OK guys and gals....First time poster. I am a newbie, here is my story.Started young on keyboards (like 7) changed to bass around 20.Played in various bands and what not till late 30's.Quit playing,had a career and mouths to feed. With 20 plus odd years with out playing,kids out of college and on there own,I get the bug.I could not believe how technology has pass me by as I see everything that the internet and new programs have to offer. With plenty of money now in my pocket that I didn't have years ago,I purchased a new AM Fender Jazz bass, amp and goodies. I told my wife the disease has started. This weekend my new Ultrapak arrived and off I go into my own little world. I am blown away by this software,the realtracks sounds amazing.Very intuitive for a hack like me, however its also a bit intimidating. The whole midi thing is something I really want to get my arms around,but I see I need to peel this onion one layer at a time.I have gone thru the videos and tutorials,but manual but still feel lost.Generating songs from realtracks/styles is quite simple,trying to add a soloist or multiple soloist to parts of the song...not so simple yet. I think bringing aboard this beginner forum is a great idea.As others have said,it can be intimidating to ask questions in the more experienced forums. There appears to be very helpful and knowledgeable staff and users alike,and probably a bunch of old guys like me looking to learn something new. Thank you!! I will have many questions to ask....as soon as I understand what to ask!
Welcome to the forum Props. I can relate to your story! I did not play my guitar for 10 years while I was busy bringing up two children but purchased BIAB in 2013 and it has quite literally changed my life!
Here is a blog post I wrote a while back that you might enjoy.
6 simple steps to make cool backing tracks using Band-in-a-Box
Welcome to the forum. I'm sure this bug will be one you'll not want to get over again. There are quite a few journeys taken by forum members that are similar to yours.
A tip for when the time comes that you post a question in the forum is to include some technical information about your setup and gear. There are variations between the yearly versions of BIAB/RB and for the past few years, each year has featured around 50 enhancements. Some significant and some minor. The specific version and accessories of your BIAB is important information.
Your particular situation that you ask about may sometimes be affected by the particular BIAB version or elements of your computer such as memory, sound card, audio interface, drivers or even if it is a pc or mac.
As you browse through forum posts, you'll see some, (Me too) put this information in their signature.
Many times that information leads to a quick reply and solution to your situation very quickly.
If you write songs, I look forward to hearing you on the Users Showcase and PG Radio on Soundcloud.
Charlie
Props2, welcome to the neighborhood. You'll enjoy it here, that's a certainty!
Trev
Props....
Welcome. This is some cool stuff and a great bunch of folks here.
As you dig in, and run into issues, just ask the question in the forum that best suits the subject matter. There is a general BAND IN A BOX forum and a general REAL BAND forum as well as several specialized topic forums. You're more likely to get a timely answer in the correct forum as more folks will see it.
Feel free to ask any question you need an answer for.
It really helps if you have a DAW and use it in the process. DAW = digital audio workstation. Or... in other words, a recording studio in the computer. Many here use BB to sketch out the rough structure of the song, we use Real Band to render the audio tracks, and then we put it all together and edit in the DAW. (Real Band is a DAW also)
Poke around in the showcase and also look at some of the user's signatures since we post links to our music in the signatures.
Have a listen. Get to know the people here. Many of us mix live playing in with the real tracks for some really top quality results.
Most of all, have fun with this technology. I love this stuff. My band is always ready to go, they play professionally, work cheap, don't show up drunk, voice no complaints about the songs, no one shows up late to the gig, and the drummer doesn't try to hit on my wife. How does it get any better than that?
Once you get some original music recorded, be sure to share it in the User Showcase.
Again... Welcome to the asylum.
Welcome Props!
I am posting a chord lesson for you in a few seconds. Welcome to the forum.
Write some stuff and let us hear it!!
Welcome to the forum. I can't help much with bass questions but you've already had welcomes from some fine players. Ask your questions and someone will know. If you don't know what to ask, ask anyway.
If we users don't know the answers, then PG Music Support is easily available and they are friendly and skilled. This is my favorite company to work with, no question.
Enjoy. And come out of the den once in awhile.
Welcome to one of the warmest and friendliest places on the Internet. All questions are welcomed and answered with kindness, i.e. no Read The Freaking (PC language here) Manual.
I have been playing guitar for many years, the last 30+ in wedding bands. Now with BiaB I play what I want when I want. Along with guitar I also play bass, some wind controller and a little keyboards.
Have fun and don't be afraid to ask any question that you might have.
Welcome Props2!
An easy way to get some killer soloists right off the bat is to open your BIAB song in Realband. Then select a track where you want your soloist generated and highlight how many bars you want it to play. Next choose generate and from that menu choose generate riffs - pick your soloist and choose ok and then play the different riffs (press the green play arrow). When you find one that suits you choose okay. If you don't like any of the riffs you hear just choose cancel and do it again as each time the riffs selection will be different. You can also generate a soloist on an entire track and then cut out or mute the parts you don't want or copy and paste parts where you want them.
This is a way to start havng fun now. Later you can get into midi and writing your own solos in BIAB. Remember real tracks are not controlled by midi. You don't have to know how to use midi to make great songs right out of the box with BIAB and Realband. You can create some great original songs or make backing tracks with some of the best players on the planet playing solos for you using the method I described above.
99.9% of my songs are all real tracks.
Hope that helps and have fun!
Thank you All for the kind words. I have noticed as I browse thru the threads you all are huge contributors and have a vast knowledge of this software(and probably many other add on's).
Joanne, I checked out your blog.....great song! Sound is excellent!
Charlie, I will add the signature and include my meager setup. I don't have an interface yet so I cant record. I am researching that kind of stuff the more I learn what I don't know.
My playing style is more jazz/funk, but also like some great country music,and quite frankly a good variety of music.
I have listened to a bunch of really,really good music from the user's here on the board. Wow...great stuff!
Thank you all again for the big welcome....I feel very much at home.
Josie,
sThis looks like sometihing I really would like to be able to do. I havent figred out how in BIAB in past but will reaally have ot start playisng with RB w. It would really be nice if you could come up with a vidio showing you going through the different steps.
Earl