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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Mar 2025
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OP
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Practicing a song in all keys is a common jazz practice technique.
Does anyone use BAIB to accompany themselves while doing this? If so, how do you set that up?
I used BIAB quite a bit in 2008 and after a 16 year break(!) I'm back with version Mac 2024.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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It looks like you answered this in your other thread.
BIAB 2026 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia/Tahoe, M1 & M5 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, Logic, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScore/Notion/Overture
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 15
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OP
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Thanks for the reply.
This is a different question soliciting best practices others have for using BIAB as a practice tool to play along with the same song in various keys.
I was thinking there might be an automated way to do this, like having the key change after each chorus? or even a brute force method of just copy and pasting a song 12 times and transpose it each time? Just thinking out loud.
Surely some here has done this?
I used BIAB quite a bit in 2008 and after a 16 year break(!) I'm back with version Mac 2024.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jan 2010
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Practicing a tune in 12 keys more an ideal than a reality.
Clearly some do it. No doubt someone on this forum will attest its the only way. Ever.
Most of us do not.
I will often practice a standard (say autumn leaves) in 2-3 keys. The ones normally called when jamming (Bb & G or Cm or Em if you like).
You might learn it in a couple of other tunes (C (am) or perhaps one or two to accommodate a Bb or Eb horn.
But rare is the day somebody is going to call this tune in C#minor (A).
At least imo.
That being said, The singer calls the key and you need to know how to to transpose on the fly sometimes.
He/She may call it in Db. Too bad. Life goes on.
As for the tool for practicing multiple keys, BIAB is not it.
I use IrealPro in the Shed.
Changing key and tempo is pretty ease and "good enough" for working it out.
It helps me build some walking bass lines.
It helps me find some shell chords for my guitar work.
If I have a performance ready backing track I created from BIAB "musicians" I do the following.
WIth a 320kpbs mp3 I use the sharpen/flatten feature of performance playback software (Anytune Pro).
I can normally go up or down a couple of steps and the arrangement wont sound too wonky.
Sometimes I'll alter the tempo a little if it sounds a little wierd.
If I need more flexibility I'll do another arrangement a fifth away from each other.
This cover's all the bases. I rarely need to do this, but it does work.
Anyway, you may find an easier way.
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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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 15
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OP
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Thank you mrgeeze for your candid comments.
I agree with your practical approach to all 12 keys. I'm just one of those weirdos that enjoy the challenge, and even though I might not ever play a particular tune in one of the less popular keys, I find the practice overall good for ear training. That's my ride.
I just recently picked up iReal Pro and I agree it's probably more practical for this, though I prefer the sounds and customization that BIAB provides so I've been trying to make this work. I also have a good collection of BIAB realbook tunes and it's nice to be able to toggle the melody and see it in notation.
Thanks for the tips!
I used BIAB quite a bit in 2008 and after a 16 year break(!) I'm back with version Mac 2024.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 892
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SamDann,
Agreed. IRealPro is for practice.
BIAB is for performance.
Once I decide to add a tune my performance repertoire, I make a BIAB arrangement in my preferred performance key. If its a jazz standard I choose a key & tempo commonly called unless my instrument (guitar) will allow something interesting (to me anyway) in a key more suited to it (open strings, harmonics, etc)
Regardless of key I make sure to have sections I can loop for solos and a nice intro, ending, etc. "Vary middle sections" is a useful switch on BIAB for creating a little more interest in the solo choruses.
I mix and master in a DAW (Logic Pro) and output a 320kbps mp3 for performance. I normally kick the solo section up 1db or so and back it off 1.5-2db on the exit head. Subtle but effective. I do pan bass(left) and drums (right) so i can adjust volume if I am practicing bass or my drummer friend shows up. I may give up "true" stereo but panning the instrument volume is for me a more useful feature. At a gig I don't really need a band in stereo.
Last edited by mrgeeze; 04/01/25 05:55 AM. Reason: typo
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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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Practicing a tune in 12 keys more an ideal than a reality.
Clearly some do it. … Most of us do not. Amen to that. Pro musicians who never turn down paying gigs learn how to transpose in real time by sight and ear. Think of it as a survival skill. I could do it before I got out of high school but I'm pretty sure that I never practiced it… not once, not ever. The key is to learn your instrument(s) backward, forward and inside out.
BIAB 2026 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia/Tahoe, M1 & M5 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, Logic, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScore/Notion/Overture
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