Hi everyone! I'm brand new to band-in-a-box (as of yesterday evening). However, I've been on many forums so here's the obligatory apology if this is a common question, though I couldn't find it when searching.
I'd like to have different instruments take solos over the middle choruses in my chart. In the soloist dialog box there's a drop-down option that says "change instrument" and one of the options is "every chorus". So far, so good.
But what do I do next? I'm not sure how I define the other instruments to take solos in the other choruses and at the moment the same instrument is playing through all the middle choruses.
I feel like I've missed something quite basic but I can't figure out what and the online manual - which has been enormously helpful so far - didn't give me that piece of info.
The "Change instruments" drop-down that you were using relates to the MIDI soloist generator. This is where BIAB creates a MIDI solo based on a style chosen.
If you have a look at page 322 in the pdf user manual that comes with BIAB, it explains this feature more fully. It's very powerful. While the soloist dialogue does have uses with Reatlracks, much of what happens within this window is related to MIDI. Have a look at PG Music's below video clip on Youtube. It explains how the Soloist and Melodist are used from the perspective of MIDI.
To change Realtracks each chorus, there are a couple of ways...
ONE Use the "Bar Settings" dialogue. This is accessed by right-clicking on the chord sheet and selecting "Bar Settings" from the menu that appears.
In this dialogue window, you'll can set the Realtrack (#2 on the below image) you want to change to and which chorus (#1 on the image) you want the change to happen with.
NOTE: Since Realtracks are fixed audio recordings, when a Realtrack is changed, the melody will also change. It's not possible to have, for example, a saxophone Realtrack play the melody that a trumpet Realtrack plays.
Once the bar settings have been made, generate and play the song.
TWO It's also possible to use the Realtrack medley maker to change Realtracks each chorus.
More can be found out about Realtrack Soloist Medleys on page 254 of the pdf manual. This information can also be accessed under Help if you look under the "Index" tab and scroll down to "Realtracks - medley".
The song will need to be generated after the settings have been made.
Both the Bar Settings method and RealTracks Medley function allow instruments to change either by Chorus or assorted bar counts such as every 2, 4 or 8 bars. Silence can also be selected if you either want a pause between the soloist instruments or if you want to play your own instrument solo live during portions of your song.
If none of the preset medley choices are correct for your song, each mixer track can have up to 10 instrument changes per track, so using the Bar Settings method, you can program instrument changes manually at any bar for any length of bars. The instrument can by any RealTrack or any combination of RealTracks so you can program a track using only two different instruments and having them alternate back in forth in any pattern you choose. It can be three instruments, five or each of the ten different. You have lots of choices.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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