Originally Posted By: AlastairLC
Playing in bands is overrated. They show up late or not at all, and when they do they always argue about something or other. ☹️
Having BIAB as your backup band is wonderful. No arguments, no complaints, no dilution of earnings. You are in complete control.


I read this and thought over many years of playing with a lot of talented people in a number of bands, boy haven’t I forged a lot of great lifelong bonds with some real characters.

These days I create my backing tracks and often go out by myself. Very lonely compared to a bunch of guys joking, laughing and enjoying each other’s company.

When it comes to is it cheating. Maybe I use BIAB incorrectly but rarely do I just enter a bunch of chords, pick a style and call it done. Usually I (and I’m sure a lot of others) enter chords, pick a style, then think maybe this part could be made better by substituting a RealTrack or putting the track in RealBand and regenerating a part. Sometimes it is still not right so you write a bit using midi. We may put the song into a DAW and further edit the tracks, cut and paste, adjust timing, etc. Now the song sounds the way we like it, then we mix and master it, put it the way we like it. Then with a number of songs in mind we get them to the same level so there is no sudden rush to a volume knob.

At last with all that done it is time to perform. In my case that means singing, playing guitar (lead breaks etc) and generally entertaining a room full of people.

I really don’t see all this as cheating. It is in fact easier to stand there with a few of your mates sharing the load and having a good time playing music. The good thing is BIAB does not get moody, drunk or wish it was somewhere else. I can wake up at some ungodly hour put on headphones and design another song without disrupting other folk. BIAB has given me a new lease but I really don’t see it as cheating.

My thoughts
Tony

Last edited by Teunis; 08/21/18 12:41 AM.
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