February 28, 2022 User Showcase Song - No Inspiration Blues

Do you ever hit that point of no inspiration? Well..... I can relate. I've been living there apparently.
So I have a bunch of ideas started that seemed brilliant at the time but on second glance... what was I thinking?
I clicked into a new style... bluesy and... this came out in about literally 10 minutes. Even so, I didn't feel particularly inspired...

No Inspiration Blues

The band: all of 5 tracks. Intentionally it was kept pretty sparse. You can hear everything in it.
-Upright bass 531... which, I rarely ever use an upright bass
-Drums... jazz brushes... and again... brushes? Those are for combing hair... this actually sounded dirty and noisy but I realized on a closer examination it was the brushes being dragged around the snare head...
-Dobro... 569... more like a drone track in the back... Doing what it does
-Vocals... me... and it was literally one take and the punches were to change the words.... certainly not for vocal fixes in fact, no melodyne was used on this track.
-Guitar... The Spark amp... I just did a firmware update and waaa laaaa, I got several new amp models and this is one of them. It's called Fishboy and it is pretty sweet when you drop a couple of things upfront on the signal chain and don't make it too dirty. The guitar is my Tele on the strat pickup.

Posted at 01:36 PM

February 28, 2022 PowerTracks Pro Audio 2022 is Here!

It's Here! PowerTracks Pro Audio 2022 adds over 20 New Features, including the ability to install multiple VST plugins from a folder at a time, improved Audio Chord Wizard detection routines, the ability to record mixer movement for the masters/subgroups, new Transpose/Stretch All Tracks dialog lets you transpose/stretch/reduce all tracks and then conveniently save to a new file, the new settings to save selected tracks only and exclude muted tracks when saving all tracks to individual files, the option to save all tracks to a compressed format, and much more!

Get started with PowerTracks Pro Audio 2022 today with packages starting at just $49! Already own a previous version? Upgrade for as little as $29!

Posted at 01:34 PM

February 28, 2022 Video - Band-in-a-Box® 2022 for Windows®: DAW Plugin New Features: Part 1

In this video we go over some of the new features added to version 4 (2022) of the Band-in-a-Box^® for Windows^® DAW Plugin, including Chord Settings, Chord Theory, MicroChords, and Motifs:
Band-in-a-Box^® 2022 for Windows^®: DAW Plugin New Features: Part 1

Stay tuned for Part 2!

Posted at 01:26 PM

February 25, 2022 Video - Entering Chords Into Band-in-a-Box® 2022 for Windows®

Our latest video explains the different ways of entering chords into your Band-in-a-Box® song, including entering MicroChords (a new feature with version 2022): Video - Entering Chords Into Band-in-a-Box® for Windows

Posted at 01:48 PM

February 25, 2022 User Showcase Song - VULTURE (feat. PeterF on guitar)

This is both a new mix and a new “performance” video of a song we posted five years ago. Janice gets to method or “play act” as she calls it - a childhood term

VULTURE

Thanks to our music partner Peter and to PG Music for helping make it all possible.

We hope you enjoy it ... comments are most welcome. And the vid is only three minutes.

Janice : vocal, melody & arrangement
Bud: lyric, progression, mix & videography
Peter: all guitar tracks

For those inclined toward the tech stuff:

Vocal: Rodes NT1 via Scarlett 212 USB interface > Logic Pro X > Nectar

Guitar tracks: Peter and whatever he does to them

Drums: RD Blues Rock Shuffle / tag comped from Logic Pro X kit sounds > Waves CLA Drums
Snare: Doubled from RD audio file > Neutron 3
Cymbal: Doubled from RD audio file > Waves JPL Percussion
Bass: RT 1646 > Neutron 3 (comped from three tracks)
Piano: RT 2730 > Logic Pro X Direction Mixer > Waves CLA Unplugged
Organ: RT 2731 > Logic Pro X Direction Mixer > tweaked Neutron “Dirty B” preset > EMT 140 plate reverb sim

Mastering: Izotope Modules EQ > Muti-band compression > Imager > Limiter > Izotope Tonal Balance > Logic Pro Loudness Meter

Posted at 11:00 AM

February 24, 2022 User Showcase Song - That Laugh

My last post was "a very old one".
This is just the opposite... a "very new one".
Most of what I am listening to these days runs along these lines.
(Contemporary Pop Country might cover it as labels go)

THAT LAUGH

BIAB parts:
RealTracks in song: 3580:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm PalmMuteRockPushFast Ev 130
RealDrums [in style:CajonFolkSlow8ths: a: Cajon b: Cajon, Shaker
RealTracks in song: 3726:Guitar, Electric, Soloist PopIndiePhaserBrent Ev 085
Other parts:
I created the main acoustic guitar using AmpleSound Martin Lite (free vst)
I created a high sting part using Studio One Presence (Viola Legato preset)
I created an piano/keys track using the EZKeys Cinematic Grand (Drama Plate preset)
I played the bass part (on keyboard) using the Kontact instrument "Twenty Five" (Baby Ate preset)
"Clap" track (drum) from Kontakt Player Factory Slection - Urban Beats - Coral
2 percussion loops from the Presonus Studio One libraries

Lyrics

Posted at 11:40 AM

February 23, 2022 Update Your RealBand 2022 Today!

Using RealBand 2022? Update for free today, and you'll strenghten your installation with smoother combination of 4/4 and 3/4 styles, Audio Chord Wizard enhancements, corrected CPU usage data, and add additional updates prepared by our developers to resolve user-reported program issues and concerns. Learn more!

Posted at 12:45 PM

February 23, 2022 User Showcase Song - ROLL WITH IT

The is a total redo of a tune I posted about 3 years ago.

Roll With It

I started over from the ground up on it. I wanted a better mix and up the tempo a little to give it more snap. It's an R&B type tune that's got a lot going on in it and I will probably be tweaking it for a couple of weeks and definitely re-recording the vocals in places. Thanks for checking it out.

BIAB
Drums - Funky Groove 60's
Drums - Jazz Funk Pop
Piano - 2194 Electric Vintage
Bass - 2260 Funky Groove 60's
Guitar - 2930 Folk Rock 8ths Brent
Guitar - 2348 Jazz Funk Groovin
Horns - Funk 2 Part
Synth - Pop Shining Voice
Lyrics

Posted at 11:56 AM

February 22, 2022 User Showcase Song - High School Friendships

Based on constructive criticisms and other useful feedback, here is my first attempt and wading into "Lake Melody" with a verse/chorus/bridge structure.

High School Friendships

BiaB:
RealTracks in style: ~686:Organ, B3, Background Pop Ev 120
RealTracks in style: ~~362:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~~542:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Dreamy Ev 085
RealTracks in song: ~510:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Dire Ev 140
RealDrums in style:NashvilleEven8^8-a:Snare, HiHat Open , b:Snare, Ride

Other Instruments:
Korg Keyboard Voice A001 Bright Grand Piano
Fender Bass

Mixed in Audacity with headphones

Posted at 11:45 AM

February 18, 2022 Holiday Hours - Family Day (Mon, Feb 21)

Monday, February 21st is Family Day!

Our hours on this holiday will be:
Customer Service: 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST
Technical Support: Closed.

Regular hours resume Tuesday, February 22nd.

www.pgmusic.com/contact.htm

Posted at 11:07 AM

February 18, 2022 User Showcase Song - Saltarello

Saltarello is a medieval dance.

Saltarello

Guillaume Dufay, a Belgian composer, wrote this one. He lived in the 15th century. I used his music as a melody and let BIAB compose the music around it.
Rob took care of the backing vocal in the third chorus and the final mix.

Style is _STQRPEH.STY (String Quartet Hall Pop 8ths)

UserTrack in Song: Guitar, Acoustic, Nylon, Pick-Strum, Rhythm, 70
UserTrack in Song: Guitar, Classical, Fingerpicking, Waltz, 12-8 Unchained Melody, Hezy Levy, Ev8 070
2507:String Quartet Rhythm PopEvenChamber Ev 120
Lyrics

Posted at 10:41 AM

February 18, 2022 RealTracks Artist Ramon Stagnaro

We're all very saddened to learn of the passing of RealTracks Artist Ramon Stagnaro.

He has performed and recorded with a huge list of artist such as Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli, Patti LaBelle, Gino Vanelli, Seal and many more.

Ramon Stagnaro performs with Andrea Bocelli

Posted at 10:39 AM

February 17, 2022 User Showcase Song - In My Eye

I originally wrote and recorded this song for my wife several years ago, and I usually play it for her on Valentine's holiday... she must like it 'cause we're still together after many years...

In My Eye

I'm Singing, and playing Acoustic & Electric Guitars.
Midi Keys: Electric Piano, Organ fills, Bass & Drums.

BiaB RealTracks in song:
382:Guitar, Slide, Background Blues Ev 085
~673:Organ, B3, Background Blues BB Ev 085
? Sax Solo
Lyrics

Posted at 12:24 PM

February 16, 2022 User Showcase Song - Emmas Tattoo

Just having fun Playing Harmonica with 2022 BIAB, thanks PG Music!

Emmas Tattoo

Bass 572, Organ 673, Drums PopRock8ths^2, Guitar 3245, Guitar 575, Piano 2157.

Posted at 09:05 AM

February 15, 2022 User Showcase Song - Just a Dream

Been really bereft of inspiration lately, hence my relatively long absence. Here's something I wrote today, though ... hope you enjoy. All comments welcome, of course - thanks for listening!

Just A Dream

****** Song Summary *************
Lyrics
Title: Just A Dream - 10 February 2022
File:Just A Dream - 10 February 2022.SGU
Key=C , Tempo 85, Length (m:s)=3:48
No intro. 104 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 104. Repeat x1 chorus
No Melody
No Soloist track.
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Style is _LEAVING.STY (Leaving Slow Country Waltz)

RealTracks in style: ~1121:Bass, Acoustic, CountryWaltz Sw 085
RealTracks in style: ~1126:Pedal Steel, Rhythm CountryWaltz Sw 085
RealTracks in style: 2554:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking WaltzJoe Sw 085
RealTracks in style: 2555:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking WaltzJoeHigh Sw 085
RealDrums in style:NashClassicWaltzSw^1-a:SideStick, HiHat , b:Snare, HiHat

*******************

Voice recorded and mixed in Mixcraft Pro Studio 9.

Posted at 11:24 AM

February 14, 2022 User Showcase Song - Rock Symphony

I have not been present on the forum in recent months for lack of time to devote to my hobby and I apologize. I would like to thank the site administrators for including me in the list of 2022 winners.

I'm uploading a symphonic metal composition today.

Rock Symphony

For the metal part, I used rockamer-style realtracks + the RT guitar Poppower 1530 and for the orchestral part, I used chamber strings from Spitfire and bells from Eastwest. It's an unpretentious composition with the solo guitar of the realtrack which takes up all the space of this short composition. If you have the desire or the time, thank you for your constructive comments.

Posted at 10:01 AM

February 11, 2022 User Showcase Song - Thinking Blues

A public domain (in Australia & Germany where Soundcloud is located) Bessie Smith song.

Thinking Blues

From Wikipedia:
Bessie Smith (April 15, 1894 – September 26, 1937) was an American blues singer widely renowned during the Jazz Age. Nicknamed the "Empress of the Blues", she was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s. She is often regarded as one of the greatest singers of her era and was a major influence on fellow blues singers, as well as jazz vocalists.

We modernized the song a little.

Janice - Vocals
I played the guitars.
Bud - recording and muse.

The Band:
RealTracks in song: ~2312:Bass, Acoustic, JazzBalladRonIn2 Sw 085
RealTracks in song: ~943:Piano, Acoustic, Solo-Accompaniment JazzStrideBallad Sw 085
RealTracks in style: ~1795:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm DixielandMedium Sw 110
RealTracks in style: ~1789:Banjo, Tenor, Rhythm DixielandMediumSimple Sw 110
RealTracks in song: ~1977:Trumpet, Soloist DixielandMediumA-B Sw 110 (Bluesy)
RealDrums in style:NewOrleansShuffle^04-a:Kick Shuffle , b:Ride, Shuffle

The trumpet whilst "bluesy" did not play the blues so I edited what he played in Melodyne.

Lyrics

Posted at 10:33 AM

February 10, 2022 User Showcase Song - Cool 50s

I'm trying to emulate the 1950s cool jazz era. I'll let you be the judge if I did or didn't accomplish it.

Cool 50s

BiaB Style - Jazzy1 - Cool Jazz Soundtrack
Tempo = 60BPM

I deleted the bass and the drums
Piano - EZ Keys - upright - preset = saloon
Guitar - Kontakt - Jazz guitar
Drums - GrooveMonkee MIDI drum loops - SSD5 drums - preset Jazzy Jerry
Me - Wind controller - Swam - muted trumpet
Fretless bass

FX = a tad of Raum reverb on the trumpet.

Posted at 12:48 PM

February 09, 2022 Did You Win a Band-in-a-Box® 2022 UltraPAK?

It's that time again - we've announced our 2021 User Showcase Award Winners!

Read the announcement to see if you're on the list!

Over the past year (2021), we had 1132 new original compositions posted to the User Showcase by 158 different artists. Wow! There are now over 9,000 songs in the Showcase! Many thanks to all who have contributed.

In 2021, there were 24,000 posts in the User Showcase forum, with 1.1 million views! There were song compositions posted from at least 19 countries, including: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Jersey Channel Is., Macedonia, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, UK, USA.

Posted at 10:08 AM

February 09, 2022 User Showcase Song - Nothin' Never Happens (until Dave Bell brings in a Blue Attitude)

This is an original song about someone who just doesn't get that 2 negatives equals a positive. If you listen and feel inclined to comment, I thoroughly appreciate your time. Please, not to worry if it's a negative comment; they will have positive results.

Nothin' Never Happens (SoundCloud)
Nothin' Never Happens (YouTube)

QUESTION: How do you folks handle squeaks from an acoustic guitar?

Style is _MY_AMP.STY (My Woes Blues w Amplitube Bass)
RealTracks in style: 2674:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm Blues12-8Brent Sw 065
RealTracks in style: 1924:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm TexasBluesRockSlow12-8Sol Sw 060
RealDrums [in style:BluesRock128^3-a:SideStick, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride
Utility Track: 2428: Piano

Dave Bell added a heavy dose of Blue Attitude with a great fills track, the perfect solo track, and by replacing the electric rhythm guitar. I played the bass and sang –again, never at the same time.

Lyrics

Posted at 10:06 AM

February 08, 2022 User Showcase Song - World Gone

This one reflects my observations of our current human condition.
People embracing wild conspiracies, authoritative leaders and fostering hate instead of love.

World Gone

One line is 'We've got a bad disease".
That is not a reference to COVID it's a disease of anger, hate and tribal behavior that seems to have infected too many people.

The Band:
- Bass - N A 366 Bass, Electric, Country Ev 065
- Drums - RealDrums=NashvilleEven16^1-a Sidestick, HiHat , b Snare, Ride
- Organ Organ - N A 689 Organ, B3, Background Pop Ev 085
- Acoustic Guitar - Captain Moto
- Electric Guitar - Captain Moto
- Vocals - Captain Moto
Lyrics

Posted at 09:38 AM

February 07, 2022 User Showcase Song - Flying High

I'm a HUGE fan of Tower of Power so after listening to some of their tracks I was inspired to write what I thought would be the type of song you would hear from them. I based the song off of the "Feel" (I'm a huge fan of capturing the "Feel" of a song) from the old soul track "Backfield in Motion". One of my favorites.

Flying High (on a Thing Called Love)

I really had to focus on the "Chord Push" feature in BIAB and the overlapping horn arrangements. Doing horn phrases of this type require a fair amount of manual manipulation. This is not MultiRiff stuff but listening, and cutting and pasting phrases in the DAW that I thought fit. That was the purpose of me creating the tutorial "How I create SOLOs) on my channel. Anyway I think the song came off pretty well. Back in the TOP heyday their lead singer was Lenny Williams (So Very Hard To Go). Hell I ain't no Lenny but I also thought the vocals came across OK. :-) This was just me playing around. It will not be released. It'll go in the can so no point suggesting I remix. I'm done with this one and on to the next. Still constructive comments always welcome.

Style: Monday.STY Slow Swing 8th Blues (of course speeded up almost double the time)

Bass: Electric Blues
Organ: B3
Guitar 1: Acoustic Rhythm
Guitar 2: Resonator Rhythm Blues Muddy
Horns 1: Rhythm Blues Shuffle
Horn 2: Background Blues Shuffle
Piano 1: Acoustic Piano
Drums: Nashville 128
Synth Pad 1: Pop Believe
Synth 2: Rhythm Pep Squad Horns

Equipment: Usual stuff, Shure PG-42, Sonar Producer, Focusrite USB
Vocal Stuff: Antares, iZotope Nectar, AVOX Suite, CLA Vocals

Posted at 11:43 AM

February 07, 2022 Band-in-a-Box® 2022 German for Windows is Here!

Wir waren fleißig und haben über 50 neue Funktionen und eine erstaunliche Sammlung neuer Inhalte hinzugefügt, darunter 222 RealTracks (20 mehr als in früheren Versionen), neue RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studien, Künstler Performances, Xtra Styles PAK 12, neue "wiedergebbare RealTracks" Hi-Q Sounds, 2 Sets von "RealDrums Stems" und mehr!

Paket | Was ist neu

Posted at 11:40 AM

February 04, 2022 User Showcase Song - NumFour

This is a concept song.

NumFour

An experiment with a RealDrums track and the RealDrums Chart. I took the drums chart and edited the midi files with a pattern editor. The two tracks started out identical and this was the difference after editing. I applied a drum patch from Studio One to the new midi file..

I also added a guitar melody and slide track.

The Band:
****** Song Summary *************
Title: NumFour
File:NumFour.SGU
Key=Am , Tempo 75, Length (m:s)=3:37
No intro. 64 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 64. Repeat x1 chorus
No Melody
No Soloist track.
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Song is saved with bar changes for RealDrums Changes,
Style is _STORM.STY (Storm Sad Old-Time Folk Ballad)

RealTracks in style: 2877:Bass, Acoustic, AmericanaSlow16thsByron Ev16 060
RealTracks in style: 3381:Fiddle, BackgroundSoloist OldTimeSadBalladAndy Ev16 065
RealTracks in style: 3412:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm OldTimeSadBallad Ev16 065
RealTracks in style: 3370:Mandolin, Rhythm OldTimeSadBalladAndy Ev16 065
RealTracks in song: 3413:Banjo, Fingerpicking Folk16ths Ev16 075
RealTracks in song: 3663:Dulcimer, Rhythm Folk16ths Ev16 075
RealDrums [in style:FunkRock70sSlowPerc^1-a:Hihat, Sidestick , b:Dark Ride, Sidestick

Presonus Impact

*******************

Posted at 01:10 PM

February 04, 2022 Update Your Band-in-a-Box® 2022 for Windows Today!

Using Band-in-a-Box® 2022 for Windows? There's a brand-new Update available to download, which adds dB settings for individual tracks, updates the StylePicker, added options to the Track Settings menu, updates the Manual and Help file, and applies fixes to many user reported issues.

This free download is available to Band-in-a-Box® 2022 for Windows customers here.

Posted at 01:08 PM

February 03, 2022 User Showcase Song - Blue Janeiro

Here's a blues instrumental !

Blue Janeiro

RD BossaRockPerc^8
RT 572 Electric Bass
RT 2677 Acoustic Guitar
RT 2917 Piano
RT 3963 Harmonica
RT 3970 Resonator Guitar
RT 577 Resophonic Guitar
RT 3198 Solo Acoustic Guitar

Posted at 11:51 AM

February 02, 2022 User Showcase Song - 25 and Stuck

Here's my latest. Thanks for any comments, good or bad. I'm particularly interested in comments about the storyline.

25 and Stuck

RTs:
387:Bass, Electric, Metal Ev 085
1856:Cello, Background PopCountry Ev 085
639:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm HardRockThrash Ev 085
642:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm HardRockThrashHollow Ev 085
RockThrashHalfTimeEv16^1-a:Snare, Bell Ride , b:Snare, Crash Ride

The singer is Jamie Jordan from fiverr

Lyrics

Posted at 01:46 PM

February 02, 2022 How To Print Your Band-in-a-Box® Program Manual

Visit www.pgmusic.com/manuals/ to view the available Band-in-a-Box® program manuals - we offer an Online Manual (that is searchable and interactive), Upgrade Manual, and Full Manual.

If you'd like a printed version, the Upgrade / Full manuals are formatted so that they can easily be printed! Simon explains how in our Band-in-a-Box® - How to Print the Manual video.

Posted at 01:44 PM

February 01, 2022 User Showcase Song - Go Out Of Your Way

This is my 200th showcase song post.

GO OUT OF YOUR WAY

I first recorded this in 2013 shortly after I first got BIAB.
I think it might have been the first time I ask Janice Merritt to sing BGVs with me.
(we've worked on about 70 songs together since - including Bud)
Then it just sat.
I recorded a different version in 2018 (a different tempo - can't remember if it was faster or slower)
Fortunately, Janice agreed to sing on the new version, too...
And then it sat some more.
I thought it would make an appropriate 200th song.
I re-mixed it a few weeks ago.

The BAND:
RealTracks in song: 1190:Bass, Electric, ModernRnBRock Ev 065
RealTracks in song: 1758:Banjo, Rhythm, Pop16ths Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 664:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm SouthernRock Ev 085 (A:fpick)
RealTracks in song: 1038:Guitar, High-Strung Acoustic, Rhythm NorthernRockBallad Ev 065
RealTracks in song: 1947:Mandolin, Rhythm PopModernGrooveAndy Ev16 075
RealTracks in song: 2172:Mandolin, Soloist CountryAndy Ev 165
RealTracks in song: 1875:Mandolin, Soloist CountryAndy Ev 085
RealDrums in Song: TrainBeatBrushes: a: Brushes, Kickb: BusyBrushes, Kick
claps: me
Background vocals: the janettes (a little me, a bunch of Janice)
Lyrics

Posted at 11:24 AM