Band-in-a-Box

Quick Tutorial
Premise 2
For those starting out 3
Let's make first track 6
All Real Tracks in 1 Click 12
StylePicker method 17
Chords from MIDI 19
Have the MIDI? Song in just a few steps! 22
7 Useful Tricks and Shortcuts 25
1. Create proper intro 25
2. Copy and Paste 26
3. The “Choruses” function 27
4. Add Bars 28
5. Find the right realtracks 29
6. Optimise during export 32
7. Download a ready-made sgu base 33
Save and Export 34
Download the Ready-to-use Backing Tracks 35
Conclusion 40

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Premise
After a few years from the previous “Band in a Box Handy Tutorial” which
has had great appreciation from Band in a Box users, here is a new tutorial
that is more than a simple update, given the experience gained in recent
years, but a real complete practical manual!

Unfortunately the difficulty of using the original manufacturer's manual

due to the vastness of the information contained can discourage those
who are starting out, here is our new tutorial that simplifies every
operation and makes creating a backing track a quick and easy operation.
pleasant.

This new manual is easy to follow and concise, explaining step by step
how to proceed, using those shortcuts and tricks unknown to most to
quickly create a perfect song.

The topics covered are almost all accompanied by videos to facilitate

understanding of the simple procedures.

The PDF begins with some simple practical realisations and then proceeds
with exclusive topics that simplify and speed up the creation of the
backtrack.
They are valuable tips and tricks!

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For those starting out

The home screen should look like this, but if it's different it doesn't matter,
we'll make the necessary changes:

We do not explain all the many functions of the Band-in-a-Box, it would

only serve to create confusion and for some to give up using it.

In this practical tutorial we learn by making backing tracks. We only use

the parts we need to work with realtracks (no midi).

With practice, each user will then be able to add different functions
according to need.

The main section of the upper left window has many buttons. but we will
only use the highlighted ones, which we need to find the right style, insert
the right tracks, etc.

Buttons that are not part of the highlighted zones will not be used:

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The meaning of all the buttons will become apparent by performing the
examples shown below.

This other section shows the mixer with the realtracks in green (in midi
yellow):

Next is the section for entering chords

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Let’s enter realtracks and realdrums

Double click on “Drums” and the realdrums window opens:

And you choose by scrolling through the list, listening to each track until
you find the most suitable one and confirming with a double click on its
name.

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Same procedure for realtracks.

The search and listening method is rather boring, however in the next
chapters we will understand with a simple shortcut how to get help from
the program itself to insert the right tracks for us.

Let's make first track

Instead of dwelling on the explanation of the various functions and
buttons, let's immediately start practising by creating a simple blues base.

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We remind you that it is necessary to have the files with the RealTracks.
They could already be included with the program, or must be purchased
separately, choosing those of the preferred style.

Let's start the program and set the tempo of our future song

Let's change Choruses to “1”

In fact, we will not use automatic repetitions of parts of the song.

We enter the initial chord, e.g. E7

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We must now choose the suitable sounds. For simplicity, let's start from
the battery and select for example "RockModernRnB".

And the list of realdrums appears:

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We confirm, OK, returning to the main window.

We listen to the result, possibly silencing the other tracks (mute).

We insert the chords related to a verse in the first 12 bars: E7, A7…

We click on the number 13 to create a new verse, which starts with a small
blue square

To avoid writing the chords again let's copy the contents of the first verse.
Just slide the mouse highlighting the bars and with copy paste, placing
the mouse in bar 13 we get the second verse:

Here is the result:

Continuing like this, we insert as many verses as we want.

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If we don't have enough bars we insert more.

From Menu: Edit, Insert Bar(s):

Note: in bar 13 we actually see 13a written, a small blue square. If we click
on it it turns green, 13b.
13a and 13b relate to different sounds. For example a bar with a green box
can be used at the start of a chorus.

Currently we only have the drums. Let's add the other instruments, bass
and guitar. recalling them from the menu.

For the guitar track we choose for example “Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Blues
Sw 120”

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For the bass, with the same procedure, “Bass, Electric, Blues Sw 120”.

For better clarity, here is the video of the same tutorial:

Here is also another useful video tutorial that deals with the same topic, i.e.
how to create your own original song:

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All Real Tracks in 1 Click

A rather boring aspect is the search for the right RealTrack for each
channel, performed by listening to those available in our list.

Let's see how to simplify the process by learning while creating your own
custom backing track of Dire Straits' "Sultans Of Swing".

Let's select the tempo of the song (149 beats per minute in this case)

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Let's change Choruses to “1”.

In fact, we will not use automatic repetitions of the song's verses or
choruses.

The channel window may initially look like this. The channels in yellow are
midi, in green the realtracks, in grey those without sounds.

In the various channels we must insert the correct track.

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Let's try the guitar track: “Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Dire Ev 140” (if you don't
have this, choose from yours):

Let's listen to it (double click) and look at the upper part of the window by
focusing on two buttons, Solo and Band:

1. Solo. Let's listen to the guitar alone

2. Band. We listen to the guitar together with other instruments
(realtracks) suggested by the program.

In this second option lies the strength of our shortcut to immediately

find all the suitable tracks!

Let's listen by selecting "Style Demo" and then "Play":

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And from the list that appears we select the line with "Dire ..." (in blue)

We listen, and if the sound satisfies us, we confirm with the "Generate
Track" button at the bottom of the screen:

And here, almost by magic, the right realtracks appear already inserted in
the respective channels:

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So we have avoided the tedious and often unsatisfying procedure of

searching for the correct tracks one by one!

All that remains is to enter the chords in the main window and the real
track is ready.

And here is also the video on YouTube of about three minutes with the
audio of the various steps:

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StylePicker method
Here too an original and fast procedure.
Band-in-a-Box stores information on numerous artists.

If we also have the song we want to make in its list, we immediately get
the realtracks in their right place, another original piece of information
reserved for our readers!

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Let's go to “Style” and then “StylePicker”.

In the upper right window, type the title of our song:

The tracks appear in the bottom window and we find them in the main
screen automatically!

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This procedure is also shown in the related YouTube video (Find the Right
Backing Track with this Shortcut)

Tale procedura e’ mostrata anche nel relativo video YouTube (Find the
Right Backing Track with this Shortcut).

Chords from MIDI

Instead of looking for and inserting the chords manually we can resort to a
simple trick if we have the corresponding midi.
Let's try Santana's Evil Ways.

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Let's import the midi file on BiaB. File, Import, Import Chords from MIDI
file:

Open:

If a similar window appears click OK and then INTERPRET CHORDS NOW

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The chords of the entire song will appear automatically. Here is a part of
the windowt:

Note that the chords of some poor quality midi will need to be rechecked
manually.
And here is the related video:

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Have the MIDI? Song in just a few steps!

Here's how those who are familiar with the program take advantage of a
midi version to obtain a perfect base in just a few clicks, and without
knowing the chords!

Let's try a song that has numerous chords and a complex structure, such
as the famous "The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, by Ennio Morricone" of which
there are various versions, including by the Ventures, Shadows, etc.

Look for the midi on the net and download it to a folder. For convenience, I
attach the midi here.

Open the Midi from the menu

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The full chord window appears

The default sounds are midi and we need to change them to the right
realtracks.
Later we will use a method using the Styles to get the right realtracks in a
few clicks.

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Older versions of the program may not allow changing tracks directly.

To get around the problem I illustrate the method in this video:

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7 Useful Tricks and Shortcuts

1. Create proper intro

By default the backing track starts with a countdown of 2+4 measures,

without intro.
Let's create a natural intro with a drum passage.

Let's load a song to modify and add 1 bar at the beginning.

From the Edit menu, Insert Bar(s), 1, OK.

We now have a new bar at the beginning of the song:

Right click on the first bar. Click Bar Settings, All Instruments MUTE,
Drums BACK TO NORMAL, OK.

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Put it in Play and you will hear a pleasant Intro.

Note: depending on the song you can also try the intro with two bars, or
four etc.

2. Copy and Paste

To repeat part of the song use the Copy and Paste function, thus avoiding
the problems related to the repetitions of the Choruses function, which is
often confusing. Rule to “1”

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Highlight the part to be copied by dragging the mouse over the selected
bars which turn black.

Copy and paste by clicking at the beginning of the desired section.

3. The “Choruses” function

BiaB has the value 3 by default, and allows you to repeat the desired part
by entering the appropriate value on the Start and End.

The repeated part is identified by the dots as in the figure.

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I don't use this function, because as already mentioned, it creates

confusion during the implementation phase.
It can be eliminated by setting it to "1", as described in the previous advice
and proceed where needed with Copy and Paste.

4. Add Bars

Procedure is almost always necessary.

Looking at the working window, sometimes there is not enough space to

place all the chords. Additional slashes are often needed especially when
working with Copy and Paste. \

We have already used this function in a previous paragraph.

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Edit, Insert Bar(s), Number of bars, OK.

5. Find the right realtracks

A procedure to find the correct realtracks has been illustrated above.

This follows a different procedure.

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Style, Best RealStyles, click on a style chosen from the list and then
choose again from the proposed styles:

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The right Realtracks will be entered automatically by the program.

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6. Optimise during export

In the next chapter we show how to export and save our work in different
formats.
However, sometimes we use an alternative method that allows real-time
changes “by ear” without setting additional parameters to the song.

For example, if we decide to export to Mp3, we can start a recorder (for

example Audacity) and while the song plays, vary various parameters from
the mixer at will, such as mute, track volume, pan, reverb, avoiding difficult
upstream settings.

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7. Download a ready-made sgu base

It is certainly useful to try a ready base, in order to check if our version of

the program works properly, if the realtracks in our possession adapt to the
style of the song, etc.

Go to the free download page, choose from the sgu songs available.

By clicking on the title you will automatically download the compressed

file.

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More details and clarifications can be found in the related video:

Save and Export

With "Save" the base is saved in sgu format, name of the Band in a Box
files, which can only be played with this program.

To export in audio format (wav, wma or mp3) click .wav

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Download the Ready-to-use Backing Tracks

Despite the large amount of information contained in this tutorial, you may
not have the inclination or time to make the basics yourself.

On this page of theguitarband.com website you will find ready “.sgu”

backing tracks, to be downloaded for free.

Furthermore, divided in alphabetical order by author, you will find on the

HomePage numerous songs created with Band in a Box Realtracks.

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Tech Note: Before listening to a .sgu song with BiaB, mute unnecessary
tracks. In other words, leave only the most important tracks active, such as
bass, guitar and drums, usually tracks 1, 3 and 4.
By default of BiaB, all tracks are active, and if you don't make a selection,
you can get an unnatural sound.

If you don't have realtracks and realdrums in your BiaB program, you can
use REALTRACKS 001-012 and REALDRUMS 01-29 (Windows, or the
corresponding ones for Mac), present by default in many versions of the
program, and which are enough to start getting good results .

All sgu songs in one download

Also available is my collection of sgu backing tracks created with Band in a

Box during my activity as a musician who performs alone accompanied by
his backing tracks.

You can download the complete collection at once.

These are Band in a Box backing tracks made with RealTracks in the style
of the most famous songs, and include over 600 songs, as well as 150

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acoustic backing tracks (promo) that can be customised by adding the

appropriate realtracks.

The genre is mainly rock, blues, pop, rock and roll etc.

You can try to download some free backing tracks to try if they satisfy you.
Here is the contents of the package: Sgu Full List.

By purchasing the package at a truly negligible cost, you will support my

commitment to always create new backing tracks and share exclusive
information.

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Full Collection with Mp3, lyrics and sgu

Scrolling down the same page there is a second package with

ready-to-play backing tracks complete with synchronised lyrics, very useful
for those who play live and want a ready repertoire.

An Android player for musicians is also included in this collection for free.

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Android Live Music Player

Conclusione

Ricordo che questo tutorial fa riferimento al sito TheGuitarBand.com, che e’

ricco di basi gratuite BiaB da scaricare e file sgu, nonché di numerosi
argomenti e tutorial esclusivi.

Se visioni i video consigliati per favore clicca Like e sottoscriviti al canale.

Inoltre il tuo commento nel sito e’ sempre gradito, grazie!

Buon lavoro con Band in a Box!

Giancarlo Griscenko
www.theguitarband.com

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Conclusion
I remind you that this tutorial refers to TheGuitarBand.com site, which is
full of free BiaB backing tracks to download and sgu files, as well as
numerous exclusive topics and tutorials.

If you watch the recommended videos please click Like and Subscribe to
the channel. Furthermore, your comment on the site and YouTube is
always welcome.

Good job with Band in a Box!

Giancarlo Griscenko
www.theguitarband.com

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Contact mail
[email protected]

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