Re: [Harp-L] Band in a box

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

The newest version, 2010, is the best I've used and their RealTracks style format uses actual studio musicians, whose recorded performances are used sort of like licks sources for mulitpe random - yet stylistically coherent - licks, chordal backings, drum patterns, etc. (They even have amplified blues harp that sounds surprisingly decent except that the virtual harper is doing things a diatonic harmonica player would never do - impossible-to-bend notes, that sort of thing).

The description you give is pretty accurate. The key is getting styles that fit what you want to do. BIAB comes packaged with different numbers of style, and you can buy style packs as add-ons. (You can also create your own styles, but it's detailed worked and a programmer's mentality helps). I'm fussy about styles and it can take me awhile to find one I like for a particular tune. One cool thing about RealTrack styles is that you can combine one style on guitar with another on drums, one for bass, etc.

I first encountered BIAB through Carlos del Junco, who was using it as a practice tool. This was at the 1998 Harmonica Summit taught by Howard Levy, and from the conversation some of the other attendees were also using it, and trading tips. BIAB is a tireless accompanist if you want to learn a tune - and how to improvise over its chord changes - in any key, or to work out with an unfamiliar or difficult set of changes. 

Some of Chris Michalek's YoutUve teaching videos over the least year or two have used BIAB accompaniments, and I use them to generate backing tracks for my students and classes.

Winslow Yerxa

Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5

Resident expert at bluesharmonica.com

Harmonica instructor, jazzschool.com

Columnist, harmonicasessions.com

--- On Mon, 6/21/10, Bruce K Ritter <Ritterbk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

From: Bruce K Ritter <Ritterbk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Band in a box
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Monday, June 21, 2010, 10:22 AM

Ok,

 

The magpie in my head has spotted something new and shiney, and I think I
want to get Band in a Box.  So, for those of you who use it, what version do
you use, and how does it sound?  I'm thinking I'd like to make backing
tracks I could record harp with  and call my own-no worries about any
copyright issues.  The description sounds like I can just put in the chords
and the style and rhythm and get a result I can tweak till I like it???  How
does it sound?

 

Thanks,

 

Bruce K Ritter

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