Band In a Box: Information

[rjdupe]

Hi all,
Hope everyone is having a good Christmas.

I wanted to learn something about a product that I have seen advertised called 'BAND IN A BOX'.
It looks as it will do everything. The information that I have is that you just type in a sequence of chord progressions (and it says you can do this on the computer keyboard); select a style and tempo and off you go.It has features such as 'real drums' etc.
Does anyone have any experience of it and is it user friendly for those of us who are not that good on a computer.
I though it would be good for playing along to and/or producing backing tracks for any number of songs and music.
I expect the files must be huge and probably quite complicated to use.
Any feedback would be welcome.

All the best to all,
Robert

[shindigdk]

Hi,
Band In A Box is very helpfull if you need some backing. Advanced users can make excellent things and beginners can very easily get backing. I still use it when working with a new tune or improvising over a series of chords. So all in all it is very recommendable.
Shindig

[asimmd]

HI Robert

pgmusic.com is the place you need to go,I have been a member of the forums
for quite some time and you will get all the help you need there.

Band in a Box is really as easy or as complicated as you want it to be.

Yes,you can type in chords on the compuret keyboard ie,Eb - Bb - Bbm7 etc,and BIAB will compose a tune using the chords and style you select.

Warning,it's great fun and highly addictive and now they have Real Instruments and a Pedal Steel guitar in the program,you can make just about anything you want.

I do believe there is a demo you can download,pop over the the website and take a look.

Alan

[martyn]

Are there alternatives to BIAB that are of similar or better quality?
Martyn

[rjdupe]

Hi all,
Thanks for your help to date about BIAB. I have been on the web site and there seem to be many alternative packages.The question is which one to go for. In addition how is the package supplied; does it come as a pre loaded hard drive which can be connected to a USB port. I did read somewhere that there can be about 22 disks to download, which would be a pain!

All the best

Robert

[asimmd]

Hi Robert

The generally accepted alternative to Band In A Box is called Jammer Pro,and while it is good,it has nowhere near as many features as B.I.A.B.

Here is the link to Jammers homepage;

www.soundtrek.com/content/index.php

Select Jammer on the left hand menu and read away,there may also be a demo.

I think the program can be ordered on a USB stick,but as the software comes from Canada,you may have a long wait.

If you search for Etcetera Distribution,they may distribute it in the UK,just do a google search
and you may get lucky.

The software can be downloaded from P.G.Music's website,which is the way most users get their software,but if you have any questions emails are answered quite quickly,and the forum is one of the best and most knowlegeable I have been on.

Phew,hope this helps,any more questions,just fire away.

Alan

[rjdupe]

Thanks Alan, Shindig and all for the help.
I will just have to look at the data and make a decision.

Kind regards,

Robert

[GuitarPhil]

Here's something I 'composed' using RealBand, a great feature PG Music added to BIAB in the last couple of years . The only thing I'm playing is the lead guitar. Drums, bass, harmonica and rhythm guitar are arranged and played (using Real Tracks - real musicians, real instruments) by RealBand!

www.4shared.com/account/file/128464760/7af26cab/Cm_RealBand_Blues.html

[asimmd]

Hi Phil

Nice sounds,realband certainly does do the business.

I used to use BIAB when it needed a soundsource,years ago and though I have tried to get to grips with the program,and Realband,I just can't get my head round it.

Also,I find the biggest problem is coming up with good sounding chord sequences,the usual major chords get a bit boring after a while.

All in all,a very good program but with a steep learning curve.

Alan

[rjdupe]

Hi, Phil, Alan and all,
I have just purchased the everything pack from PG music in Canada. The basics work fine but I Find the programme very complex when trying to use more of the capabilities.
There is a 300 page manual and the possibilities are endless.
The real tracks are very comprehensive but there are some things you can't do with them ( eg. change style mid song) although it works for the MIDI files. I have loads of sheet music with chord sequences but no backing tracks and BIAB does provide these very well. I think you have to be very good with programmes and computers to maximise the potential of BIAB.

Kind regards to all,

Robert

[asimmd]

Hello Robert

Well done on purchasing the complete package,I hope you will get many hours of pleasure from it.
I think my problem was that I tried to do everything on my own,but if you get stuck,the PGMusic web forum is excellent,no question is stupid and everyone is very helpful.

Even if you think you can't do something,ask on the forum and someone may just surprise you.
How does the program cope with backing tracks for well known songs?

Maybe a demo would be in order?

Thanks

Alan

[rjdupe]

Hi again Alan,
I am working on a couple of standards. BIAB does produce good backing tracks but won't produce an original Shadows copy.
I am fairly new to the game and as yet recording tracks is a bit beyond my capabilities. However if I do get round to it I will certainly try to post something. I think I will have to learn to play competently first!.
All the best,

Robert

[martyn]

I'd like to make my own backing tracks and luckily am able to play a keyboard instrument but unlike guitars or other such physical instruments, you can't just pop into your local music shop and be shown how to 'play' the software. Many retailers have traditional keyboards with built-in drums, accompaniment etc but few stock basic midi/USB ones designed purely to trigger or activate software sounds (and why would they), so trying to work out which of the various items advertised on the web is a sensible purchase is a minefield.

Similarly there are several software packages, whose various options produce yet another confusing area to navigate. BIAB has several versions or add-ons and I wish there was a website or other such facility where you could establish who makes what, discover which version of this does what well - or not so well and then see someone demonstrate these in every day use. That way one could at least get some idea as to where to go next.

I've listened to the BIAB website's sound files, most of which seem aimed at country, traditional folk dance music or rock but haven't discovered any with orchestral strings in use. Do they not have massed violins in their sound range? Maybe they do but there are no examples showing this, and strings plus a decent grand piano would be vital for me in creating the BTs I want to have, as ideally would be a Hammond organ with Leslie rotary speaker effects and I'm not sure if that's an option either.

Of course I probably have specific requirements not applicable to all and that's where I come up against the main stumbling block. In a shop you can twiddle and tweak controls on an instrument and rapidly find out and hear what it can or cannot do. Not the same for software and that's why I've made little progress in this direction so far.

Unless I'm missing something painfully obvious to everyone else, I'll just have to keep looking and asking lots of questions.

Cheers,
Martyn

[asimmd]

Hi Martyn

I envy you in your ability to play keyboards,I think if I could,thrn my problems would be halved at least.

If what I am going to say hits the mark,fine.
If I'm taling through my backside,my apologies.

You description of what you want to do means BIAB is not really what you need,it's more for non keyboard players like me who don't know middle C from Bb.

Virtual Instruments are your way forward,played by you on your keyboard into a DAW,in fact,most DAW'S come with some as part of the program.
Pay for some and you get even better sounds.

Although I don't play,I have various Virtual Instruments to play with,I just load a Midi file into Sonar,and assign the instrument I want into a track,and it's done.
You would be able to go a step further than that because you could play the parts into the DAW via your keyboard.

I'll leave it there for now and see if I get a positive or negative response.

Alan

[rjdupe]

Hi there,
I have looked at my BIAB and don't thing there is much option for a comprehensive massed string backing. I think Alan is right in saying that BIAB is not what you want. I have an oldish Yamaha Clavinova and that has extensive synthesiser capabilities in the string and piano section which can be recorded. However that approach is probably over the top.

Regards,

Robert

[martyn]

Hi Alan & Robert,

That's just about the conclusion I'd reached myself. Many moons ago I had a Yamaha keyboard (so long ago I can't remember which) and that made great piano/orchestral sounds with built-in drums, sequencer etc and I'm fairly sure it had midi facilities, but back then my computer knowledge was zero and I probably hadn't a clue what midi even meant. I'm not even sure such things as BTs existed - could be wrong.

I currently use Audacity and more frequently Cubase4LE - the latter has various instrument sound samples accessed via its Halion1 software and I can call up a virtual keyboard onscreen then play notes using the mouse to click on an individual key but a mouse can't play chords. I'll obviously need a proper keyboard to do this and I suspect I have maybe two options:

1. Buy a traditional keyboard such as the Yamaha, Roland etc and 'simply' record tracks directly from this into Cubase etc. using its own rhythm/drums facilities.
2. Buy a basic USB/midi keyboard and use this to trigger the software instrument sounds within Cubase or other similar DAW, since it won't have any of its own sounds to activate.

Cost kicks into the scheme of things - if I recall my Yamaha cost about £800 back then, whereas a basic keyboard is about £100 or so. Financially, the latter option makes more sense on the face of it. However I recently discovered EastWestQuantumLeap software that blew me away with its orchestral and choral sounds - you could also actually create genuine sung words using this amazing program - but then at around £600 or more for the software, I suppose it would or should be impressive!

It's at this point I sit back and ponder how important making my own BTs really is. There are many commercially made ones out there that are way cheaper to buy and download than do my own, but that's not the point as I'd just like to be able to say I did everything rather than explain to listeners it was only me on guitar and the really great BT was done by others.

That's the fascination and draw of this wonderful hobby - to be totally creative making music even if it's only me who will ever hear most of it. You just can't beat that warm inner glow and sense of satsfaction when you can say: "I did that".

Sorry - getting a bit deep & meaningful . . .

Martyn

[asimmd]

Hi Martyn

I can do deep and meaningful,and I understand what you mean.

I had the desire to create my own backings as well,and I found it easy but time consuming so when you compare it with buying them,it's cheating a bit,they have the pleasure of creating them and then get paid for them as well.

I have 2 keyboards both M-Audio,an Oxygen 8 mk2 and a Radium 61,neither of which I use.
I got the small one to input drums when writing,but I can't find a drum prog I can get on with.

I use Sonar and recently Pro Tools and there are lot's of sounds for both.

You are right about the feeling of satisfaction when you have completed your own track.

Alan

[martyn]

Hi Alan,
Thank goodness someone else understands where I'm coming from!

So how do you rate the Radium 61 or haven't you used it much to find out?
Maybe I should do a Google search on it and see what pops up - do you want to part with it?

Cheers,
Martyn

[asimmd]

Hi Martyn

I wasn't trying to sell you the keyboard but if you do a search on it and you would like to make an offer then,yes,I would be prepared to part with it.

After all,it's not doing any good sitting in it's box,and I can't see myself using it now.

Alan

[GuitarPhil]

Hi Robert, Alan, Martyn,

BIAB is in essence a MIDI and Audio sequencer with the ability to automatically generate a full accompaniment to the chord sequence you enter. You can then add your own MIDI or audio recordings to it.

I've been mainly interested in the RealBand instruments for basic Blues/Rock music so I don't know about strings etc. but since you can combine MIDI tracks with RealBand (audio), the MIDI sound quality would depend on your MIDI sound source/keyboard sounds or you could use a Virtual synth (VSTi) plugin to create the strings sound. IIRC BIAB came with a Roland soft synth.

Robert, there is a vast amount you can do with BIAB so take it slowly :-)

Regards,

Phil.