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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 225
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 225 |
While browsing around the Roland site, I came across this new product of theirs: http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=1141&ParentId=18 , the BK-7m backing module--an all-in-one sound module, auto-arranger, etc. The concept is not new. I still have my old Yamaha QY70 (before that I had the QY10 and 20, never went beyond the 70), and the Roland PM-5, and haven't used them for years. There have been many newer ones since then. But this is the fanciest one I have ever seen. I am curious whether anyone here has tried one of them, and to hear your impressions of it. How would you compare for live performance--a laptop with BIAB, or this new Roland box? Not that I am about to go get one. They sell for about $1,000, more than many laptops with BIAB. (and a laptop could perform other functions as well.) Interesting though, and I would be curious to hear your review, if you have tried one of these.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,109
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,109 |
I'm not familiar with that unit, but I've messed with some auto-accompaniment keyboards before. There are pros and cons to both the keyboard approach and the BiaB approach of doing things. So everything I am writing about arranger keyboards I suspect are also about the BK-7 - but I'm not sure - if you are interested in the BK-7, further investigation is recommended.
The keyboards (and I suspect the BK-7) have great intros and endings, better than what you have in BiaB. But how many times can you use a great intro? I remember working out a cha-cha for ballroom dancers, "Cherry Pink..." and used this great intro from an old Roland auto-accompaniment keyboard. It was great. Then I decided to learn a cha-cha version of "The More I See You" so I used that same, great intro. But when the new song started, it sounded so much like "Cherry Pink" that I wanted to start the wrong song. So there are advantages and disadvantages to elaborate intros and endings.
The arranger keyboards often have more instruments than BiaB. This can make for much thicker background parts.
Also the keyboards work in real time. BiaB wants the chords entered before you hit the play button.
Real time allows the keyboard player to be more spontaneous in their arrangement, but the BiaB method has one great advantage that IMHO can allow the song played to be much more musical. And for me that's what it's all about.
First of all, the arranger keyboards usually have from 2 to 8 bars that they play over and over and over again with variations according to the chord you are playing. BiaB can have hundreds of different patterns and they do not come in the same order over and over again unless the style is programmed that way.
Second and most importantly to me, since you enter the chords ahead of time, BiaB knows which chord is coming next. So a smart style programmer can design patterns that only occur in certain musical contexts. A couple of examples would be the V chord in a typical ii-V7-I progression. Or a IV chord that resolves to the root when the IV is on an odd numbered measure and the root is an even numbered measure. There are dozens of "masks" in the StyleMaker that can allow the style writer to make musical patterns that only occur in the situations that are appropriate.
Third, BiaB can have multiple patterns for the same situation with different probability weights. So for example, if the style writer would create 5 different patterns for a V7 chord that resolves to the root when the root has a part marker on it (measure 1 of the next 8 or so), the writer can put the pattern with the most 'personality' with a low probability number that will surprise the listener every once in a great while and not over do itself.
For me, I like the BiaB approach better, because if the style is written well, the musical output can be more varied and more musical.
If I were a single act doing a "piano bar" type of gig, I might prefer the keyboard approach as it would allow the arrangements to be more flexible.
Insights and incites by 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: Jan 2007
Posts: 928
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 928 |
Well, there really is a new BiaB-type software application.
It is called Songtrix and it is developed by the same company in Australia that produced Chord Wizard (a great application, by the way):
http://www.chordwizard.com/products.aspx
But Songtrix seems to be MIDI only and after Real Tracks, I'm never going back to MIDI.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,342
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,342 |
Not to mention ChordPulse, which is an excellent little MIDI sketchpad. Both programs have some interface ideas I really wish PG would look into -- like the Tab view, the vertical mixer, Chordpulse's pages, right-click context menu and preset progressions....
Best, Tom SmithWin10/64 • i7-8700K • 24 GB RAM BIAB 2024 • Reaper 7 • Izotope MPS AKG C1000S • IK iRig I/O Pro
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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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User Video: Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box®
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 German for Windows is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 für Windows Deutsch ist verfügbar!
Wir waren fleißig und haben über 50 neue Funktionen und eine erstaunliche Sammlung neuer Inhalte hinzugefügt, darunter 222 RealTracks, neue RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, "Songs with Vocals" Artist Performance Sets, abspielbare RealTracks Set 3, abspielbare RealDrums Set 2, zwei neue Sets von "RealDrums Stems", XPro Styles PAK 6, Xtra Styles PAK 17 und mehr!
Paket | Was ist Neu
Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!
The Newest RealBand 2024 Update is Here!
The newest RealBand 2024 Build 5 update is now available!
Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.
This free update is available to all RealBand 2024 users. To learn more about this update and download it, head to www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#20245
The Band-in-a-Box® Flash Drive Backup Option
Today (April 5) is National Flash Drive Day!
Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!
For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.
Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.
Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!
Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.
Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!
With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!
Learn more about this free update for Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1111
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 Review: 4.75 out of 5 Stars!
If you're looking for a in-depth review of the newest Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows version, you'll definitely find it with Sound-Guy's latest review, Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows Review: Incredible new capabilities to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs.
A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."
"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."
"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."
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