choose. You do realize every time you regenerate you will get a different recording over a selection of bars. That retake may be better or may be worse. You have to audition all the available recording and select what is best to you ear. Second you have no ability to adjust the notes in the recording. You get what is there. So ask yourself do you really need 72 bars of solo from Brent's recordings? What many do is take the backing chords over into RB and use the MultiLick feature. This will play every available option BIAB has on a different track so you can better hear what is available and pick. BM didn't sound so bad to my ear over each chord. I think the problem is you have him playing too long and are expecting he knows how long he is playing and he don't. So the RT fragmentation can begin to be heard. Welcome to the forum
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2002
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I listened some more.
You know how when a band has two guitar players and they switch to a 12 bar blues tune and exchange solos, you can hear which one belongs in a smokey blues bar and which one belongs on a country stage or in a jazz club. Every player does bring their roots with them. That may be what you are hearing here.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11
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OP
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Posts: 11 |
Thanks jazzmandan. The length was just an example to hear the soloing. I am sure Brent Mason is an awesome guitarist, but it is not coming through in that particular example. I was attempting to say that if a guitar player (any professional musician) played like this on a gig they would not be called back for a second gig. I can see the guys in the band now.......  To me the solo does not even get through one chorus without it sounding bad. Just my opinion of course. I will check out the RealBand option. That may be very useful.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11 |
If it is a case of his musical background/experience then I think he should stay away from playing blues music. lol
I am wondering if it more the programming of the software placing licks incorrectly within the chord changes. Would be nice to hear the original solo in its full length. Is that possible in RealBand?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11 |
I have found a blues style where Brent is soloing like a champ...yeah!
_TBLZS8B Texas Blues RK ST8 Brent Solo
Was getting worried there for a bit. I will have to dig around more and find material that is suitable for my needs. Will definitely be saving this one as a favorite.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2000
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The soloist you select has no knowledge of the style you select. It only knows the chord progression. The soloist is going to play similarly whether you select a blues style or a rock style or a pop style or a country style. That's just the way it works. If that particular Brent Mason soloist isn't working for you, then find a different soloist more suitable for the style of music you're looking to play. That's why there are thousands of RealTracks.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11
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OP
Newbie
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Posts: 11 |
Thanks John,
I get what you are saying. I'll just keep digging around until I find something that works for me. Lots to choose from.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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You may also find it helps to make some of the chords more complex every so often or use slash chords, a walk down or walk up. This will force the soloist into variations as well.
BIAB 2026:RB 2026, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11 |
Thanks c_fogle,
I will keep that in mind.
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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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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
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- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
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- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
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