BIAB Band In A Box

[rivercitymusic]

Thanks a bunch, you were all too kind to stop and give me some advice on how to better my enjoyment putting around with music.Sincerely,Doc

[billg]

Hi Doc. I don't know anything about BIAB but I think from what I'm hearing it's a good "sketch" tool for ideas but not for broadcast quality. To me listening to your songs I would think that you just need a way to get a pro sound on vocals, guitar, bass, drums & maybe some keys here & there. Same with me. You need a good LDC mic & pre amp & a way to get audio into your computer for mixing/sweetning and adding virtual keyboard instruments. Luckily it doesn't have to costs a fortune. Post over in the "recording technology" section and you'll probably get more advice that you need!

[cameron]

Hey Doc,Also understand that the finished radio-quality stuff you hear from some of us (i.e. me) is done in a studio. I use an 8-track Fostex at home to do my work tapes and then send them off to the studio. Your tapes would work fine for that, but the finished demos these days need to sound more or less like what you hear on the radio. You can get by with a simple guitar or piano accompaniment on a ballad but the vocals always need to be pro quality imho.Of course, this is coming from a guy who only recently started seriously writing/pitching songs and I haven't sold one yet, so keep that in mind too.Cam

[adrienne]

Does anyone know if this is Mac compatible?

[elser]

Dec 5, 2008, 9:07am, adrienne wrote:Does anyone know if this is Mac compatible? They make a Mac version. It doesn't have all the same features but it's got the meat and potatoes.

[adrienne]

Dec 5, 2008, 10:47am, fretnoise wrote:Dec 5, 2008, 9:07am, adrienne wrote:Does anyone know if this is Mac compatible? They make a Mac version. It doesn't have all the same features but it's got the meat and potatoes. Thanks. Is there another program that's comparable but more suited to Mac users?

[rivercitymusic]

Wow, i downloaded a demo version of it and as poorly as i play, i'd never use it for anything. I only tinker aronud with chords and lyrics so it's final quality of the instruments is not at all what i'd ever want and i can do it much faster on my laptop and my guitar or my keyboard and my laptop than i can with the demo. You folks must spend/spent a boat load of money on your equipment, studio time or pro's, if you farm it out. My hats off to you all for being so professional in your endeavors.But, I can open a beer by hand, flip a steak on the grille, sleep in my hammock and do other stuff like that!lolI am laughing my ass off at myself. so sad.Doc

[davewalton]

Dec 5, 2008, 6:00pm, rivercitymusic wrote:You folks must spend/spent a boat load of money on your equipment, studio time or pro's, if you farm it out. It's really not that bad. Of course I'm coming from the perspective of how expensive equipment was in the 70's... Minimoog that played only one note at a time - $2500, Hammond C3 - $3000 (used), Fender Rhodes - $1200... each and every piece of equipment was at least $1000. You've been there and done that (or something similar) I'm sure.When I "came back" to music after a long time away, I pretty much started from scratch. I had a computer and I had a keyboard controller. I budgeted around $3000 for a digital audio workstation software package (I got Sonar), plus a nice selection of quality virtual instruments... orchestra, guitars, bass, synths, drums/percussion. I was able to get the core set of what I now use for under $3000. Now four years later, I've spent more than that but I'm sure it's still at or under $5000. Not pocket change but as a former business owner, a LOT less capital than starting any other business I've ever been involved in. All in all... for a couple thousand I think a person can assemble the basics in a good, quality home studio that will produce broadcast quality results. I DON'T miss the 70's. HTH,Dave

[wta]

I think Doc that BIAB might be a good place to start if you're new to producing music "In the box" so to speak or via a computor. You'll be able to learn the principles to a certain degree and kinda get your head in the game as to what the digital process might look like. It won't help to develop broadcast quality music as already mentioned. There really are only two ways to get to broadcast quality tracks and thats to invest into ALL the gear it takes to do so including hardware and software (there is a LONG list that will EASIALY top $10000) plus you'll need to develop the production/engineering skills to use the gear. The second is to work with someone who's at that stage and have them produce the demos you put together with a software like BIAB... If you can get your drums, bass, guitar, keyboard, vocal tracks "in the ball park" with BIAB the producer you send that to will have a GREAT idea of what you're looking for and will cut down MASSIVE amounts of waisted studio time. I recommend talking with heisite on how to best utilize that type of song production as he's done some amazing work producing demos and working with producers... hth, wta

[mojobone]

Quote:"...as poorly as I play..."Ah, but the magic of this sort of software is that you don't need to play at all-if you know what your chord progression is, and can count measures, you can plug that info into BIAB and hear it played by a jazz combo, a polka band, etc. It does help to have a familiarity with slash chords (e. g. A/F#, meaning an A triad over an F# bass note) and notation, but tremendous keyboard skills are not required.