Which one two buy?

Jeff Shaw · Post by **Jeff Shaw** » 29 Apr 2011 8:40 pm

So kinda new to things here, sounds like I need a BIAB. Question is which package to buy? Surely I don't need the most expensive one but will the pro pak work? I'm sure its basic but is it adequate?

Robert Tripp · Post by **Robert Tripp** » 30 Apr 2011 5:59 am

Hi Jeff,

I'm a long time BIAB user hopefully I can be of some help. Everything depends upon what your ultimate goal is. You can start small with the pro pak and upgrade over time. Doing this will extend the learning curve to some degree. altough basic operations are the same there will be some components that you will grow into that will cost more and of course give you more tools to work with.

If you want to record yourself playing along with tracks you create you will need an interface of some kind for any live instruments or mic. Depending on quality of sound you will need either a decent sound card for midi or you will need to explore realtracks.

Most people who are long time users of BIAB have found realtracks to be the best way to go for sound quality.

You may want to get Rick Campbell's DVD tutorial on BIAB to see its capabilities and what you want to accomplish with it. Your previouss experience with audio or midi recording will be a factor for you as well. BIAB is a great tool, and although I have several DAWs and other software, I use BIAB and Real Band almost exclusivly. Check out my other posts for backing tracks etc to get an idea.

Check your email.

Rob

Jeff Shaw · Post by **Jeff Shaw** » 1 May 2011 12:06 pm

I'm really wanting something to practice along with. I play to Itunes and various albums, but it would be extract the steel track or exclude it all together, and things like that.

Robert Tripp · Post by **Robert Tripp** » 1 May 2011 7:58 pm

BIAB can play audio files, but I'm sure you are aware that it could not be used to extract the steel parts etc. Just wanted to make sure you know that.

It can use the audio wizard to make a chord chart for a BIAB file that can approximate the song then you could play along without the steel or other parts.

Rob

Larry Haas · Post by **Larry Haas** » 4 May 2011 4:06 pm

It can use the audio wizard to make a chord chart for a BIAB file that can approximate the song then you could play along without the steel or other parts.

Rob[/quote]

Hi Robert
I have a similar question. What you are saying here is, I can record a song from a CD that I want to work on and it will chart out the chords of the song being played. Then I can make a new rendition using the chart to go by and make my version of it?????
I am wanting to just make backing tracks for my steel. I want to use these just for my purpose of practicing a new song and possible use of playing at a few nursing homes. My mother was in one for 5 years until she died and I know they have very little entertainment to look forward to.
Kinda got off the question.
If me and another friend/musician bought the basic 2011 version, could we swap files and work on each others file? Would we have to have the same add-on set or could I use his add-on on mine. I guess what I am asking could we swap disc and use each others additional tracks, or are they protected so we couldn't?
Little confusing to put in words what I am thinking we can do.

Thanks
Larry

Robert Tripp · Post by **Robert Tripp** » 4 May 2011 4:58 pm

Hi Larry,

Yes the chord wizard will read an audio file and give you a close approximation of the chords in a song. You can then choose a style and generate a basic rhythm track.

If you save the song to a BIAB song format MGU, SGU etc, they can be played by any other person on their BIAB assuming similar versions. If you make the file with realtrack, and your friend does not have realtracks then he will not hear it the same way or may have to use a different style.

PG music may have an issue with two people swapping realtracks etc. You'd have to check with them on that issue.

Rob

Larry Haas · Post by **Larry Haas** » 4 May 2011 5:14 pm

Robert Tripp wrote:Hi Larry,

Yes the chord wizard will read an audio file and give you a close approximation of the chords in a song. You can then choose a style and generate a basic rhythm track.

If you save the song to a BIAB song format MGU, SGU etc, they can be played by any other person on their BIAB assuming similar versions. If you make the file with realtrack, and your friend does not have realtracks then he will not hear it the same way or may have to use a different style.

PG music may have an issue with two people swapping realtracks etc. You'd have to check with them on that issue.

Rob

Thanks Rob
I am sure my friend and I would buy the same 2011 and same realtracks so I don't see any problem except learning how to use it

Thanks for the info.
Larry

Roger Kelly · Post by **Roger Kelly** » 4 May 2011 5:38 pm

Larry, to do what you want...make some basic rhythm tracks to play with...all you would need is the basic 2011 BIAB.

In a nutshell you can make a suitable rhythm track with BIAB of most any tune you can hum. That is how I do most of my tracks. Once you decide the type style, number of Bars and the Tempo to fit your tune just put the chords or numbers in the appropiate box and tweek it until you have the tune like you want it. You can then save the BIAB tune as a mp3 or wav file and then you can put it on a CD or on your ipod or where ever.

There is a learning curve using BIAB but if you will get Rick Campbell's BIAB DVD it will allow you to get started making rhythm tracks pretty quick. It took me about 2 or 3 days experimenting until I finally got the hang of it. Mileage will vary.

Also, there are hundred's of rhythm tracks that have already been made by Forum members on here that you can use to see how they made their track. You can also alter any BIAB .sgu or .mgu track to fit your need in terms of tempo, key, and style.

You can also buy Ray Price Shuffles for BIAB from b0b here on the Forum that is good to have in your styles Selection.

So, get started and before long you will be posting your own tunes playing with BIAB generated tracks you made.

Hope this answers your question. There are many more people on here who know more about using BIAB than me that will be glad to help you get started with BIAB...good luck!

FWIW, here is the first BIAB rhythm track I ever made after using Rick Campbell's DVD instruction. I was able to put in some stops and a chord modulation without any trouble....I set the Tempo for 100 BPM and used a stock BIAB style, of which there are many that come with it. Once you make the track you are free to make alterations as to tempo, key, style, intro, outro, etc..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1OpMUYmlnk

Larry Haas · Post by **Larry Haas** » 4 May 2011 10:11 pm

Roger Kelly wrote:Larry, to do what you want...make some basic rhythm tracks to play with...all you would need is the basic 2011 BIAB.

In a nutshell you can make a suitable rhythm track with BIAB of most any tune you can hum. That is how I do most of my tracks. Once you decide the type style, number of Bars and the Tempo to fit your tune just put the chords or numbers in the appropiate box and tweek it until you have the tune like you want it. You can then save the BIAB tune as a mp3 or wav file and then you can put it on a CD or on your ipod or where ever.

There is a learning curve using BIAB but if you will get Rick Campbell's BIAB DVD it will allow you to get started making rhythm tracks pretty quick. It took me about 2 or 3 days experimenting until I finally got the hang of it. Mileage will vary.

Also, there are hundred's of rhythm tracks that have already been made by Forum members on here that you can use to see how they made their track. You can also alter any BIAB .sgu or .mgu track to fit your need in terms of tempo, key, and style.

You can also buy Ray Price Shuffles for BIAB from b0b here on the Forum that is good to have in your styles Selection.

So, get started and before long you will be posting your own tunes playing with BIAB generated tracks you made.

Hope this answers your question. There are many more people on here who know more about using BIAB than me that will be glad to help you get started with BIAB...good luck!

FWIW, here is the first BIAB rhythm track I ever made after using Rick Campbell's DVD instruction. I was able to put in some stops and a chord modulation without any trouble....I set the Tempo for 100 BPM and used a stock BIAB style, of which there are many that come with it. Once you make the track you are free to make alterations as to tempo, key, style, intro, outro, etc..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1OpMUYmlnk

Roger Thanks, you answered pretty much every question I had in my mind that was on it about BIAB. Lots of cobwebs though

Your playing was very good on the youtube. I noticed you did some bar slants on the pedal steel that I don't notice much on others. Looked and sounded good IMHO.
Thanks again
Larry

Roger Kelly · Post by **Roger Kelly** » 5 May 2011 3:18 am

Thanks for your nice comment Larry, glad I was able to help answer your questions about BIAB.

One more thing you might keep in mind is that there are rhythm tracks available on the Forum here that are made with live studio musicians that you can buy for less than $1.00 per track.

I will buy those tracks first, if I find that they are in the style and key that I am looking for.

Bobbe Seymour, Herby Wallace, Jeff Newman, John Hughey, Herb Steiner, Billy Phelps, Jim Loessberg only to name a few....all have great rhythm tracks.

The reason behind that is...why spend all day or sometimes longer trying to make a rhythm track you can buy for $1.00 or less? I limit my BIAB rhythm tracks to those tunes that I want to play along with that I cannot buy.

To give you an example of what I mean, I bought some rhythm tracks from Jim Loessberg sometime back because he had a track of "Jonesy" on his "Sawed-off Shot Gun" CD that I wanted to play along with. Using Sony Sound Forge Audio Studio I was able to alter the speed, length of the Guitar break and cut the total length of the track down to suit me since it was quite long. After I made those changes I made a video with the track. I used Windows Movie Maker to edit the video before posting it on youtube. Here is the result of that effort.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRj4Yvx1UkM

What I am saying is if I can buy a track I want already made, or I can suitably alter, I won't spend the time it takes making a BIAB track.
How I do it may not necessarily work for you but is another option you can consider.

Larry Haas · Post by **Larry Haas** » 5 May 2011 5:09 am

Roger, that was very good. You have helped me a lot on what I need to get and do. I think my friend and I will get the middle priced one. I don't know what he is using for a computer. I think my soundcard is ok since I use it for Reaper. I hope BIAB is not as complicated as Reaper. I downloaded and printed their instruction book and it took me a whole day to print and install in 2 notebooks. I'll order the DVD from Rick Campbell and see if I can move the cobwebs out of my head. Sounds like it is going to be a lot of fun playing around with this program.

Thanks
Larry

Larry Haas · Post by **Larry Haas** » 17 Jun 2011 1:03 am

Well, I ordered the hard drive version of 2011 and it should be here today on UPS.

Looks like maybe a long, late night weekend coming up. I think I had better clean up and rearrange my music room today. I am just like a kid at Christmas time when I get something new to play with.

Larry

Roger Kelly · Post by **Roger Kelly** » 17 Jun 2011 6:29 am

Larry, here is a web site that has a LOT of good BIAB info. When you get Rick's DVD and begin to get the idea of how to make your tracks, go over and look at what George Wixon has to say about using BIAB. Both are good resources for reference. Good Luck.

http://gwixon.com/index.html

Robert Tripp · Post by **Robert Tripp** » 18 Jun 2011 6:04 am

Congrats on your new BIAB larry, let us know how it's working out.

Rob

Larry Haas · Post by **Larry Haas** » 18 Jun 2011 6:50 am

Robert Tripp wrote:Congrats on your new BIAB larry, let us know how it's working out.

Rob

Hey Rob
Man this program is something else. It takes some smart people to put together a program like this one. I installed it on my main music room computer and by the end of the day I was able to play and record with the steel to a song I got off the forum. The song was created real good. My playing sucked. I only get to practice with the group I play with about once a month. They live 1 1/2 hour drive from me and being retired, gas is on the top of the list for expenses. When one of the band members gets his BIAB, we are going to exchange songs by e-mail and work on arranging that way. So far I am very excited with it but have a lot to learn on how to use it. I have a little experience with Reaper so I am a little familiar with the process. The manual that came with it is good but I do think I need to order the CD from Rick Campbell to get me started on making my own backing tracks. I have usually most of the day to play with it during the week. Except when Gunsmoke comes on. That is nap time for me.

$:\$ I hope to contribute some stuff to the forum in the near future with this.
Thanks for thinking and responding on this to me.
I'll keep everyone posted on how it is going.

Thanks a bunch and hope you have a good Fathers Day.

Larry

Robert Tripp · Post by **Robert Tripp** » 18 Jun 2011 7:57 am

Glad you are enjoying BIAB Larry, it opens up a whole new world of home recording. It came with Real Band which can be used as a DAW like Reaper. I find it to be perfect with BIAB. I ususally start in BIAB and once I have the basic arrangement, I open the BIAB file in Real Band and do the final mix there as well as edit any midi or audio things that I want to change, and then that is where I add any live instruments such as vocals or guitar etc.

have fun

Rob