Pre-DAW software

[grandmatarkin]

Thanks for the info, Hummingbird. I guess you're right about there being no hard and fast rule. I think that IS my rule... no rules. And I know that if I had some pre-DAW software, I would be just as incessantly meticulous and waste as much time as I do now!The only benefit that I can see is possibly the mobility element, where I could be working on song ideas with the laptop. But I do that anyway, just in my head (and my trusty handheld recorder)Quote:Wait a minute. Am I talking to you or myself? Shit I always do that, after 1Am. Trust me, I'm hearing ya. At 1am, I'm just getting started at whatever I'm going to do that day. Darn circadian rhythms

[gatorjj]

I always write with a guitar in hand and use RiffWorks for my sketchpad. It works great for me especially to knock an idea and arrangement down quickly. Once I have things worked out I move to Tracktion and start recording for "real" so I can tailor the production to be just right.The thing SongFrame (or BIAB...haven't looked at it in like 15 years!) appears to help is let me do the same thing without a guitar, i.e. on a plane. As I may end up on a plane frequently pretty soon I may need something like that!Are there any others besides these 2 I should check out?J.J.

[matthoggard]

I can see the plus to what gator is talking about. Portable composing. I am old fashioned though. Guitar or keyboard and a notepad. I like the look of this new software. I may have to look into it.

[ggalen]

I used to start with the drums. Then add the bass. Then add the keyboards or guitar.I got so tired of that. Let's face it, it can be quite tedious.So I took another look at Band In A Box 2 years ago, and was happily surprised at how good it had become. Finally I could turn over the rhythm section (Guitar, bass, and rhythm instruments) to my own little virtual "studio band".Sure, I go in sometimes and change things. But I can get grooving right away with something, and that really stimulates my creative side.I can focus on the song; not the technical details.Once the song idea has gelled; then I can sweeten it up and tweak things in the context of the song idea.I'm trying to think of what songs on my web page below are ones where I just left the Band In a Box parts alone. except for setting up the virtual instruments and mixing, etc.The two are the Sam Cooke cover "A Change is Gonna Come" where I upped the tempo of the original song and used a slow jazz style from BIAB.And the instrumental "Traveling By Night"...thats straight BIAB backing. I played an added rhythm guitar, and the lead.They are numbers 2 and 3 in the player.

[mojobone]

Yeah, my intended use for BIAB is to plug in chord progressions I come up with, try them in a few different styles to see what other melodies they might suggest. Also to plug in common chord progressions from existing songs to re-harmonize/remelodize; improvisation is spontaneous composition when it's working right, and it's something I'm good at. I should be able to plug in some improv melodies and see what harmonies the program "guesses". It'll boost productivity by allowing me to get more mileage from both melodies and progressions, if it works as advertised. I can separate, mix, and match. (and do it by the batch, natch) Just noticed a commercial had the exact chords from "Bittersweet Symphony", earlier tonight, only done in a non-rock sort of production style-inspired me to focus more on production quality and less on knocking myself out trying to be "original".

[ggalen]

mojobone,I was surprised how often I started telling BIAB to "play it in reggae", or play it in a big-band-swing, or... play it in a bluegrass style, but substitute in the horns from the big band swing!...stuff like that.Or one style I really like, the "theme from the Sopranos" style, it's 16th-note funk rock, I believe. It moves your feet.I enter the chords on a midi keyboard, and BIAB tells me it's a Fmsus/D or whatever. Works great since I am pretty much an "ear" player.I think you'll be impressed if you try BIAB for 30 days.

[ggalen]

I forgot that I added rhythm guitar to the Sam Cooke song, as well as lead guitar. Overall, BIAB does a solid job for backing tracks. I find it best to add the "creative parts" and sparkle yourself.Sometimes I substitute EZDrummer percussion tracks. Sometimes I might redo the bass track.But the best thing for me is that it knows so many styles that I can use a style that I can't really play myself because I don't know the riffs or the technique for that style.

[rld]

Glen,The bass part in "Traveling by Night"...is that you or BIAB?A lot of the notes don't seem to fit to my ear.I've used BIAB before, but the parts need so much editing to make them sound decent it seems to take as much time as doing it from scratch.For jammin' or getting rough ideas together, its quite useful, IMO.

[ggalen]

RLD,It's a judgment call, I agree. That is BIAB. I left them. Others would want a different idea, or would be disturbed by the particular note the "studio bassist" played. The bass is doing octaves, but then I added chords that probably called for the bass to acknowledge them a bit.There are times where it is definitely faster to just play the part. Or, use the BIAB but punch in and play a variation here and there.By that time the BIAB midi is all in Sonar (in my case), so it's easy.You know, it is kind of like working with a group of session players. Sometimes you just move on and use what they come up with, even if it is not exactly how you envisioned it.I tend to be that way, since I get bored if I work a song too long at too great of detail.

[rld]

Quote:I tend to be that way, since I get bored if I work a song too long at too great of detail.That's too bad you don't want to fix it.The moments when everything comes together sound really cool.The other moments sound like the bass player is lost...