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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 264
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 264 |
Hey everyone
Mostly I use BIAB for practicing with.
Either loading standard chord progressions and playing with them in different styles
Or I've programmed some drum only styles where beats drop out to help with my timing.
I'm writing an article for my website on how to use BIAB for practicing - does anyone who uses BIAB to help practice their instrument post how they use BIAB?
Thanks in advance
Paul
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 812
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 812 |
Greetings Paul,
Good thread and topic here. Peter and Company have really developed the ultimate practice tool with BIAB. I not only use it for my own personal practice, but for my students and classes as well. For Example:
1. My personal practice: I now have many folders containing the exercises of my music books. I play both Trumpet and Piano. Most brass exercises can be a tad bit tedious and unmusical. BIAB to the rescue, I now have tasty backing tracks for my Trumpet books, both Exercise and Etude books. I am also working on a Transcribed solo book, which I will put into BIAB. In this way I will have the Original MP3 of the solo (Clifford Brown or Bill Evans for example) Then the chords and solo written out in BIAB. I can slow down the solo or change keys at any time, allowing me to zero in on trouble spots. Last, I now have a Big folder of my personal favorite tunes, that I play using the Jukebox feature. This insures that I really know the tunes and is great for playing through without pausing, I can then shuffle these tunes in my iPod when Im gigging and I will always know the tune even if I can´t see my iPod!
2. I use BIAB in my Harmony and Music Theory classes. I have many music theory books now in BIAB format, it is so much better to play REAL MUSIC then just trying to explain some concept . This week, I made a file for the song Ïf you never come to me¨by AC Jobim. I was able to play in the melody from my EWI , Type in the chords and Print out parts for Concert, Bb and Eb instruments in less than 10 minutes! I then printed out another copy without the melody, asking my students to improvise using their pencils. I then printed another copy of a Soloist part (Pat Martino 16th note solo) WOW, my students were blown away by this approach to Improv.
Really Paul, I´m just scratching the surface here. PM me if you need more details, and I can also zip you some files so you can see what I´m talking about.
Hope this helps,
Ed
Acapulco
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,444
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,444 |
I originally bought BiaB back on the Atari/ST computer to practice improvisation on my saxophone with. After all, improvisation is a series of making tensions and releasing those tensions, but without the rest of the band, there are no tensions. I still use BiaB to practice improvisation with. It is great for that. I also write aftermarket styles for it http://www.nortonmusic.com - I started writing the styles for myself, gave them to friends who raved about them, so I took out an ad in Electronics Musician. Peter Gannon called one day and offered to help me convert them to PC and Mac (thanks Peter) and before I knew it I was in the style business. I also use BiaB as a scratch pad to generate backing tracks for my duo - complete instructions on how I do that are at http://www.nortonmusic.com/backing_tracks.htmlBut of all the uses for BiaB, I think it is one of the best practice tools on the market. Almost any song, any key, any tempo, any style, and your band-mates don't have to hear the clinkers while you practice. Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6 |
Here are some things I use BIAB for:
1. Playing the melody of a tune on my tenor, in unison with lead instrument and rhythm, to keep my intonation and time honest.
2. Listening to the chords of a tune and then soloing over them.
3. Generating an endless stream of sight-reading material in many styles and keys with the Soloist.
4. Adding new tunes to my book and printing lead sheets in C, Bb, and Eb.
5. Having fun, as decreed by Peter Gannon.
I bought Band in a Box to use as a practice tool, and that's still its primary role in my musical life. Though Real Drums and Real Bass make for an amazingly realistic accompaniment, the most important capabilities for me are still those fundamentals having to do with accompaniment (including easy transposition and tempo change), generation of melodies and solos, variety of styles, and notation. I hope PG will not abandon further development of those capabilities of this wonderful program in favor of pretty horn sounds (which are way cool, but I still want to be the best-sounding horn in the room when I practice).
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 264
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 264 |
Thanks everyone for the posts - when I've written the article for my website (the original purpose of the Original Post!) I'll post a link here so you can have a look....
Cheers
Paul
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
Wow, bass players practice? (Ducks)
C G C G C G C G G C G C C......
Groovin'!
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 264
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 264 |
thats a tough exercise!
DO I use both hands?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1 |
Hello Edward,
I am using BIAB the same way you do.
Actually, I would like to find a transcription of Clifford Brown's solo on Delilah.
Any idea where I could find it ?
Thanks
Francis
francis.behr@gmail.com
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,148
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,148 |
Hi Francis,
Welcome to the forums.
Have you tried Google and then looked at the images that Google finds?
This post you found was created back in 2009 (03/16/09 according to the time stamp) and the original poster doesn't drop by too often these days so they might not see your question.
Regards,
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2025
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 6
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 6 |
I've used BIAB in 3 ways over the years... 1) Back in the 90's I developed awful tendonitis and nerve damage to my right elbow so couldn't physically handle recording the bass and drum parts to my original songs. I used BIAB to play/record the rhythm section then multitracked the guitar and vocals on top. My arms were blown out, but I could still write/record my stuff. BIAB was a lifesaver! 2) Currently I'm trying to learn to play pedal steel guitar and BIAB is the perfect practice buddy. It's super easy and fast to enter in any song I want to learn then play and repeat, repeat, repeat! 3) Another thing I use it for to optimize my practice time...I can save a song as a standard midi file then import that into TablEdit (tablature editing software) which will translate the midi file into pedal steel tablature. Saves me lots of time where I used to have to transcribe pedal steel tab by hand. BIAB...there is no substitute 
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,899
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,899 |
WytchCrypt, I noticed your #2 about learning to play steel guitar. Did you know there is a steel guitar forum that has a special section just for Band-in-a-Box? You can find out more about the steel guitar forum ++HERE++
Jim Fogle - 2026 BiaB (Build 1211) RB (Build 3) - Ultra+ PAK DAWs: Cakewalk Sonar - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8 Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,706
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,706 |
Don't know if this fits the question but, the way I practice with BIAB is to rehearsh for my gigs.
#1. Determine my set list
#2. List them according to Key Sig and tempo so the set is easiest on the ear and brain.
#3. Put on cans, grab a nearby guitar and run through the set using Jukebox.
#4. Of course time the set as I edit what I want to be the final.
#5. After I get it where I think it should be, then I add at the bottom a list of 5/10 more songs that can be substituted with the click of a mouse.
6. After my list passes the can test I repeat all of the above through the PA I will be using on the gig.
7. Then I pack for the gig and have a Jack Daniel's and Water.
PS: I also like to spend at least 5-6 hours a week working on original and new cover material.
Later,
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 60 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until December 31, 2025. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49. Browse the full contents of each package and listen to demos here.
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
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