I either start with BiaB and let it guide me, or try to find something in BiaB that works.

Starting out with BiaB means I don't struggle to make things match, because I'm starting with a style where the tracks are working well together.

Adding BiaB tracks later to an existing backing can be more iffy. I'll typically generating a bunch .wav files to load into my DAW. When a style works, I can usually create something from the best takes. When it doesn't... well, there are other tools other than BiaB. But for a "live" sound (lead guitar, brass, strummed acoustic) it's often the best first choice.

That said, if you're willing to pack up and move to Nashville or LA, it doesn't sound like a "hobby" to me. It sounds like you're still in the "pro" game.

I'm nowhere near "pro", but that never stopped me from offering advice that's worth less than what you paid for. wink

Nothing's going to replace what you get from a bunch of pros together is a studio. You've been there and done that, and know what you're missing by not going that route.

But as you mentioned, what you heard from people like floyd jane impressed you enough to purchase BiaB. So in theory, you can get much of the way there with the tools you've got.

A while back, I was hired to "produce" a number of songs for someone. He'd send me the BiaB tracks and his vocals, and I'd do all the important but tedious stuff in the DAW to make them better: work on the vocals, generate harmonies, replace instruments, add instrument, and adjust the mix.

I'd send the results to him, and I'd get an email with describing what he liked, and where I missed the mark. Lather, rinse and repeat. Not the best way to collaborate, and some tracks required a lot of iterations before I got to where he was happy.

Part of my job (I thought) was to provide new ideas. For example, I thought one song would work better at a easy tempo, so I slowed down the vocal and completely changed the backing. (BiaB is a great tool for that). He didn't consider it an improvement, but said he'd let his daughter decide. We ended up going with the slower tempo and feel.

Since I'm telling the story, of course the example I picked was where he agreed with me. That wasn't always the case, and because it was his song, and he was paying for it, he always had the final say. laugh

Perhaps you can figure out how to offload some of the parts of music creation that don't inspire you, and figure out how to focus on the bits you enjoy - while still getting the "pro" results you heard from others... without moving to Nashville or LA.

-- David Cuny
My virtual singer development blog

Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?