I have a jazz song with 4 bar intro, start on 5, end on 36, 2 choruses with a 5 bar tag ending. I have substyles for all parts set to "a" and RealDrums set to JazzBrushesSticks#1 which plays a nice brushes beat. But for just the first 16 bars of the 2nd chorus, I'd like to have a bit more assertive drums (sticks). Since there's only 2 choruses, the drums never switch to "b" substyle (and I'd only want that for the first 16 bars anyway). So how can I change the drums style or substyle for the first 16 bars of the 2nd chorus?
Just so you know, that's not very realistic. It will be quite a feat for a drummer to pull that off mid song.
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.
So how can I change the drums style or substyle for the first 16 bars of the 2nd chorus?
You can add two additional sub-styles using the 'define c/d' command when right clicking on a part marker at the first bar of the 16 bars of the 2nd chorus and changing back to the original style at the 17th bar of the 2nd chorus.
Just so you know, that's not very realistic. It will be quite a feat for a drummer to pull that off mid song.
If you mean that the drummer changes from brushes to sticks mid song, then any competent real drummer can do that without missing a beat. Drummers do that all the time. I've worked with many.
BIAB & RB2024 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
Hi Charlie, How does the O/P select the changed style part marker for only the second chorus?
By using either an existing MultiStyle or creating a custom MultiStyle then using Bar Settings (F5) to select Chorus 2 in the 'All Choruses' button. In order to change the drum kits, the MultiStyle would have two drum kits so they can be muted/unmuted to each play specific bars in Chorus 2. All the other instruments would remain unchanged and the MultiStyle will consist of 4 substyles, a,b,c, and d and are saved in the StylePicker and accessible at a Chorus number level in Bar Settings. For instance, a MultiStyle naming configuration is Dusty+ = Dusty1, Dusty2, Dusty3, and Dusty4. Although there's 5 styles, only two are needed to do this drum change.
Here are the steps to apply the MultiStyle and drum changes in Chorus 2 using Bar Settings Menu.
Select a different sub-style of the MultiStyle using the 'Style Button' that is the same instrumentation of the original style except for the drums. The MultiStyle will be modified to have two drum sets; The original drums with brushes and a second drum kit with Sticks.
Chorus 1:
The sticks drum kit is muted and the brush kit playing.
Chorus 2
In Bar Settings, Mute the brush kit and unmute the sticks kit for bars 1-16. Reverse the muted tracks for bars 17-32.
Select Chorus 3 from the 'All Choruses' button and return to the original style and mute the sticks drums again. It seems to me that should play the song as the poster wants. I haven't field tested this with drums but have replaced other instruments without issue except I've also always played a MultiStyle throughout a complete chorus without the muting/unmuting of bars but that seems pretty straight forward to me.
EDIT: I tested the above steps with PG Music MultiStyle Dusty+. I used the main MultiStyle, Dusty+ and used substyle Dusty4 that replaced a main style muted guitar track in Chorus 1 and unmuted the track, changed to Dusty4 Style and played a soloist lead guitar on the track in Chorus 2.
I believe in the scenario outlined, the OP, it would have to be a custom MultiStyle specific to the instruments being used.
Just so you know, that's not very realistic. It will be quite a feat for a drummer to pull that off mid song.
If you mean that the drummer changes from brushes to sticks mid song, then any competent real drummer can do that without missing a beat. Drummers do that all the time. I've worked with many.
I don't believe I have ever once heard a drummer do that without pausing.
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.
<< Wouldn't it be simpler if the Bar Settings option just allowed for Part Marker changes to occur based on the bar number and chorus number? >>
That's what it does. The issue in this example making it more complex, is confining the change to 16 bars in the 2nd chorus and the remaining bars of chorus 2 remain unchanged without a Part Marker. In Bar Settings, a style change can apply to 'All Choruses' or to any one of 40 individual chorus.
BIAB has the feature to add a Part Marker that's chorus specific, but I could not get it to work. It always applied the Part Marker to 'All Choruses'.
I don't believe I have ever once heard a drummer do that without pausing.
Hmm, wonder why BIAB has styles that have brush & stick variations? I've been a pro drummer for 55 years. Did it frequently in bands from combos to big band. Sometimes even using a brush on snare with stick on cymbal. (Most drummers I talk with today don't even own a pair of brushes!)
Back to my original issue, I'd like to pursue Charlie's technique if only to expand my knowledge of BIAB. But it does seem like quite an effort! Also, I've tried the unfold method but it works only until I refold the song.
BIAB_Lil_Darlin.SGU Here's a link to the unfolded version of the song Li'l Darlin by Neal Hefti. It has a 4 bar intro, then two 16 bar phrases, which repeat, then a tag ending starting in bar 65.
In the song, on the repeat, there's a solo that is played in the first 16 bars of that repeat (starting with bar 36), and the drummer switches to sticks for that solo (then back to brushes for the 2nd half of the repeat at bar 53). In my unfolded version attached, all plays correctly. I then fold it (chorus begins at 5, ends at 36, 2 choruses, tag starts at 69, uncheck 2bar ending).
The result plays bar 36 with sticks, but then the repeat at bar 37 goes right back to brushes. And then at bar 69 it goes into sticks through the rest of the song! I'd like to play the song folded just for readability while I accompany it. Am I doing the fold wrong?
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