Music Software ?

Jim Landers · Post by **Jim Landers** » 9 Jul 2001 8:07 pm

I was just wondering if there are any computer programs available that will let you put together your own back-up band?

What I am looking for is a program that will for example, let you pick a rhythm guitar, and then select a style and tempo. Then add a drummer, and maybe an accoustic base, etc.

I have BIAB, and I can come up with some pretty decent sounding back-up tracks, but I am looking for something that will give you a little more freedom and choice, and does not require programing.

In other words a program that will let you add each instrument you choose individually, and also give you a lot of options as to the selection of styles for each instrument. Any recomendations? Thanks.

Jim

Everett Cox · Post by **Everett Cox** » 9 Jul 2001 8:27 pm

Jim-- I'm certainly NOT an expert with BIAB but thought it, and/or the PowerTracks module I got with it, did just what you're asking. You can use the included styles and adjust the instrument selection, relative volumes, pitch, tempo, etc with little effort. Once modified, the style may then be saved under a name of your choice. Of course, you can also start from 'scratch' and create a style completely on your own.

You may or may not like the various instrument emulations but that is more a function of the synth that BIAB and might apply to other 'music' software, as well.

Haven't seen any posts from our resident guro for awhile but, describe more specifically what you need BIAB to do, and maybe we can find a simple method to do it.
--Everett

Jim Landers · Post by **Jim Landers** » 9 Jul 2001 10:29 pm

Everett, you may very well be right when you say BIAB can do this, but if it does I have'nt figured out how to do it yet.

The best I have been able to do so far with BIAB is to take one of the styles and combos that they offer, and then start muting the instruments that I don't want. By doing this I have come up with some good sounding tracks, but it seems to me to be going about it bass ackwards.

There is a feature on BIAB that I found where you can type in the chord and then one two or three dots followed by the first letters of the instruments you want playing in that measure. The amount of dots you put after the chord determines how many beats are played on. An example would be Eb7...bdg. When that measure is played the bass, drum, and guitar will all sound on the first beat only.

In fact it is that feature that got me thinking how nice it would be to be able to pick and build the combo of your choice for each different tune. If that can be done with BIAB I'd sure like to be told how to do it. So far I have'nt seen anything in the help files that explains it. That don't mean it's not there, it just means I have'nt found if it is.

Jim

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 10 Jul 2001 2:43 am

BIAB will probably do everything you want to do. Just figure it out. It's so versitile that it's "complicated". There's so many options that I don't even think PG music knows what all it can do.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 10 Jul 2001 6:09 am

Jim,
For starters, look up near the upper left of your screen and you'll see a little white box labeled "Instrument". Notice the little radio buttons above it, labeled: Bass, Piano, Drums, Guitar, etc. As you click on each of those, the name of the instrument in the Instrument box changes. Now notice that the Instrument box has a drop-down menu. Click on the down-arrow and you can change the type of bass, piano, guitar, etc. that is used on that song. Once you've picked sounds you like for each instrument, click on File: Save Song with Patches and Harmony, and click on the button for "Fill with Patches". Then click SAVE. Now, every time you open that song, it will use the instruments you chose for it. Hope this helps. Good luck.
jc

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www.jimcohen.com

Fred Murphy · Post by **Fred Murphy** » 10 Jul 2001 7:04 am

Jim, you can do what you want to do in Cakewalk. Just import a Midi or a BIAB file to it, and then copy any of the tracks to add them on at the bottom, to make as many tracks as you like. You can then edit these tracks to your liking. If you wanted to spend the money, you can buy a Roland Sound Module and get hundreds of different instrument sounds. If you don't like the notes that are programmed, you can move them to anyplace or any timming that you want. Roland has a demonstration that you can listen to, to see what can be done with it. You can add the notes you want, as easy as clicking the mouse.

Dan Dowd · Post by **Dan Dowd** » 10 Jul 2001 7:16 am

BIAB is a great program and I use it most of the time. However if you want more control over the various instruments, there is a program called Jammer. It is simular to BIAB but has a lot more settings for individule instruments and a much greater learning curve. It is not the kind of program you can just jump in and go like BIAB. But it is more realistic sounding than BIAB in my opinion.

Jim Landers · Post by **Jim Landers** » 10 Jul 2001 8:20 pm

Thanks to all you guys for the replies. Some of the things that were suggested I have been doing, but there were a couple things there that might be a big help to me. I'm definitely going to give them a try.

I think Jack is right when he said BIAB would probably do it all if I would just learn how to use it. And there in lies the problem.

Seriously though, I have made some good tracks with BIAB, but I thought someone might know of something better.

Dan, I downloaded the Jammer trial program, but I have'nt had a chance to work with it yet. It sounds like it would come real close to doing what I was suggesting, where you pick the style you want and then add the musicians one at a time until you get the sound your looking for. I'm anxious to see what I can do with it. Thanks for the tip.

Jim

mickd · Post by **mickd** » 12 Jul 2001 6:11 am

I have the trial version of BIAB but have been disappointed at how micky-mouse the sound is. I mean, the 'guitar' doesnt sound like a guitar, as it does when using one of those non-PC-based play-along boxes you can get (can't remember the title of the one I tried in a guitar shop the other day; it was Japanese, too difficult to program but sounded like a live band).
Am I right that this is just because of the sound card ? It is a Creative Labs Soundblaster Audio PCI 128D.

Is there anything I can do to improve the sound without replacing the card - some plugins maybe ?

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 12 Jul 2001 8:07 am

Yeah, don't blame BIAB for mickey mouse sound. It's your soundcard. Without replacing your soundcard (but why not?) there are some software synths that can improve your sound dramatically. The one I use is the Roland VSC-88, which I think sounds pretty darn good. PG Music (www.pgmusic.com) distributes it together with BIAB, I think. They may have a newer one by now too.
Only trouble is that I can't use it when I want to burn the track to CD-R, and I then I have to default back to my Soundblaster AWE 64, which is not as good. I believe this would not happen if you actually upgraded your hardware soundcard instead.

David Pennybaker · Post by **David Pennybaker** » 12 Jul 2001 8:11 am

There's a program called Jammer.

I've got a VERY old version, and I don't know what all they've added to it.

I believe it was supposed to be similar to BIAB.

Might be worth a look.

OOPS -- guess I shoulda read the whole thread before replying. I didn't think anybody would be familiar with Jammer.

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by David Pennybaker on 12 July 2001 at 09:13 AM.]</p></FONT>

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 12 Jul 2001 8:12 am

depending on how beefy your CPU processor is (mhz) you can use the Roland "Virtual Sound Canvas" avilable from the BIAB folks as a bundle with the full version of BIAB... sounds are MUCH better than many soundcards...but you really need a 400 mhz or better to handle the s/w synth without blurps and bleeps

try this first though, look on your hard drive for a setup utility for your soundblaster card, there may be a better sound set available already built in... maybe requiring mre ram usage on your computer than the "standard' set.....

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 12 Jul 2001 8:13 am

The Roland VSC88 Sound Canvas program is a software MIDI synthesizer. BIAB usually includes this with their software or sells it relatively cheap. On some machines it produces better MIDI instrumentation.

I've compared it to a SoundBlaster AWE64 board and a SoundBlaster Live MP3+ 5.1 and the SoundBlaster hardware MIDI seems to be better to me. Some of the SoundBlaster boards have more than one MIDI synthesizer option in it. If your's has more than one, try another. I know the SoundBlaster Live has more than one.

There probably are higher priced external MIDI units that have a better sound but I like the AWE64 MIDI I'm using now.

One other thing to consider is your speakers. If you are using "standard" computer speakers, they do not reproduce that well. I have a 3 speaker Labtec speaker system with a bass woofer and it gives decent sound.

Joe Delaronde · Post by **Joe Delaronde** » 12 Jul 2001 9:55 am

Also, to add to Jacks reply, try using a headset to listen to Biab. you will notice the world of difference.
Joe

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 12 Jul 2001 9:08 pm

As one who has an external sound module (Roland JV-1010) I can say there is no comparison from that to any soundcard or virtual whatever. For 4 or 5 hundred bucks you get the best available, if you want to spend the money.

Is it a dead nuts perfect sound like a studio recording of live musicians? Close, but no cigar. Worth the money? Every penny.

Lyle Bradford · Post by **Lyle Bradford** » 13 Jul 2001 7:52 am

I vote for the JV-1010 There is not a sound card i have heard even comes close to the sounds it has.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 13 Jul 2001 12:29 pm

FYI, there's a JV-1010 on eBay right now for an apparently good price. http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1446393494

mickd · Post by **mickd** » 15 Jul 2001 2:39 pm

I ran the config utility for the Soundblaster card and sure enough there were 3 options for the 'waveset manager' and the 2M one was defaulted. I changed this to the 8M one and it sounds a lot better now.
Thanks
Mick

Geoff Brown · Post by **Geoff Brown** » 18 Jul 2001 2:52 pm

I don't have a JV 1010 yet...but I'm going to. I've heard them in stores and heard enough samples to convince me. Pretty amazing unit, and at it's price point...major bang for the buck. Has anyone listened to the card that has the country instruments on it? I doubt I'd have much use for that particular card, but was curious as to how it sounds.

Fred Murphy · Post by **Fred Murphy** » 18 Jul 2001 3:11 pm

I added the (Super Sound Set), but I wouldn't buy it again. It has a few good extra guitars and fiddle on it, but I would have gotten more use out of the (Bass and Drums) card.