HTL requested that we move this conversation over to a new thread. So let’s do that.
I am interested in using BIAB tracks to experiment with loop based music. The way I look at it is that I have loads of songs written and recorded that I can “rework”. I would like to make something that my teenage daughter would listen to.
A while back I was demonstrating how I could change one of my folk songs just by selecting a different BIAB style, to say”techno”. (My daughter thought that was cool!).
It looks like the easiest way to do this would be to export the Biab tracks and vocal recordings from RealBand into “Acidized wav” tracks and then using a loop based daw.
Who are around here has some experience using BIAB tracks to create loop based music and if so what software did you use?
Last edited by JoanneCooper; 04/27/1807:18 PM.
LyricLab A.I assisted chords and lyric app. Export lyrics and import directly into Band-in-a-Box 2024. https://lyriclab.net Play-along with songs you know and love, download SGU files https://playiit.com/
I used to use the program ACID Pro many, many years ago to build backing tracks, before I discovered BIAB.
As mentioned in the other thread, an ACID loop is typically a very short piece of audio, maybe a bar long or a few bars long, just long enough to complete the phrase. They are intended to be looped together, so the end of the loop flows into the start of the next loop. It has the tempo and key information, which can be manipulated within the ACID Pro program, or other loop based DAW.
So, you would drop this short audio sample into your project as many times as needed.
I'm pretty sure that exporting an audio file from BIAB with ACID information is not going to do what you want.
It seems that all you would have is one very large audio loop, and all you would be able to do is change the tempo and/or change the key of that BIAB audio file.
Back when I first started using BIAB, long before the days of realdrums and realtracks, I used to import a BIAB audio file into ACID Pro, minus the drums, and I used ACID Pro to build a new drum track using loops so I didn't have to use the MIDI drums that BIAB provided at the time.
Disclaimer: It's been many years since I worked with loops so maybe things have changed. I'm going to follow this thread in case, always looking to learn something new.
Last edited by BlueAttitude; 04/28/1812:52 AM. Reason: typo
Thanks Dave. I am thinking more of using the Acidized Biab tracks as samples rather than using the whole track. So I would just export a bar or two of selected tracks from my original RealBand file.
I was thinking of making rythym bed in the loops software of bass, drums and synths and then layering the samples of my vocals and, say, a saxophone and a rhythm guitar from BIAB.
I need to look at some more videos
LyricLab A.I assisted chords and lyric app. Export lyrics and import directly into Band-in-a-Box 2024. https://lyriclab.net Play-along with songs you know and love, download SGU files https://playiit.com/
Thanks Dave. I am thinking more of using the Acidized Biab tracks as samples rather than using the whole track. So I would just export a bar or two of selected tracks from my original RealBand file.
See, already I'm learning something!
I didn't know you could export just a one or two bar segment using realband (I just use BIAB here).
Good thread, looking forward to hearing what other people say
Like Dave, I used Acid Pro for quite a while. I would recommend it because it does both things well. A loop-based DAW that looks like a more conventional "studio type" DAW. Easy to learn and easy to work with.
I would recommend AGAINST trying to use BIAB as your "loop source" in the beginning. Jump head-first into the "Loop world". Buy some loop libraries. And learn it "the right way" - using those type loops. Find your way into THAT world (via videos and forums related to that style of music creation). After you get good at that, THEN come back to BIAB for ideas to incorporate.
As I said before, it is really important that you learn how to make BEATS as the basis of your music (in that direction). And rhythmic repetitive bass loops. And synth hits. The pieces that make that type mosic what it is. I think trying to make BIAB fit that is a mistake and will "bog you down".
There is a cut-down version of Acid Pro for free. Google/Bing free acid software and you will find a number of places to DL. I used an old version of the free Acid and it worked just fine back then.
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Many controller keyboards and other music gear comes with Ableton Lite. For free. We have copies here in our house from past M-Audio and Fender amp purchases. My son uses it. The lite version. Is plenty to give you a taste for whether you want to dive into loop based composition. I would take Floyd’s advice above. Just using real band snippets is not going to instantly modernize the sound. So much of modern loop based music is production focused composition and arrangement. Someone posted a link to a video where a gentleman did an eye opening deconstruction of a recent Ariana Grande song. Tons of thought and dare I say talent went into the whole. You are a gifted songwriter and performer, you can likely learn how to do this but it will take a fully different skill set to develop to pull off the modern approach. Again Floyd’s advice above seems fitting. Also check out FL Studio for loop focused DAW.
The new Acid Pro come with 9 GB of loops. I haven't seen where you can see what those are, but that is a lot of loops. Might be a good place to start if you want to do this. (I don't know - just suggestions).
To get a start, though....
Download the free MIDI drum loops (and perhaps the bass, too) at Groove Monkee.
You can play with those in any DAW of your choice. And it will show you how to create those yourself (which is super easy - but seeing a few is helpful).
See if you can find other free loops to download and work with.
Thanks guys. I downloaded the free trial of Abelton live yesterday (before I stared this thread). I will probably try and get something going there. I like how it looks.
It has a “loops” view where you can just drag and drop loops from a huge library. It looks liike those are audio and are “warped” and stretched to fit into that “slot”
It also has a “daw” view where you can see the resulting audio.
LyricLab A.I assisted chords and lyric app. Export lyrics and import directly into Band-in-a-Box 2024. https://lyriclab.net Play-along with songs you know and love, download SGU files https://playiit.com/
JC this could be a really exciting time for you. It sounds like a fun adventure. Btw, I'm not sure if you know, but there are A LOT of singer song-writers that are doing loop based music LIVE with looping stations. It's another way of using loops...but you make them on the fly! VERY cool!
Chad (Hope that makes it easier)
TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
+++ Cakewalk by Bandlab +++ is a free DAW that includes a matrix screen where you can build tracks by auditioning and inserting loops.
+++ HERE +++ is a collection of free country sample loops from Big Fish Audio.
Another option is to search for construction kits. Producer Mike Senior describes a construction kit as a set of loops and sounds which are designed to work together and which can usually be used to construct a complete backing track. Therefore, it might include a number of different loops, all at the same tempo, with the same groove, in the same key, and based on the same chord progression. +++ HERE +++ are some example kits sold by Drums On Demand.
A Slightly different angle. Not exactly on topic. Not exactly off. Enough on that I thought you might be interested throwing a few of your own into your mixes as you are doing this.
There are MANY examples of loop pedals, but thought I you might like this performance.
Chad (Hope that makes it easier)
TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
The topic of my last post was more appropriate for the other thread of "what I'd really like to hear" so I posted there.
But, what it describes is a method and shortcut to using Biab to create modern music that can be quite spot on. What it doesn't require is starting from scratch creating the sounds your track will use. It doesn't require getting samples and loops and having to make new, unique sounds but rather use existing sound that are similar to the original.
Essentially, you use sounds taken and compiled from a different source (a MIDI File) that while they may not exactly match the original unique sound of a commercial release, they work in an excellent manner for a cover. This is a shortcut method but Biab is fully capable and functionable working with samples and loops you do create from scratch. Not as good as DAW's but it will work in the same manner that a Keyboard can create modern music using styles.
-Here's the link to the other thread- where I describe how I quickly created a cover and original current style hit song by creating a midi style from a current hit song midi download.
Here's a song I did with loops a few years back. I just picked a loop for bass and drums then just found other loops for leads and fills. Not that hard, actually. I used FL Studio and I think is a great DAW.
I just recently added this lyric video to it.
Addendum: As I remember, I played a few of the fills and maybe a lead. But a lot of loops as well.
Last edited by Charlie McG; 04/29/1811:19 AM.
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