I understand that we as users of BIAB can load the demo songs from RealTracks and they form a great starting point for creating a song. It is also clear to me that one is not supposed to use the "melody" from that song "as is" since that would not be legal. Lastly, I understand that chords and chord progressions can't be copyrighted (correct me if I'm wrong). So my question is as follows...
1) If I Regenerate the song I hear a slightly different melody from the original one that came from the demo. Is that sufficient to be different so that we can use it somehow? Not that I would do only this, but I want to understand what the actual "limit" of what the legal terms mean.
2) What actually "is" the melody? Is that always a single particular instrument like the guitar or the piano? Sometimes the melody seems to be formed by two different guitars, or a guitar and a piano working together. If I remove that identifiable melody I'm left with drums, base, and perhaps something else, but the melody is generally gone. Is that what is required so that we can use that song as a base?
3) What if I only remove the One guitar which seems like it plays the main melody and leave the second guitar and the rest of the song alone? Is that sufficient to be considered different?
I'm not trying to write commercial songs, just songs to share with my friends. But, I do want to understand what exactly constitutes what I can and can't do with this software.
I guess what I'm really asking is "What can I create using RealTracks so that I don't publish or distribute anything that PGMusic doesn't like?"
Any clarifications will be extremely helpful. [i][/i]
Last edited by huertaaj; 01/17/2205:19 PM.
Dell Laptop Core I7, 16 GB Ram, Windows 10/64, Studio One 5 Pro with Komplete 13 and lots of VST plugins, BIAB UltraPak 2022 Build 914
The Band-in-a-Box Demo Songs are under PG Music Inc. copyright. They are meant to be used as creative examples of how to use various add-ons that come with the software. So for making your own music you can load a Style or RealTrack into your song and consider it your song. But you cannot load a Demo then call it your song.
I'm not interested in using or sharing BIAB demo songs without modification. I just want to understand HOW MUCH they need to be modified and what that really means.
For example the .STY named _CMPFBHS.STY (Campfire, Hank Strummed) has only one track with no melody. If I like that set of chords and want to leave them as is, would that be illegal? Even if I press Regenerate, it sounds the same. I obviously would not want to use that style "as is" because I could easily (and would) add a melody using another instrument in my DAW. But, there are other styles that apparently have no melody, just a bunch of chords being played and it is difficult to determine which one is the actual melody (if there is one).
So my question is more about understanding the situation, more from an academic point of view, just for the sake of clarifying, not figuring out how to cheat or be lazy.
Last edited by huertaaj; 01/24/2206:17 AM.
Dell Laptop Core I7, 16 GB Ram, Windows 10/64, Studio One 5 Pro with Komplete 13 and lots of VST plugins, BIAB UltraPak 2022 Build 914
"I understand that chords and chord progressions can't be copyrighted " I think you have answered you own question. I send songs all the time using the demo chords.
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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