|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Post your own Tips and Tricks here
|
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926 |
I was going to make a post on familiarization with Styles only, until I remembered all the people here who Know a Whole Lot More than I do about BIAB. So I'm opening it up to BIAB as a whole and hoping that experienced users will add their thoughts. Speak to major topics, but keep it basic. This could become a very interesting and useful thread for newbies. (I suspect we could all learn something.)
New users, look elsewhere in this forum for other information on using BIAB. Questions about BIAB belong in the BIAB Forum.
Thanks,
Richard
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post your own Tips and Tricks here
|
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926 |
Becoming familiar with BIAB Styles. Here is part of how I did it, anyway. (BTW, I am speaking exclusively to MIDI Styles. Some of this may apply to Real Instruments, some won't.) Listening is essential to learning music. BIAB is a musical program. Therefore it is essential to listen to BIAB. Stupid-basic, but stay with me. BIAB is not Artificial Intelligence, although it sounds like it at times; it is an Expert System. (You can find out more than you want to know about expert systems in this Wiki article.) Styles are at the heart of BIAB's expertise. What other application lets you listen to a Country song, then, with a mouse click, hear it as a Reggae tune? Then--in quick succession--Scott Joplin, an Irish jig, or a Swing tune? I entertained myself for a long time doing just that. It's easy to get lost in this, and I did. But eventually I entered some of my own songs. That's when the first epiphany happened. I was listening to something I had written--this is important--in one Style, and playing it back in another, when BIAB did something totally unexpected. I think it played a flourish during a turnaround, but it isn't important. BIAB had done something a human player might, something I would not have thought of, and likely couldn't do if I had, since there were five instruments involved. This was my first clue to the incredible knowledge base which has been invested in this program. It's not about coding; it's about putting advanced human skills at your disposal. Here, IMHO, is the best way to familiarize yourself with what BIAB offers you out of the box (so to speak  ). Get a notebook and a sharp pencil, set aside an evening or two and just listen to Styles and Demos. Many of these are amazing, especially through a good synth. When you get ideas, mark them down elsewhere in your notebook, or stop and Follow Your Muse. But know that you are deferring the basic task--listening to BIAB. Get back to it ASAP! I wanted to introduce a friend to BIAB, so we did a "lightning" session one evening. I'd play a Demo, we'd accompany it for one or two choruses, then do another. (A "video lead sheet" is another amazing feature.) (Did I say BIAB was amazing? It's amazingly amazing!) We went through dozens of Styles and Demos that night. He was amazed because he'd never heard BIAB. I was amazed--again--because, if you let it, BIAB will make you stretch. I played things I never would have otherwise. To quickly learn how Styles can sound with your music, put in a short, distinctive chord progression with A & B parts at least, set it to Loop and have at it. (I say use "distinctive" progressions because these can bring out embellishments you might not hear otherwise.) Change Styles on the fly and you can hear a lot in a short time. Mute or replace various instrument sounds. Learn how to make Hybrid Styles. An easy exercise would be to graft a human-type drummer into a Techno Style, or vice versa. Think. Imagine. Ask questions (in the BIAB Forum, please). I'm really charged up now! I could keep going, but this is supposed to be basic. I hope you've learned something, and that other experienced users will contribute to this thread, too. Richard
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post your own Tips and Tricks here
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
JUKE the BB demo folders in the background when surfing the web or doing other things.
This is how I have gotten my knowledge base of the BB Styles and what they are capable of doing, an ongoing project that has no endpoint in sight, but is fun.
Whenever I hear something that I really like while Juking the Demo folders, I bring BB to the foreground and either jot the particular folder and song filename into a wordpad file I've kept for ages or sometimes I simply resave the Demo song into one of my Work folders for future reference or use.
Also, running the Demo songs from pgmusic WHILE WATCHING THE PROGRAM WORK has taught me many things about BB very quickly. One can see how instruments are Rested, Held, Shots, etc. as done by the pgmusic stylemaking and songplaying pros, as well as a myriad of other tips and tricks by doing this.
And -- While you are listening to the Demo songs, be aware that the chords in many of them are chords taken from standards and famous songs with a new Melody added by pgmusic. Sometimes I just Juke the Demo folders with the Melody track muted, which often makes the target song these were created from just jump out at me. Again, I make a note of it or save the song to one of my work folders or both.
--Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post your own Tips and Tricks here
|
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,730
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,730 |
Quote:
Whenever I hear something that I really like while Juking the Demo folders, I bring BB to the foreground and either jot the particular folder and song filename into a wordpad file I've kept for ages or sometimes I simply resave the Demo song into one of my Work folders for future reference or use.
Also, running the Demo songs from pgmusic WHILE WATCHING THE PROGRAM WORK has taught me many things about BB very quickly. One can see how instruments are Rested, Held, Shots, etc. as done by the pgmusic stylemaking and songplaying pros, as well as a myriad of other tips and tricks by doing this.
--Mac
ah
to have that wordpad file and biab file(s) with just the techniques available for reference
Lenovo YOGA 900 Window s 10 Home 64bit M4 pro Mac mini 1tb HD 24GB mem casio wk7500 presonus audiobox i2 usb interface
casio wk-7500
biab & realband 2025 everything pk both with Current builds
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post your own Tips and Tricks here
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Nobody but me could make hide nor hair of my abbreviations, Mike.
Sometimes even I stare at 'em and think, "What the #!$% does THAT mean?"
I don't believe in taking many notes, nor writing down lyrics or chords much anymore when songwriting.
Learned from a past master of songwriting that if you don't remember it then it likely wasn't worth remembering in the first place.
Put another way, "if you have to write it down in order to remember it, then it likely stinks."
At least, that's the way the late great Rich Mullins put it.
He never wrote any of his song lyrics down, always after the recordings were done he'd have to get a big Pepsi and sit with the studio secretary and dictate the libretto for the covers. And what libretto it was.
"if its good, you'll remember it."
--Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post your own Tips and Tricks here
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,776
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,776 |
Quote:
"if you have to write it down in order to remember it, then it likely stinks."
At least, that's the way the late great Rich Mullins put it.
I love Rich Mullins, and have just about everything he ever did. He left this earth much too early.
But...for those of us who have trouble remembering what we had for lunch yesterday, I have to write it down, or it just ain't going to happen, good or not. Different strokes....
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting and construction)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post your own Tips and Tricks here
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
I had the same problem, John.
As with everything else music, the more I practice this thing, the better I get at it.
Not that I'm all that good, mind you.
--Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 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 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Video: New User Interface (GUI)
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 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!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 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 Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics85,399
Posts791,618
Members39,876
| |
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean