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For Dom
by Fdemetrio - 04/30/26 09:09 PM
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Nothing
by JAPOV - 04/27/26 10:49 AM
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WHEN?
by JAPOV - 04/23/26 11:28 PM
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ullo, ullo...
so, I post the latest "song a week" in the mp3 forum and get a comment suggesting that I might be using this band in a box thing. I didn't know quite how to feel about that at first (not knowing much about it). After a bit of research, I felt a little dismayed.....
I know I'm only taking a few days to produce these songs, and I end up leaving a few loose ends here and there.....but good gawd, do they really sound as cheesy as band in a box?
I've decided to make a "making of" video for this coming week's song, to dispell any of these notions, but I can't help feeling set on my heels.....
does what I do really sound that mechanical?
curious.
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It sounded like you were using a drum machine -- I think that's all the listener meant. This song by me uses BIAB -- is it too mechanical?
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kevin,
I can't play it right now......for some reason mobile won't work....I'll giver it a spin a bit later. All I meant was "midi" (I believe that's what biab is based on)....can be very stiff and generic feeling, I've been tempted to use it for keyboards because I'm horrible on keys......but I stay away from it because of the lack of feel (to my ears anyway).
this kind of software is great for getting things tracked if one can't play a certain instrument.....like say keys in my case......but it kind of bugs me.
why spend years learning to play, with software like this around? things like this have the potential to take a bit of wind from ones sail.
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Hey Mac- I've listened to nearly all your pieces, and trust me, you don't sound like any band in a box. I've heard many pieces that are instantly identifiable as BIAB. I personally hate that thing. As you said, why spend a lifetime learning to play to have someone of no musical ability pulling a bunch of midi together. The thing is, if you don't play, you make many mistakes in assembling the midi. How do you know when certain pieces make for a cohesive whole unless your hands have felt it? Any way, sorry to rant, LOve your stuff. You're miles beyond BIAB.
Last edited by bobbyearlray; 06/25/13 03:06 PM.
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Hi, from somebody who owns the whole set on hard disk, I feel qualified to speak about this.
When you write a lot of songs, 90% will never make it to recording because there is just too many to do all that work, if you can actually play all the parts too.
I think Band In a Box was meant for blues musicians and jazz musicians. If you take a standard I, IV, V chord progression, and want to jam on top of it, it's great for that.
it's great for creating a background drop to standard jazz numbers, and jamming over that with your instrument. great for practice that way.
When it comes to creating an ORIGINAL arrangement, that's not going to happen. I think we can dupe ourselves into believing that our song is nicely arranged or that it sounds like a unique song, because nobody has heard our song before. Everything the band in the box plays is going to sound like it THATS the song.
All you need do is try a cover song, and see how that turns out.
It will sound like some guy who at the last minute gets a call for a gig at a small bar or restaurant, and he's working with midi or something else to come up with canned arrangements of the songs.
The question is not how it sounds, it sounds pretty good at times, it's how it feels, and how it supports your song.
That is why it can only serve as a personal demo of a song.
If you get lucky and it so happens that one of the canned arrangements works really well for the song you wrote, it can sound pretty darned good.
But I think if you are going to place the song online somewhere where other well produced and arranged music is placed, you only give an instant weak impression of your music.
It kind of sounds elevatory no matter what you do, and it's just not exciting enough to knock somebody out with.
But it does work well for a demo you might give to your band, or to an engineer or producer who is going to take those idea and expand on them.
The temptation to roll with it is heavy cause its so convenient, easy and cheap, and you control it all, no back talk from the drummer or bass player.
But at the end of the day it's about having a great demo/production not having an easy time making one.
It's light years away from replacing real on the spot musicians adapting to your song
Last edited by Bugsey; 06/25/13 02:49 PM.
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Hey Bugsey...That is very well said, and encompasses what BIAB was really meant for. A fiend of mine uses them for his demos, and his words are excellent, but the demos are gruesome. To use for fun, it's a great tool. If you are trying to compete out there, forget it, not gonna happen. Mac has written a quality song week after week. I personally tip my hat to him, and wish I was turning out product like that. For me, his work speaks for itself....
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I see all those benefits, just can't help thinking a lot of people won't take the time to learn an instrument with it being so easy to drag and drop a whole band around.
I know there will always be a market for people that actually play, but it's the same feeling I get from "djs" being held in high musical esteem.
I once had a conversation with someone regarding this and I said I can't hold a DJ in the same regard as say...an Ed Van halen.....and this person absolutely could not understand why, no matter how I explained it.
just a bit scary to me.
p.s. thanks Bobby, much appreciated.
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Whatever dudes,ya'll are gonna have to bite the bullet when you click on a song of mine,LOL!I'll never be a musician and i use BIAB strictly for personal enjoyment.It let's me get a somewhat backdrop or idea to what my lyrics or trying to say.A foundation i guess for my songs.If it is liked or has that something where a real musician wants to take it and do something with,i have no problem with that.I just got tired of notebook after notebook of lyrics just sitting there.And really tired of trying to find the people who can play a song the way i hear it,without all the drama.My nerves are shot for that bs these days.And as for Mac,your music is awesome and i never thought of it sounding BIAB!I wish i could do it that way but it is what it is!Oh by the way,i'm fixin' to post my newest BIAB song called The Ring!LOL,Mike
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Oh and Bobby,your friend Brent Mason who you use,has a lot of work in BIAB in realtracks.A lot of cool guitar work,along with a lot of other session players.Mike
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Michael,
I can understand your frustration, I had to get out of bands for similar reasons. I'm sure I'll get to a point where it no longer bothers me to think about it......that's what usually happens with things like this.........a strong reaction at first and then I get back to business a usual.
as I stated, I see the benefits...I just don't know what to think of things like that at first.
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Hey Mike-I wanted to primarily tell Mac his stuff doesn't fit into that category. There is no surprise that they would have Brent in there. He is one of the finest in the world. When I watch him I realize how average my own skills are. I love your stuff, and I don't care if it's made out of a shoebox, they are great songs, and that, leaving everything aside ,is what we're all here for.Without the beauty of words , we should all take our toys and go home. It is about writing... and to me...you're one of the best.
Last edited by bobbyearlray; 06/26/13 12:16 PM.
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Bobby,
you're too kind, sir..........mason is a fuggin monster, among the elite....like.............will ray, vince gill, brad paisley, jerry donahue, chet atkins..........and.........my personal phenom.........danny gatton(rip).
so many great players out there, it's inspiring to me.
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The claim that any musician is in the band in a box is misleading. It's a tiny sampling of his work. He didnt play every riff and every guitar part in every key, or to accomodate every chord change. He played it one way on a recording, and then the algorithm then contorts that sample to give the illusion he is playing for you.
It would be the same as say isolotaing eric claptons guitar solo from a live show or a recording, and then taking that solo and putting it into a daw, and then using a pitch change to change the key.
But, I think the advantage of it is for somebody who doesn t play anything, or really know much about music. However, then they cant really use band in the box effectively.
Its weird a catch 22. Its something only musicians can really make work, yet a musician understands what it sounds like. At the same time, it's FOR people who are not musicians or can not play multiple instruments.
Without playing anything, somebody who understands music, is still going to do better with BIAB than somebody who doesnt.
Last edited by Bugsey; 06/26/13 03:30 PM.
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The claim that any musician is in band in a box is misleading. It's a tiny sampling of his work. From what I understand about the process, this is an accurate statement. ... At the same time, it's FOR people who are not musicians or can not play multiple instruments. ... And this one seems wildly inaccurate to me (ha, ha).
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Ok I agree. It is for musicians, but for songwriters, especially ones who write lyrics mostly, it's not going to write music for you. You still need to know chords, and know what chords will work over your melody.
It's not a writing partner. I can envision lyricists pressing a few buttons entering a few chords, and then forcing their song to fit what they enter.
Bad mistake in my opinion lol.
But I enjoy it, it's a great tool for me to have, I get frustrated that it wont play what I want it to though.
The closest thing to getting what you want played exists in ezdrummer and ezpiano or similar software. You can tweak the parts in midi editor and it can start to play what you hear. Eventually, that is going to be the method.
but then even moreso, you have to know music in order to make it sound like music
Last edited by Bugsey; 06/26/13 04:12 PM.
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When I first started writing songs (instead of just lyrics) initially I used it to show others how I could hear a song sounding.... now I use it to help pull ideas together... mostly so I can hear how a progression could sound... I don't play to well when learning new progressions... I find it good with country music... and waltzes  Cheers
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HiYa Mac...
I'm a Fan of Yours after only listening to 2 Songs.
Never Occurred to me WHAT method You Used to create 'em...I Enjoyed Them. (And it Didn't Matter What Method!)
As a Lyricist who plays NO Instruments, (But HAS Created $25K Albums and $50-a-Song Demos) let me simply say "Whatever Works".
IF You're Happy with The Tracks, Ignore The Critics.
A Good Song is a Good Song. Let Your Fans be the Judge...and Keep Up the Good Work!
Your Fan,
Stan
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I guess it's like everything else, the more you do something, the better you get at it, and if you come up with something decent than it's worth to you.
Kind of seems to me to be a bit like having all the answers to some math problems in front of you, but not knowing what the questions were.
I'd be curious to see/hear what somebody has done as a lyricist using band in the box without knowing anything about music though.
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Where do you get the fans from? LOL
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...I'd be curious to see/hear what somebody has done as a lyricist using band in the box without knowing anything about music though. So would I (ha, ha). The only thing a non-music person could do is to load in the song demos and write lyrics to that. While that could be fun and there are tons of demo songs in there -- how could they do any more than that? I wish I was better at midi and, of course, had all the great (and expensive) samples that makes midi sound about as good as "real". If you had that, you could construct songs that followed exactly what was in your head. I use a lot of "real tracks", so my original songs are sometimes forced down a semi-fixed path. It is the way it goes, I guess. I have acoustic and electric guitars, a bass, banjo, uke, fiddle, keyboards and percussion stuff. I guess I could do everything myself -- and I do that sometimes. Most of the time BIAB lets me come pretty close to what I want, probably even beter than if I tried to do everything myself!
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hey Bugsey,you can hear a non-musician useing BIAB by listening to my stuff.I have to keep a chord chart at hand at all times.I know i'm useing some pretty basic chords and chord progressions but give me some time.And i havn't even begun to use all the BIAB that is available at my fingertips.I am a slow learner with these machines!I couldn't show you an A chord from a C chord but for me it's all in the ears i guess.Keep on keepin' on!Mike
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hey Bugsey,you can hear a non-musician useing BIAB by listening to my stuff.I have to keep a chord chart at hand at all times.I know i'm useing some pretty basic chords and chord progressions but give me some time...I couldn't show you an A chord from a C chord but for me it's all in the ears i guess.... There ya go! How do you know what chords and chord progressions to use?
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hey Kevin,well songs rise and fall so i try to find the chords that best sound together for the project i'm working on.There's a bit of backtracking till i think i know what i'm doing,LOL.I guess it's kinda the same if i actually played a guitar,i'm sure you guitar slingers play a few chords before you get the chord and progression you want for a song,aint it?I do love minor chords the best though.Sounds simple but it aint!!!Mike
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Mike: Do you know about how some chords seem to go together, like G-C-D-Em or C-F-G-Am? Do you look up "standard" chord progressions on the 'net?
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yeah Kevin i have a chord chart on which chords are used together.At first i didn't and man was that a mess!I havn't downloaded a "progression" chart yet but i probably will soon.
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oh and Kevin,before this songwriting came about,i collected indian artifacts for thirty years and flintknapped for about ten years so you can say i went from the stoneage to this tech-age from one day to the next.A big difference but i'm lovin' it!Mike
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Mike: Do you know about how some chords seem to go together, like G-C-D-Em or C-F-G-Am? Do you look up "standard" chord progressions on the 'net? I hope this doesn't come across in a smug way... it's not intended to be. In music theory it's known as closely related chords. Related to the "Key" scale. In the key of "C":C Major (Tonic Chord) Am (Relative Minor of C) F Major (Subdominant) Dm (Relative Minor of F) G Major (Dominant) Em (Relative Minor of G) In the Key of G:G Major (Tonic Chord) Em (Relative Minor of G) C Major (Subdominant) Am (Relative Minor of C) D Major (Dominant) Bm (Relative Minor of D) In the Key of E Major: E, C#m, A, F#m, B, G#m Same theory applies for all 12 sounding keys. Best, John
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heck no John,not smug at all,i need any lesson in this i can get!I'm finding out there is no shortcut in the songs i'd really like to make.Kinda cryptic too me but i'll figure your key scale out,LOL.Not sure what "tonic","subdominant"means as to where and when i should use them.It seems a lot to learn in the short time i have left but i'll do my best at getting this songwriting down.I really thank everyone here for their help!Mike
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Tonic, Subdominant, Dominant are just names given to different degrees of the Major scale. C-Major scale: C, D, E, F, G, A, B,C (thus, all those tones are related in the previous example of related chords - C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am. The "B" which is the seventh tone of the C Major scale a diminished chord would be built on - B dim (though that's another story). I haven't considered music theory in 30 years. I compose from the heart. Though I'm sure music theory is so brainwashed into my skull it's used subconsciously. It's definitely not necessary to know music theory in order to compose great songs. John
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You sound pretty good. Sure you will get better at it too.
Ideally, you should know your melody and basic chords before you even turn on the band in the box. I write most of my stuff without an instrument, I figure out the chords that go best with it later. Although sometimes I will play a groove on guitar or in drums and sing till I find a melody.
If I write the lyric first, then I figure out how Im going to sing it before I figure out how I will play it.
This is not a endorsement against BIAB, it can be the best thing somebody has, just have to acknowledge as a musician that it has a lot of limitations. You might not realize how limited it is, until you become a musician of some sort.
Keep banging the tunes out, you'll improve every time
Last edited by Bugsey; 06/27/13 02:52 PM.
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or how do you even know what a chord is? "what do they mean enter my chord progression, am I supposed to have one?"
I guess on could do a google of songs, and learn the chord progressions to those, and copy those to write your own song.
There have been hundreds of songs using the same chord progression. Sometimes a familiar progression locks well in somebodys mind.
Last edited by Bugsey; 06/27/13 02:42 PM.
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I suggest anybody who wants to write songs who doesn't know anything about chords, enter this progression into band in a box, it has work for hundreds of songwriters. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pidokakU4I
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You don't need theory at all, not for writing or for playing, but it's like having a detailed map out in the jungle, it can help.
If somebody thinks of a song as just a few chords and a melody, like a woodie guthrie song or some country songs, biab could sound like a masterpiece to them.
If you think of a song as having composed intros, specific musical parts for each instrument, "I want the sax to play this, or I want the bass to play this, or this hook is great for guitar", there is no way to do it in BIAB other than playing it yourself, but that dfeats the purpose of owning something to play something for you.
I think it's good for some instruments that you may not know what you want, and the arrangement it puts out seems acceptable.
Alot of pros and cons
Last edited by Bugsey; 06/27/13 02:49 PM.
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Thanx a lot John for all the info!Mike
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hey thanx Bugsey!Yeah,i'm aware that BIAB has it's pros and cons but that's something i've come to accept if i want any of my lyrics to be set to music.I'm not saying i'll put my lyric to any type of music because i do try to find the closest i can get to what's in my head for a lyric.Anyway,i'm having a blast with it and that's all that matters.At least this venture keeps me in the cool air condition!Thanx!Mike
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Kevin, Finally heard that track, I guess that's not so bad or so obvious......but....still, what makes the recording is your guitar playing....why?.......because it has feel.
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It sounded like you were using a drum machine -- I think that's all the listener meant. This song by me uses BIAB -- is it too mechanical? Sounds good Kevin! BIAB is just a 21st Century production tool. Only limited to the user's skill. I certainly wouldn’t have even thought about this production of yours using BIAB if you didn’t mention it. Bottom-line... sounds good! Best, John
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I'm an infrequent contributor here, but this topic was mentioned on the PG forums by Kevin, so I thought I'd add my $.02.
“When it comes to creating an ORIGINAL arrangement, that's not going to happen. I think we can dupe ourselves into believing that our song is nicely arranged or that it sounds like a unique song, because nobody has heard our song before.”
Really?
Every song on my Soundclick site was done with BIAB. “Original”? “Unique?” I don't know, but then I don't know just how 'unique' your songs are, because I don't see any links to them.
“But at the end of the day it's about having a great demo/production not having an easy time making one.”
To me, at the end of the day, it's all about the song. A good song will shine through any production, or lack of it.
“You don't need theory at all, not for writing or for playing...”
Okey Dokey.
To quote Mr. Schick:
“BIAB is just a 21st Century production tool. Only limited to the user's skill.”
+1.
Regards,
Bob
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I didnt hear any of your demos with band in a box?
I can understand getting defensive, you spend alot of time trying to make band in a box your songwriting, recording, and producing solution, and your proud of your results. Thats fine.
But should I sign up on that forum and explain my case? I have my ownership papers for the software, I have recordings with and without band in a box.
But keeping it friendly, a fair question would be. How can one get an original arrangement, from a software that uses the same arrangements for the hundreds of thousands of people who use it?
Just because one guy uses an electric piano, in a country waltz style, whilst the other uses a, a fiddle solo, does not make each arrangement original.
What is meant about ORIGINAL, is it plays the music you compose. Band in a box does not do that, it ARRANGES the music you write, in a generic way.
Its not all only in the hands of the user, there is only so much you can do with it. If it was THAT good nobody would ever spend 10,000 on a recording.
I agree, a good song will shine through no matter what, but the arrangement and recording have to be top shelve if you expect it to compete.
Playing the demos for friends on the PGmusic site is not your target audience, put it on itunes or in youtube and see how many people tell you how wonderful it sounds. Ive never read one even halfway critical review of anybody's song on there. I realized all of this and STILL purchased the whole set, it's a fine personal tool and practicing software.
It's a fine idea generator, it's not a replacement for a home studio. You might be able to do jingles and small projects with it, but with alot of playing your own pieces on top of the band in a box bed tracks.
Yes, Paul McCartney new little about theory but was a gifted songwriter and performer.
Joe Pass a jazz legend has said he really didnt understand the theory of his playing.
Most pop stars do not have the same musical knowledge as classical or jazz musicians.
So my answer to okie dokie, is okie dokie right back atcha.
I would register at pgforums, but I know it's an exercise in futility, nobody who spends a few hundred bucks on a software wants to hear that they cant do what a half a million dollar recording studio can do.
But I wish you luck, we're all trying to the same result
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I didnt hear any of your demos with band in a box?
I can understand getting defensive, you spend alot of time trying to make band in a box your songwriting, recording, and producing solution, and your proud of your results. Thats fine.
But should I sign up on that forum and explain my case? I have my ownership papers for the software, I have recordings with and without band in a box.
But keeping it friendly, a fair question would be. How can one get an original arrangement, from a software that uses the same arrangements for the hundreds of thousands of people who use it?
Just because one guy uses an electric piano, in a country waltz style, whilst the other uses a, a fiddle solo, does not make each arrangement original.
What is meant about ORIGINAL, is it plays the music you compose. Band in a box does not do that, it ARRANGES the music you write, in a generic way.
Its not all only in the hands of the user, there is only so much you can do with it. If it was THAT good nobody would ever spend 10,000 on a recording.
I agree, a good song will shine through no matter what, but the arrangement and recording have to be top shelve if you expect it to compete.
Playing the demos for friends on the PGmusic site is not your target audience, put it on itunes or in youtube and see how many people tell you how wonderful it sounds. Ive never read one even halfway critical review of anybody's song on there. I realized all of this and STILL purchased the whole set, it's a fine personal tool and practicing software.
It's a fine idea generator, it's not a replacement for a home studio. You might be able to do jingles and small projects with it, but with alot of playing your own pieces on top of the band in a box bed tracks.
Yes, Paul McCartney new little about theory but was a gifted songwriter and performer.
Joe Pass a jazz legend has said he really didnt understand the theory of his playing.
Most pop stars do not have the same musical knowledge as classical or jazz musicians.
So my answer to okie dokie, is okie dokie right back atcha.
I would register at pgforums, but I know it's an exercise in futility, nobody who spends a few hundred bucks on a software wants to hear that they cant do what a half a million dollar recording studio can do.
But I wish you luck, we're all trying to the same result
While I find much of your response incomprehensible, I will try to answer it. “I didnt hear any of your demos with band in a box? “ I don't understand this comment. Sorry. Is this a statement or a question? “I can understand getting defensive ...” I'm not 'defensive'; although I suspect that you are, since you still haven't provided any links to your “original” music. “Playing the demos for friends on the PGmusic site is not your target audience, put it on itunes or in youtube and see how many people tell you how wonderful it sounds.” How do you assume to know what my target audience is? Once again, where can I hear your stuff on iTunes or YouTube? No....I thought so. “Most pop stars do not have the same musical knowledge as classical or jazz musicians.” I'm sorry, but that is just hilarious. “I would register at pgforums, but I know it's an exercise in futility, nobody who spends a few hundred bucks on a software wants to hear that they cant do what a half a million dollar recording studio can do. “ Do you really believe that anyone at the PG forums believes that their recordings compare with a major recording facility? I can't speak for them, but I seriously doubt it. “But I wish you luck, we're all trying to the same result” Once again, how do you know what 'result' we are all 'trying to'? I'm looking forward to hearing some of your original music. Where could one find it?
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I'm not 'defensive'; although I suspect that you are, since you still haven't provided any links to your “original” music.
How would defensive be not playing a band in a box? Im not here to prove to you my opinion, but you came to prove to me yours.
I could be the worst musician and songwriter ever, that doesnt change this conversation.
if you are seriously laughing that jazz musicians have more musical knowledge than a pop star, there is no reason to continue the argument. You simply do not understand music.
This comment says it all:
Do you really believe that anyone at the PG forums believes that their recordings compare with a major recording facility? I can't speak for them, but I seriously doubt it.
Oh, so you agree with me, THANKS!
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“I'm not 'defensive'; although I suspect that you are, since you still haven't provided any links to your “original” music. How would defensive be not playing a band in a box? Im not here to prove to you my opinion, but you came to prove to me yours.” Actually, I don't need to 'prove' anything to you. My music speaks for itself. Yours? I have no way of knowing, since it's not available for review. “I could be the worst musician and songwriter ever, that doesnt change this conversation.” Oh, but it does. On what authority do you make the statements that you have made? Are you a musician? A songwriter? A performer? Track record? Lacking any recordings to review, I would have to assume that you might well be just another internet expert, all hat – no cattle, as it were. Hundreds of JPF folks post their music, some amateur, some very professionally done. At least they have the temerity to post their music for peer review. You? Not so much. “if you are seriously laughing that jazz musicians have more musical knowledge than a pop star, there is no reason to continue the argument. You simply do not understand music.” Priceless.  “This comment says it all: Do you really believe that anyone at the PG forums believes that their recordings compare with a major recording facility? I can't speak for them, but I seriously doubt it. Oh, so you agree with me, THANKS!” Once again – priceless. Where can I hear some of your 'original' and 'unique' music? 
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Humm,
While I didn't give it much thought, as I don't or haven't used any Software Program to produce music, it appears to me that someone who buys such a program needs to have a good working knowledge already of music. Probably a good way is to buy an instrument and learn to play. Or study with someone that teaches music.
Ray E. Strode
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Absolutely. The only point has been made by me and inadvertantly by DB, that it's not for making song demos at a competive level.
It's for making sketches. Im not sure I'd be chargin people 99 cents for a band in the box recording as some people are...ahemm
Humm
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whoa, how did this thread arrive here?.....I didn't think I'd be opening a can of worms, and why would anyone put worms in a can to begin with?
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“Absolutely. The only point has been made by me and inadvertantly by DB, that it's not for making song demos at a competive level.” Oh, so you are pitching songs to artists or publishers, are you? You have a lot of experience on that 'competive' level? You made the statement – can you back up your “expert” opinion? Not so much. “It's for making sketches. Im not sure I'd be chargin people 99 cents for a band in the box recording as some people are...ahemm Humm” I'm not sure that you actually have any recordings to sell. Usually, when people do, they promote them. Of course, it's a lot easier to snipe from the sidelines while pretending to be something you're not. Still waiting to hear your inspired music.  Ahemm.
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whoa, how did this thread arrive here?.....I didn't think I'd be opening a can of worms, and why would anyone put worms in a can to begin with? Sorry for the hijack, Mac. Just can't tolerate posers. And I put worms in a can to go fishin'. Regards, Bob
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There are a bunch of diehard zealots on the band in a box site, who try to battle anybody who thinks band in the box is not the greatest songwriting software of all time.
You cant say otherwise or else somebody will be sent to battle you.
Any site that sells the software you will see more of the same. It's pretty funny really.
it was designed for and is still used as a musicians learning tool to practice, it is not a composer or an arranger
But Who cares, What a stupid argument.
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There are a bunch of diehard zealots on the band in a box site, who try to battle anybody who thinks band in the box is not the greatest songwriting software of all time.
You cant say otherwise or else somebody will be sent to battle you.
Any site that sells the software you will see more of the same. It's pretty funny really.
it was designed for and is still used as a musicians learning tool to practice, it is not a composer or an arranger
But Who cares, What a stupid argument. A not-so-tactical withdrawal. About what I expected. You forgot to say “ whatever!” 
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I saw this thread, and although it's a bit old, I wanted to comment. I use BIAB and really like it. Nope, not the best thing since Fender invented the Telecaster, but a pretty nice program. There are sample cuts on there, many of them, for non-musicians to play around with and see what they can do. But a somewhat decent musician can use it as a very effective tool. The more advanced (and more expensive) versions offer tracks composed from samples of real musicians that sound pretty danged good. There's an indigenous algorhythm that can manipulate those samples to comply with the timing, chord pattern, etc., entered by the user. Yes, there is midi, too. Like most things, it depends on the skills of the user. I'm just saying it's a great tool for a lot of people. For others, maybe not so good. It all depends on the needs and skills of the user. Here's one I did using BIAB. Everything except the lead guitar track (that's me) is BIAB. For what it's worth: http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12070799Also, the two songs i recently posted on the MP3 Forum were done using BIAB backing tracks. Mac...you're a damned good musician and composer. I **ALWAYS** enjoy your work!!!!! Al
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