I am taking a bass guitar course and am using BIAB to make full chord sheets of a song with the split stems of the real recorded version which has been magnificent for studying and playing. The article I read suggested (I believe) that I could use BIAB to "program the line [bass line] as a melody" in BIAB.
This suggests to me that there is a feature in BB whereby I can write in the actual notes of the bassline at least for my reading so I could play them (not BB playing them) which would bring my BB song with chord chart and split stems into an even more sophisticated practice tool. My fantasy would be to watch the chords progressing on the chord sheet view, hear the split stems playing with the bass muted, and ALSO see on the chord sheet view the bass notes to be properly played.
Clearly I do not know what the article referred to or what a "melody" function is in BB.
Can you help me with this idea? Thanks in advance!
One way to do what you want is to select a RealTracks bass with RealCharts to use as a starting point. Real Charts is a transcription of the music the instrument is playing. Bass instruments with an "N" or "Gt" in the Chart column of the RealTracks Picker will display the RealTracks in notation.
Use the keyboard shortcut of Control (Command for Mac) + O or navigate to Window > Notation > Moveable Notation Window and open the window.
Select the Opt. button to open the Notation Window Options.
Set the track type to bass and only the bass staff displays.
Note: You may not see the Real Chart transcription on the bass staff. The MIDI standard defines middle C as note 60. Some manufacturers and developers assign note 60 to C3 and some to C4. Also be aware six string guitar notation is notated one octave high so the guitar notes align evenly in the treble staff.
I'm not fully understanding what the article was saying or indicating what to do. Do you have a link to it so that forum people can read through it? That would help us understand things more clearly.
Your fantasy to see the transcription of the stem bass line is possible. Yes, there is a feature in BB where the user can write in the actual notes of the bassline. Or better for folks like me that don't write notation, import the transcription midi data. Either method is possible.
The process has improved in 2025 but it's been possible as far back as 2014. With the introduction of the Stem Splitter and combining it with the Playable RealTrack feature, BIAB can utilize Playable RealTrack samples on the same track as live recorded audio or separate stems tracks. Stems from the Stem Splitter are recognized by BIAB as audio and function within the program as an Artist Performance File.
This feature makes it possible for you to enter notation and view it in BIAB for any live recorded audio. This feature makes it possible for you to attach a Playable RealTrack sample, or VSTi to live recorded audio
Even though there are still some RealTracks that haven't had exact matching instrument samples recorded yet, all RealTracks have an associated Playable RealTrack assigned and work with the Playable RealTrack Feature by allowing underlying midi data to be on the same track with RealTracks or Artist Performance Files and Artist Performance Tracks.
Stems tracks, Artist Performance Files, UserTracks and RealTracks can all have Transcription data allowing views for Notation, Piano Roll, the Big Piano, the Guitar/Bass/Ukulele Fret Board and other views. The fact that Stems Tracks are recognized by BIAB as Artist Performance Files makes this possible. I've attached PG Music's description of the Artist Performance File UserTrack posted back in December 2013.
Thanks Charlie and everyone else. Sorry for the late response. I had a family member need some acute medical care which slowed my response. All of this is fairly advanced for me to understand, but Charlie, I am going to look into the description you referenced and see if this brings me up to speed. My fantasy goal is to simply see (NOT hear) the bass notes I want as a visual guide for me playing along with the recorded stem bass part muted. This would complete my fantasy bass song practice file which would show:
-Accurate chord chart of a commercially recorded song with the measures moving along as the song plays -The recorded song split onto stems. -The bass stem muted so I can play along outside of BIAB -And then per my question, see the desired notation of notes for the bass part that I can refer to in real time as the chord chart progresses (so if I forget a bass note, I can see it in the notation)
I guess this would kind of be like a Soundslice file where the notation moves along as the audio plays.
My sneaking suspicion is that this is indeed a fantasy, but your comments are interesting and I will investigate. Let me know if my clarification of my goal makes you change you advice. Cheers.
Hmmmm I have just realized there are TWO Fogle BIAB experts. Brothers?????
< My fantasy goal is to simply see (NOT hear) the bass notes I want as a visual guide for me playing along with the recorded stem bass part muted. This would complete my fantasy bass song practice file which would show: >
An audio file (actually, any media BIAB recognizes ) converted into an Artist Performance File can have transcription allowing you to see notation, tab, or the midi data in Piano Roll or the Guitar Fretboard which can also display the Bass fretboard.
It's my opinion that:
< -Accurate chord chart of a commercially recorded song with the measures moving along as the song plays -The recorded song split onto stems. -The bass stem muted so I can play along outside of BIAB -And then per my question, see the desired notation of notes for the bass part that I can refer to in real time as the chord chart progresses (so if I forget a bass note, I can see it in the notation) >
is possible using the Stem Splitter, ACW, Artist Performance File feature, and BIAB.
< Hmmmm I have just realized there are TWO Fogle BIAB experts. Brothers? >
I was reviewing this this thread this morning and caught this question. Yes, we're brothers, I consider Jim more the BIAB expert than I am. I'm an old-fashioned recording user. BIAB just happens to be a very robust digital multitrack recorder that in some ways is more powerful and full-featured than hardware versions of multitrack recorders.
Hang in there learning how to input underlying midi with RealTracks and Artist Performance Files. It's a very powerful and useful feature for BIAB.
Charlie, you are definitely selling yourself short Both of you are outstanding contributors.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
We've recorded a few songs but haven't lately. Every time one of us gets in the "want to record together?" mood life sends us in a different direction.
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We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows 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.
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Both of you are outstanding contributors.
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