Hi Jim! This is a very interesting question and one reason why I rejoined the BIAB Forums after an 8 year hiatus (AndrewD, AussieAndrew).

Pre-production - I use BIAB even when I have the slightest germ of an idea - I might only have 4 chords and the mumble of a melody with promise, and I've learned years ago to get the idea down as soon as possible. I've had many song ideas in the bathroom or somewhere else and they've gone by the time I walk to my music room. I've even taken to humming or mumble-singing into my phone. In this creative phase, I will input the chords and melody (in BIAB notation) and immediately go looking for a style that I hear in my head - one that at least is useful during the writing phase and almost always Real Style. For me, lyrics usually come last, but before this in 95% of cases, I'll also have a word or phrase that I am mumbling that becomes the working title of the song. Over a period of time, I'll then use BIAB to develop the song musically. At some point, I will make the song 'singable' (even without lyrics completed) because I find I sing melodies different to how I notate them e.g. a pushed note or note outside of the chord e.g. a 2nd, 4th, 6th or 7th. I do some preliminary arrangement in BIAB, including a manually notated soloist part, rests, shots etc. Lyrics usually come to me playing on the guitar. Given I have limited vocal range, BIAB will also help me get the key best for my range - sometimes tricky if I need to play specific guitar chord voicings and avoiding playing up the neck with a capo.

The above process is also why I have only 50 songs recorded but about 150 ideas or partly completed songs e.g. verses looking for a chorus or middle eight; song looking for lyrics.

Production - I output wav files (mono per track, normalised track) then import into a new Cakewalk project. My aim here is to take inspiration from BIAB track but replace it with my own recorded track. I suffer under the weight of avoiding BIAB as a karaoke backing (as good as it is), so anything I can do to put my own creativity to work is what I aim for. All vocals added in Cakewalk.

Post-production - I do most creative arranging, editing and mixing in Cakewalk. All mixing in Cakewalk. I output to mp3.

Publishing - upload mp3 to Soundcloud but mostly import into Clipchamp and compile a video for my Youtube channel.

I might explore whether recording vocals into BIAB might help with my own demo while in the creation phase.

Andrew

Regards,
Andrew D
Adelaide, Sth Aust
Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/SQE4btVvNVkLq74e9
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@andrewoftheantipodes

Profile pic 'Air Guitar' - a carving in pine I made of the F major barre chord.