|
Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link.
Preston Thompson - Posted - 09/03/2010: 08:52:40
For anyone on here that uses BiaB, I have a question.
Anyone?
p
Greg Booth - Posted - 09/03/2010: 08:56:26
I use it PT. Come on back to RN and ask it you crusty old coot! What?
Preston Thompson - Posted - 09/03/2010: 09:18:32
Here tis........when you write your own song, does biab allow you to install your own song, cord changes, tempo, and instrumentation, or do you have to play according to pre placed songs they install up front?
$220 in a lot of money for me now days, and I want to make sure it will work for my needs.
Thanks Greg.
pt
otbreso - Posted - 09/03/2010: 09:53:08
Preston,
I use BIAB and really like it except when you do make up your own songs it kinda drives me crazy. It is kinda hard (for me) to figure out. I don't think the book explains stuff very well but I'm sure the smarter folks have no problem with that. I don't program new songs very often so when I do I have forgotten all that I learned the last time. They have tutorials and all but I think they are incomplete. I eventually struggle through and get what I want. When I did "The Creptid Mule" that I posted here,written by Ivan Rosenburg, It took he a long time to get what I wanted. Maybe Troy from Lessons with Troy can make an instructional video. He uses it all the time. Course, he's smarter than me. The real tracks sound great but when you use them at slower tempos they kinda get funny sounding.
Trapper - Posted - 09/03/2010: 10:13:02
I haven't been able to do anything with it .. drives me ape****! Wish someone would come up with a tutorial for us "cavemen" LOL.
Mine didn't even come with instructions so that doesn't help much either.
Grizz - Posted - 09/03/2010: 10:20:01
Preston, from what I seen on RN discussion Greg posted this "Go to their site: pgmusic.com/ They have a live person online to chat with. Plus the site explains everything"
A live rep should be able to help with anything you want to do. From what I have read their support is good. FWIW Just passing along what I read.
Edited by - Grizz on 09/03/2010 10:20:51
leegee - Posted - 09/03/2010: 10:21:59
Hi Preston... If I read your question right...... All my stuff submited to RH.. 95 percent I'm using BIB. for rhythm.with their MIDI instrumation. You can put any chords you want to any song and it will play your chords. The only thing your locked into is the styles of rhythm that comes with the program. You can change the type of instrument...EX upright bass for an electric bass sound. Or you can subdue any instrument that is given with the style you have selected.
May I suggest you check out the prices for the BIB package with Musicians Friend, ZZound, or any other on line musical company.
I have helped many other musicians get started (by E mail). I would be more then happy to help you if you wish. Good program leegee
Greg Booth - Posted - 09/03/2010: 14:05:37
Just now getting back to this thread, looks like leegee answered your questions Preston. As with any software, it takes a little trial and error at first, but it really is pretty easy. There are at least a dozen different styles just in the bluegrass real tracks and you have complete control over the chords and tempo. I'm going to bring my BIAB setup to the Summit and we can mess around with it there.
fred d - Posted - 09/03/2010: 16:44:54
 I have a boss micro br that can be used as a recorder- mp3 player and has the ability to record 32 different tracks which can then be downloaded to a comptur and copyed into a cd I haven't learned all the functions but have used it to record music and record myself it's portable so I can take it with me record and play back at home and or use that to enhance my own playing. Just a thought about the same price also
Preston Thompson - Posted - 09/04/2010: 06:03:10
All this sounds great.
Fred........what's a boss micro?
Greg....your suggestion for the summit sound like the cat's meow.
Leegee......I'll take your sugestion and checkout the prices.
I do know I want bluegrass. I don't want drums at all. But I don't quite understand the lock into "style of rhythm". Do you mean 4/4 or 6/8?
p
leegee - Posted - 09/04/2010: 06:34:06
Preston.... Locked in might be the wrong term.. I ment the many varied and different styles of rhythm that comes with the program. Also you can import many different rhythm styles from various sources. Bluegrass, Ray Price shuffle, etc etc
When Greg shows you his, I know it will all come together for you. Lots of Luck
leegee
otbreso - Posted - 09/04/2010: 07:52:42
Preston, You don't have to have drums if you don't want. You can pick and choose what instruments you want. The real tracks instruments are pretty good. With the basic stuff that comes with the biab the guitar, mando, fiddle and (gasp) banjer all sound like sounds on my grand daughters little keyboard.
fred d - Posted - 09/04/2010: 11:03:47
Preston---please look it up on the internet that ill explain it mare then I 
GeoBar - Posted - 09/05/2010: 00:42:57
I use BiaB to practise. It plays "on demand" and never moans. It's easy to use.
I write and/or import the melody part in the first break (fiddle or banjo), mix it with the backup made with BiaB and export as a Midi file.
I read the Midi files with Van Basco's (free) Karaoke Player. I saved Van Basco program files and the Midi files on an SD card and have my Band in my Pocket.
Preston Thompson - Posted - 09/05/2010: 05:16:18
GB......Thanks, that sound pretty neat.
fred........I have looked, and read what I can find. The problem I have is written instructions are never up to date nor as thorough as hands on experence. So that means the spoken word is much more relevant to me that written instructions. I may also read something and not interpert it the way the writer intended. But maybe that's just me, and I am getting older and more senile than I was 20 years ago.
fred d - Posted - 09/05/2010: 08:55:36
thats the same problem I have with the Br and when I had a Band in the box which i sold never could get ot to work on this computer
chipmunk - Posted - 09/06/2010: 10:34:29
Preston...I use BIAB quite a bit and like you, I find it extremely difficult to understand what the program can do for you in various circumstances. A while back I requested some help from Lee (Leegee) and he very generously walked me thru a scenareo, corrected my mistakes and got me going where I wanted to head. Now I am able to set up fairly good backup tracks for the tunes I am working on. Am I an expert? Not by a long shot! This program is very extensive and probably confuses even the better computer geeks out there (not that any reso players are geeks of course). I now have to figure out how to change the various instruments lee mentioned. Maybe Lee should put together an instruction video for all us old guys (was gonna use the other word but my wife was watching me type this note). It is fun going back to school after 45+ years as long as you can take a break for an afternoon snooze .
Al
DNickell - Posted - 09/06/2010: 16:15:39
I vote for a video demonstrating what it can do and how to use it.
rollins477 - Posted - 09/06/2010: 19:04:40
I bought the bluegrass version of band in the box for $99. It came with a tutorial. I wouldn't be without it, it's great for practice as well as putting together your own stuff. Just takes a little playin' around with. I use it on windows vista 64 bit and so far it has worked fine. Good luck with your decision.
Preston Thompson - Posted - 09/07/2010: 10:54:46
Al....that's funny. I just got up off the floor from my afternoon nap.
leegee - Posted - 09/08/2010: 10:01:35
Sorry guys...i dont own a video camera.. I am willing to help with E mail like I did with chipmonk. leegee
Preston Thompson - Posted - 09/12/2010: 04:58:48
Now CM,,,,,,,,that I can get by with. Thanks a a ton. Those instructions are very well written and understandable. But I still think Lee should bite the bullet, for us, and buy himself a video camera for helping us old and senile.
Sounds like a good idea to me. :-{)
p
chipmunk - Posted - 09/12/2010: 07:14:40
If he gets a camera, maybe we can all get together at his place and hold an old timers reso convention. Wouldn't that be a great addition for UTube?
jimbob - Posted - 09/12/2010: 12:13:41
I arrived late for the BIAB thread, count me in for any instructions at all. It is written for guys with normal intelligence. That counts me out right away. A slow learner and a beginner for 65 years is what I am. Gosh 3 o'clock already, time for a nap.
Jim
Grizz - Posted - 09/12/2010: 13:00:33
Yeah, I would really like to see all you old timers get together and make a video.  
screech - Posted - 10/03/2010: 20:09:23
I just got the Band in a Box Bluegrass Pak a few days ago. I'm just scratching the surface on what it can do but even playing along with some simple rhythm styles I gotta say this thing is a hoot! Way more fun than playing with a metronome. I'm not real good on a computer so I did need a little help (from the wife) and a couple frustrating hours of my (her) time to get everything up and running on the computer. I bought mine from Jimmy Heffernan and I really like the download he has for 250 bluegrass songs ready to go on BIAB. You click on the song you want and the chords are already programmed in for you. I spend a majority of my time playing alone and when I do play with others I find it very difficult to keep up. I really think this is going to be a great practice tool.
Dan
XWIND - Posted - 11/17/2010: 02:08:14
I hope the people who make and sell BIB are reading all the comment's about useing their product. I have a friend who works for Best Buy. He tells me about 50% of all electronic returns are because the manuals are so difficult to understand for the average person to figure out how to use the product. When there is nothing wrong with the product itself. So, why the Mfg's. don't make simple instructions or videos for the general public to use, I wish I knew!
Preston Thompson - Posted - 11/17/2010: 04:00:50
I would guess because it just ain't so simple. It's easy to those that know and understand, but to the rest of us, not so simple.
otbreso - Posted - 11/17/2010: 09:19:04
XWIND, I'm with you on the manuals. I did the tutorials for BIAB and to me, they were worthless. I learned more in a few emails from Lee G than I did from the manual/tutorials. Course, I ain't very smart
otdobro - Posted - 11/17/2010: 10:29:45
quote:
Originally posted by XWIND
I hope the people who make and sell BIB are reading all the comment's about useing their product. I have a friend who works for Best Buy. He tells me about 50% of all electronic returns are because the manuals are so difficult to understand for the average person to figure out how to use the product. When there is nothing wrong with the product itself. So, why the Mfg's. don't make simple instructions or videos for the general public to use, I wish I knew!
Cause the Chineese have no understanding of the english language ?  Most of the software that you buy now has all of the instructions on the CD. I think they have an agreement withe the printer ink manufacturers.......
cecilpwv - Posted - 11/17/2010: 11:26:58
I don't get you guys. It's way easier to learn how to use BIAB for jam practice purposes than it is to learn the dobro. You can MASTER it for the needs described here in just a few hours, whereas it takes - oh, quite a bit longer - to master the dobro.The manual is pretty good, and it is written by native English speakers. The tutorials are actually very good, and if that still doesn't work, just call PG Music (BIAB manufacturer). Customer service is excellent, friendly, and I've never had to wait in a queue.
Bottom line IMO is that we learn what we want to learn - we find a way. If you really wanted to learn how to use BIAB then you would. Poor leegee.
This will be my final post.
(Just kidding.)
Greysun - Posted - 11/17/2010: 12:17:31
Preston,
I'm new here so forgive the late comments on this thread.
First the important techie stuff.
I've read the thread (everything so far) and haven't seen any mention of what version of BIB you or anyone else is using. I've used the product since 1998, starting with version 5, I now use version 2010 (292) for Windows. Trust me it is very important to know what version you're running to have any meaningful discussion about the features of Band-in-a-Box since there have been many changes between releases (you'll also need this info if you contact anyone at PGM).
There is a BIB discussion forum that can be very helpful at: pgmusic.com/ubbthreads/postlis...oard=UBB1.
OK Preston, now to your original question: I’m not exactly sure what you mean by “install your own song”, so I will assume you want to do one of two things.
1. If you want to create a virtual band to play along with for practicing, all you need to do is; (1)open BIB, (2)enter your chords, (3)select a style, (4)set your temp and (5)hit play. If you like what you've created and want to use it at some point in the future, give it a name and save it. I’ve found this technique helpful when I’m in the early stages of writing a song or suffering from writer's block and searching for something interesting and/or different to get me started.
2. If you want use BIB to create backing tracks for your own compositions that you also want to record other instrumentation or vocal tracks to at some point in time. Open a new song and perform step 1 above. Once you’re happy with what you have created save it, then following the version specific instruction to record you audio tracks. Remember to save your project when you’re done.
I will admit that I have never recorded audio tracks directly into BIB, it wasn’t an option when I started using the product. I’ve grown very comfortable creating my backing tracks using BIB, then exporting the midi files to my multi-track recording software (current procedure) or recording the midi output directly from the sound card into a stand alone multi-track recorder where I add any audio tracks I need (procedure before I started recording using computer based software). Even though newer versions of BIB do incorporate an option to record audio input, remember BIB was designed primarily as a midi tool to generated backing tracks. It does the task it was designed for very well, but it was not designed as a multi-track recording environment and therefore BIB audio recording functionality is not as robust as dedicated multi-track recording software. I hope this helps some.
Edited by - Greysun on 11/17/2010 12:23:10
otbreso - Posted - 11/17/2010: 12:40:13
I guess there's some things that are easy for some folks and other things that are easy for other folks but I might as well be reading Chinese when I try to figure out the BIAB stuff. I just don't get it. I can do basic stuff but I spend more time trying to get something worked out than playing. I use it for simple stuff and to practice with and I'm better off practicing than trying to figure this thing out
cecilpwv - Posted - 11/17/2010: 14:25:53
OK, I was feeling my oats.
Now I will offer something that hopefully will be helpful to some.
"How do I use BIAB to jam with? It's too hard!" is one of those perennial forum topics. I'm going to answer it once and for all, by expanding on greysun's directions - "(1)open BIB, (2)enter your chords, (3)select a style, (4)set your temp and (5)hit play. "
***Don't be intimidated by BIAB. There are dozens of buttons in BIAB. You will use less than a dozen.***
Here goes:
1) open BIAB - when you do you will see probably only a C chord in measure 1.
1a) The default key will be C. Say your song will be in G. Select G form the dropdown and click YES on the prompt. (You don't have to change the key, but being persnickety as I am, I do - it also makes future transposing more intuitive.)
1b) Also decide how many measures you want in the song. 32 is the default, but sometimes you may want 16. This rarely needs changed for our type of music. If it does, look for the "32" among the buttons, click and change the number.
1c) To the right of this button is a button that says "3" - this is the number of choruses. Change it if you wish.
2) enter chords - place cursur on measure 1 and enter the name of the chord ("G" for G major -small or cap, no matter). A G minor is "gm", D7 is "d7". B flat is "bb". F sharp is "f#". Pretty intutive. hit Enter or Tab to enter the chord and move to the next position.
3) select a style - The style will be the default style for BIAB, or the last syyle you used. Click on the Style button. This takes you to the Stylepicker, which is probably the most confusing thing you will do. Select a genre on the left and peruse the styles on the right. Select your style. For fiddle tunes and bluegrass I've been using "ZZOLCTRY.STY". Not great but gets the job done.
4) set tempo - the BPM indicator has an up and a down arrow next to it. Click arrows to chage tempo or click BPM number to enter specific BPM.
5) hit Play. Save the song if you like.
EXTRA STUFF -
a) if the piano, drums, or whatever annoy you, you will find at the top of the page some buttons for these instruments. Right-click and mute if you wish.
b) There is a button marked "S" (song settings). Click here to create custom endings to the song
c) To the left of the "32" and "3" buttons is a "1" button. This indicates where the repeatable part of the song ("chorus") starts. If you want a custom intro that lasts 4 bars, change the "1" to a "5" and enter the chords for your intro.
d) The jukebox - I love this feature and use it every day. Click on the "Juke" button then click "Play". All the songs in the folder you are currently in will play one after another.
e) tranposing - if you want to change the key, select a different key from the drop-down box.
f) Real Tracks - very cool, but beyond the scope of this cheat sheet.
Edited by - cecilpwv on 11/17/2010 14:52:20
Preston Thompson - Posted - 11/17/2010: 16:27:42
Pat.........thanks a ton for the explaination. Now something else. How can I select your post and greysun's post to print? I ain't figured that out. I'll fight BIAB later.
Thanks, both of ya.
pt
cecilpwv - Posted - 11/17/2010: 16:32:26
quote:
Originally posted by Preston Thompson
Pat.........thanks a ton for the explaination. Now something else. How can I select your post and greysun's post to print? pt
Read the manual?
otdobro - Posted - 11/17/2010: 17:14:40
quote:
Originally posted by Preston Thompson
Pat.........thanks a ton for the explaination. Now something else. How can I select your post and greysun's post to print? I ain't figured that out. I'll fight BIAB later.
Thanks, both of ya.
pt
Preston, if you are running a Windows PC, just highlight the text that you want to save, then press Ctrl and C keys at the same time. Then open your Wordpad program, and press Ctrl and V keys at the same time and you should have it. Then you can use the print command from your toolbar. Jim
Preston Thompson - Posted - 11/18/2010: 03:48:48
I think I may just have to practice some more. I've done that but ended up printing the entire thread. Just a little more work on my end,.
Thanks y'all.
|
Feeds
