Hi there, Synthzoners!

I wrote a little ditty the other day and used BiaB to make the backing track. I know BiaB isn't a tool for live play, but I think there are a few recording guys here who may find it of some interest.

As I said, the backing track was done with BiaB and then the individual tracks were imported into Reaper (my DAW of choice) in order to record the vocals and for final mixing. Importing the tracks is as simple as dragging them from BiaB into Reaper (or pretty much any other DAW). I really love that feature.

The vocal harmonies were done using my aging, but still trusty PSR 3000 VH unit.

CAUTION: Contains very mild profanity!

Stick Your Phone

Thanks for listening,
Dan

Hey Dan,

Thanks for the encouraging words on the BIAB tune I posted. My version of the software is just before they got into Real Tracks. I find their stuff pretty confusing to wade through these days as they have so much. At times I have thought that one of their everything packages on a hard drive might be a better investment for me than a new keyboard.

When I go on the PG site I hear a lot that I like but there is so much there that I find it kind of intimidating to wade through it all. I know I could make some great recordings using BIABn so I might need to check out the 2015 version. Would I still get some credit for purchasing an older version in terms of upgrade options or do they only back date so far? My version is probably more than 15 years old. I had a computer lab in my music room and used it with the kids a fair bit on old scrounged 486 computers. After I retired the board had it installed on all the modern school computers. Don't think it's there anymore since PG made so many improvements.

God Bless,
Don

That phone thing is funny... i enjoyed it.

I disagree with you that BiaB is not a good tool for live playing, sure its not an arranger, but as a singer, solo guitarist, or whatever non keyboard instrument it is a great tool for making backings... and using those backings in a live environment..

Still wayting for an arranger to add a chord arranger being fully compatible with the BiaB styles and all its features..

Oh wayt, there is one... its called Varranger, You can have Varranger, BiaB and Ableton live (or any other DAW)running on your touchscreen PC side by side.. sadly BiaB is not really build for touchscreens

sometimes i wonder why we stick to hardware arrangers, as they are way less flexible then a mobile PC with a masterkeyboard

On the ther hand, despite all the gear i own and owned, i have never owned an instrument that is so much fun as the Tyros 5-76

Hi, Don.

The intimidation you mention is kind of what I was talking about re:learning curve. The folks at PG Music have packed a ton of features into BiaB, and they've given each one its own button in the menu. It makes for a confusing and overly busy interface, imo. I still don't know what over half of those buttons do, but it doesn't really matter to me because I can get BiaB to do what I need it to when I make my backing tracks. Every time I use it I learn a little more so progress is being made, albeit slowly sometimes.

I'm pretty sure the upgrade option goes back to almost any previous version, but a quick call or email to PG Music would confirm this. They are quite good with answering calls and emails I'm told. They also put the whole thing on sale every December. That's how I recently upgraded to the everything pack. 50% off, I think it was. Whoohoo!

Thanks for listening,
Dan

Thanks, Bachus. Glad you got a giggle out of it.

I agree that BiaB would make some fine backing tracks for live play. I was thinking about playing it like an arranger in my original post. To me this would be the best of both worlds. The subject comes up over at the PGMusic forum, but I don't think BiaB will have this feature anytime soon (or ever for that matter).

Thanks for listening,
Dan

BiaB will never function realtime as an arranger, because BiaB knows chords in front, it can weave patterns between chordchanges in fromt of the change to make for much more smoother chordchanges..

In a real time arranger there is no chordprediction possible.

why BIAB when you can use an arranger KB to easily record backing tracks that sound amazing..?

Because Yamaha doesnt put a chordsequencer in their arrangers? And BiaB styles in general sound much better then most arranger styles

why a CS to record backing tracks? just play live & record....as for the Biab styles being better?,..
that's questionable vs Yamaha styles IMO..

I agree with DNJ on this one too.

Gary

A few reasons, Donny.

1. It's very easy to make changes and/or edits without having to rerecord the whole thing (one of my pet peeves about my PSR).

2. Price. The everything pack is much cheaper than a new arranger.

3. With the realtracks technology it is very easy to regenerate a track you don't quite like the sound of, again without having to rerecord the whole thing.

4. Realism. I haven't heard a style from any arranger that can come close to the realism level that BiaB can do. In this particular song the banjo immediately comes to mind, as does the mandolin. These are tracks of actual players playing real instruments; not a MIDI simulation. BiaB is also able to generate more interesting parts because it knows in advance what the chords are. The bass lines can walk up to the next chord change instead of just playing the same repetitive pattern over and over and over, as an example.

I'll admit BIAB has come a long way .....it's just not for my needs at this time,.. good luck with your music..

Thanks, Donny!

I wish you all the best in your musical endeavors as well.

After upgrading my studio computer (used exclusively for music), I decided to load it up with 'interesting' music software. I bought the BIAB 2015 Everything pack (among a lot of other 'fun' software) and have been playing with it every since. IN MY OPINION, BIAB is both better and easier for making BACKING TRACKS. The quality of the styles and the ease in modifying them gives BIAB a huge advantage over any arranger that I am aware of and I'm sure it rivals even Yamaha in terms of number of styles. Before anyone jumps in and accuses me of arranger bashing (what else is new), please bear in mind that I'm ONLY talking about making backing tracks for live use; NOT backing tracks vs. arranger style play; just THE PROCESS OF MAKING BACKING TRACKS WITH BIAB VS MAKING BACKING TRACKS WITH AN ARRANGER KEYBOARD.

Not being a smartass here but since I HAVE BOTH, I think MY opinion has slightly move validity than someone who has only experienced ONE for making backing tracks. Everyone is going to promote the thing they're most familiar with, so if you're exclusively an arranger player, your response is going to be pretty predictable. Personally, I prefer to make backing tracks 'manually', one track at a time, using drum loops or some form of programmed drum pattern if a live drummer is not available. BIAB would be my second choice and an arranger keyboard my third. But hey, that's just me.

chas

A chordsequencer is one of the most usefull tools in an arranger..

Just push record, record the sequence and let it loop... Then you have both hands available while the arranger repeats for example the chorus, which allows you to play a full piano part with two hands, or a immersive saxaphone solo with your right hand while controlling sa buttons and wheels to make it sound super authentic... Or a Kontakt source, with several left hand keys to controll your sound..

Sometimes you need more then two hands, and thats where the chordsequencer comes in freeing up the left hand...

Is BAND IN A BOX more fully functional on Windows than Mac?

God Bless,
Don

They are essentially the same

They are basically the same, but according to this thread at PGMusic the Windows version has more features. I personally don't know because I'm a PC guy so have never had the opportunity to compare them

Dan