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I have been performing Live Jazz with BIAB for quite some time. I am in the process of upgrading my laptop and hardware synth module. I would like to communicate with others who have been performing live music with BIAB. I would like to trade experiences and "Lessons Learned" with hardware and software configurations. All suggestions are welcome. My present setup uses a normal Pentium HP laptop with XP. Hardware Synth is an old Roland Edirol SC-D70 Sound Module Synth which also acts as a Sound Card. My PA is the New Bose Professional L1 Model II System. This PA is one of the best performing systems. http://www.bose.com/controller?url=/shop...nematch_pkg.jsp I am looking to upgrade Laptop, BIAB version, and hardware synth. All suggestions are welcome. lb
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I run everything from an Acer Aspire netbook with no cd/dvd to an HP Media Centre system with 10 gigs of memory and a terabyte of storage. I also have a vaio laptop.
All work equally well, I only do the bare install and leave the software on the external usb hardware.
You didn't mention,
1. Do you want to use the band in a box and the conductor?
2. Do you want to use band in a box and a transport controller. (See their hardware section)?
3. Do you want to finish tracks, using Realband or Finale etc and make Wav's Mp3's?
Are you aware of delays in using Realtracks?
Then the advantage of a netbook is it's hard to rip off, you can unplug it and stick it in an oversized pocket.
Or use a couple of mp3 players for redundancy, keep a spare in your pocket with extra batteries.
Just more stuff to think about.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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John,
Great information. I am using BIAB with the conductor. No Tranzporter hardware. I only use the Laptop "hotkeys." Actually, I use conductor shortcut keys so that I do not need to bring up the conductor window. Songs are BIAB songs, not recorded MP3 songs. This way I can play with midi songs and loop back when ever and where ever I need. I do this often as a real band would do.
lb
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So you are not familiar with RealInstruments and RealDrums? Better listen to the demos here then, they take some time to generate, but it's worth it. Real Bass for jazz is great, and having Terry Clarke as your drummer, and oliver on guitar helps lots.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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John,
I have found the Real Instruments very limiting for a live performance, for now. This is only my opinion. Midi drum BIAB tracks generated with great midi sampling has sounded better and have more options for Latin and upbeat Jazz tunes. That is why I am looking for what performers are actually using. Your comments are a great help.
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I hope you do not mind if I jump onto your question to ask one myself. The thought of using BIAB as a standalone band appeals to me. Would you mind sharing which package of BIAB you had selected and why?
Thanks,
RickeG
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You didn't say what you play and how you run your sets. If you're already familiar with the Conducter then there isn't much else to talk about except for a new sound module. Several of us commented on that already in the other thread. I agree with you about the Real Tracks or Drums. Sometimes you need tracks that are more song specific than you can get with a RT. A new module like the SD2 or Sonic Cell can sound very good indeed especially in a noisy live venue.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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I'm a jazz pianist and use BIAB on solo gigs. I use Real Drums and Real Bass. They sound so much better than midi bass and drums. Later, Ray
Asus Q500A i7 Win 10 64 bit 8GB ram 750 HD 15.5" touch screen, BIAB 2017, Casio PX 5s, Xw P1, Center Point Stereo SS V3 and EWI 4000s.
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+1 with Ray. I also play keys and use RealBass and RealDrums. I still use Midi for Bossa guitar but I have a feeling that will be covered with future RealTracks. Only negative to using Realxxx is it takes time to generate the track(s). Freezing gets around the issue though.
R
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I'm not so much a jazzer, but rather an all-around player of tunes from the 20's, 30's, etc. to about the 70's and 80's. I'm on electric guitar, as well as vocals. My set up is Dell laptop with 7200 drive spin. I'm using the Forte sounds with the latest BIAB. It's working pretty well, except on the last gig the bass part went haywire on a couple of tunes and the real track rhythm guitar went out of tune once. I'm using the Bose L1 Model II, along with two keyboard amps that are fed from a second output from the laptop. I'm not that taken with the RT bass parts for jazz. There's too much movement for my tastes. The bass go up high at times and the bottom end is lost. I use midi mostly. However, I love the RT piano tracks and acoustic guitar parts. Please give us more of that.
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Quote:
I'm not so much a jazzer, but rather an all-around player of tunes from the 20's, 30's, etc. to about the 70's and 80's. I'm on electric guitar, as well as vocals. My set up is Dell laptop with 7200 drive spin. I'm using the Forte sounds with the latest BIAB. It's working pretty well, except on the last gig the bass part went haywire on a couple of tunes and the real track rhythm guitar went out of tune once. I'm using the Bose L1 Model II, along with two keyboard amps that are fed from a second output from the laptop. I'm not that taken with the RT bass parts for jazz. There's too much movement for my tastes. The bass go up high at times and the bottom end is lost. I use midi mostly. However, I love the RT piano tracks and acoustic guitar parts. Please give us more of that.
I know exactly what you mean about the RT jazz bass going up high. It's a legitimate technique that I hear fairly often by different players still, a little of that goes a long way. Most of the time I prefer the bass to hold down the bottom. Yet another example of just how many RT's are really needed to cover all the bases. The RT's are so good that we all love to say man, I wish they would come up with....
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Now I found just the opposite with the RealBass, I was and am still knocked out by the neck travel stuff. Like Ray Brown, man. It requires the improvisational player to KNOW where the roots are at all times, though. You must be able to hear them in your head as the chord progression, well, progresses.
There will likely be more bass realtracks in future though, I think that PGMusic has been doing a great job of trying to provide a little something for every taste with each release.
--Mac
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I want to thank everyone for adding their opinion and information. This information is very valuable and useful. Please continue this dialog, please. Any "Lessons Learned" during live performances will be greatly appreciated. If you want to hear my present Performance Setup, you can sample at: http://www.lbentertainment.net/music.phpI am looking to improve this.
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RickeG, I have been performing with BIAB for quite some time. I am a Woodwind Player and use BIAB as I play Soprano, Tenor Sax, Clarinet and Flute. I have tracks put together so that I use Singers and vocalists find it easy to sing along with my BIAB tracks. This setup has been quite successful for me. Although I play often in a Live Jazz Trio, the small BIAB setup has a place for live performances. These performances consist of BIAB and me, or an additional singer. I also use the computer keyboard in the "Thru" mode to play small solos with other Midi sounds on the computer keyboard. I use the Standard BIAB software with a hardware synth Module attached via a USB cable to my laptop. The Hardware synth box takes the strain off of the laptop and works better for me than an software synth package. You can sample my setup at: http://www.lbentertainment.net/music.phpI hope this is helpful. lb
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Your comments are very helpful. I run my sets with BIAB playing the intro and then proceeds to play the backup for the Melody line of a tune. I am a Woodwind player and perform with Soprano, Tenor Sax, Clarinet and Flute. I then have BIAB auto-loop the middle section so that I can solo as long as I need. The auto-loop is setup by the way I start my songs by using the "Cntrl 2" key to start the song. This will start songs with the intro but auto-loop the middle part. During the last Solo I stop the loop by pressing "1" so that the next section comes in at the Head of the Song. I use the formula with vocalists as well and it works well. You an hear samples of this setup at: http://www.lbentertainment.net/music.phpThanks for your advice. lb
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LB,
First, I truly liked the arrangements of the songs on your web site. Thanks for sharing. You may be able to help me decide on a particular BIAB PAK to purchase. Which PAK did you use to record the songs on your web site? I particularly like the Bossa Nova styles as well as other South American/Latin based jazz rhythms you touched on in your project. I am presently using JAMMER which lacks the demand on the rhythm players to achieve that genre of sound. JAMMER is primarily stright 4/4 in it's rhythmic accompaniment with little outside of the standard drum kit. And I really like the percussion arrangements you had.
Thanks,
RickeG
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Well Mr. L Bass , looks like we have a player here. Welcome to forum. Horn players always welcome. Sometime back I put together a brief demo of RT's as a tribute to my horn playing bandmates ... After listening to some of your stuff you reminded me how good it can be... Tribute to AJC
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Luv yer arrangement on Bluesette, bro.
--Mac
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Laurent,
Welcome aboard, I am about half way through listening to the tunes on your website and plan to visit again to hear the remainder. What I am enjoying now is your wonderful intonation and technique, you sir can play.
Later,
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Solos, need solos, want to hear you improvise.
Scrapple as head-only?
Give us some speech, bro!
--Mac
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