I know all about the Part markers. Part 1a is straight and part 1b the bass starts to walk etc. etc.
And usually this happens on the second run through the changes.
Well I want to mix the bass line so that the first two bars the bass plays on beat 1 and 3 and then the third bar the bass starts to walk (one note per beat) for two bars, etc. I just tried to insert part markers in 1st bar and the 3rd bar.
Besides breaking up the screen into a nasty look (first two bars on their own line, third bar starts a new line) the Part marker 1b did NOT have the bass start walking!
Is there an easy way to accomplish this in BIAB? Bass walks exactly where I want it to walk and then plays half notes the rest of the time?
Further to this question... Is there also an easy way (without copying all the chords again at the end) to let BIAB know that after the 1st/2nd repeat is played the bass should start walking for the rest of the song?
A BIAB user for more than 30 years (if you can believe it) !
One way to do what you want would be to have two tracks of bass. For one track, generate the entire song in Part A style.Then change all the Part Markers to Part B style and generate the second bass track. You could then use Bar Settings to have two bars of the first track play (while the second track is muted) followed the two bars of the second track playing (while the first track is muted). This could also be accomplished with volume automation if you have a latter version of BIAB.
It would also be possible to use partial regeneration. Firstly, generate the bass track entirely as Part A style (simple style). Now set the part markers to Part B style (walking bass). On the chord sheet, select bars 3 and 4 and partially generate the bass for those two bars. You can keep regenerating until you achieve a pattern that you like. Then move to bars 7 and 8, select those and regenerate those bars. Repeat the process until you have finished. Using regeneration will automatically freeze the track to protect your bass line so don't unfreeze it as you could lose all your hard work.
I can't think of a quick way to accomplish what you want.
One way to do what you want would be to have two tracks of bass. For one track, generate the entire song in Part A style.Then change all the Part Markers to Part B style and generate the second bass track. You could then use Bar Settings to have two bars of the first track play (while the second track is muted) followed the two bars of the second track playing (while the first track is muted). This could also be accomplished with volume automation if you have a latter version of BIAB.
It would also be possible to use partial regeneration. Firstly, generate the bass track entirely as Part A style (simple style). Now set the part markers to Part B style (walking bass). On the chord sheet, select bars 3 and 4 and partially generate the bass for those two bars. You can keep regenerating until you achieve a pattern that you like. Then move to bars 7 and 8, select those and regenerate those bars. Repeat the process until you have finished. Using regeneration will automatically freeze the track to protect your bass line so don't unfreeze it as you could lose all your hard work.
Regards, --Noel
Cool Noel! These are some really good suggestions. Yes, it's not particularly easy but it might just get the effect I am looking for. I'll try it out tomorrow and let you know how things turn out.
A BIAB user for more than 30 years (if you can believe it) !
One way to do what you want would be to have two tracks of bass. For one track, generate the entire song in Part A style.Then change all the Part Markers to Part B style and generate the second bass track. You could then use Bar Settings to have two bars of the first track play (while the second track is muted) followed the two bars of the second track playing (while the first track is muted). This could also be accomplished with volume automation if you have a latter version of BIAB.
Thanks Noel. I got your first suggestion to work just now. But there are still some problems.
On the second repeat, Bass 1 starts to walk (like it's playing a 1b part) !
How can I tell BIAB to do exactly the same for the second repeat (with the bass parts)?
Also, after the above is fixed, and the first two repeats are played, I need to run through the chorus 5 times (with repeats) with the walking bass playing throughout.
I hate copying 100's of bars, so I'd prefer to have a solution where I just see the first and second repeat on screen (like right now).
A BIAB user for more than 30 years (if you can believe it) !
By default, BIAB will automatically play the middle chorus of multiple choruses using the B-style. To turn this off...
1) Right-click on the chordsheet. 2) Select Song Settings. (CTRL+N is the shortcut) 3) Disable "Vary style in middle choruses" (in BIAB 2024, this is the top item in the left column) 4) The song will need regenerating for the change to take effect.
By default, BIAB will automatically play the middle chorus of multiple choruses using the B-style. To turn this off...
1) Right-click on the chordsheet. 2) Select Song Settings. (CTRL+N is the shortcut) 3) Disable "Vary style in middle choruses" (in BIAB 2024, this is the top item in the left column) 4) The song will need regenerating for the change to take effect.
Regards, --Noel
Thanks Noel. I turned off Using B-Style for middle chorus as you suggested. And then regenerated (which required unfreezing my cherished tracks). And wouldn't you know it all the hard work I had done getting the chords to sound right and the two bass parts sharing turns was LOST.
A BIAB user for more than 30 years (if you can believe it) !
One way to do what you want would be to have two tracks of bass. For one track, generate the entire song in Part A style.Then change all the Part Markers to Part B style and generate the second bass track. You could then use Bar Settings to have two bars of the first track play (while the second track is muted) followed the two bars of the second track playing (while the first track is muted). This could also be accomplished with volume automation if you have a latter version of BIAB.
It would also be possible to use partial regeneration. Firstly, generate the bass track entirely as Part A style (simple style). Now set the part markers to Part B style (walking bass). On the chord sheet, select bars 3 and 4 and partially generate the bass for those two bars. You can keep regenerating until you achieve a pattern that you like. Then move to bars 7 and 8, select those and regenerate those bars. Repeat the process until you have finished. Using regeneration will automatically freeze the track to protect your bass line so don't unfreeze it as you could lose all your hard work.
I can't think of a quick way to accomplish what you want.
Regards, --Noel
Noel I am now using your second suggested method from above. It's much easier to implement than the first.
Overall it's working nicely but I am having a few problems with it. The song has a repeat section (1, 2). The first pass is fine. I was able to insert the walking bass exactly where I wanted to by selecting the bars and then hitting Ctrl-F8.
On the second pass (repeat 2) I would also like to have the bass walk at certain bars (same as the first actually). It's not doing it automatically, so I tried to add them just as I did for the first pass. But now comes the problem...
When I select the bars I want the bass to walk in, and hit Ctrl-F8, I get this message: "There is no Real Tracks on this Track. Would you like to select one?" Yes / No / Cancel
Next steps?
A BIAB user for more than 30 years (if you can believe it) !
The repeat sections that you mention are designed for use with fakesheets. In other words, they are for music notation and not performance. For this reason, when BIAB does the repeat, the material that was generated for used in the "first time through" is not repeated. If you want it to repeat, you need to use Audio Edit and copy the first-time-through bars and then paste them into the repeat section. This is another reason for strongly encouraging you to use a linear layout without repeats an multiple choruses.
Here are a couple of ways that you can create what you need.
[A] Expanding the view so you can work on the second-time-through bars. 1) Go to BIAB's standard view. (CTRL+T is the toggle to go between full-screen and standard views). 2) Click on "Fakesheet" (#1 on the image below). 3) Remove the check against "Display chordsheet in fakesheet mode". (#2). 4) Click on the "Bass" track to give it the focus. The message you received about "no realtracks on this track" is because the focus was on a different track (probably the Melody track).
When you uncheck this, you will see all your repeat chords. BIAB lays out the chordsheet in the same linear fashion that it plays it. The repeated sections will be grayed out. Like before, you can work on these grayed out bars using Multiriff (F8) to partially regenerate and change the bass to how you want it. When you have finished, activate option #2 again and the chordsheet will return to a fakesheet mode of display.
[B] Using Audio Edit 1) Again switch to Standard View using CTRL+T (my images are in this mode), 2) Select "Audio Edit" (#1 on the image below). 3) Select "Snap" so that the mouse cursor will snap to the bar lines. 4) Select the Bass track (#2 on the image below)
.
5) Position the mouse at the bar you want to start the regeneration and drag the mouse across the bars that you want to regenerate (#3 on the image below). 6) Select the "Edit" (#4) and then choose the "Regenerate" options (#5, #6.
You can also use this edit menu to copy bars from the early part of the bass track where you have already done the bass and paste the copied bars and the new location.
Besides breaking up the screen into a nasty look (first two bars on their own line, third bar starts a new line) the Part marker 1b did NOT have the bass start walking!
Open Display Settings and uncheck the new line for every section box will eliminate that nasty look of splitting the chart into new lines.
In order to split a 4 bar measure between 1,3 and 3,4 - use bar settings to split bars into 2 bar measures and then bar settings to return the chord sheet back into 4 bar measures.
Last edited by Charlie Fogle; 06/10/2405:25 AM. Reason: Image added
Besides breaking up the screen into a nasty look (first two bars on their own line, third bar starts a new line) the Part marker 1b did NOT have the bass start walking!
Open Display Settings and uncheck the new line for every section box will eliminate that nasty look of splitting the chart into new lines.
In order to split a 4 bar measure between 1,3 and 3,4 - use bar settings to split bars into 2 bar measures and then bar settings to return the chord sheet back into 4 bar measures.
Thanks Charlie. 👍
A BIAB user for more than 30 years (if you can believe it) !
Here are a couple of ways that you can create what you need.
[A] Expanding the view so you can work on the second-time-through bars. 1) Go to BIAB's standard view. (CTRL+T is the toggle to go between full-screen and standard views). 2) Click on "Fakesheet" (#1 on the image below). 3) Remove the check against "Display chordsheet in fakesheet mode". (#2). 4) Click on the "Bass" track to give it the focus. The message you received about "no realtracks on this track" is because the focus was on a different track (probably the Melody track).
When you uncheck this, you will see all your repeat chords. BIAB lays out the chordsheet in the same linear fashion that it plays it. The repeated sections will be grayed out. Like before, you can work on these grayed out bars using Multiriff (F8) to partially regenerate and change the bass to how you want it. When you have finished, activate option #2 again and the chordsheet will return to a fakesheet mode of display.
[B] Using Audio Edit .... Hope this helps, --Noel
Thanks again for helping Noel. I really appreciate it! I used your first method and it worked out quite well. I regenerated a few times until I got something I liked.
A BIAB user for more than 30 years (if you can believe it) !
Thanks again for helping Noel. I really appreciate it! I used your first method and it worked out quite well. I regenerated a few times until I got something I liked.
Well I'm back again with a new set of problems. Sorry I had to re-open this thread. Wouldn't you know it?
I learned the method you suggested for getting the bass to play 1a and then walk for 1b.
Next my mission was to get a better style. I was using _JAZVIBE but the vibes weren't holding long chords, so I switched to _SMALLHR.. Not ideal, but better than _JAZVIBE. BUT... the drums with this style were sticks and I needed brushes.
So I started to substitute the drum track with another one. I tried a bunch, many were too busy. I finally found a decent one, but what a shock when it loaded! The drums took up 14 tracks!!! I kid you not. Never saw that before. All I wanted/needed were simple brushes on the snare drum. Anyway it sounded decent, for the most part. It did try to show off for a few bars but on the whole it kept fairly unobtrusive.
So first I tried to simply play the song, but of course the new drums weren't there yet. So I re-generated. The drums were there but the walking bass was gone.
OK. No sweat. I kept my notes on how to get 1a and then a walking bass on 1b (your method). Slight problem. When I selected the bass part for the 1b section and then hit Ctrl-F8, there was NO WALKING BASS. Bummer. Is it possible that the bass track that comes with _SMALLHR. has no walking bass for the 1b section?
If so I am going to have to come up with a Frankenstein style _SMALLHR. Use the Vibes from _SMALLHR, bring in the brushes from another patch and bring in a decent bass from yet another patch/style.
Is there another way to do this? Recapping the vibes are decent now, drums ok, but the bass isn't walking in 1b.
One more thing just to muddy the water some more. I just went back to my _JAZVIBE style song that has all OK except for the choppy Vibe part. So I thought of replacing the Vibe track with the Vibe track from _SMALLHR. Wouldn't you know they BOTH use the same vibes: 1217: Vibes, Rhythm Jazz Sw 110. Go figure!
A BIAB user for more than 30 years (if you can believe it) !
I've have a play around and this bass does not seem to have a walking bass variation. In the notes for this Realtrack (#2126), it says the following...
Quote
Bass, Acoustic, Jazz Half,Half Sw 110 Acoutic Bass RealTrack with only half notes playing throughout. There are some eighth notes played before the half notes on occasion. The acoustic bass has a classic warm sound.
Tempo Range: 95 - 140 bpm
Realtrack 2125 will do the job for you so if you replace the current bass (#2126) you have with #2125 and regenerate the song, you will get what you want. RT2125 is part of the same family of sounds as RT2126.
Quote
Bass, Acoustic, Jazz Half,Quarter Sw 110 Warm acoustic bass playing in a medium slow swing style consisting of an A and B substyles. The A section has mainly half notes with some eighth note pickups played before beat 1 or 3. The B section plays a walking bass part for a busier sound.
I've have a play around and this bass does not seem to have a walking bass variation. In the notes for this Realtrack (#2126), it says the following...
Quote
Bass, Acoustic, Jazz Half,Half Sw 110 Acoutic Bass RealTrack with only half notes playing throughout. There are some eighth notes played before the half notes on occasion. The acoustic bass has a classic warm sound.
Tempo Range: 95 - 140 bpm
Realtrack 2125 will do the job for you so if you replace the current bass (#2126) you have with #2125 and regenerate the song, you will get what you want. RT2125 is part of the same family of sounds as RT2126.
Quote
Bass, Acoustic, Jazz Half,Quarter Sw 110 Warm acoustic bass playing in a medium slow swing style consisting of an A and B substyles. The A section has mainly half notes with some eighth note pickups played before beat 1 or 3. The B section plays a walking bass part for a busier sound.
Tempo Range: 95 - 140 bpm
Thanks Noel I'll give that RealTrack a shot. In the meantime I thought of another solution. I hadn't thought of doing the Ctrl-F8 trick on the Vibes for the problem bars. I messed around with that a bit and found a few 'less choppy' vibe parts.
So I can always fall back on this solution if all else fails.
OK so I just tried out 2125 and yes it does walk, but prematurely! I have a repeat section where it isn't supposed to walk except for the special bars we worked on (Ctrl-F8). It's walking the entire repeat!
So I'll just bite the bullet and use the version where I Ctrl-F8 for the Vibes.
A BIAB user for more than 30 years (if you can believe it) !
Thanks Noel I'll give that RealTrack a shot. In the meantime I thought of another solution. I hadn't thought of doing the Ctrl-F8 trick on the Vibes for the problem bars. I messed around with that a bit and found a few 'less choppy' vibe parts.
So I can always fall back on this solution if all else fails. smile
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows® Today!
If you’ve already purchased Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®, great news—a new update is now available! This update introduces a handy new feature: a vertical cursor in the Tracks window that shows the current location across all tracks, and more.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Boot Camp: The AI Lyrics Generator
With Band-in-a-Box 2025® for Windows®, we've introduced an exciting new feature: the AI Lyrics Generator! In this video, Tobin guides you step-by-step on how to make the most of this new tool.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Boot Camp: The AI Lyrics Generator video.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Using VST3 Plugins
Band-in-a-Box 2025® for Windows® now includes support for VST3 plugins, bringing even more creative possibilities to your music production. Join Simon as he guides you through the process in this easy-to-follow demonstration!
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Using VST3 Plugins
Video: Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Windows: Using The BB Stem Splitter!
In this video, Tobin provides a crash course on using the new BB Stem Splitter feature included in Band-in-a-Box 2025® for Windows®. During this process he also uses the Audio Chord Wizard (ACW) and the new Equalize Tempo feature.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Using the BB Stem Splitter
Check out the forum post for some optional Tips & Tricks!
Congrats to Misha (Rustyspoon)…downloaded/installed a full Audiophile 2025!
Breaking News!
We’re thrilled to announce that Rustyspoon has made PG history as the very first person to successfully complete the download and install of the full Band-in-a-Box 2025 Windows Audiophile Edition (with FLAC files)—a whopping 610GB of data!
A big shoutout to Rustyspoon for stepping up to be our test "elf!"
With the launch of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows, we're adding new videos to our YouTube channel. We'll also share them here once they are published so you can easily find all the Band-in-a-Box® 2025 and new Add-on videos in one place!
Whether it's a summary of the new features, demonstrations of the 202 new RealTracks, new XPro Styles PAK 8, or Xtra Styles PAKs 18, information on the 2025 49-PAK, or detailed tutorials for other Band-in-a-Box® 2025 features, we have you covered!
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows is here, packed with major new features and an incredible collection of available new content! This includes 202 RealTracks (in Sets 449-467), plus 20 bonus Unreleased RealTracks in the 2025 49-PAK. There are new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 4, two new sets of “RealDrums Stems,” XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAK 19, and more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 with savings of up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special—available until December 31, 2024! Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
2025 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
We've packed our Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK with some incredible Add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is automatically included with most Band-in-a-Box® for Windows 2025 packages, but for even more Add-ons (including 20 Unreleased RealTracks!) upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49. You can see the full lists of items in each package, and listen to demos here.
If you have any questions, feel free to connect with us directly—we’re here to help!
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.