|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
My Favorite Things
|
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 803
Expert
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 803 |
Hi, I am curious "How many drummers on this forum use BIAB and how do they find it useful."
Thanks,
John
Last edited by bowlesj; 02/19/18 09:40 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Favorite Things
|
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 887
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 887 |
Hi, I am curious "How many drummers on this forum use BIAB and how do they find it useful."
Thanks,
John I use it to practice my timing with backing tracks. I input the chords from the leadsheets press play and play along.
Computer: Macbook Pro, 16 inch 2021
DAWs: Pro Tools, Logic, and Maschine
plays drums, percussion, bass, steel pan, keyboard,
music producer/engineer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Favorite Things
|
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 803
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 803 |
Thanks Islansoul. Good to hear. There are two drummers in our jamming group. Maybe in time they will practice to the BIAB backing track files I use.
Last edited by bowlesj; 03/03/18 09:55 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Favorite Things
|
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 803
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 803 |
Do you ever try this test with BIAB. Let the song count in and mute all instruments at bar#1 to see if you finished the song at the same time that BIAB finished the song. I ask because speeding up too much is a killer with my jam group since they practice to a specific speed. At the same time they want to get enough players to eliminate BIAB. So I compromised and said we will do this test and use BIAB to see if we sped up. If we did I put the rhythm guitar click track back in for everyone to listen too so we don't speed up and I remind them of 4 web pages which are all about how to prevent oneself from speeding up (or slowing down).
Last edited by bowlesj; 03/03/18 10:16 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Favorite Things
|
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 887
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 887 |
I would suggest that you add a shaker from BIAB to make sure you're on point.
Computer: Macbook Pro, 16 inch 2021
DAWs: Pro Tools, Logic, and Maschine
plays drums, percussion, bass, steel pan, keyboard,
music producer/engineer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Favorite Things
|
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 803
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 803 |
I was not sure what a shaker was so I had to google search it and found it at this page.. I used a cowbell for a while but it gets boring. I tried to isolate it to the right channel so only the drummer could hear it but that did not work so well. So I decided to replace my rhythm guitar with the BIAB guitar which sounds almost exactly the way I play. I also decided to balance everything across left and right channels evenly so everyone can hear it. Using the BIAB guitar allows me to set mix levels so I just do solos and sometimes melody. They just have to realize that the BIAB guitar has perfect time. So far I have not had a drummer come out to try it so the BIAB drums keeps us in perfect time. Most jams have the addition of BIAB piano. Occasionally I put in BIAB bass. We have had 8 jams and it is working very well. We have had three drummers in our jam group. One has no problem with playing along with BIAB. One absolutely refuses and left. The other is slowly getting use to the idea after hearing just how good the BIAB tracks sound.
Last edited by bowlesj; 03/27/18 06:55 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Favorite Things
|
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 887
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 887 |
Sorry, I meant that you should use a shaker real tracks as a metronome and use that to play along with your backing tracks.
Last edited by Islansoul; 05/28/18 05:30 AM.
Computer: Macbook Pro, 16 inch 2021
DAWs: Pro Tools, Logic, and Maschine
plays drums, percussion, bass, steel pan, keyboard,
music producer/engineer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Favorite Things
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,154
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,154 |
I used a cowbell for a while but it gets boring. I tried to isolate it to the right channel so only the drummer could hear it but that did not work so well.
... One absolutely refuses and left. The other is slowly getting use to the idea after hearing just how good the BIAB tracks sound. Wow, a cow bell as metronome count for the drummer. I am not surprised one guy would leave, but I am more worried for the guy "getting use to it". 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Favorite Things
|
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 803
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 803 |
We had one jam with congas, bass, 2 guitars and trumpet. There was a speed up issue in every song. I will blame everyone rather than one since everyone just went along for the ride :-) The slower the song the worse the speed-up. One song started at 88 and ended at 160+. The melody dropped out the 2nd time around due to the speed change. After that I put BIAB in with drums. All the remaining songs stayed dead on speed (totally fixed the problem). So now if the players want to play without BIAB I have BIAB count us in and I mute all tracks at bar #1 so I can use BIAB to determine if we sped up too much. If we did I use BIAB the rest of the night. The drummer who dropped out never came out to jam and always bragged about how great he was. I suspect he may have dropped out because he is afraid to take the test (the insecure often are afraid to admit they are and will blame other things to protect themselves). If this is true it is sad because I found four web pages with methods to resolve a speed up issue in one's playing. Running from a problem is not the way to solve it. At the same time if you are not a pro who cares? Use BIAB and have fun. So far the world has not come to an end as a result of using BIAB to enhance our jams and I doubt it ever will :-) We seem to have just as much fun.
Last edited by bowlesj; 05/28/18 09:19 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Favorite Things
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,299
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,299 |
I'm a drummer, and I use it for song writing. It's really nice to have a band on hand at any point and be able to change anything. Then I just drum along.
This may seem a bit strange, but I do feel if you create your own drum track to go with the generated tracks from BIAB, the song tends to sound more real to me. There is a more organic interplay between the drums and bass, and more natural fills that can be achieved. Granted, you could make that argument for any of the instruments. When you lock in the bass and drums though, it's pretty cool IMO.
Chad (Hope that makes it easier)
TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Favorite Things
|
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,414
PG Music Staff
|
|
PG Music Staff
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,414 |
This is interesting to me - of all the different forms of musicians, I don't often think how a drummer would use Band-in-a-Box for some reason. Some nice input so far 
Cheers,
Deryk
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Favorite Things
|
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,936
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,936 |
I have just recorded and released an acoustic album with my duo partner who is a wonderful guitarist. The ablum just has vocals, guitars and bass.
We used BIAB drums as a metronome to record to and then muted the drums in the final song. It worked a treat because it established the right groove for us to record along to, kept us in time so that we could cut and paste the vocals, guitar and bass (which were recorded acoustically) between the various sections.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Favorite Things
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 25,170
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 25,170 |
I have just recorded and released an acoustic album with my duo partner who is a wonderful guitarist. The ablum just has vocals, guitars and bass.
We used BIAB drums as a metronome to record to and then muted the drums in the final song. It worked a treat because it established the right groove for us to record along to, kept us in time so that we could cut and paste the vocals, guitar and bass (which were recorded acoustically) between the various sections. Using drums as a metronome has worked wonders for me also. I have found that some people can not work with a click track, they can't keep a steady beat. But they can keep a steady beat if I use a drum track. YMMV
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 11 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Favorite Things
|
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 745
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 745 |
When I started using BIAB I had TERRIBLE timing. I had to sit down with it and go over and over and over and over until I slowly improved.
How many musicians have the time to work with me? (Plus I could throw the best person off.)
So, I can see using it as a metronome... and it doesn't complain. :-)
...Deb
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Favorite Things
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,750
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,750 |
I actually made a studio recording where I gave the drummer a BIAB nylon guitar track as the click. Worked like a champ. Only he heard it; the rest of the band played to the drums. In this way, I could alter the guitar tempo, too.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Favorite Things
|
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 803
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 803 |
I finally got around to using BIAB to test my holding time on one song by muting all instruments at bar #1. It ran for 5 choruses (melody, rhythm guitar, solo, comp guitar, melody). I finished 2 bars early. That was better than I expected actually except the count was probably at a natural speed for myself. I will have to get around to testing myself at slower and faster speeds to see if I gravitate to my natural speed which I gather is my heart rate. BIAB is a great way for anyone including drummers to test themselves to see if they need to work on keeping steady time.
There are actually two band skills here.
1/ Keeping time without a drummer while playing with other instruments.
2/ Listening to a drummer, clicker or anything with good time. Some students speed up past a metronome because they are struggling with new techniques.
An interesting question comes up too. If there is no drummer who should you listen too for keeping good time? The bass player or the person with the best time? I guess the bass player is the next one in line after the drummer who should be either testing their time with BIAB or using BIAB ear piece click tracks such as rhythm guitar (maybe an MP3 player driven ear piece to avoid lugging a computer). But what about guitar duets or solo. I guess the answer ends up becoming all rhythm section players should be testing themselves or using a click track where appropriate.
Last edited by bowlesj; 09/27/18 04:48 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Special Extended Until September 15, 2026! Save over 40 Styles PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows!
We've extended our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs sale until September 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 offer a wide range of genres designed to work seamlessly with your project. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 for Windows or for Mac are on special for only $29 each (reg. $49 ea), or get all 11 PAKs for only $149 (reg. $299)!
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with ANY version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-11 includes 1,100 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 for Windows or for Mac are on special for only $29 each (reg. $49 ea), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! .
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 includes 3,900 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
Note: XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs include additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® that work seamlessly with your project. Xtra Styles PAKs and XPro Styles PAKs are NOT included in any Band-in-a-Box® package!
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
Special Extended Until September 15, 2026! Save over 40% on XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac!
We've extended our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs sale until September 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 offer a wide range of genres designed to work seamlessly with your project. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 for Mac or for Windows are on special for only $29 each (reg. $49 ea), or get all 11 PAKs for only $149 (reg. $299)!
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with ANY version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-11 includes 1,100 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 for Mac or for Windows are on special for only $29 each (reg. $49 ea), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! .
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 includes 3,900 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
Note: XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs include additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® that work seamlessly with your project. Xtra Styles PAKs and XPro Styles PAKs are NOT included in any Band-in-a-Box® package!
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 11 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 22.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 22 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 11 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 22.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 22 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Peter Gannon Talks Band-in-a-Box with zplane
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
Check out the full interview here: https://products.zplane.de/blog/peter-gannon-interview-pg-music
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,758
Posts809,309
Members40,215
| |
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean