minestaken - Posted - 07/04/2009:  18:04:31

---

Hey Everyone - great thread goin here.

I'm a lurking clawhammer guy... Would you recommend BIAB with all the plugins for us as well?

Baglady - Posted - 07/04/2009:  18:54:40

---

Thanks Kemo, I'm going to do exactly what you said. This really is turning into a very valuable thread. I liked the idea of you guys creating a forum just to help people with BIAB. I can already see that I would learn this faster with this kind of help instead of reading a manual. I'm not a computer whizz at all, it's like reading a foreign language.

Baglady

Glenn Tate - Posted - 07/04/2009:  19:10:43

---

Phil,
I am supposing or assuming that the Real Track instruments in your instrument pull down list at the upper left hand top of the BIAB window, comes from the "RealTracks Set 12: All Bluegrass (Solos)"? Do you have that loaded on your computer. I don't have it, but I do have "RealTracks Set 11: All Bluegrass (Rhythm)" installed, and I don't have any Real Tracks instruments in my pull down instrument list.

"Opportunities are never lost. Someone will pick up the ones you miss!"
"Your never lost, if you don''t care where you are."

Glenn

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 07/04/2009:  19:31:26

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Glenn Tate

Phil,
I am supposing or assuming that the Real Track instruments in your instrument pull down list at the upper left hand top of the BIAB window, comes from the "RealTracks Set 12: All Bluegrass (Solos)"? Do you have that loaded on your computer. I don't have it, but I do have "RealTracks Set 11: All Bluegrass (Rhythm)" installed, and I don't have any Real Tracks instruments in my pull down instrument list.

"Opportunities are never lost. Someone will pick up the ones you miss!"
"Your never lost, if you don''t care where you are."

Glenn

---

Glenn

I have all the tracks and I don't know which number I am using....but, I would think it shouldn't matter because the artists s/be listed for all the instruments for all tracks. (By the way, don't feel bad about not immediately being able to find the artists names.... I called BIAB a couple of days ago and the guy said the artists are not listed... I told him they sure as heck are because the MANUAL said they are I just did not want to get sleepy reading the manual. He finally went into the web site and discovered I was right and he walked me thru the two steps to get there).

Here is how I found the names of artists (Scott Vestal on banjo)...after I got the track playing I did a right click on 'Strings' ...that brought down a panel with several options on it .... then I did a left click on the 3rd option that says 'Assign Real Tracks.......' that brought down a large white panel that has all the artists listed by instrument.

I do not know which 'set' of Real Tracks are needed for this function.

Hope this helps.

Phil

"Listen, listen, listen and play, play, play." (Murphy Henry)

---

Edited by - Kemo Sabe on 07/04/2009 19:38:22

Stevie D - Posted - 07/06/2009:  04:47:47

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Glenn Tate
[...] I see that www.pgmusic.com has the RealTracks Set 11: All Bluegrass (Rhythm) for $29. I think that is reasonable. So, for $128 plus shipping, you are ready to jam with a bluegrass band whatever your computer is located.

---

I've not got a customer account for that website; are the plugins for BIAB downloadable from there, or would they come through the post? I only ask because I live in the UK. The postage from Janet Davis for the main package is going to be a stinger, assuming they'll post internationally at all. EDIT: they do.

- THIS SPACE TO LET -

---

Edited by - Stevie D on 07/06/2009 05:17:18

caloscalzo - Posted - 07/06/2009:  09:02:53

---

BIAB is way more software than I can ever use, but what I do use i really like.

Craig
________________________________

From the Heart of the Bluegrass

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 07/06/2009:  14:04:32

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by caloscalzo

BIAB is way more software than I can ever use, but what I do use i really like.
Craig
_______________________________
From the Heart of the Bluegrass

---

Well said! Ditto for me.

Phil

"Listen, listen, listen and play, play, play." (Murphy Henry)

Glenn Tate - Posted - 07/06/2009:  16:06:53

---

Stevie,
Go to www.pgmusic.com. You can download their products online without having a customer account. They have a button that says "Buy Band-in-a-Box and RealBand Download Now!" Good luck on the download.

"Opportunities are never lost. Someone will pick up the ones you miss!"
"Your never lost, if you don''t care where you are."

Glenn

Glenn Tate - Posted - 07/06/2009:  16:12:49

---

Phil,
That did it. Your right, is says Scott Vestol on banjo. That is an interesting feature. I am going to play around with assigning tracks and see what it does.

"Opportunities are never lost. Someone will pick up the ones you miss!"
"Your never lost, if you don''t care where you are."

Glenn

Stevie D - Posted - 07/07/2009:  00:49:30

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Glenn Tate

Stevie,
Go to www.pgmusic.com. You can download their products online without having a customer account. They have a button that says "Buy Band-in-a-Box and RealBand Download Now!" Good luck on the download.

---

Great, thanks. :) I bought the Janet Davis package box-in-the-post/mail style. Hopefully the postage cost will be offset by the saving made on the bundle.

I'll get the RealBand plugin virtual-wise though. Proper job!

- THIS SPACE TO LET -

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 07/07/2009:  04:26:47

---

Here is a small item that is important when you need it - you can split a measure with two different chords by just entering the chord then a comma then the next chord. The comma is necessary to make it work.

Once again, it takes just a few small steps to make BIAB work once you get past the trauma of seeing the initial screen.

"Listen, listen, listen and play, play, play." (Murphy Henry)

---

Edited by - Kemo Sabe on 07/07/2009 08:02:16

Glenn Tate - Posted - 07/07/2009:  09:04:42

---

Another tip. You can also have the bass play a different note than the root chord for some different dynamics. Right click on a bar, and select "chord builder." To understand the chord builder, go to the "Help" menu and type "slash." Open the "slash" query and it will explain the "chord builder."

Quoting from the BIAB help on chord builder, "You can now click on the root of the chord (in the Root group), and the Extension (Maj7 etc.), and also an alternate "Bass Note (Slash Root)." For example, to make the chord F9/A, you would click on the 'F' root, the '9' extension, and the Bass Slash Root of /A. As you click on them, you'll hear the bass note played on the Bass part, and the extension played on the Piano track.”

“If you are happy with the sound of the chord, you can press the [Enter Chord] button to enter the chord at the bar and beat specified. If you would like the chord to be inserted automatically when you click on the Root/Extension names, select the "Enter chord when clicked" option."

Here is another tip, if you already know the chord. For instance if you are typing in the chords to a song you already have the chords for, and you encounter a chord such as F9/A, just type it that way, right into the bar you are working on, without having to go to the "chord builder."

"Opportunities are never lost. Someone will pick up the ones you miss!"
"Your never lost, if you don''t care where you are."
"The more you know, the more you know you don''t know."

Glenn

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 07/09/2009:  09:18:23

---

Another small item of BIAB: the BIAB Jukebox - you can name one of your files 'Jukebox' and put songs in it you want to call up and play within that 'Jukebox' group. Then, when you push the button 'Jukebox' those songs will come up and play in the order which you have them in the file or in 'random order playback' (whichever option you choose). You also have the option of the 'Jukebox' looping at the end of the playbacks to start the songs over.

I hope this might help someone.

Phil



"Listen, listen, listen and play, play, play." (Murphy Henry)

ac5aa - Posted - 07/09/2009:  10:10:34

---

Did you really mean "file" or did you mean "folder" (directory)?

Duane C.
Sullivan Greenbrier, Gibson RB-250

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 07/09/2009:  10:36:16

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by ac5aa

Did you really mean "file" or did you mean "folder" (directory)?

Duane C.
Sullivan Greenbrier, Gibson RB-250

---

I meant to say 'folder' sorry about that! In BIAB - you just 'create new folder' and name it 'Jukebox'....

Thanks for post.

"Listen, listen, listen and play, play, play." (Murphy Henry)

Baglady - Posted - 07/09/2009:  16:42:38

---

I hope this might help someone.

Phil


Keep it coming Phil, everytime you post I make notes on it. I've been learning my way around on BIAB. I'm waiting on realtrack #11 to get here before I get real serious. Thanks for your help.

Angela

fixdent - Posted - 07/09/2009:  17:15:24

---

I have BIAB 2006....can I add realtracks to that...??
Or do I heve to upgrade to 2009..??

Thanks,
Gordon

O.D. - Posted - 07/09/2009:  17:46:08

---

You need to up grade to 2009.. It also comes with RealBand for recording. You'll need to get the RealTracks #11 for Bluegrass Rhtythm ,and/or set #12 for Bluegrass Solo's. if you want a good RT bluegrass sound(IMHO)
Im not crazy about the computer generated solo's / melodist stuff so I just use the Bluegrass Rhythm set #11.
Good Luck,O.D.

www.oxforddepot.net
www.cdbaby.com/cd/edackerly

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 07/09/2009:  20:24:40

---

Another idea about the BIAB 'Jukebox' - once you select the button 'Jukebox' it plays either randomly or in the order listed in the folder (whichever prefererence you select) all the songs you have put in that folder. I have been saving the songs in two different keys in that folder - in the Key of G and in the Key of C. The reason for this:

Practicing the song in the Key of G (out of G position):
With capo on 1 you would be playing in Key of A flat
With capo on 2 you would be playing in Key of A
With capo on 3 you would be playing in Key of B flat
With capo on 4 you would be playing in Key of B
With capo on 5 you would be playing in Key of C

Practicing the song in the Key of C (out of C position):
With capo on 1 you would be playing in Key of D flat
With capo on 2 you would be playing in Key of D
With capo on 3 you would be playing in Key of E flat
With capo on 4 you would be playing in Key of E
With capo on 5 you would be playing in Key of F

So, the idea here is that with the 'Jukebox' random playing, even though you are playing in only Keys of G and C you have set the stage for a lot of different keys with capo placement and done it without having to call up different songs - the 'Jukebox' plays all the songs in the folder. Another small item - with one click of the mouse you can move on to the the next song in the sequence or back into the previous song played.

One of my goals in playing the banjo - when somebody wants to play a song in the Key of _______ [whatever] I want to NOT say .... can we play it in G??? .. but rather: "Sure Pal, let's do it!"

I was at a jam one time and had practiced playing and singing a song all week in a particular key - the so-called 'jam leader' asked me to switch it to another key beyond my experience and my voice. I tried the switch and it was a train wreck as bad as the 'Wreck Of The Old '97' I think. One thing I learned from that experience is that if a person wants to sing a song and do it in a particular key - that is the key it should be done in.

(..& I do have a plan for F#....)

Phil

"Listen, listen, listen and play, play, play." (Murphy Henry)

---

Edited by - Kemo Sabe on 07/09/2009 20:43:36

Glenn Tate - Posted - 07/10/2009:  07:13:17

---

If you want to get a little more adventourous, learn how to play it out of the D position. It is a more difficult, but is doable.

"The more you know, the more you know you don''t know."

Glenn

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 07/10/2009:  08:10:51

---

I do like 'D Position' & using a barre chord for the V & open strings for the IV.... capo 4 for F#.

Glenn - you make a very good point - I gotta do some work finding the melody notes for sure

I realize this thread is about BIAB - so, one way to learn the D position is to drop a couple of songs into the 'Jukebox' folder in the Key of D and when those song come up: play, play, play!

So here we go - playing out of D position:
Capo 1 and play in the Key of E flat
Capo 2 and play in the Key of E
Capo 3 and play in the Key of F
Capo 4 and play in the Key of F#
Capo 5 and play...NO..let's take the capo off and play out of G position

Phil

"Listen, listen, listen and play, play, play." (Murphy Henry)

---

Edited by - Kemo Sabe on 07/10/2009 08:31:25

Bob Young - Posted - 07/11/2009:  06:16:04

---

Can you believe all this info from a retired CPA ??

Great posts Phil, Keep it up

Banjo Bob

www.brazosriverpickers.com/
I

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 07/11/2009:  08:47:08

---

Thanks Bob! Shouldn't we be playing racquetball this morning... oh, that's right you gave reason #27 for not playing today. (Folks, he's got so many excuses for not playing rball that we just started assigning numbers - it cuts down on explanation time).

Here is another useful tool I have been using with BIAB.... recording my banjo playing into BIAB (as an audio track tied to the backup Real Tracks for specific songs I choose) and then playing it back for my review. I had recorded from time to time such things on a small hand held recording device but I have found it interesting and easier to record and playback directly from BIAB. To do this I use a table top computer mic and just push the button labeled 'R-Audio' on BIAB.

I think recording and reviewing the performance is an important part of learning to play the banjo - (So! That's what I sound like!!!) I hear some good things and hear some things not so good ............oh yeah! I can improve that! It is easy to delete the audio track and do it again. Or, if you wanted to save the recording in another folder I suppose you could do that in case you wanted to review a number of performances over a period of time to see hear improvements.

Phil

"Listen, listen, listen and play, play, play." (Murphy Henry)

---

Edited by - Kemo Sabe on 07/11/2009 15:15:24

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 07/13/2009:  06:15:18

---

Re: the BIAB 'Jukebox' - as I have said - you can play the BIAB Jukebox and it will play all the songs in that folder. Actually, when you push that button called 'Jukebox' you can select any folder you like for playing. Whatever 'directory' you select will result in all the songs in that folder being played.

So, Kemo Sabe has one folder named 'Find The Melody', another named 'Been There & Done That'....actually, I already know the melody on those songs - I am trying to teach it to my banjo.


Phil

"Listen, listen, listen and play, play, play." (Murphy Henry)

---

Edited by - Kemo Sabe on 07/13/2009 07:53:49

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 07/15/2009:  02:21:14

---

Metronome in BIAB -

BIAB has a metronome that can be turned on or off as you prefer. To get to the metronome function - click on 'OPT' (Options) at the very top on the screen, then click on 'Preferences' then click on 'Count-In/Met' ( the third box). This screen allows you to select several different options as you prefer for metronome including an audible leadin, visible metronome (BTW the visible metronome is a huge page that appears with counts during the song if you want to see that kind of thing), or you can have audible and visible metronome with several options.

Small item here: If you would like to turn off the music and see just the chord changes (bar skips through the chords with no music) but the metronome continues as a visible count as described above, audible count as described above or visible + audible together - that is very easy to do - you just mute the 'Combo' selection at top left of the screen. So, you mute the music but that does not mute the metronome. Result (which is very easy to get): Music is silenced, the bar skips thru the chord changes you have set up or downloaded, the metronome is audible if you have selected to hear it, the metronome is visible on a huge count page if you have selected it to be shown.

The way you figure out BIAB is ding around with it till you get frustrated and then you call the 800 number on the box and those folks can tell you in about two minutes how it really works. It helps to have done some dinging around with the screens before calling and to also have the screen up infront of you so you walk through what they tell you to do. Some folks read the manual (not me, it puts me to sleep), some folks read the help screen (not me), some folks can figure it out on their own (not me).

I suppose one of these days I might go through the tutorial disks (two of them things - seems like way too much information - I don't mind looking up info in a dictionary but I don't sit around reading one) - for now I think I would rather watch Judge Judy.

Phil

"Listen, listen, listen and play, play, play." (Murphy Henry)

---

Edited by - Kemo Sabe on 07/15/2009 09:28:46

mwriley - Posted - 07/16/2009:  06:51:46

---

Included in the Macintosh software package is a program called "Garge Band". I haven't used this program but it sounds like it works something like "Band in a Box". Does anyone have any experience with this program? Is it worth the effort to learn how to use it as a practice tool?

Mike R

Glenn Tate - Posted - 07/16/2009:  16:59:26

---

Don't know about Macintosh software, but here is a website about GarageBand. http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/

"The more you know, the more you know you don''t know."

Glenn

flatfoot - Posted - 08/11/2009:  11:28:58

---

.

>>>...you can name one of your files 'Jukebox' and put songs in it you want to call up and play within that 'Jukebox' group. Then, when you push the button 'Jukebox' those songs will...>>>

Here is another approach: The jukebox function is designed to run through all the songs in the folder currently in use.

Say I have a folder called "jazz," another called "bluegrass," and another called "practice." Then I click-and-play on a song from the "jazz" folder. "jazz" is now my home folder. Now when I go to the jukebox and click "play jukebox.", it will automatically play the songs from the "jazz" folder until I tell it something different.

...so it may not be necessary to set up a folder called "jukebox." You already have your songs put in folders according to your own taste and needs. The jukebox will honor that.

.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

fish1963 - Posted - 08/11/2009:  11:59:24

---

The best thing about band in the box is it is a metronome of sorts. When I think I have a song/lick/backup/run or whatever down. I play it against Band in the box. It keeps me honest. Besides, learning to play the banjo is way harder than figuring out this software.

flatfoot - Posted - 08/11/2009:  12:10:46

---

.

>>>...I can't recall a time I've ever been so confused about a product.....still can't figure out what I should order...>>>

I would not recommend Realtracks or Realband for most of the friends I have met here on BHO. Mostly what I am hearing is that y'all want a tool for practice and study. BiaB in its plain-vanilla configuration is the best tool for these functions. I will go so far as to say that BiaB is something every musician needs.

Realtracks are great, but they are 1. expensive and 2. slow. Before spending money on RealTracks and RealBand, try these:

1. .Make sure you have good speakers on your computer. Here is what I recommend: Logitech x240

http://www.target.com/Logitech-Comp...1&rh=&page=1

This is the best single step up you can make toward making your computer sound better and its only US50.

2. Try the "Coyote Forte" software synthesizer available from PG music.

http://www.pgmusic.com/fortedxi.htm

...sounds about a million times better than the sounds that come with most computers.

Hats off to Kemo Sabe for tons of great advice...!

.

.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Micki - Posted - 08/15/2009:  06:32:25

---

Yes I have one, but I don't like it. But I do like very much using the transcriber. I got it thru acutab and it is one of the most useful tools I own. Micki

quote:

---

Originally posted by twothphry

Has anybody used Band-in-a-Box as a back-up to learning banjo tunes? If so any suggestions?

"Don''t pick it, it''ll never heal"

---

flatfoot - Posted - 08/15/2009:  18:42:33

---

.

>>>...Realtracks are great, but they are 1. expensive and 2. slow...>>>

Whoops! Turns out i was mistaken about the "expensive" part. PG Music has a whole new set of realtracks just released, and they're on sale.

Check the new stuff on the PG Music website.

.

I got some tunes up on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/flatfoot50

steve-o - Posted - 08/16/2009:  09:18:47

---

Wow. Great thread. Got my BIAB (w/Bluegrass pack) yesterday. And it is pretty intimidating. Not impossible though! I already like it better then my drum machine.....
Just take your time!

"It ain''t over yet - as long as you keep moving, they can''t throw dirt on ya"

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 08/16/2009:  09:53:04

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by steve-o

Wow.
........... Just take your time!

---

Indeed! Take your time. I have found BIAB to be great - especially with the Real Tracks. Start with a simple song and learn the process....then go from there.

I agree with recent comments...."Jukebox" button will play any folder you like - the folder does not have to be labeled 'Jukebox'.

I appreciate the many posts on this thread - flatfoot: thanks for the comments.

Phil

"Listen, listen, listen and play, play, play." (Murphy Henry)