I listened to forum member, Sundance, +++ COVER +++ of Michael Jackson & the Jackson Five's song, "I Wanna' Be Where You Are". One of the things that struck me is how different the cover is from the original recording. That in itself is not new as there are many instances where a cover has taken a song in a new direction. One example is the original "Mother Nature's Son" by +++ The Beatles +++ versus a cover by +++ John Denver +++. It amazes me how someone can hear a song in a new and different way.
All of that is so I can get around to asking this question, "When you use Band-in-a-Box to produce a song can you maintain the song as you first envisioned it or does Band-in-a-Box influence the final production results?"
As a composer I don’t do covers, although I do sometimes do transcriptions for pay. BIAB absolutely always sends me in a different direction than I had envisioned, and I think that’s great!
BIAB 2024 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 6.5 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6; Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus Studio 192, Presonus Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors
I actually don't use BIAB much, but when I do, that's exactly what I use it for: to take me off in a different direction than I would go otherwise.
Byron Dickens
BIAB. CbB. Mixbus 32C 8 HP Envy. Intel core i7. 16GB RAM W10. Focusrite Scarlett 18i 20. Various instruments played with varying degrees of proficiency.
I agree with the gentlemen above. Almost without exception, when I approach BiaB with a song idea in my head that I really want to create, that once I get going, I find myself "off the path" that I started on.
I suppose that could be viewed as lack of discipline(bad) or flexibility(good). Forced to choose, I'd say good.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2024 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
Jim, my answers to those two questions are yes and yes. Sometimes I know exactly what I want and what style to use to achieve it. But many times BiaB leads me down a different path. BiaB is great for learning and creating new genres. If I didn't have BiaB I wouldn't be doing half of the music that I am doing today.
Me, it's not about how many times you fail, it's about how many times you get back up. Cop, that's not how field sobriety tests work.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
For me it's very easy to fall down the rabbit hole that is all things Band-in-a-Box and lose my original song arrangement or concept in the process. I can easily audition styles and RealTracks for hours! When I think a song is interesting enough to retain the original I'll generally take a couple steps that help me to keep on track.
One is to make a rough draft audio file. It might just be me humming, playing a guitar or singing but I catch what I can while the song is fresh on my mind.
Second is to make audio notes detailing what I want in each segment of a song.
Between the two if I get led too far astray I have audio to remind me of my original idea.
As I use mostly my own playing I have a fair idea of what I want to do and the prog doesn't dictate direction much. I use it occasionally to try a different style or flip between options I'd planned, (like the jazz n rock versions of the same song I recently posted). Mother Natures Son has few excellent covers - Denver's is a winner in the direction it takes the guitars but his vocal seems out of place. Nilsson's voice with Tipton's arrangement made it something different and interesting but "soft" as the mawkishness of McCartney seemed to appeal to Harry. It's part the iconic nature of the original and partly that it's a complex but not very exciting song...soporific even.
Using BIAB to create a cover can be problematic as it can, as shown, make things rather bland/generic unless care is taken. I did one cover earlier this year - my 1st - and I deliberately took it in a different, aggressive direction but the process began with a BIAB style in mind - though it was heavily altered with me adding bass, guitars and "vocal".
Last edited by rayc; 08/15/2211:15 PM.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
I would think the more tracks a user creates for a song project the less opportunity Band-in-a-Box has to take your vision in a new direction. For example I believe it would be difficult to go too far off track with user created keyboard, guitar and vocal tracks.
One of the nice things about Band-in-a-Box is you do not need to be a vocalist or musician to enjoy using it. But depending exclusively on Band-in-a-Box limits a user's ability to determine the outcome.
Some ways a non musician or vocalist user can personalize tracks is through editing MIDI, choosing a virtual instrument or applying loops. All of those choices go outside the Band-in-a-Box norm but are available for use in Band-in-a-Box.
It's always a chart smashing hit in my head..... now, If I can just get that to translate to the demo.
Actually, No. What I hear in my head for a given song always takes a different route when I select the style and start working on the song in BB. I can't say it's a lesser version because that's not true. It's just that it rarely ever turns out exactly like I was envisioning the song. Like I said, different doesn't mean it's not as good. It just means that it took a slightly different route in the audio world. And sometimes, it actually does turn out better than I was hearing it in my head. Those are the magical ones.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
It's always a chart smashing hit in my head..... now, If I can just get that to translate to the demo.
You're not using the right magic VST plugin.
Byron Dickens
BIAB. CbB. Mixbus 32C 8 HP Envy. Intel core i7. 16GB RAM W10. Focusrite Scarlett 18i 20. Various instruments played with varying degrees of proficiency.
Man,some VST plugins ARE magic. I have a close to 1,000.
The one I would never give up is free and it's by Sonible and Focusrite, called "Balancer."
I use it on every mix on almost every track. It is extremely lightweight and non-intrusive but it will, among other things, make that BIAB acoustic, or piano, or cello sound exactly the way you want it to, or close, in half a second.
David, I watched the Focusrite vid for Balancer...interesting short cut thing. I've downloaded it to experiment...can't hurt to play with it can it? Thanks.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
… All of that is so I can get around to asking this question, "When you use Band-in-a-Box to produce a song can you maintain the song as you first envisioned it or does Band-in-a-Box influence the final production results?"
Yes.
It all depends what I’m going for.
BIAB 2023 Audiophile, 24/60 Core M2 Mac Studio Ultra/8TB/192GB Sonoma, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP Digital Performer 11, LogicPro Finale27.4, Dorico5, Encore5, SmartScorePro64, Notion6, Overture5
How do you maintain your first vision of a song project as you heard it in your head while not letting Band-in-a-Box not influence the final product? If I audition styles those styles influence me.
BUMMER, needs an activation code from a current Focusrite account. My Gen 1 Solo is out of date so no go.
Strange, my account for my Gen 1 Scarlet 8I6 worked fine.
I've always had trouble with mine - may just be me CeeBee. BUT it's now irrelevant as Sonible sent a key with the sign up confirmation so I can grab it and David was correct - free.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
When I do a cover I have a certain style in mind and BIAB is great for letting me flush that idea out. That's one of the things I like best about the product. So yes, BIAB does influence the production result. For example my latest cover is a soul song but I wanted to use a Bossa Nova Rhythm. BIAB was excellent in helping me work that out. When I did "Walk On BY' as a Disco Song BIAB Certainly influenced that outcome. So for me I would have to say that BIAB definitely influences the outcome based on Rhythm, key instruments that I use, etc..
BUMMER, needs an activation code from a current Focusrite account. My Gen 1 Solo is out of date so no go.
Strange, my account for my Gen 1 Scarlet 8I6 worked fine.
I've always had trouble with mine - may just be me CeeBee. BUT it's now irrelevant as Sonible sent a key with the sign up confirmation so I can grab it and David was correct - free.
Then again..my problems with FREE suppliers continues. The key isn't enough, nor an account...it required ONLINE authentication.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean