Here is my contribution.
  1. I bought BiaB back in the Atari/ST computer days to use it to practice improvisation with my saxophone. I was in a jazz band then and the guitar player taught at the University of Miami and played with Ira Sullivan. Real jazz heavyweights would come and jam with us. Without a background band and playing a monophonic instrument, improv is difficult. It's hard to know when you are creating and resolving tensions when there is no background music.
  2. When PG Music gave us the opportunity to write our own user styles, I wrote about 20 for myself. I gave copies to my friends (U of M guitar teacher included). They all told me they like my styles better than the 24 that came with the original BiaB app (aren't friends great?!?) and encouraged me to sell them. I took out ads in Keyboard and Electronic Musician magazine and before long I started a business selling aftermarket styles. Peter Gannon called one day and offered his support which to this day I am grateful for, and I'm still writing and selling style disks at http://www.nortonmusic.com
  3. After I decided to leave the one day a week jazz gig, quit the 5 piece band I was gigging the other days with, and go duo with the woman who is now my wife I started using BiaB to help me write backing tracks for that duo. Details on how I do that can be found here http://www.nortonmusic.com/backing_tracks.html


  • I'm still using it for practice with my sax, flute and wind synthesizer. It's the best practice tool I've ever found. Virtually any song, any key, any tempo, and any style are a click away, and I can be daring and try new ideas out without other band members hearing the ideas that don't work out well
  • I'm still writing style "disks" for BiaB (although they aren't on disk anymore but direct download), plus I'm writing fake "disks" and selling BiaB aftermarket products from Roy Hawkesford, Sherry Mayrent and David Bailey too.
  • I'm still married to that gal I met when we were in different bands and then later in the same band together. We started our duo in 1985 when the 5 piece we were in had personnel problems, and we've been working steadily since then. I still use BiaB to help me write backing tracks for new songs.


Personally I think every computer musician should have three basic tools. Other tools can be added per your needs but IMO everybody needs (1) BiaB (2) A DAW with MIDI and Audio capabilities (3) A full-fleged notation app.

Insights and incites by Notes

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks