Biab 2016

Q&A about PGMusic's popular accompaniment software

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Dom Franco
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Biab 2016

Post by Dom Franco »

I like many of the new styles and Real tracks that come with BIAB 2016.

But I am somewhat of a perfectionist when it comes to my background tracks. So I have to often add some parts of my own with real instruments.

Quite often a popular song will have a specific bass part that is immediately recognizable from the original recording. So I just can't type in the chords and expect the (dumb) generic bass player to know the riff!

Same goes for guitar licks, piano parts and even drums.

So in general BIAB has saved me a lot of time on many songs, but I still have to sit in with the "band" to make the tracks complete.

Dom :wink:
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Papa Joe Pollick
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Post by Papa Joe Pollick »

Yes sir, I do the same..I usually write a throw away and keep what I can use..Always the drums and sometimes bass and/or chording instrument..
Harry Dove
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Post by Harry Dove »

So are you then importing them into the track as a midi, or adding them to a recorded version of the BIAB track?
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Dom Franco
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Post by Dom Franco »

I transfer the biab audio to my digital recorder then add more tracks playing real instruments.
Harry Dove
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Post by Harry Dove »

So then that leaves you unable to change keys or add verses, bridges, etc. to the track. I have been wanting to learn more about how to import other instruments and add them to the track in BIAB. So far I haven't had the time to do the research. I'm curious as to how far BIAB will go with that.
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Dom Franco
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Post by Dom Franco »

Yes if you do it like I do you have to commit to the tempo and key while still in biab. But that is how real musicians have been making records for almost 100 years now. And as long as you plan ahead a little.
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Dom Franco
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Post by Dom Franco »

One more thing I just thought of, depending on your hardware or software recorder you can add verses and choruses by cutting and pasting. I often do this with my tracks.
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Tony Prior
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Post by Tony Prior »

Not meaning to rain on a parade but you can indeed change meter of a DAW session with BIAB tracks as part of the session. Its a DAW global function, not a BIAB function.

I posted a note about this...

here > http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=301024

Changing pitch is probably more difficult and would be better to start over before you are all in on the session, been there done this a few times. But if you think about it, if you are using BIAB tracks, the BIAB file stays the same just make a key change and save as a new BIAB song. Then import away ! But certainly it is best to have your keys confirmed from the get go.


And, as Dom is saying and he is quite correct, using BIAB tracks and your own LIVE tracks together can produce a pretty nice session. Of course it's not to be considered a "retail" session but none the less it's pretty nice for a local home grown product. I now use BIAB exclusively for creating and building Drum tracks then moving them into Pro Tools as stereo wav files.

I've done many demo sessions for others doing the same thing. Purpose is everything. Plus no Drummer to feed. The live interaction with rhythm instruments and/or bass changes the entire dynamic of the session.

Its all good and BIAB is a great tool/resource.

I am using 2013 but have the bug to go to 2016...
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders
Pro Tools 8 and Pro Tools 12
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 8 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website
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