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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 26
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 26 |
Hi everyone. I'm still getting up to speed on BIAB.
Can I use "real" instruments to play the melody on tunes? I can get Realband to play the chords and background but when I try to have a "real" instrument play the melody, I either get nothing or an ad-lib solo on the changes. Am I doing something wrong, or is this just not possible?
Thanks in advance,
Hack
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Sep 2001
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Are you using Band In A Box or RealBand? Either way by 'real instrument' i presume you mean a RealTrack. RealTracks are recordings of real musicians playing live riffs and pharsaes that BIAB stitches together to give you a recording of a real musician playing along with the chord changes. but you are confined to phrases and riffs the musician recorded. you can't ask it to play a melody.
how are you trying to play a melody at the moment? yes you can get a solo played on the chord changes. but if you want to play 'the melody' you'll have to use midi. do you know how to work with midi? and do you know what midi is as opposed to audio recordings?
before anyone tries to help its worth letting us know if you are familir with midi. apologies if all this is stuff you know but the question you ask is a bit confusing. a 'real instrument' is what you get with a RealTrack but as I say, its limited to what has already been recorded.
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 26
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 26 |
Yes, I understand the rudiments of midi and have been using it with biab for years. But some of the midi instruments, especially the horns, aren't very good. But you answered my question. Thanks.
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 892
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Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 892 |
Yes, I understand the rudiments of midi and have been using it with biab for years. But some of the midi instruments, especially the horns, aren't very good. But you answered my question. Thanks. Some of the midi instrument sound libraries available are indeed, not very good. But some are much better. Some are actually worth spending money on Spitfire has some great orchestral horns. Native Instruments also offers some good horn stuff. But neither of these are free (although Spitfire did have a freebie a couple years ago). In general Midi instrument voice quality is much (MUCH) better than it used to be. For my $.02 It remains a bit of a "you get what you pay for". Also you can't play a trumpet like a guitar. Or vice versa. For midi instruments to sound compelling, you have to play as if you understand the instrument voice you are using. I'm sure there are bargains. I just don't know much about them. As I age I'm more willing to pony up the $$ and buy the quality stuff.
Last edited by mrgeeze; 02/28/24 04:36 PM. Reason: additional thought
biab2026(Mac) Latest Build
Mac OS (Latest)
Apple Mac Mini M2 pro 32GB Ram
Logic Pro (latest or pretty close)
Blue and White Sea Star
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Apr 2009
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Yeah you're never going to get it to play a custom melody. So yes, you can easily add your own live instrument using either audio or midi.
Many people here do that very thing including me
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd 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.
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