BIAB

Tom Mooney · Post by **Tom Mooney** » 27 Apr 2008 10:22 am

I'm considering trying my hand at BIAB as a practice medium.Any suggestions on what version, or whether or not another method of practice may be more convenient to use. I'm not that computer literate, but willing to learn. Thanks.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 27 Apr 2008 11:12 am

Tom,
It sounds like my experience with BIAB matches yours. Therefor I will say buy the basic BIAB ..I think it is the $99 version, but make sure you get all the 'styles' with it.

There are several things in BIAB that are hard to learn or non existent, for example how to get a smooth, 'normal-sounding' ending in a song without an extra little note or drum beat that BIAB always seems to want to tack on to the song. Could be that I haven't learned how to yet and that it is very easy to do.
Another thing: Get on George Wixon's web site. He's our primary teacher for BIAB
http://www.gwixon.com/index.html

Hope this helps a bit.

Bent

Richard Damron · Post by **Richard Damron** » 27 Apr 2008 12:48 pm

Tom -

I've continually upraded BIAB for many, many years and have the latest 2008 version with all the bells and whistles. Don't regret a dime spent on it. Regardless of which version you get, WARM UP THE PRINTER and go to George Wixon's site as recommended by Bent. There's a wealth of material there and, if you're like me and want a handy reference, you'll print out everything that George has posted. It amounts to a "BIAB For Dummies" in that he not only walks you through various procedures but also posts the BIAB dialogue boxes etc. so there can be no room for error. Very well thought out and executed.

I'm certain that, at one time, I thanked George for his generous contribution but, just in case he missed it - "Thanks much, George. I truly appreciate it".

Respectfully,

Richard

Papa Joe Pollick · Post by **Papa Joe Pollick** » 27 Apr 2008 2:01 pm

For sure,I too want to thank George for his tutorals.

..
Tom,I would recomend that you buy the full version.You will eventualy anyway.Also,get the DXi and a good sound card.The sound card on your mother board won't cut it.
As to the funky endings,it depends on the style you select.Sometimes I can fix that,sometimes I can't.If I can't fix it I try a differnt style.Sometimes I just re-write my ending to work with the style that I want..I've still got a lot to learn,but it's getting easier..
You WILL find BIAB to be a very helpful tool for practice.

...PJ...

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 27 Apr 2008 8:56 pm

I think you can download a trial version that'll give you an idea about BIAB before you buy it. As for the endings, I rarely use the "canned" BIAB endings and it's an easy thing to disable them and make up your your own endings.

Robert Harper · Post by **Robert Harper** » 27 Apr 2008 10:20 pm

I don't know your experience level with computers or music. To me, it seems that you would spend a lot of time learning a computer program therefore robbing yourself of music practice. If cds are used, you get experience playing with a live group. The money you spen on BIAB could be spent on CDs or MP3s. I buy a lot of used CDs. IMHO

Dave Potter · Post by **Dave Potter** » 28 Apr 2008 8:07 am

Robert Harper wrote:To me, it seems that you would spend a lot of time learning a computer program therefore robbing yourself of music practice. If cds are used, you get experience playing with a live group. The money you spen on BIAB could be spent on CDs or MP3s. I buy a lot of used CDs. IMHO

BIAB has a loyal following here obviously, but I tend to agree.

I haven't tried BIAB in a long time, primarily because the instruments always sounded too "generated" to be inspiring, and it seemed like I spent more time trying to get BIAB to do what I wanted than I spent actually playing.

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 28 Apr 2008 8:52 am

The best thing about BIAB is that you can change keys in two seconds, you can slow it down or speed it up, and also play with different rhythms. Can you do any of this with CD's or Mp3's? The answer is a big NO!

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 28 Apr 2008 9:55 am

I agree with Robert H and Andy S here.
Robert, This is likely the way I will go: Have a BIAB program but buy the ready made songs from others. The learning curve, for me is just a bit steep and I should be using my time on practicing and also on learning some home recording. That's why the basic program is enough for me.

Andy, I agree with what you say. BIAB is very handy for changing keys. This translates into much easier programming for a guy like me who tends to think in the key of C. If the song needs to be transposed to Eb..a click of the mouse will get me there!

Dave Potter · Post by **Dave Potter** » 28 Apr 2008 2:41 pm

Andy Sandoval wrote:The best thing about BIAB is that you can change keys in two seconds, you can slow it down or speed it up, and also play with different rhythms. Can you do any of this with CD's or Mp3's? The answer is a big NO!

Correct. When I have the need for custom backup material, I use my Korg keyboard to create my own. It has the capability to record the backing instruments I select, and it has surprisingly credible sound samples. I pick the key and tempo, and the backup instruments follow whatever 3-note chord I play with just one hand. The sound samples are much better than BIAB produces.

It does much more that what I described, but the point is, there's more than one way to skin a cat, some more elegant than others.

Tom Mooney · Post by **Tom Mooney** » 30 Apr 2008 1:49 pm

Tanks for all the good advice. Tom Mooney

Tom Mooney · Post by **Tom Mooney** » 30 Apr 2008 1:52 pm

Also thanks a lot for all the help. Bobby, you can close this now.[/u][/b]

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