Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 10
Newbie
OP Offline
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 10
Hello all...

What is the main difference between these two products in terms of what you can do with them?

I am a budding jazz/standards vocal artist and want to make my own recordings. I would like to be able to use my karaoke backings and also change the keys in some of them or alter the time. I also want to create my own arrangements.

Which product would be best for my needs?

Thanks!

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,486
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,486
Hi,

Welcome to the forum

For what you require on the audio side then RealBand is the program

jazzman


BIAB - RealBand - 2022
Windows 10 64
Zoo computer with 7i processor- SSD 1TB -2TB HDD
Roland keyboards
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 25,799
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 25,799
This link will help: http://www.pgmusic.com/bandbox.htm

All but the least expensive Band-in-a-Box package now include RealBand, and the difference is only $30.


BIAB 2024 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 6.5 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6; Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus Studio 192, Presonus Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,616
R
Expert
Offline
Expert
R
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,616
Depending on how much work you want to do, I would say BIAB is easier to get up and running. It essentially generates an accompaniment for you based on the chords, tempo, and style you choose. Some say it is complex. It does have a lot of features in from the years of growth but most are not needed to get very good sounding accompaniment. With the addition of RealTracks and RealDrums, the sound is awesome.

RealBand does most of the same but gives you more control over your tracks. If you're used to Sonar or something, RealBand should give you no problem. I'm still a BIAB user at gigs. I am playing around with RealBand and it is on my list to move my BIAB songs into RealBand once RealBand matures a little more and works out the kinks.

My advice would be purchase the BIAB package that includes RealBand and spend a little time with both. This forum has a lot of experienced people who can help with just about anything.

Rachael

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,687
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,687
Quote:

...once RealBand matures a little more and works out the kinks.




You're overall answer is very good Rachael, but what kinks are you referring to? It's not perfect of course but basically I don't have any showstopping problem with Real Band.

Bob


Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,616
R
Expert
Offline
Expert
R
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,616
If yours ain't broke, don't fix it. Those I can remember are:

- BSTSW drums don't generate properly. Measures are silent when changing from A/B part markers
- Some diminished chords with a pedal bass don't generate properly in the RealBass
- RealDrums and RealTracks often generate past ending.

...and a few more I can't remember right now

I'm sure some of these will be addressed in next update

R

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 10
Newbie
OP Offline
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 10
Thanks all! I guess BIAB with Real Band is what I'll get seeing is it's only $30. Can't wait to get started!

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,687
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,687
To me Rachael, all those things are little nothings but that's just me. They are valid points. I've been a pro musician for 40 years and I look at these programs to give me some good raw material to work with not to complete the tune for me. Key phrase is raw material. RB is a midi/audio recording program with a ton of really neat features that you use to record and/or create with.
I take tracks from many different sources, prerecorded midi files, Biab generated tracks, my own playing and put them all together with lots of editing, cutting, pasting etc. And lots of experimenting. Having a Real Track generate a bar past the end of the tune is nothing to me, I can cut that out, do a quick fade where I chopped it faster than I can type this post. For me this kind of thing is standard procedure and I find it a lot of fun. It sounds like you're not using the program much because of these glitches. Work with it, it will do a lot for you. These things are certainly worth mentioning to the developers but I wouldn't let them stop me from using the program, they're easily worked around and there's nothing else that does what it does.

Bob


Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 493
B
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
B
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 493
Get both and play around with them and you'll soon find the strengths / weaknesses of each. They give me the best results when I use them both. I can't imagine doing what I do with only one of them.
Good luck.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3
Y
Newbie
Offline
Newbie
Y
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3
Hi All,

I'm new here, I bought BIAB & RB but has been only using RB to put up my new song with the style and the instruments available with it. So far, still trying out how to use the features to enhance the song.

After reading some of the posting in the forum, if i understand correctly, many of you using BIAB then import into RB. Is it true?

How does help to enhance the song arrangement or other aspect?

Need some advice as I am new to the such software, and has little knowledge about music, this is only my first piece of work.

Last edited by y2koutsider; 03/17/09 10:27 PM.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,616
R
Expert
Offline
Expert
R
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,616
I think a lot of people import BIAB songs is because they were BIABers before RealBand came out. I have several hundred arrangements done in BIAB and if I need more control over them, they can easily be imported into RealBand.

BIAB will allow you to try a bunch of different things without too much effort. You can change styles, drums, etc and hear the result by just hitting play. For live performances, BIAB offers plenty of features such as the conductor that allow you to change things on the fly. RealBand is not for that. It takes your arrangement and 'sets it in stone'.

RealBand gives you much more control over how your arrangement sounds but involves more 'hands-on' from you. BIAB does most of that for you.

Hope this helps,

Rachael

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3
Y
Newbie
Offline
Newbie
Y
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3
Hi Rachael,

thanks! it sure help, guess Maybe I'll restart and tried using BIAB with the song instead(Should I?), as I was having difficulty using RB ( I am unsure how to do it) with a few things.

1. Changing style for certain instrument, tried many times in RB but maybe I miss out a few steps.
2. Everytime if I add in addition chords to the song by hitting the "Generate" or "+" it generates the song and change the instruments as well..

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,687
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,687
If you are new to both programs, Biab is probably easier to use than Real Band. A Biab style controls what instruments are used so if you change styles and regenerate, you could hear all new instruments or maybe one or two depending on the style. In RB if you are using the first 8 tracks as Biab tracks, then it works the same way when you hit the generate button. BUT and this is where RB is so good, you can highlight a track outside of the first 8 like track 11 or 32 or whatever and select a style, then right click anywhere in the track and select either midi or a Real Track and then it will generate that one track only. The reason I like Real Band so much is I can either import a Biab song or create one from scratch using RB's chord grid (the same as Biab) and generate the song. That gives me a starting point. Then I start highlighting other tracks starting with 9 and generating new tracks using all different styles, some midi and some Real Tracks or drums. You have 40 additional tracks to play with. Just remember that by highlighting one track and using the right mouse click to select the instrument will generate that track only and leave the rest alone. Now you can have several different styles in the same song using both midi and RT's. That can be very cool.
Biab is easier to use because you put in the chords, select the style and that's it, done but with a lot fewer choices than Real Band.

Bob


Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3
Y
Newbie
Offline
Newbie
Y
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3
Hi Bob,

Thanks for the tips! I'll try that, use track 9 onwards! I hope it will solve my problem.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259
Another thanks for the tip here, Bob. THANKS!!


Cornet Curmudgeon
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3
B
Newbie
Offline
Newbie
B
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3
Thanks for asking this, I am also new to BIAB and RB and from a newbie perspective is it VERY confusing, there seems to be a lot of overlap between the 2 products and the line is blurred where one product ends and the next begins, the recommended strategies for getting them to work together, which is better to use based on what you are trying to accomplish, etc. This topic alone that addresses the difference between the 2 products could be its own white paper which I wish PG would publish.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Realistically, I think we are all still working out our separate workflows, habits, discoveries etc. with them.

--Mac

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18,838
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18,838
bking,

I used to assemble my arrangements in BIAB and then mix the final product in RB. I no longer do that. These days, I use BIAB to settle on the best style for a song because it's quick and easier to change styles and demo them (as some others above also do). I don't worry about trying to develop an arrangement in BIAB - I just go for the "overall". When I've settled on a style, I then load the BIAB file in RB and use the BIAB file as the foundation for an arrangement I develop in RB. RB is much more powerful in that it gives me greater control over tracks and sections of tracks.

As Mac has said, though, much of it has to do with what you get used to.

Regards,
Noel


MY SONGS...
Audiophile BIAB 2024
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
I use the software for hours every day, since my retirement. It's first thing on my mind in the morning and the last thing at night. Perhaps I'm obsessed. I did just manage to clean the kitchen, run the dishwasher, and make the coffee, start the supper meat defrosting, and listen to the news though!

I suggest any new user go a 'hunting'. Find Band In a Box files using google.

I've gotten thousands of jazz classics, and use them all the time.

Another good source of starting material is to acquire a fake book and backing tracks from Notes Norton. I got the 60's Rock and Roll fakebook and have had lots of good times with that. He has the Mantooth series of jazz books, and those are a great start for someone wanting to do jazz.

I'll admit that I don't seem to need Realband for my purposes. My workflow is Band in a Box to Audacity. Audacity is free, and I'm used to it. I can sing my song, record the Band in a Box output and vocal into Audacity and trim the front and back, shine it up a bit, and save it as an mp3. That's it.....

Lots of people where will help you. New users should post their setup, ie computer, operating system, sound devices, and type of music, with an example song they want to work on and ask for some help. We all go our own way, but you'll get lots of 'advice' on how the song evolves. Do all the regular things, determine the number of repeats you want, add a solo, put in lyrics so you get the hang of that, and explore plug ins..(unless you have a 64 bit operating system and you might have to wait.).


John Conley
Musica est vita
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 11,333
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 11,333
Quote:

bking,

I used to assemble my arrangements in BIAB and then mix the final product in RB. I no longer do that. These days, I use BIAB to settle on the best style for a song because it's quick and easier to change styles and demo them (as some others above also do). I don't worry about trying to develop an arrangement in BIAB - I just go for the "overall". When I've settled on a style, I then load the BIAB file in RB and use the BIAB file as the foundation for an arrangement I develop in RB. RB is much more powerful in that it gives me greater control over tracks and sections of tracks.



Regards,
Noel




Ditto this, - my current workflow also. By the way, great thread folks.


Dan, BIAB2024, SoundCloud Win11, i7(12thGen), 32GB, 1TB SSD(M.2 NVMe SSD), 2TB Libraries, 1 TB(WD-Black), 2TB SSD(M.2 NVMe SSD)Data, Motu Audio Express, Keystation 61, SL88 Studio, Reaper

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!

The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!

There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.

If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.

We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!

Congratulations to the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

We've just announced the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

There are 45 winners, each receiving a Band-in-a-Box 2024 UltraPAK! Read the official announcement to see if you've won.

Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed!

Video: Volume Automation in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows®

We've created a video to help you learn more about the Volume Automation options in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows.

Band-in-a-Box® 2024: Volume Automation

www.pgmusic.com/manuals/bbw2024full/chapter11.htm#volume-automation

Video: Audio Input Monitoring with Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows®

We've created this short video to explain Audio Input Monitoring within Band-in-a-Box® 2024, and included some tips & troubleshooting details too!

Band-in-a-Box® 2024: Audio Input Monitoring

3:17: Tips
5:10: Troubleshooting

www.pgmusic.com/manuals/bbw2024full/chapter11.htm#audio-input-monitoring

Video: Enhanced Melodists in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows®!

We've enhanced the Melodists feature included in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows!

Access the Melodist feature by pressing F7 in the program to open the new MultiPicker Library and locate the [Melodist] tab.

You can now generate a melody on any track in the program - very handy! Plus, you select how much of the melody you want generated - specify a range, or apply it to the whole track.

See the Melodist in action with our video, Band-in-a-Box® 2024: The Melodist Window.

Learn even more about the enhancements to the Melodist feature in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/manuals/bbw2024upgrade/chapter3.htm#enhanced-melodist

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 DAW Plugin Version 6: New Features Specifically for Reaper®

New with the DAW Plugin Version 6.0, released with Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows: the Reaper® Panel!

This new panel offers built-in specific support for the Reaper® DAW API allowing direct transfer of Band-in-a-Box® files to/from Reaper® tracks!

When you run the Plugin from Reaper®, there is a panel to set the following options:
-BB Track(s) to send: This allows you to select the Plugin tracks that will be sent Reaper.
-Destination Reaper Track: This lets you select the destination Reaper track to receive media content from the Plugin.
-At Bar: You can select a bar in Reaper where the Plugin tracks should be placed.
-Start Below Selected Track: This allows you to place the Plugin tracks below the destination Reaper track.
-Overwrite Reaper Track: You can overwrite previous content on the destination Reaper track.
-Move to Project Folder: With this option, you can move the Plugin tracks to the Reaper project folder.
-Send Reaper Instructions Enable this option to send the Reaper Instructions instead of rendering audio tracks, which is faster.
-Render Audio & Instructions: Enable this option to generate audio files and the Reaper instructions.
-Send Tracks After Generating: This allows the Plugin to automatically send tracks to Reaper after generating.
-Send Audio for MIDI Track: Enable this option to send rendered audio for MIDI tracks.
-Send RealCharts with Audio: If this option is enabled, Enable this option to send RealCharts with audio.

Check out this video highlighting the new Reaper®-specific features: Band-in-a-Box® DAW Plugin Version 6: New Features Specifically for Reaper®

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 DAW Plugin Version 6: New Features Video

The new Band-in-a-Box VST DAW Plugin Verion 6 adds over 20 new features!

Watch the new features video to learn more: Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2024 - DAW Plugin Version 6 New Features

We also list these new features at www.pgmusic.com/bbwin.plugin.htm.

Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics81,394
Posts732,485
Members38,441
Most Online2,537
Jan 19th, 2020
Newest Members
zagrajbarke, Ernest J, Izzy, BenChaz, Csofi
38,440 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 195
Al-David 124
DC Ron 112
dcuny 87
rsdean 82
Today's Birthdays
CeeDee, SethMould
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5