Jamming with my friend yesterday (zoom), he rightly commented on my timing. ? This led to another go at my perennial search for good backing track software. I offer the following info on the Windows software "Impro-Visor." Plus for help in learning for the 21 tunes challenge.
Anyway, I have tried many of these in the past and find that the standard "styles" are too "notey" for my purpose. All I want is a bass, chord (chord), selectable on piano, guitar, accordion (I like the string synth) with simple alternating bass and drums on quarter notes (no swing).
I think Band in s Box would probably be good, but couldn't find a trial version, and remember using it in the past with a lot of searching for a basic style. I tried a fair number of windows and android solutions.
The thing about Impro-Visor is that you can edit the styles - bass, chords and percussion, or make your own style. Chord input is pretty easy, you can transpose, and change the tempo and time signature. Its interface is a little quirky (what's new?), but did I mention it's free?
Anyway, I started with the "cabaret2" style, went into the style editor, then the "piano roll" editor and simplified the drum part. You have to remember to send the style part back from the piano roll to the style editor before you save....
It also has a mixer for the parts, and a solo generator and other fancy stuff I haven't tried, nor did I enter melody. You enter chords by a single long text line like "C, C, G7, Am, C, etc." then you look through the different control menus to format the page.
Put on the headphones, set to loop 25 times, practice the chord progression in different voicings, add melody and fills, sing if your heart desires and go home happy. What could be better?
Anyway, I have tried many of these in the past and find that the standard "styles" are too "notey" for my purpose. All I want is a bass, chord (chord), selectable on piano, guitar, accordion (I like the string synth) with simple alternating bass and drums on quarter notes (no swing).
I think Band in s Box would probably be good, but couldn't find a trial version, and remember using it in the past with a lot of searching for a basic style. I tried a fair number of windows and android solutions.
The thing about Impro-Visor is that you can edit the styles - bass, chords and percussion, or make your own style. Chord input is pretty easy, you can transpose, and change the tempo and time signature. Its interface is a little quirky (what's new?), but did I mention it's free?
Anyway, I started with the "cabaret2" style, went into the style editor, then the "piano roll" editor and simplified the drum part. You have to remember to send the style part back from the piano roll to the style editor before you save....
It also has a mixer for the parts, and a solo generator and other fancy stuff I haven't tried, nor did I enter melody. You enter chords by a single long text line like "C, C, G7, Am, C, etc." then you look through the different control menus to format the page.
Put on the headphones, set to loop 25 times, practice the chord progression in different voicings, add melody and fills, sing if your heart desires and go home happy. What could be better?