David,

I'd like to add a quick note to your thread just to clarify the phrase "What BIAB can/cannot do".

As I see it, there are two schools of thought in relation to this phrase.

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1. "What BIAB can/cannot do" in relation to...

  • select a style
  • enter a chord progression on the chordsheet
  • generate the chord backing
  • maybe record an audio track in BIAB
  • save the backing (and any recording) as a completed song file

This is using BIAB as a 'one stop shop' for making and obtaining backing.

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2. "What BIAB can/cannot do" in relation to...

  • select a style
  • enter a chord progression on the chordsheet
  • generate the chord backing
  • save some or all of the generated tracks
  • regenerate to obtain variations of some or all of the above tracks
  • change some of the tracks to other other instruments and regenerate and save new tracks
  • open a DAW and load in the BIAB-created tracks
  • maybe add additional audio (instrumental and/or vocal)
  • arrange, compile and mix the BIAB-created tracks to make a song backing
  • render the mix using the DAW to a single audio file

This second approach is using BIAB as one of the tools in a music-making arsenal of tools.

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For my songs, I mostly use BIAB as just one of the tools in my toolbox (#2). Sometimes for jazz or folk backings or collaborative thoughts, though, the first approach does the job more than adequately.

In the threads that I've read over the years that discuss BIAB's ability to do or not do certain genres of music, contributors often seem to confuse the above two uses of BIAB.

My view is that in relation to the 'one stop shop' approach (#1), BIAB has limitations mostly because it only has seven tracks to work with (eight tracks if 'Audio' is counted) and expert control over production and mixing is modest.

In relation to approach #2, though, all that anyone is limited by is his or her imagination. As a music creating tool used in conjunction with other music-creating tools, BIAB is a treasure chest.

Regards,
Noel

MY SONGS...
Audiophile BIAB 2025