Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Post your own Tips and Tricks here
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,074
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,074
this was mentioned in another thread along with the suggestion that it should be added to the tips and tricks. Since the original poster (Silvertones) has not done so, I've decided to go ahead and post it because I think it is a great idea, and one that not very many people know about:

Quote:

Since RB doesn't regenerate every track when you regenerate one of them, You can get more variety between tracks by changing the chord sheet slightly for each track. Some instruments may sound better with a busier set of chords while other tracks/instruments sound best with a very simple arrangement.

Adding transitional chords can really influence the way decorative or solo instruments embellish the fundamental chord pattern.

Also, by changing the slash note for different tracks, you can eliminate redundancy and introduce controlled harmonic progressions at the bottom end.

You can also get some interesting effects by varying the shots, holds, rests, pushes, pulls and section markers from one track to the next

Strings may sound better with a simple triad, while a more complex chord may allow another track more freedom of movement. These are just a few thoughts, your experimentation may yield far more benefits than I've touched on here.



reference threads:
http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=356302&an=0&page=0#Post356302

http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=356624&Main=356412#Post356624

Post your own Tips and Tricks here
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 232
J
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
J
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 232
I have an idea that this is cumbersome, but could someone explain how to do this??

JT

Post your own Tips and Tricks here
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 232
J
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
J
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 232
BUMP....

Post your own Tips and Tricks here
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,074
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,074
Quote:

I have an idea that this is cumbersome, but could someone explain how to do this??

JT




Not cumbersome at all, John. Let me start with BIAB then talk about this particular way in which RB is different.

IN BIAB, when you generate a song, ALL of the parts regenerate. They all follow the same chords, the same timing, the same part markers etc. The result in some cases is that the song can become too "sing-songy" and predictable

In RB, each track can be generated seperately. This means you can change the chords or part markers etc for each instrument. for example maybe you want one instrument to play a busier chord pattern that includes transitional chords... but you want another instrument to hold the same root chord the whole time, or to change chords less often. you could enter the complicated chords first:

D,G A,Bm | G,A D/F#,G <- This set of chords would generate a fairly busy track

D A | G D <-by removing some of the chords, another instrument can be generated with a simpler accompaniment

Post your own Tips and Tricks here
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 232
J
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
J
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 232
i think I have it now.

will try.

thx

JT

Post your own Tips and Tricks here
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 232
J
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
J
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 232
Thought I had it.

First create song in BB.

Then open MGU in RB and change chords in ACW?? then send to RB and generate the RT??

confusing.

JT

Last edited by johnmusic; 05/22/12 05:10 PM.
Post your own Tips and Tricks here
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,074
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,074
as a general rule, when you open a BIAB song, you'll probably want to go ahead and generate the song just as you had it in BIAB. Even without the ACW, the chord window should be populated with the same chords that were in BIAB.

In RB you have separate windows for tracks and chords. After you've generated the songwithe the same chords, you can go to the chords window and make changes to the chords there. Then if you regenerate any of the existing tracks or if yoy create a new track, it will follow whatever chords are in the chord window at the time of generation.

Post your own Tips and Tricks here
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,026
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,026
Glad you re-posted this Pat, it's a great idea!

Post your own Tips and Tricks here
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,074
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,074
Tommy,
in conjunction with your idea of substituting the relative minor for major chords, and vice versa, you could do the same thing here. It would take some experimentation to get backing tracks that work with completely different chords... but you might get some snippets that are worth saving, that probably would not have generated otherwise.

Post your own Tips and Tricks here
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 232
J
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
J
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 232
Pat,

After the song opens in RB, your at the chord screen which looks exactly like BB screen. To fiddle with chords per "player" you have to launch ACW correct??

when I am done in ACW, then there is an option to send to RB.

Basically what is your work method, what is confusing me as I fiddled with ACW, is If I change chords for a guitar part, but don't touch other instruments, will the other instruments still play their original parts??

Lastly, should I do my shots and holds and rests in BB and save before opening in Real Band??

This is interesting, a lot of steps but your help is appreciated.

JT

Post your own Tips and Tricks here
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,074
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,074
Quote:

Pat,

After the song opens in RB, your at the chord screen which looks exactly like BB screen. To fiddle with chords per "player" you have to launch ACW correct??




nope. You can edit the chords right on the chord sheet that looks like BIABs chord sheet.

The only time you need ACW is when you are importing another song (like maybe a song from a CD that you want to learn)... ACW can help extract the chords when you don't already know them. But with PGMusic products, the songs you create should always have the chords on the chord window.

Quote:


when I am done in ACW, then there is an option to send to RB. Basically what is your work method,




my work method is to NOT use ACW in this case. That's what's making this more complicated than it has to be.

Quote:


what is confusing me as I fiddled with ACW, is If I change chords for a guitar part, but don't touch other instruments, will the other instruments still play their original parts??




assuming you changed the chords in the RB chord window, and not the ACW... the answer to your question depends on which generate method you use. If you regenerate the whole song, then all of the tracks will change. But if you highlight part or all of a track then regenerate THAT, it's the only thing that will change. The other tracks should remain as they were

Quote:


Lastly, should I do my shots and holds and rests in BB and save before opening in Real Band??




I'm not sure which way is best. I would probably try to figure that out by doing it both ways, then deciding which way worked best for me.

Quote:


This is interesting, a lot of steps but your help is appreciated. JT




it is my pleasure to offer what little assistance I can. So many people here have helped me too.

Post your own Tips and Tricks here
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 232
J
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
J
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 232
Thx!!

Post your own Tips and Tricks here
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,696
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,696
Personally I do my holds, fills, shots etc as much as I can in BIAB, then export to RB.
If RTs don't sound correct with the holds etc, then I will change the RB Chord sheet and regenerate a particular RT.

It's a good idea if we could only save each chord window version or permutation of each track change using the chord sheet.

Sounds like fun. Thanks for the initiative Pat.

Ian


Ian
My "Original Tunes" Site
My gene pool needs more chlorine.
Post your own Tips and Tricks here
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 59
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 59
Interesting idea.

You can also do the same thing in BIAB. You could generate an arrangement - freeze all the tracks except one and then change the chords. The changed chords will only affect the unfrozen track which will now follow the new chords... All the other instruments will be frozen and so will be following the original chords.

I'm wondering if this is in fact what Ian was suggesting in the previous post.

I just tried this in BIAB to generate a guitar solo - I used some interesting chord substitutions and it certainly made for a more varied solo! The solo still "worked" over the original arrangement but it was more interesting than a RT solo that just followed the original chords..

Post your own Tips and Tricks here
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 98
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 98
This is a very helpful thread, thanks for posting this insight. I'm looking forward to trying the techniques described here soon!


Living in The Music City
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!

Add updated printing options, enhanced tracks settings, smoother use of MGU and SGU (BB files) within PowerTracks, and more with the latest PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 update!

Learn more about this free update for PowerTracks Pro Audio & download it at www.pgmusic.com/support_windows_pt.htm#2024_5

The Newest RealBand 2024 Update is Here!

The newest RealBand 2024 Build 5 update is now available!

Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.

This free update is available to all RealBand 2024 users. To learn more about this update and download it, head to www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#20245

The Band-in-a-Box® Flash Drive Backup Option

Today (April 5) is National Flash Drive Day!

Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!

For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.

Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.

Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!

Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.

Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.

Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!

Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!

With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!

Learn more about this free update for Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1111

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 Review: 4.75 out of 5 Stars!

If you're looking for a in-depth review of the newest Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows version, you'll definitely find it with Sound-Guy's latest review, Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows Review: Incredible new capabilities to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs.

A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."

"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."

"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."

Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!

The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!

There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.

If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.

We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!

Congratulations to the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

We've just announced the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

There are 45 winners, each receiving a Band-in-a-Box 2024 UltraPAK! Read the official announcement to see if you've won.

Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed!

Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics81,577
Posts734,594
Members38,497
Most Online2,537
Jan 19th, 2020
Newest Members
DerFlex, xabialonso259@gmai, Tony1234, trustedmedications, MAJORKEY
38,496 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 193
DC Ron 110
dcuny 100
Today's Birthdays
STLSAXIST
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5