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Hello all,

I've been using BIAB off and on for around two years now, and while I have gotten amazing results sometimes, I feel I'm not always in control; I have myself to blame as I tend to get my ideas from my BIAB sketch pads into RealBand for tweaking, and then into my DAW as quickly as possible. So I've not dug as deeply into BIAB or RealBand arrangement features as I should. To be honest I'm a bit thrown by the term "chorus" as it doesn't seem to be used as I understand it (i.e. intro, verse, chorus, bridge etc.)

Anyway ... I now have at least one, and perhaps two, straightforward things I'd like to do with a very promising project I'm working on, and would be grateful for any clear outline of the steps to take. This could be done either in BIAB or RealBand, whichever you think would be easiest.

I have an existing audio track ("the Song") from elsewhere which has everything but drums. It was recorded to a steady tempo, thank goodness.

I want to audition various RealDrum tracks while listening to the Song. So I import the Song as audio using the Audio menu / Import Audio and set the tempo correctly. I then monitor it while auditioning RealDrums. (Note that, intentionally, the Song file is not influencing BIAB's playback in any way (no chord or tempo info, for example)).

This all works fine so far. Except that the drumming, while great, seems a bit static in style.

So here's what I'd like to do do, but haven't figured out. I'd be really grateful for a steer.

1. If nothing else -- when I have a RealDrumsTrack which includes variations -- for example, var. a)sticks on high hat and snare only; var. b) brushes on snare only; etc. -- I would like to be able to specify when var a) plays, when var b) plays etc.

(Side question: is there a way that, when a transition between sections approaches, a RealDrummer can "sense" it and do some kind of transitory fill or something non-routine?)

This is the main thing I'd like to do.

Having said that, my workflow would improve if I could also ...

2. Have completely different RealDrummers (as opposed to variations of the same Realdrummer) play at various measures I designate?

Can anyone advise?

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Using part markers will cause the "drummer" to add fills in-between sections. If you right-click on the part marker, you can select the drum part variations that will play until the next part marker. Hope this makes sense.


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Ok so would this be the same as adding a C or D part marker with different bands?

I have a song that I want the band to remain the same but I want the drummer to play a slightly different style that is not in the Band Style I have picked.

This only occurs in the chorus...

My understanding is...If I choose a different part marker C etc...that changes the whole band...How do i just change the drummer for Choruses?

Sorry don't mean to hijack this post it just seemed similar to what my issue is.

Thanks

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Use F5 at the bar.

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Originally Posted By: Takamine
Using part markers will cause the "drummer" to add fills in-between sections. If you right-click on the part marker, you can select the drum part variations that will play until the next part marker. Hope this makes sense.


Thanks Takamine! Sometimes you just need the right term to solve a problem. In this case you gave that to me-- "Part marker". Goolging "part markers BIAB" led me staight to the complete, demonstrated example here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6ViJ2691vU

Much obliged sir!

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>>>....(Side question: is there a way that, when a transition between sections approaches, a RealDrummer can "sense" it and do some kind of transitory fill or something non-routine?) ...>>>

This is what BiaB is good at.

Look for the letter A at the very beginning of any song. This is a part marker. One of the things it does is to warn the drummer to do a little fill before the downbeat of the measure whee the marker is. If you click on the letter, you can get the A variation to play, or the B variation.

Now click on any other bar number in the song. You will see that you can put an A or a B at any bar you want.

Now RIGHT-click at any bar and you will see you have a lot of control over how the fills work.


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ANTHO: >>>...I have a song that I want the band to remain the same but I want the drummer to play a slightly different style that is not in the Band Style I have picked. ...>>>

Press F5 at any bar. Experiment with the "Style Change This Bar" command, and the "Real drums" button.

You can bring in a whole nother style anytime you want, with all the instruments changed, or you can fire the current drummer and hire a new one anytime you want.


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I have found that this right clicking only gives results if the styles HAS more sub-styles other than A or B...there are many that if you right click all you get is the A or B option, with no other variations, unlike the Real Drums picker window.

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Originally Posted By: pax-eterna
I have found that this right clicking only gives results if the styles HAS more sub-styles other than A or B...there are many that if you right click all you get is the A or B option, with no other variations, unlike the Real Drums picker window.


That's a subtle mistake that's easy to make -- I can say having just made it a few times on the way to implementing the advice everyone has kindly given here ...

--Right-clicking on the bar number (e.g. 1a) lets you toggle between variations of one RealDrummer; whereas

-- Right clicking on the bar itself (causing it to have a gray rectangle around it) (or pressing F5) lets you choose another RealDrummer. That is, it gives you a pop-up menu from which you can choose Bar Settings; once in there, click the small RealDrums button near the top, which gives you the RealDrummer picker.

Dang, just noticed there sure are a lot of important other things under F5 too.. my face is a bit red here...

Thanks again,

Last edited by lingyai; 11/23/15 03:29 PM.
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Originally Posted By: pax-eterna
I have found that this right clicking only gives results if the styles HAS more sub-styles other than A or B...there are many that if you right click all you get is the A or B option, with no other variations, unlike the Real Drums picker window.


Not true. Right click on the bar number opens sub menu dialog that includes "define c/d ..." Click on the option opens the stylepicker dialog. The normal A/B parts for the selected style become c/d in the song. You can continue selecting new stlyes all the way up to styles y/z.


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Flatfoot...thanks for the info am at my PC and about to try this out...awesome...

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Worked like a charm...thanks...

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You are most welcome.


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Originally Posted By: JimFogle
Originally Posted By: pax-eterna
I have found that this right clicking only gives results if the styles HAS more sub-styles other than A or B...there are many that if you right click all you get is the A or B option, with no other variations, unlike the Real Drums picker window.


Not true. Right click on the bar number opens sub menu dialog that includes "define c/d ..." Click on the option opens the stylepicker dialog. The normal A/B parts for the selected style become c/d in the song. You can continue selecting new stlyes all the way up to styles y/z.


Nice...thanks for that. I had just assumed as there was no valid C/D part listed only A/B were available.Gives a very flexible way of creating your own variations to the rhythm section. smile

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Been following this thread, does this work with midi drums? I can't seem to change the style using midi drums. After you change the style in F5, does anything have to be regenerated? Thanks.

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Originally Posted By: Milt
After you change the style in F5, does anything have to be regenerated? Thanks.


Yes, tracks will not change unless regenerated. Freeze the tracks you don't want to change and then regenerate.


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That's an interesting question, Milt. I think the answer is yes but that it doesn't matter. Regeneration causes a delay, but that will not normally be noticed with a change in MIDI styles, only RealTracks or RealDrums.


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Thanks for explaining that is DE a time marker that mutes the track for a certain length. kind of a solo but not on these tracks item. I had KCS Lvl 2 and tried to understand that with no statistical or rhythm experience?

Is there an easy way to create random drum variations like that program or are Biab and KCS very different in how they work. The Atari ST had a whole bunch of different algorithmic composers many more than were on the IBM.

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