Yesterday I found a progression at my fingertips, worked on it, found the tempo in BIAB, entered the chords n structure. I went for whatever style picker offered that encompassed It's Only Rock N Roll by the Rolling Stones. That gave me a pretty nifty drum track, (still tackling a clicky kick though). This morning I added three guitars and bass then had BIAB build a solo to help map out the structure more clearly. No ideas about narrative or, shudder, melody BUT it was fun hammering away at the guitar. Sounds a bit Crazy Horse to my ears. JUNE NEXT MIX I swapped a different cymbal pattern into the B (chorus) sections as I THINK the original was too splashy. Does the change work? TWEAKS LATEST MIX I've replaced the RealTrack Wah solo with mu own awful one and put in a scratch/sketch vocal that's only semi solid in the chorus and is low in the mix in the verses as it's VERY sketchy. TWEAKED some more
Slightly reworked lyrics and retracked vocal...a little stronger... Incremental progress
Draft Lyric
Instead of Fireworks
V1 Just a spoon full of honey makes the acid less sour He’d lose the ego the light in his soul would devour He felt the beginning as Karma took power.
C1 The Eclipsed Celebrity Death Club Czar Wondered if he’d left the doors ajar Wrote “…one hundred micrograms intra muscular”
V2 Swami complained he’d broken the doors of perception He looked outward focusing on introspection Alice’s script was another Disney deception
C2 The Eclipsed Celebrity Death Club Czar Hadn’t noted the date on his calendar Wrote “…one hundred micrograms intra muscular” Solo
V3 The point as always was counter point And he ignored young Bess’s offer to anoint He knew from the first this brave new world would disappoint
Last edited by rayc; 06/15/2012:27 PM.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Nice progression in agreement with a pleasant metal style. The guitar solo comes a little late. But the mix is great. Best regard Dero13 alias JaniJackFlash
Thanks for listening Dero. If it sounds like metal I'll have to do a rethink though.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Hi Ray, This is you on all the guitars? Nice! I especially like that wha guitar. Nice progression! Lots of potential with this one, looking forward to hearing it fleshed out.
Everything but the drums and WAH is me. That's a BIAB realsolo. Thanks for your kind words. The Realtrack WAH will go if/when I have something to replace it with. I have a nice old (late 80s) JH1 Wah and I love it BUT I can't play lead for the life of me.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
LOVE the "getting ready" noises at the beginning!!
Great energy. The guitars are talking loud-and-proud. I wanted the bass to have just a little more "definition". It gets a little lost in the mix at times.
Ray, Nice! Sometimes coolest things come unexpectedly. I liked the panning effect of guitars. Wah works like a charm. I do wish to hear more of the bass, kind of hiding, and it is the one you want to hear. Overall, very solid bed. Interesting where it would lead. Thank you for sharing!
ray, LOVE the "getting ready" noises at the beginning!! Great energy. The guitars are talking loud-and-proud. I wanted the bass to have just a little more "definition". It gets a little lost in the mix at times. This is close already. Looking forward to see where it goes.... fj
Thank you sir, Bass tweaked on suggestions from yourself and Misha. I'm becoming quite keen on the potential cinema verite aspects that can be included in a simple song vid. I think I need a plugging in noise to fake the real!
Last edited by rayc; 06/12/2001:37 AM.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Ray, Nice! Sometimes coolest things come unexpectedly. I liked the panning effect of guitars. Wah works like a charm. I do wish to hear more of the bass, kind of hiding, and it is the one you want to hear. Overall, very solid bed. Interesting where it would lead. Thank you for sharing!
Misha.
Thanks Misha, I've tweaked the bass a bit for you.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
We didn't listen before the bass tweaks but it certainly sounds good now.
Man, that snare sounds huge in a good way.
Great use of the wah RT.
The distortion tracks are really good. Tom Adams once told me that "grit comes from putting hair around the edges." You have just the right amount of "hair."
Look forward to the final product!
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
Cool song you made. I am curious how the singing will be in it. That chordprogression gives the song a very nice tension. The only thing is I can't hear 'Crazy horses' in it. I played that song many times, but maybe I had another version ;-) But who cares when your final song comes out. It already sounds very strong. And with a smoky abrasive voice it must be marvelous. Keep on going!
We didn't listen before the bass tweaks but it certainly sounds good now. Man, that snare sounds huge in a good way. Great use of the wah RT. The distortion tracks are really good. Tom Adams once told me that "grit comes from putting hair around the edges." You have just the right amount of "hair." Look forward to the final product! J&B
Thanks J&B, The snare was strong in the RealDrum track. I found its freq, and gave it a little bump upward. The reverb on the drums, (wide chamber instrument), did the rest I think. There's not much of it but just enough to accentuate. I was surprised at the distortion...the amp isn't "dimed" and the master volume is at about 2 but I used at 70s EQ pedal to boost and as well as adding a strong mid peak. Thanks again.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Cool song you made. I am curious how the singing will be in it. That chordprogression gives the song a very nice tension. The only thing is I can't hear 'Crazy horses' in it. I played that song many times, but maybe I had another version ;-) But who cares when your final song comes out. It already sounds very strong. And with a smoky abrasive voice it must be marvelous. Keep on going!
Hans
Hans, THIS Crazy Horse... The otehr one - well, if it was the Osmonds then I can understand the difference - that one sold REALLY well in the US but it's weird hard rock for a boy band. Thanks for the kind words.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Hey rayc, I really like the gritty, grungy sound on that track from the guitars and the chord progression is pretty cool too. I think any hint of metal is probably coming from one of those chord transitions, and the fact that the transitions are pretty rapid and more chromatic than diatonic (to my ear). I would say there's definitely a Neil Young'ish vibe in there but he probably had too much "stimulant" .
Cool song!
Ed Z
Soundcloud profile https://soundcloud.com/user-415064494 BIAB user since 2019 iPad Mini, Garageband for iOS, BIAB for Windows 2020 UltraPAK, Xtra Styles packs 6-9, Windows 10 Lenovo PC, Kontakt Player, SpitFire LABS, SampleTank 4 CS, some Soundfonts
Cool song you made. I am curious how the singing will be in it. That chordprogression gives the song a very nice tension. The only thing is I can't hear 'Crazy horses' in it. I played that song many times, but maybe I had another version ;-) But who cares when your final song comes out. It already sounds very strong. And with a smoky abrasive voice it must be marvelous. Keep on going!
Hans
Hans, THIS Crazy Horse... The otehr one - well, if it was the Osmonds then I can understand the difference - that one sold REALLY well in the US but it's weird hard rock for a boy band. Thanks for the kind words.
Ah, now I understand our confusion on the name. I had the song of the Rolling Stones in mind. and now I can place your song better in this context. I think your song will be much better, but only when the vocals are included!
Hey rayc, I really like the gritty, grungy sound on that track from the guitars and the chord progression is pretty cool too. I think any hint of metal is probably coming from one of those chord transitions, and the fact that the transitions are pretty rapid and more chromatic than diatonic (to my ear). I would say there's definitely a Neil Young'ish vibe in there but he probably had too much "stimulant" . Cool song!
Ed Z, Thank you sir, This was an attempt by me to slow down as I'd be beyond 130 to 160 recently. This represents a stately pace for me at the moment and the changes are , at their most frequent, only one per bar. I think that comes from me being, basically, a bass player used to filling in the space between chord changes so now write to avoid spaces...min you it was uncommon for me, and rather difficult, to hammer away at just Em for eight bars for the intro, but I made myself do it. I can see how the "slipping in" of a chromatic change could give a modern metal impression - along with mostly power chords for the verses. I was recently torn to shreds online by a bloke who couldn't handle me writing without a root chord. Music is wonderfully liberating until one allows the "rules" to tie one down. I can see you're not tethered! Again, thanks for your generous words.
Oh, I LOVE the tag Ed Z... in Oz/NZ/UK English that's Edd Zed.
Last edited by rayc; 06/13/2002:23 AM.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Hi Ray, This is really one kick @ss song! IMHO it don't need no stinking vocal. YMMV Super groove and a spot on mix. Good work here!
Thanks Mario, With my voice it's better off with no steenkeeng vocal. When I let the RealTrack solo play through I'd agree with you BUT I started making music in my late teens becasue i was writing bad poetry that had a better chance of not being laughed at if it were hung on chords. After all, most folk don't read lyrics. Thanks for your very kind assessment.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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