travellerboy,

Actually, it's not such an easy question, but it's one that I have been "harping" about for a very long time.

Quote:

I've used the bluegrass real tracks on some of my songs. What I find is that they are usually too fast for me. It's like they are playing "double time". If you slow them down too much, then the quality goes down the tubes. What they do has great playing, but I don't always get the "feel" I want.



At least up until BIAB 2009.5, bluegrass, fiddle tunes, uptempo acoustic music, are not properly addressed in BIAB. They program it using 16th notes instead of 8th notes, which all of it is originally written in 8ths. This has profound effects when trying to use BIAB for backing tracks in these styles. A thread that discusses the topic pretty thoroughly can be found at the following link. PLEASE DO NOT BUMP OR COMMENT USING THE OLD THREAD! Please use your thread for any comments you may have on it. This old link is for educational puposes only about the discussion.

http://www.pgmusic.com/ubbthreads/showfl...rt=all&vc=1

It may have been addressed in BIAB 2010.5, but I’m running 2009.5, so I don’t know for sure.

I asked that question on another thread pretty recently:

Quote:

Andrew,

Bluegrass styles for BIAB

You may remember a discussion on this thread concerning whether bluegrass should be handled as 8th note based or 16th note based. Peter joined the discussion.

http://www.pgmusic.com/ubbthreads/showfl...rt=all&vc=1

In reviewing the new features in 2010.5, it definitely sounds like the midi problem has been addressed, and maybe the real tracks problem has been addressed.
Quote:
________________________________________


 Styles can now be made that are set to use Half-Time and Double-Time RealTracks. For example, you can make a Jazz Ballad style (tempo 65) that uses a Sax Soloist at tempo 140 (playing double time). The StyleMaker- Misc-More dialog now has setting called TimeBase: Normal/HalfTime/DoubleTime for RealTracks.

 MIDI Styles can now be expanded or reduced. For example, if you have a Bluegrass style at a typical tempo of 130 that is 16ths note based, and you would prefer it as a style that is 8th note based at a typical tempo of 260, you can do this in the StyleMaker by selecting the menu item Style-Expand. Style-Reduce is available also for styles that you want to reduce from 8th notes to 16th notes.

________________________________________


The wording for the midi styles changes is very clear, but am I correct in assuming the following is also true concerning Real Tracks?
Quote:
________________________________________

For example, if you have a Bluegrass style at a typical tempo of 130 that is 16ths note based, and you would prefer it as a style that is 8th note based at a typical tempo of 260, you can do this in the StyleMaker by selecting the menu item Style-Expand. Style-Reduce is available also for styles that you want to reduce from 8th notes to 16th notes.
________________________________________


I'm still running 2009.5 because of a job loss, but if this is accurate as discussed in the previous forum listed above, I will definitely want to try to upgrade, at least by the 2011 version.

Thanks

--------------------
Bob



I got this response from PG:

Quote:

Yes, you can specify half-time or double-time for RealTracks in the StyleMaker. However it's not necessary for you do that in the Stylemaker - there is also a song setting.

To expand or reduce the MIDI instruments in the .STY though, you need to use the StyleMaker:

1. Ctrl+shift+F9 to edit the current style.
2. Style menu | reduce (or expand.
3. Save As, and type a name for your new style.



Once again, I can’t state whether or not this works because I’m running 2009.5.

I would strongly suggest that you you read that first thread in it's entirety because there is a lot of good info there.

Last edited by bobcflatpicker; 10/25/10 02:35 PM.
Bob
................................
http://soundcloud.com/bobcflatpicke/music-in-the-mountains