March 31, 2022 How to: Change Styles in the Middle of a Song in Band-in-a-Box®

Want to change Styles throughout your Band-in-a-Box® song? We've put together this video that quickly shows how easy this is to do within the program: How to Change Styles in the Middle of a Song in Band-in-a-Box®.

Posted at 01:07 PM

March 31, 2022 User Showcase Song - Kind Music

Here is my first try with Synthesizer V. I had a 10 year old song for which I originally used Vocaloids.

Kind Music

I thought that this kind of a fast tempo electro-pop song would be a good testbed for Kevin, so I used the original Vocaloid file, imported it into Synthesizer V and did some tweaking (including translating the lyrics to English). I also changed the instrumentation to use more recent RTs. I didn't remove all breath and loudness curves from the old file so the sound is bit rough, but I liked it that way. I used Solaria for the backing vocals. It is amazing how the technology has evolved in 10 years, the singing sounds finally better than my own voice smile

The lyrics tell about my love for pop music

RealDrums: TechnoBeat^ST
Loop: House-Techno-Trance-kit4beat137

RealTracks:
3787 Bass Synth, ElectroNeonFloorSync Ev 130
2930 Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm FolkRock8thsBrent Ev 100
1748 Synth, Rhythm ModernDancePopRaveMajestic
1840 SynthPad, PopModernGrooveMellow Ev16
1772 Piano Electric, Rhythm JazzFunkMovin Ev16 130
2818 Guitar Electric, Rhythm GospelSoul8ths
3642 Guitar Electric, Rhythm DublinPopSlowLowSteady

Melody VSTi/Elysium Harp
Vocals: Synthesizer V Kevin & Solaria
Mixed in Cakewalk by BandLab
Lyrics

Posted at 01:05 PM

March 30, 2022 How to: Recording Audio Using an Audio Interface in Band-in-a-Box® for Windows®

Our latest video tutorial, Band-in-a-Box® for Windows®: Recording Audio Using an Audio Interface, explains how to use an audio interface to record into Band-in-a-Box®.

Learn more about recording audio in Band-in-a-Box® when you visit the Recording Audio section of our online manual.

Posted at 10:43 AM

March 30, 2022 User Showcase Song - A Master of Reason And Rhyme

Someone once told me this lyric was "mean".
But, hey...how 'bout that alliteration!!!

A Master Of Reason And Rhyme

The BAND:
RealTracks in style: ~2477:Bass, Acoustic, HeldSimple Sw 085
RealTracks in song: 1416:Bass, Electric, PopSw16Sync Sw16 075
RealTracks in style: 2441:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking HipFolk Sw16 85
RealTracks in song: 1412:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm CelticHornpipe Sw16 070
MIDI SuperTracks in song: 1805:Synth Pad, PopBelieve Ev16 065 (rendered to organ)
RealTracks in song: 2686:Guitar, Electric, Soloist BluesSlow12-8BrentSimple Sw 065
RealTracks in style: 2438:Banjo, Clawhammer, Rhythm HipFolk Sw16 85
RealDrums in style: NashvilleSwing16^5-a:Sidestick, Hihat , b:Snare, Hihat
Lyrics

Posted at 10:41 AM

March 25, 2022 User Showcase Song - By The River

I did this intending it to be a loud, obnoxious, angry, hard edged post-punk rock piece with The Cure in mind. Love me some Robert Smith.

By The River

Huge props to David Snyder for the guitar work and ROG for the work behind the console.

Style used was _Empower

Tracks from Real Band

BB RealBass 1010 Bass, Electric, BritInvasion Ev 140.WAV
BB RealDrums-PopPepSquad^04-NCLqHHC,NChClRd.WAV
RT501 Guitar, Electric, Rhythm StoneZ Flash 1 Ev 140
RT500 Guitar, Electric, Rhythm StoneZ Flash 1 Ev 140

Manual tracks
water sounds.WAV
vocals.WAV
River Solo_David.WAV

Posted at 10:25 AM

March 24, 2022 User Showcase Song - Arcs of Life

We both love history and spend a lot of time seeking out and documenting forgotten old structures and cemeteries. As we wander around 200 year old cemeteries (for which we are likely the first visitors in many years) we find ourselves reflecting on the lives represented by crumbling headstones or no marker at all. Many years of these musings led to this song which we hope you enjoy. Comments are most welcome. Thanks to Peter and PG Music.

Arcs of Life

Janice: vocals, progression, melody & arrangement
Bud: lyric, photo & and the tech stuff
Peter: guitar solo/swells/fills & arrangement
Drums: RealDrums NashvilleEven8 (snare removed) > Waves CLA Drums
Snare: RealDrums N’villeEven8 audio file > Waves JJP-Drums > ChromaVerb
Bass: RealTrack 518 Electric, Pop HalfNotes Ev 085 > Waves Bass Rider
Piano: MIDI SuperTracks 1809 Rhythm
CountryBalladJohn Ev 065 > Logic Pro Grand Steinway > Waves CLA Unplugged

Mastering: Ozone EQ > Ozone Multi-band compressor > Ozone Imager > Ozone Limiter > Ozone Tonal Balance > Youlean Loudness Meter
Neutron 3 was used to balance the bass and kick drum.

Lyrics

Posted at 11:49 AM

March 23, 2022 User Showcase Song - Going To Get Gas

Have you ever gotten a little funked up going to a gas/petrol station?
Well neither have we but we came up with that title and we're keeping it.

JonD came over and we came up with the chord progression, the style, and the title!

Going To Get Gas

BiaB style = Curtis M Slow Blues
Tempo = 75 BPM
Bass - Ample Bass - preset - YingYang
Piano - Kontakt - Retro Machines - preset - DX7 EP
Strings - Kontakt - Vintage Organ - preset - Whiter Shade
Guitar - Kontakt - Vintage Horns - preset - JB Section - track modified to cover the entire brass range

Me- Kontakt - Swam - Tenor Sax
Me - guitar - Amplitube 5

FX - reverb on all but the bass and drums

All of the drums were on separate tracks with each track getting Wave's CLA drums FX

Posted at 09:55 AM

March 22, 2022 User Showcase Song - Whiskey Town

So, I mentioned on a forum somewhere I love to jam around with Video Tracks, which allow you to make jamming music videos of Brent and his buddies (and others) that you can plug into your DAW to jam with. Super fun. This came out of one of those extended jams. Jamming is how I write.

Whiskey Town

Also, this is my first song with BIAB 2022. There are some WICKED sounds and styles in there for doing modern country. I'm just saying. They are raising the bar over there at PG.

Lyrics

All music and lyrics copyright 2022 by David Snyder
ASCAP/Day of Faith Records. All rights reserved.

David Snyder: Guitar, Vocals, Production, Arrangement, Engineering, Additional Instrumentation

RealTracks in style: 2578:Bass, Synth, RetroPop Ev16 085
RealTracks in style: 3933:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm AltRockPopGrittyChug Ev 080
RealTracks in style: 3935:Guitar, Electric, Background AltRockPopOctaveSync Ev 080
RealDrums [in style:RockBritDrivingEv16^3-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Snare, Open HiHat

Posted at 08:35 AM

March 21, 2022 User Showcase Song - The Reason For Your Leaving

Here's a funky Blues featuring the new Band In A Box Organ Soloist RealTrack played by Charles Treadway.

The Reason For Your Leaving

Music & Lyrics - Nigel Spiers
Vocals - Nigel Spiers
Bass - 2610
Guitar - 421
Drums - FunkSwing^2
Piano - 1995
Organ - 3995
Style - _WRONGED.STY

Posted at 09:31 AM

March 18, 2022 User Showcase Song - Hot Cars and Guitars

Hot Cars and Guitars

(re-mix) lowered Bass volume a bit...

Lyrics

BiaB ~ Harmonicas
Me ~ Lyrics, Vocals, Guitars, Organ, Keyboard Bass & Drums
Recorded, Mixed & Mastered in Cakewalk Sonar

Posted at 12:05 PM

March 17, 2022 Video - MicroChords Feature in Band-in-a-Box® 2022 for Windows®

The popular MicroChords and Motif features added with Band-in-a-Box® 2022 for Windows® will change the way you write your Band-in-a-Box® songs! With MicroChords, you can now enter up-to 16 chords per bar, and the Motifs feature allows you to enter rhythmic patterns to be played by selected tracks for selected bars!

We explain how to use these new features in our latest video, Band-in-a-Box® for Windows®: MicroChords Dialog Overview

Learn more:
Online Manual Topic: MicroChords
Online Manual Topic: Motifs

Posted at 11:48 AM

March 17, 2022 User Showcase Song - Turn It Up

Brought up the tempo a bit on this song. This is more experimentation with guitar and synths. The bike in the picture in Soundcloud is my brother. He spends the winters cruising the El Centro California area while I am up here in Northern Canada shoveling snow. :-)

Turn It Up

The Band
Bass 387,#Electric, Metal Ev 085
Drums RealDrums Nashville Even8^a:Snare,HiHat Open, b:Snare, Ride
Guitar 496 Electric Rhythm StonesZ Honky Ev120
Guitar 502, Electric Rhythm StonesZ Honky Ev120
Style_SZHonky.Sty StonesZ Honky

Guitar was a Les Paul, Two amps one through a pedal board the other amp dry and blended together.

Synths
Presonus Presence
Arturia Analog Lab V

Exported the Realdrum Chart to midi and accented with Presonus Impact

Also just wanted to note how good the 2022 version of BIAB is. The DAW plugin works so good with Studio One. Well done PG Music. You hit the ball out of the park with this version..

Posted at 11:21 AM

March 16, 2022 User Showcase Song - Questions

I made this song back in 2016, but decided to remix it recently. I liked the melody.
The remix included parts of the band and a bit of the lyrics. I think the solo stayed the same and the style.
The lyrics needed some change because I noticed my English was worse than it is now.
It was my plan to post this last week, but because of a cold I couldn't get the vocals well. That's why I posted another song (After All, v2). And I liked to post it now because it's a bit actual.

The song is about questions we all had/have in our lifetime, although with another personal touch, I think.
I began to question the meaning of life religiously, politically, socially and personally. I'll end by saying it were just questions.
In a way it's a sad song, but covered up as an alternative rock song.
As you would have guessed the song is called Questions https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130/questions-remix

The lyrics are on SoundCloud, the technical aspects below:

The style is CAMPING.STY, 110 bpm.

RealTracks in song: 4028:Bass, Electric, ModernCountry8ths Ev 120
RealTracks in song: ~405:Guitar, Acoustic
RealTracks in song: 3171:Guitar, Acoustic
RealTracks in song: ~618:Fiddle,
RealTracks in song: 1265:Synth Pad,
RealTracks in song: ~2201:Guitar, Nylon
RealDrums [in Song:ChaChaPerc^04-a:Congas, b:Sticks

But beside these instruments I used a lot of other instruments with my keyboard and in my DAW (loops).
I hope you like it,
Hans

Posted at 09:38 AM

March 15, 2022 User Showcase Song - Sigh

After a little blank, this is my first post of this year.
I often go to listen to live performances at our local jazz clubs.
One day I met a wonderful female jazz pianist at one of the clubs, which is over 10 years ago.
So I asked my collaboration with her hesitatingly.
As I received a reply with OK, we recorded some songs in a local music studio after that.
This song is one of the songs recorded at that time.
Sigh

For the convenience of the budget, only Piano part was live recorded and other parts were produced by Band-in-a-Box(MIDI).
I preserved the recordings at that time, but regrettably they were just stereo sources and the mix balances were bad, so I had not post them to the forum so far.

Recently I got the software called SpectraLayers Pro 8 from Steinberg.
The software can un-mix stereo sources into 5 tracks (Vocal, Piano, Bass, Drums, and others.)
Therefore, it is possible to fix the bad balance of the sound sources.
This time I would like to post the re-mixed version by SpectraLayers.
Any comments encouraged.

Style is J~WLZTRI.STY: Jazz Waltz Trio
Style MIDI Instruments are : Acoustic Bass (33)
MIDI Drums :41 Brushes Kit (41)
All instruments played with EastWest Goliath.
Lyrics

Posted at 09:57 AM

March 11, 2022 User Showcase Song - What Went Wrong

Pop rock tune that started as true biography then took an unpleasant turn, (much like my vocals):
What Went Wrong

BIAB Cavort style
Guitars: 1260, 2757, 631
Synth pads: 1840, 1801
Synth Drums: Dance rock
Bass: 995
Kitchen Sink: Kohler
Lyrics

Posted at 10:34 AM

March 10, 2022 User Showcase Song - This Good Ol' Boy

This is a somewhat autobiographical song. The first line used to be "I grew up on Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty and George Jones; Loretta Lynn, Don Gibson, Jim Reeves and Buck Owens." I was told that it made the song (and the ones singing it) seem old and dated, so I changed it to some more modern day icons. I sure miss that good old music though - even if that does makes me old and dated.

Thanks for all the comments on the last one folks, and have at it again.
Here 'tis -

This Good Ol' Boy

I used a Casio keyboard with a direct line to fat finger the drums in. I used my Ibanez bass and Takamine acoustic for rhythm, and then added an electric guitar rhythm using my Spirit guitar through a Boss ME-8 effects processor for the phase shifter. A BIAB rhythm mandolin gave a little added "boom chukka" and completed the rhythm tracks. I laid the vocals and then put on a BIAB harmonica, pedal steel guitar, and lead guitar. I think I recorded it all little hot and it sounds overdriven, but my hard drive broke and I lost all my individual tracks, so I think I'm stuck with this working copy (It's all I could recover of it.) So anyway, all the blame is mine except the following BIAB tracks:
Mandolin: Andy Leftwich
Harmonica: TJ Klay
Pedal Steel: Steve Hinson
Lead Guitar: Brent Mason
Lyrics

Posted at 10:57 AM

March 10, 2022 Band-in-a-Box® 2022 for Windows Updates Available!

Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2022 for Windows today, and you'll also be updating the VST DAW Plugin!

For Band-in-a-Box® 2022, this free download will update your RealDrums Picker for N/A accuracy, allow for proper display of chords after using the Melodist, add MIDI feature enhancements, apply additional updates and enhancements based on program user feedback, and adds RealTracks & RealDrums improvements and updates addressing playback, demos, and more!

For the VST DAW Plugin included with Band-in-a-Box® 2022, this update enhances the visual count-in and adds a visual indicator for it, updates preferences options, and resolves a variety of reported workflow concerns.

If you want to download or review the complete details for this free program update, visit our Support page.

Posted at 10:50 AM

March 09, 2022 User Showcase Song - Catch Me

My first contribution...

It's a song called Catch Me, written and recorded with the help of Band-in-a-Box. It's available on all streaming services, and there's a video on YouTube.

Access the song on SoundCloud
Access the streaming version
Access the YouTube video

I wrote the chords and vocal melody in BIAB and then exported the drums and bass to GarageBand, where I recorded and mixed everything else. I sing and play almost all the instruments (except the BIAB drums and bass), and my brother played the acoustic guitar and added some backing vocals.

RealTracks in style: 2608:Bass, Electric, ModernDiscoFunkAlex Ev 110
RealDrums [in Song:BluesRockSlowEv^1-a:SideStick , b:Snare

I've written two more songs with the help of BIAB ... one of these, called Go Tonight, is being released on April 4th and the other one is still in the recording phase.

I hope you like it

Regards
Steve

Posted at 01:39 PM

March 09, 2022 Band-in-a-Box® 2022 Italian for Windows is Here!

Abbiamo lavorato tanto e abbiamo aggiunto 50 nuove funzionalità e una straordinaria collezione di nuovi contenuti, tra cui 222 RealTracks(20 in più della release precedente), nuovi RealStili, SuperTracks MIDI, Studi Strumentali, Performance degli Artisti, Xtra Stili PAK 12, Nuovi "RealTracks suonabili" con suoni Hi-Q, 2 set di "piste RealDrums",e altro ancora!

Pacchetti | Nuove Caratteristiche

Posted at 01:38 PM

March 08, 2022 User Showcase Song - More Than Anything

More Than Anything

The genesis of the song was my normal process: I found a demo style I liked, changed the chord progression, exported the backing track to SynthesizerV, added a melody... and then flailed aimlessly trying to think of lyrics.

The basic style is _ANGSTY4 Demo - Angsty Youthful Pop Dream Guitar.

As a completely arbitrary rule, I don't like my songs to go over 3:30. After dialing the tempo up from 85 BPM to 90 BPM, it clocked it at 3:40. That meant no bridge, no extra verses, and probably no doubled chorus.

I'm using the "Kevin" vocal here, which helped set the narrator POV and character. I'd recently listened to one of Noel's songs, and was again struck by the utter sincerity and sentimentality of his lyrics. More...

Lyrics

Instruments
~701:Bass, Electric, PopHalfNotesSync Ev 085
2650:Guitar, Electric, Background DreamyPopBalladFillsBrent Ev 085
839:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopBalladClean Ev 085 (A:arp)
840:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopBalladClean Ev 085 (B:strum)
840:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopBalladClean Ev 085 (B:strum) (Held)
Drums: Addictive Drums 2 (Fairfax Vol. 2, Repetition (replaced snare with Ludwig Black Beauty)
Lead Vocal: Synthesizer V - Kevin
Background Vocal: Synthesizer V - Kevin, Ryo AI
Electric Piano: The Famous E

Effects Chain
Main Buss: Greg Wells MixCentric (Fairydust)
Lead Vocal: Greg Wells Vocal (Lead Vocal), LX480 Essentials (Joe C Vocal Warm Ballad)
Harmony Vocals: Greg Wells Vocal (Backing Vocals), LX480 Essentials (960 Vocal Plate)
Bass: Schepps Omni Channel (Bass DI), ReaEQ (mid cut)
Drums: Trackspacer 2, Sunset Sound Studio (Live Room, Studio 3), ReaEQ (high pass)
Guitar Buss: Vulf Compressor
Guitar 1: NastyDLAmkII

Posted at 11:13 AM

March 07, 2022 Band-in-a-Box® 2022 French for Windows is Here!

Band-in-a-Box® 2022 pour Windows® c'est 50 fonctions nouvelles et une collection inédite de 222 RealTracks (soit : 20 de plus que dans les versions précédentes), de RealStyles originaux, de SuperTracks MIDI, d'études d'instruments, de prestations d'artistes, un pack Xtra Styles (PAK 12), de nouvelles "RealTracks Jouables" Hi-Q, deux sets de "RealDrums Stems" et plus encore !

Achat | Nouvelles Fonctionnalités

Posted at 09:49 AM

March 07, 2022 User Showcase Song - Face Fade Café

This is an experimental jazz track.

Face Fade Café

The title comes from the chord progression or, more accurately, the chord progression is derived from the title.

F-A-C-E-
F-A-D-E-
C-A-F-E

BIAB Style: CAPRI.STY

3476:Bass, Acoustic, JazzBluesNeilAB Sw 140 (Reverb 40)
Real Drums+JazzBrushes (Reverb 40)
3480:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm JazzBluesCompOlly SW 140 (Reverb 40)
3482:Sax, Alto, Soloist JazzBluesPJ Sw 140 (Reverb 60)

Added 455:Piano, Acoustic, Soloist Jazz Sw 140 (Bluesy) (Reverb 60)

A mere one minute and twelve seconds, this track is short (it is rumored that faces fade fast in this particular café).

Posted at 09:42 AM

March 04, 2022 User Showcase Song - Be My Valentine

Be My Valentine

We usually keep our songs simple, chord wise. However, this one shifts and modulates a little bit and it took some work to get the vocals right. Particularly in the chorus section, since the pre-chorus had a tendency to 'lead' me in the wrong direction eek .

I built the basis mostly around the 1305 CelticReel Rhythm Guitar and then added more real tracks (trial and error!).

This song had been on the shelf for quite a while. We decided to give it the "RnAM treat" with layered vocals and additional real tracks and percussion.

Anne-Marie created the video.

We hope you all like! Feel free to leave your comments!

-Rob

Song specifics:
Style is _WESTGTR.STY (Spirited Country Strumming)
RealTracks in song: 379:Bass, Electric, Country DoubleTime Ev 088
RealTracks in song: 2778:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm TrainBeatMike12-key Ev16 090
RealTracks in song: 378:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming DoubleTime Ev 088
RealTracks in song: 1305:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm CelticReel Ev16 110 (Drones only)
RealTracks in song: ~2200:Guitar, Nylon, Background CountryBrent Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 2667:Pedal Steel, Background DreamySingleNote Ev 075
RealTracks in song: 2508:String Quartet, Rhythm PopEvenHall Ev 120
1946: Mandolin, RhythmModernCountrySyncEv16 100
RealDrums [in Song:CountryEven16: a: Brushes b: Snare, HiHat
RealDrums [in Song:CongasEv16[single]: a: Congas b: CongasEv16[single]
RealDrums [in Song:AfucheShakerEv16[single]: a: Shaker b: AfucheShakerEv16[single]

Posted at 09:48 AM

March 03, 2022 User Showcase Song - Lady of the Moon

All BIAB except the lead guitars and vocals. Based on 1 chord. I took the idea from la grange by ZZ top and the old bluesman, so I did the leads with my '67 Epiphone Casino and my '96 Dobro in honour of them
Hope you like it.

Lady of the Moon (Night Witch)

BIAB details:
Key=G , Tempo 140, Length (m:s)=8:08
No intro. 94 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 94. Repeat x3 choruses
No Melody
No Soloist track.
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Style is _BOOGIE1.STY (Texas Boogie 2 Guitars)

RealTracks in style: 386:Bass, Electric, Blues Chuck Sw 102
RealTracks in style: 651:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm TexasBoogie Sw 140
RealTracks in song: 1170:Guitar, Electric, Soloist RockMediumBrent Ev 120 (Bluesy)
RealTracks in song: 424:Harmonica, Soloist Blues Sw 120
Loop in Song: Drums\NewOrleansSwinginPop^01-FnkS,FH
RealDrums [in style:NashvilleShuffle^01-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

Posted at 08:23 AM

March 02, 2022 User Showcase Song - Welcome Back

This is one of the songs that I'll be putting on what is probably my final CD before I take a long break. I produced it before but I thought I wanted more orchestration in the arrangement. It'll just be a filler track but I loved the arrangement I came up with and the Lyrics I wrote. The style had brushes but I added more drums and a Loop to get this shuffle backbeat. Hope you like this laid back 90's style RnB track.

Welcome Back

Style: Lounge.STY Lounge Cool Jazz w/Brushes

Drums: Real Jazz Smooth Cool Brushes
Drums: Real Jazz Snare, HH, Ride
Loop: Hip Hop Old School
Bass: Acoustic Bass
Piano 1: Acoustic, Rhythm 70s
Piano 2: Electric Rhythm, Smooth Cool
Synth Pad: Pop Modern Groove
Guitar 1: Electric Rhythm Smooth Jazz Cool
Guitar 2: Electric Rhythm Soul 70s
Strings: Rhythm Jazz Ballad Pads
Vocal Oohs: Background on the change only and not the Hook
Additional Background Vocals (HOOK and Adlibs) all performed by myself.

Equipment: The usual, FocusRite Interface, Shure PG-42, iZotope Nectar, Sonar and Sonar Production Suite (Comp, EQ, Reverb, Noise Gate, Antares Vocal Processor Suite.

Posted at 11:34 AM

March 01, 2022 User Showcase Song - I Remember Those Days

I rarely step outside of the gospel music genre and if I do it's usually a song about family...this is one of those songs I wrote for "Cousinfest" which is a bi-annual family reunion we hold in Kentucky near our ancestral homeplace...it's country (of coarse) and pretty simple...it's some thoughts I have about my many (127) first cousins...it's a sentimental journey for me...maybe for you too (stranger things have happened!)

I Remember Those Days

BiaB components:
2609 Electric Bass
852 Electric Guitar Rhythm Nashville Pop Clean
3149 Mandola Background Americana Folk
3147 Mandola Rhythm Americana Folk
Real Drums Nashville Even 8's

Posted at 10:51 AM