Originally Posted By: fabkebab

As for the "Realband" option. I did open it up, and it seemed incredibly slow to me - First I tried to open an existing song (took about 5 minutes to open and wouldnt play any music).
i then tried making a new song and similarly got no sound. I have a feeling its because of the audio setup (which I dont ever remember being prompted for in the main BAIB software).
This is a spinoff topic, but since you guys have probably seen it happen before, I am hoping someone could come in on this!



Just a bit of background - I have been recording music for 20 years - I play mandolin, guitar, (tenor) banjo. I have gone from magnetic tape recording all the way through to digital recording. I have used professional studios, Fostex standlone systems, Cubase, Mixcraft, Reaper. I still find BIAB a very compelling tool - why? Becuase it can "play" instruments I can't - even the session musicians do a better job of the Tenor Banjo and Mandolin than I can, even though I have been playing both in a band for years. As far as I am concerned, Realtracks are a game changer.

The only thing I am asking myself though is "where is the spark?" - if you assemble a song from all these prerecorded elements, how do you keep a song original ? Your own lyrics and chord choices dont *quite* seem enough. Perhaps this is a question for the general topic rather than extending this topic!

thanks again all - hopefully someone has some new insights!




The first time you open RB it takes a while since it's setting everything up for the first time. After that, it's a bit faster. Certainly less time than it takes a studio musician to come in, unpack, tune up, and get ready to record.

Next, just like in BB, you need to set up a default synth... use the same one you used in BB, so it can give you sound.

Where is the spark? How does this work to make magic?

Glad you asked. Open the song project from BB and let it populate the tracks. If you used a style in BB which uses real tracks they will come in that way automatically. I try to use RT styles exclusively in BB. If not, if the project is 100% midi.... you will need to generate the real tracks. Once you have a full RT in the project, you can then select it, and then click on a blank track to generate a new, different RT.

In BB lets say the style is hard rock. Bass, drums, and 2 guitars, maybe a B3. 5 tracks total. RB will generate those tracks for you. Lets say you want a mandolin and a dobro and a fiddle and maybe a steel in there as well. Select one of the existing tracks, and choose GENERATE a Real Track and select the track for fiddle that matches close to tempo and style. repeat that for the rest of the tracks.

Export the waves you created to the DAW of your choice for editing. This is exactly how I do all the songs I write and record using BB/RB. I add my live tracks and vox in the DAW.

As my latest song Whiskey for Breakfast shows, if you can imagine it, and a player can physically play it, you can recreate it with these programs. While you are working "in the box" you simply have to think "out of the box".

Hope this helps.

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.