I want to start a hobby (just mixing and creating/producing tracks, forgive me if the terms are wrong). I watched a few tutorials and I'm currently using Ableton (as it looked the easiest to me and my amateur friend also recommended it to me).
I'm just curious, I watched the tutorial on functions of the program and everything...but nobody actually teaches you how to START/CREATE a track. A quick background - I have no prior musical foundation (played mary had a little lamb with a wind instrument back in high school, but that is the extent of my education).
How do I actually start? Do I pick a chord? Do I need to know what each chord sounds like and does? Do I start with a high to low chord? Reverse? Everything is so overwhelming and honestly, I've just been playing around in Ableton and seeing if I can make anything that sounds like what I want (but with no luck)
With a basic understanding of elementary music theory..... You should look into Band in A Box. Grab a copy of the PRO level and this program will give you the fastest start you can possibly get. Pro version is the entry level and has a limited number of styles and real tracks but it gets you in the door to see what this can do. You have a great wealth of knowledge in the forums as well. Ask questions and people will assist.
You don't need to play an instrument... you simply tell it what chords you want ( that's the music theory part) and it does the rest for you. You can import it into Ableton and play around to your hearts content. It's not a hard thing to learn.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
Open the program, type a chord in the first bar location. Maybe a C then hit tab twice to the second location (bar 2) and type a G tab twice again and type C, tab twice again and type D tab once and hit D7 . hit play and listen. Now experiment.
then watch
Last edited by Rob Helms; 10/18/2307:41 PM.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.
If you can afford it buy the Ultra plus pak, and never look back. it comes with RealBand a nice related DAW program. you can open Band in a Box songs there and add personal tracks it the project.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.
Henry Clarke's channel on YouTube is also very accessible: +++ here +++
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
BIAB. CbB. Mixbus 32C 8 HP Envy. Intel core i7. 16GB RAM W10. Focusrite Scarlett 18i 20. Various instruments played with varying degrees of proficiency.
I want to start a hobby (just mixing and creating/producing tracks, forgive me if the terms are wrong). How do I actually start?
Best to pick up a hobby you know something about. But good luck to you.
BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).
If you get yourself a copy of BiaB, choose a style (Country, Jazz, Pop, Hip-Hop, Funk, Latin etc), start entering chords as per the video instructions indicated above, then start using the integrated mixer to change volume levels, panning, reverb etc. of different instruments. Listen to your results, Rinse and repeat. That's a starting point.
BIAB & RB2025 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
This thread takes me back to years ago when I got barbequed for saying something similar to this. I am going to make this post as a role playing conversation.
Track: "Start entering chords..." Newb: What's a chord? Track: You know, the progression of the song. Newb: What's a progression? Track: The order of the chords. Newb: Again, what's a chord?
And on and on.
This software in particular, but all DAW software in general, requires a certain amount of assumed and implied knowledge. We went though this with a discussion of chords once as well. I asked someone to tell me, as if I knew nothing about music, what this thing called a major chords is that everybody talks about. Somebody (I think it was Norton) said "A major chord is 1-3-5." Now of course I know that is correct, but I was asking as a music know-nothing. THAT conversation something went like this.
What's a 1? What's a 3? What's a 5? The notes in the scale. What's a scale? The series of notes in the key you are playing in. What's a key?
And on and on.
Note that the OP has not returned to this thread, and that this is his only post. I thought from the beginning that this thread was somebody thinking it would be fun to troll this forum. How does somebody who admittedly knows nothing about music end up with a copy of Ableton and think "Hey now! Music, which I know zero about, looks like a fun hobby." and then end up in THIS forum? Wouldn't Ableton software's documentation land him on Ableton's web page?
I have my doubts that Lamar4 is real.
As to the OP, in case it IS real (and yes, I am calling you out here, Lamar), you probably want to take up a different hobby. This is not something you are just going to "pick up". Yeah there are posers and pretenders here who just want to use "auto-everything" and claim to be a musician. Every kid with a laptop thinks he is a producer anymore because they download a loop from somewhere and somebody reads angry, sexist, racist beat poetry roughly in time with the loop and they call it a rap song. You simply HAVE to know about music to make music. You can't just sit down at an instrument you can't play and turn into Diane Warren cranking out #1 hits.
But, again, I don't think this account is even real.
Hobbies are supposed to be for fun, right? What fun is it to do somethink you know nothing about? Otherwise, the best you will end up doing is spending the next years watching YouTube videos.
BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).
I agree with Eddie. Anyone who bought Ableton then asks "How do I actually start? Do I pick a chord? Do I need to know what each chord sounds like and does? Do I start with a high to low chord? Reverse? Everything is so overwhelming and honestly, I've just been playing around in Ableton and seeing if I can make anything that sounds like what I want (but with no luck)" is putting us on!
If by chance this is a one in a million honest post then I suggest the OP buy Acid Pro and mix loops.
Why is it that doctors call what they do 'practice'? If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport, the terminal?
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
This thread takes me back to years ago when I got barbequed for saying something similar to this. I am going to make this post as a role playing conversation. Track: "Start entering chords..." Newb: What's a chord?
Eddie, c'mon. To be fair, you only quoted a fragment of the actual sentence that this Track guy mentioned. Track mentioned "start entering chords as per the video instructions indicated above". I think that fragmentation reduced the intended guidance. Anyway, have a great day Nothing wrong with a good BBQ either (the one with food ).
BIAB & RB2025 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
I'm with Eddie and Mario on this one. It has to be a put-on.
Byron Dickens
BIAB. CbB. Mixbus 32C 8 HP Envy. Intel core i7. 16GB RAM W10. Focusrite Scarlett 18i 20. Various instruments played with varying degrees of proficiency.
We may never know because it was his first post and everyone pounced on him! maybe we should be a little more patient. Eddie i remember when you had a ton of question with RB just saying.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.
Eddie i remember when you had a ton of question with RB just saying.
Yes I did. With Real Band. But who comes onto a music software forum and says they know nothing about music and want to be a producer as a HOBBY? Asking about "what chords sound like"? Forward or reverse chords? With Ableton?
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig? “Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
I want to start a hobby (just mixing and creating/producing tracks, forgive me if the terms are wrong). I watched a few tutorials and I'm currently using Ableton (as it looked the easiest to me and my amateur friend also recommended it to me).
I'm just curious, I watched the tutorial on functions of the program and everything...but nobody actually teaches you how to START/CREATE a track. A quick background - I have no prior musical foundation (played mary had a little lamb with a wind instrument back in high school, but that is the extent of my education).
How do I actually start? Do I pick a chord? Do I need to know what each chord sounds like and does? Do I start with a high to low chord? Reverse? Everything is so overwhelming and honestly learning , I've just been playing around in Ableton and seeing if I can make anything that sounds like what I want (but with no luck)
Starting your journey into music production can be both exciting and challenging, especially if you're new to the world of music and digital audio workstations (DAWs) like Ableton. Here are some steps to help you get started with creating your own tracks:
Learn the Basics: It's great that you've watched tutorials on Ableton. Continue learning about the software and its various functions. Understanding the tools at your disposal is crucial.
Explore Music Theory: While you don't need to be a music theory expert, having some basic knowledge can be extremely helpful. Start by understanding scales, chords, and keys. This will make it easier to create melodies and harmonies.
Experiment: Don't be afraid to experiment. Start with something simple, like a chord progression. You can choose a key and experiment with different chords within that key. Ableton has virtual instruments that allow you to play around with sounds.
Use MIDI Instruments: If you're not familiar with playing traditional instruments, you can use MIDI instruments within Ableton. These instruments allow you to create music using your computer keyboard or a MIDI controller.
Listen Actively: Listen to music actively. Pay attention to the music you enjoy, and try to deconstruct it. What makes it sound the way it does? How do different elements work together?
Drum Patterns: Start with a basic drum pattern. The rhythm can serve as a foundation for your track. Experiment with different drum sounds and patterns.
Layering: Music production often involves layering different sounds. You can layer multiple instruments, synths, and samples to create a rich and complex track.
Arrangement: Once you have some musical elements you like, start arranging them into a structure. Most songs have an intro, verse, chorus, bridge, and outro. Arrange your elements into a similar structure.
Effects and Mixing: Experiment with effects and mixing to shape the sound. Ableton offers various audio effects and mixing tools to enhance your track.
Practice: Music production is a skill that takes time to develop. Be patient with yourself, and keep practicing. Your early tracks might not sound the way you want them to, but that's part of the learning process.
Seek Feedback: Don't be afraid to share your work with others and seek feedback. Join online music production communities or forums to connect with fellow producers who can offer advice and guidance.
Remember that there's no one "right" way to create music. It's about expressing yourself and having fun. Keep learning, experimenting, and, most importantly, enjoy the creative process. Your skills will improve over time, so keep at it, and you'll see progress in your music production journey.
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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Nothing wrong with a good BBQ either (the one with food 
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