Brian Cadoret

chris.r
Can you create your own "styles" in BIAB?

Yes it's possible to create your own styles which I do regularly, combining elements from different styles allows you to make your own custom styles.  

I mean more like making a new original from scratch? Like it was possible to do with some more advanced Yamaha PSR keyboards using dedicated software.

chris.r

Brian Cadoret

chris.r
Can you create your own "styles" in BIAB?

Yes it's possible to create your own styles which I do regularly, combining elements from different styles allows you to make your own custom styles.  

I mean more like making a new original from scratch? Like it was possible to do with some more advanced Yamaha PSR keyboards using dedicated software.

 
Yes you can make styles from scratch, bit of a learning curve but can be done. :) 

BIAB has amazing sounding tracks that you can manipulate in many ways, but I think because they used a more universal linear approach in their "Real tracks" (the muscle behind it all) it is very hard to actually create a complete song. What I mean, they do not have a traditional approach like arrangers do, with parts for Intros, Variations, Breaks, Endings only imitations of them...  Created songs at times resemble looong snakes because it lacks proper "breaks", "fills" and "bridge" parts.  It is possible to manipulate their tracks to make a tune, but not intuitive at all. Overall I think their software engineers are ignorant boneheads.(not musicians who record stuff for real tracks, musicians are actually awesome)  It is a "feature creep" 32 bit program that looks like something from late 90s, and feels that way too. But in reality there are not too many choices if you want to make backing tracks that actually sound good and not spend weeks if not months in studio and they take full advantage of that refusing to modernize their stone age program to make it robust and user friendly. 
 
Having said that, vArranger (hi Dan) has more traditional approach compared to making backing tracks. It is a MIDI only program. It is very stable and fast, uses many style types from different hardware arrangers, but has a hefty price tag and many shortcomings. 
 
One of the best approaches into creating complete ideas for tunes fast were first introduced in Yamaha QY sequencer series (20+ years ago). Where you can mix various parts/genres re voice them on the fly etc. Yamaha, a few years back came out with software arranger as an app sadly for ipad only. It took best features from hardware sequencers and added many new ones. Sadly it is for ipad only and uses only "in house" Yamaha styles many of which were taken from 20 year old sequencers.
 
Since Bandlab is a Musician based platform, not just Cake... maybe Meng and his Magic crew should consider something like an arranger for creating backing tracks or as a scratch pad for song ideas that would resemble more traditional, hardware arrangers.... Just thoughts out loud :)
 
 

Grem

Skyline_UK
 
I'm a guitarist

That's a nice LP!! : ) Is that a Norlin?

No, it's a Peter Green Lemon Drop by Vintage Guitars with Bare Knuckle Mules fitted.
https://www.jhs.co.uk/vin...-distressed-lemon-drop
 
John

bluebeat1313
BIAB has amazing sounding tracks that you can manipulate in many ways, but I think because they used a more universal linear approach in their "Real tracks" (the muscle behind it all) it is very hard to actually create a complete song. What I mean, they do not have a traditional approach like arrangers do, with parts for Intros, Variations, Breaks, Endings only imitations of them...  Created songs at times resemble looong snakes because it lacks proper "breaks", "fills" and "bridge" parts.  It is possible to manipulate their tracks to make a tune, but not intuitive at all. Overall I think their software engineers are ignorant boneheads.(not musicians who record stuff for real tracks, musicians are actually awesome)  It is a "feature creep" 32 bit program that looks like something from late 90s, and feels that way too. But in reality there are not too many choices if you want to make backing tracks that actually sound good and not spend weeks if not months in studio and they take full advantage of that refusing to modernize their stone age program to make it robust and user friendly.  

Hmmm.. OK, then what do you call this?
 
Quickly generate a song form in Band-in-a-Box
https://www.youtube.com/w...e=22&v=mxcn7BcvnOM

"Hmmm.. OK, then what do you call this?"
 
I am aware of this:) I have tried it too. It is not solely my opinion, but many folks feel "real tracks" feel a bit like jelly, "lazy-jazzy" This state of viscosity is a bit too liquid my taste. Yes, you can make magic with it either by learning their wicked ways or by experimenting by bulldozing through ten thousand features they have.  
Do not get me wrong... Idea of BIAB is great, and surely is very useful, but implementation of software is horrific, scary like Windows 95 on 386 with EGA monitor in 21st century. I wish somebody would talk some sense into those PG developers to make a 64 BIT VST or similar to integrate with DAW properly and to make the standalone more user intuitive and robust.

bluebeat1313
"Hmmm.. OK, then what do you call this?"
 
I am aware of this:) I have tried it too. It is not solely my opinion, but many folks feel "real tracks" feel a bit like jelly, "lazy-jazzy" This state of viscosity is a bit too liquid my taste. Yes, you can make magic with it either by learning their wicked ways or by experimenting by bulldozing through ten thousand features they have.  
Do not get me wrong... Idea of BIAB is great, and surely is very useful, but implementation of software is horrific, scary like Windows 95 on 386 with EGA monitor in 21st century. I wish somebody would talk some sense into those PG developers to make a 64 BIT VST or similar to integrate with DAW properly and to make the standalone more user intuitive and robust.

Oh well.  Clearly it hasn't worked out for you, and that is fine to have an opinion.  But bear in mind that there are many folks happily making music with the program, so not everyone will agree with you.  It is the same with many DAWs, you have to find the tools that work the way you do.
 
Been nice chatting with you.  Cheers!

Brian Cadoret
Yes you can make styles from scratch, bit of a learning curve but can be done. :) 

That is actually a great info! Cheers.

Skyline_UK
 
No, it's a Peter Green Lemon Drop by Vintage Guitars with Bare Knuckle Mules fitted.
 

 
Really nice! : )
 

abacab yes, folks are happy and I am too... happy... that it exists, but I believe after so many years in business they should have done more for their costumers as far as interface design, overall workflow optimization simple arrangement functions and many other things that normally should evolve with time especially with such large following. 
 
I feel that (so far) we got very lucky to have Meng who listens and crew who is doing amazing job in pushing Cakewalk to a better place. I feel absolutely opposite about BIAB. Seems PG has no desire to actually do what is for the better for their customers and what is considered "good programming". They keep on milking same ole cow as long as it gives milk, even if that cow is long overdue to visit McDonalds in the form of frozen patties. 
I will be among first in line to upgrade if they decide one day that enough is enough and rebuild software properly. Otherwise will stick to the version I have.