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#95109 12/05/10 03:50 AM
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gibson Offline OP
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I would like a MIDI only BIAB as before the Real Invasion with the option to not even download the Real tracks and Instruments but with the relevant program core improvements.
I have worked with MIDI since the late 1980's and find the Real stuff limiting for the way I write and produce my songs. Just my opinion as I anticipate many will strongly disagree, but maybe not comment.
I still haven't even scratched the surface of the multitude of MIDI styles and realise that PG Music are sadly now heading away from the way I work.
BIAB will always be a great program tho' and be the first I use once I have written a song.

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A BIG +1

Realtracks is a tool I use occasionally, mostly for a few clients who are country and western people, and RTs save me a ton of time. However for most all of my work I use midi and it saddens me the way PG is moving away from midi, or at least not improving midi in BiaB.

I can understand from a business point of view why the emphasis is on RTs. However outside of this forum midi is still king.

Just my two cents.


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Keeping multiple versions of a program for the sake of old technology make this a dream. Anything in the midi standard can run 32 tracks on a Pentium or less, probably even a 386.

It's not been updated, and it's limitations are severe. I'd suggest finding out the very best midi compliant keyboards for which there are patch maps and buying those as the prices plummet.

The 'I gotta have midi' guys seem to be mostly the ones who want to make a backing track sound exactly like the original, program all the signature licks. One band in town has an older guy who is still using Atari and has duplicated stuff like Brittany Spears and the guys come on with the lead singer dressed in drag right down to pigtails and the song sounds amazing. But what's the market. I hired them for a convention, 5 guys and had to pay 700 bucks for two 45 minute shows. That was 7 years ago, but now that has to be 1200 or more. They get 10 gigs a year I hear. So your income is what?

Roll your midi track for Chestnuts Roasting, and I'll roll a backing track with RealTracks. My work will take 15 minutes. And then we get them 'tested'. I think PG with RealTracks and John pushing buttons is going to blow the midi out of the water, especially if we say you have only 12 hours working time to produce it from the same starting point.

I have a lot of midi. EWI gizmo, keyboards, a big Yamaha organ in the garage with midi on it, 2 external midi modules, but I use them less and less. The Ketron SD2 is great, but I don't think I've used it in 6 months and it's hooked to Band in a Box and once in a while I click the melody on to check something and I tweak a note, but then I shut it down again.


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whats happening John Im agreeing with you again Frankie


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Quote:

Keeping multiple versions of a program for the sake of old technology make this a dream.




I will respectfully disagree with you. If midi is such an old technology how come Kontakt, Stephen Slate drums, Sampletank and a ton of other midi programs are selling so well?

Personally I do more covers with RTs than with midi right now! I am not one of those guys who do covers exactly as the originals.

I use midi because I can get it to do what I want when I want in my original work. I can’t do that with RTs.

Getting better midi sounds costs a lot more than RTs but it still is a viable way to go. There is plenty of room for both technologies to co-exist. I use both however I believe that midi is getting the short end of the stick here. All I’m asking for is more midi styles, more than one midi out port and better midi resolution in BiaB.

I hope this explains where I’m coming from.


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Since getting the 2009 version of BIAB, I've fiddled with MIDI tracks, but always been disappointed in the sound. It seems there's level of "cheese" to them that's hard to overcome. RealTracks always sound so much better to me.

Then again, I was over at my parent's house the other day, and my Mom pulled out a cassette recording I'd done as a Father's Day present. It was made over a decade ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday - BIAB running my JV-80, me hunched down, holding a cassette recorder next to my crappy little amp and singing away... Good times!

What really struck me was how good the instruments sounded - especially the acoustic bass.

It's funny how sometimes your eyes tell you ears what they're hearing.

I think it's a bit early to write off MIDI. Even now, if I want to get orchestral strings, MIDI is still my only option. It would be nice if MIDI tracks were available in the same way as RealTracks are. It would also be nice if I could attach different VSTi's to different tracks.


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I, too, strongly support midi. It might be considered "old" technology by some but the reason that it's stayed around so long is because it offers something that other things cannot. Maybe when electronics is enhanced sufficiently so that the end "sound box" that the midi commands drive has incredibly realistic sounds at a much more affordable price, the pendulum will swing back the other way.

Interestingly, I could feed midi input from BIAB into this electronic organ by Yamaha and get some pretty excellent output.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caVUb4x4_ys&feature=related

Or maybe Yamaha's Tyros 4 (which I'd just love to get my hands on and hook up to BIAB!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PnhK6RBfw4&feature=related

Unfortunately the YouTube encoding has reduced the realism but I think you'll be able to hear what I mean.

Noel

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gibson Offline OP
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Quote:

The 'I gotta have midi' guys seem to be mostly the ones who want to make a backing track sound exactly like the original, program all the signature licks.


A rather contentious remark in my opinion, one could say that using Real Tracks etc stifles creativity, by the same logic.
Quote:

Roll your midi track for Chestnuts Roasting, and I'll roll a backing track with RealTracks. My work will take 15 minutes. And then we get them 'tested'. I think PG with RealTracks and John pushing buttons is going to blow the midi out of the water, especially if we say you have only 12 hours working time to produce it from the same starting point


If you want to do it that way great, do so, I see no problems with that BUT it is not the way I, for example, work. Hence my suggestion for this post.

There are many free vsti's that sound amazing. EMU Proteus, UVI workstation, Independence Free,HEAD Acoustic guitar, even Native Instruments have player versions of Kontakt, Kore and Reactor and all editable to some extent. Fruity loops has an amazing selection of sounds (I have bought the producer version but one can use it as a vsti without purchase). I too have used and discarded many expander boxes over the years and agree that the sounds are "cheesy".
The sounds of the Real Tracks ARE good, I cannot dispute that but I like to personalise my music which I cannot do with them but I can do with MIDI. Before BIAB I wrote/programed every part I couldn't play and still input "my signature licks" to this day.

An current example of how good Real Tracks can sound is IMHO "Oh me oh my" by Sundance.
And Hawgly DRiddle Noel96, George Nelson etc etc. In fact all the posted songs sound good but I couldn't have done the few songs I have posted, to MY satisfaction, with the Real stuff.
I am not saying the direction PG Music is going is wrong, I am just asking if I/we could have a "stripped down" MIDI version.

I will never stop using BIAB and may end up not upgrading and sticking to 2010, just as I did with Cubase SX1 as their "advancements" to SX5 did not improve MY way of writing and producing.

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Sorry but the first link is definitely faked up - he does not have enough fingers and toes. Its all cheesy too. Nice facial expressions, but there is a backing track in operation.

Second one is OK - ish

I have lots of MIDI software and non of it comes close to Real Tracks no matter how hard I try to program.

Just my opinion

Last edited by ZeroZero; 12/06/10 05:59 AM.

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I also wish there was a MIDI only BIAB.
RealTracks reminds me of auditioning generic musicians.
For musicians with MIDI drumkits, MIDI wind instruments, MIDI Guitarsists to keyboad players, RealTracks are of no use. More instrument controllers keep coming out. Just as more software synths and sounds keep coming. With everything going Digital putting musicians out of work, from Jingles and Hit songs to TV and Movie soundtracks, there is more of a future still using MIDI.
However, I do think RealTracks is useful to many BIAB users now.
I apologize if I offended anyone, including PG Music.

Wayne, (I still use Jammer Pro also)

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There is a midi only version. It's called 2008, and 2007 and version 12. I have all of these.

I should put them up for sale. I think about $50. each is fair.

No Realtracks, no Realtracks engine, no RealBand, just plain old Bland in a Box.


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far as i know the new version will do midi only if'n ya want it to


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gibson Offline OP
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Quote:

There is a midi only version. It's called 2008, and 2007 and version 12. I have all of these.
I should put them up for sale. I think about $50. each is fair.
No Realtracks, no Realtracks engine, no RealBand, just plain old Bland in a Box


John Conley: words fail me with that childish remark but then this is the anonymous internet. And it is also the sort of reply I have come to expect from you. Only an ignorant man ridicules that which he does not understand.
Quote:

far as i know the new version will do midi only if'n ya want it to



Robh: thank you for stating the obvious and for also not understanding the reasoning behind my post as PG Music are focusing on the "Real experience" and I just wished for a MIDI only version.

Oh well, I can but wait and see and thus end my involvement with this post.

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Hi ZeroZero

Quote:

Sorry but the first link is definitely faked up - he does not have enough fingers and toes. Its all cheesy too. Nice facial expressions, but there is a backing track in operation.



I'd be incredibly surprised if this was faked. Max Takano was Yamaha's premier showcase musician. I've seen him perform and, in real life, he sounds much better what you hear in this video clip. It's a pity that sound quality suffers so much on Youtube. Some of these electronic organ players can do amazing things. Over the years, I have seen and heard some incredible performances. If you watch the program changes, it's possible to see that he's changing between a lot of registrations to get the effect he's achieving.

If you're interested to see what I mean about spectacular performances, have a look at Ethel Smith in the below clip - somewhere back in the 1940s, I believe. Ethel was a very famous concert organist and she specialized in the Hammond B3. This organ didn't have the orchestral sounds that the Yamaha ELX above had.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x33d3x_ethel-smith-tico-tico-hammond-organ_school

Regards,
Noel


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gibson, i was not trying to be a pain, or offensive, just realistic. Do you expect PG to design a completely different version of the program, that goes away from their current business model? They have spent three plus years in the development of Realtracks, and Realdrums. Why would they go backwards to a model that they feel is obsolete?

With the current version you have a choice of Realtracks audio or midi tracks. You can choose which, you are not forced to use RTs, they are an option. If you look closely at BiaB it is still very based in midi, and midi is at the heart of Both RB and PTPA.

There are literally dozens of midi programs out there that have no answer to the RT concept. This is PG's focus and future. I would venture that this is only a starting point, and it will continue to grow and develop. Midi however is simple and is always going to be there as an option.

Use it, and enjoy. Look at it this way, when you build a song, the program offers RT options to you, maybe you do not want them and wish that only the midi was available. But what about the RT guy that has to remove or replace midi tracks to use all RTs? Should PG make an all RT version to make them happy?

This is a great software, with a ton of options. use the ones you want. To me that is obvious. With respect, Rob


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I've kept out of this but perhaps now is the time to comment. I too am mostly happy with a MIDI solution though I do also enjoy the RT's I have.

However perhaps the answer is simply a purchase option that doesn't include any RT's. Same BIAB, just no RT's included and have a somewhat more budget price for it. If you later want to include RT's it's then just a matter of purchasing them.

No special version of the software or anything, just a packaging alternative.

Maybe a menu toggle somewhere to turn off RT options is you want to simplify the menus... A nicety but not really necessary.


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Yeh I know I can turn of the RT's because that is what I do know and all is good with BIAB.
I do not want them to transfer their development from RT's to MIDI . I would just like to be able to NOT download all the RT's in the 1st place but STILL get the MIDI files that appear in the style maker for the new styles when the RT's are turned off.
that's all.
Is that even possible, no one has jumped to say if it is possible or not?

I wish everybody a Happy Christmas but I know some will not be that lucky
BUT would you have given me this response for that wish of mine, in the off topic forum??

After it was only a wish like I wish I was 2 inches taller then I would not be overweight for my height

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Hi gibson,

I have all the MIDI styles and the latest in my collection is Disk #77 (UK Pop). On BIAB version 2011, this information is accessed via Stylepicker >> Filter >> Show all style disks. As far as I know, there haven't been any additional styles for a little while now. Since the Realtracks are musical phrases, how they play is not determined by a particular style.

Regards,
Noel


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Gibson, if your theory is correct then I need to be 6 inches taller!


Here's hopin'


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This is an interesting philosophical discussion, one that will remain philosophical without knowing the inside scoop on PG Music's marketing results over the long run.

I have worked for several years with churches that have no musicians, convincing them to switch to BIAB rather than other options such as DVD worship. One selling point has always been low entry-level price--not really any more.

Churches are reluctant enough to drop a couple hundred in a MegaPAK BIAB 12.0 that will require at least one quasi-musically-inclined person to operate effectively. Double that initial investment for a BIAB 2011 EverythingPAK and what I am hearing is, "Cool tool!" Unfortunately, that does not translate into money changing hands. In fact, there is a somewhat backflow negative in that these folks, once hearing RealTracks, they wouldn't want to settle for a MIDI-only option, but aren't willing to pay for the full-blown product either.

Don't misunderstand me. BIAB is NOT overpriced for what you get (I can already imagine such responses...). It is expensive for an organization having to invest in BIAB plus the computer system in which it resides, and the sound system upgrade they desperately need, then balance this against every other ministry priority on the list...

Quite a dilemma...so much so, in fact, that I am declaring defeat in this whole pursuit. I no longer believe that BIAB is useful to churches without musicians--far too great an investment in a tool that will most likely sit unused after a year or two.


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Quote:

far as i know the new version will do midi only if'n ya want it to




You beat me too it. I just don't see what the fuss is. If you don't like RT don't use them.

I find that a mix of RT and midi lets me have the great sound of RTs and the control over melody from midi. When using RTs the midi definately sounds better than midi alone. If you use RTs for all but the melody that lets you use a non-gm-synth. Now I use sfz player with Jennsen guitar soundfonts to get near perfect covers of guitar based rock and pop. Can't beat it.

Personally I'd like to see PGMusic enable multi midi synths in BiaB. It would really extend the capabilities. But a midi only version is redundant IMO.


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Quote:

However perhaps the answer is simply a purchase option that doesn't include any RT's. Same BIAB, just no RT's included and have a somewhat more budget price for it. If you later want to include RT's it's then just a matter of purchasing them.

No special version of the software or anything, just a packaging alternative.




Hi Lawrie. If I'm not mistaken the Pro version is essentially this option. It only includes a few RDs and RTs as teasers. It's fairly inexpensive too.


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I only use MIDI tracks.

I do some songs with the signature licks and some songs completely my own arrangement, and others somewhere in between. However, I can ALWAYS produce a better MIDI product than those RTs.

MIDI is not cheesy, MIDI has no sound at all, most post-MIDI pop music you hear on the radio is made with some (and in some cases possibly all) MIDI instruments, only the sound card in your computer and cheap synthesizers are cheesy.

Some of those RT parts sound like a lame Holiday Inn band to me, others sound pretty good, but they are all pretty much non-editable. With MIDI I can
  • Put a real ending on them and if I want, a held chord with a sfz and swell before fading out
  • Put a real introduction on the song
  • Put song specific licks or put a non-song specific lick on the song that might be able to enhance the song
  • Put rhythmic kicks that greatly enhance the exprssiveness of the music and keep it from sounding like boring blah
  • For specific songs I can manipulate the volumes of individual drum sounds - for example, pump up the snare, tone down the cymbals, etc. etc.
  • Change the drum sound, for example on a Latin Rock tune I might want to substitute cowbell for ride cymbal, for a hard rock song I might want to use a different snare, or even eliminate a drum instrument
  • I might want to exaggerate the groove by putting the 2 and 4 beats (in 4/4 time) ahead of behind the beat
  • Change the instument, change that acou piano into a Rhodes or guitar, thange the guitar into a clav, change the sax section to an organ, with MIDI the choices are endless
  • Expressive devices impossible to do in BiaB correctly: crescendo
  • Expressive devices impossible to do in BiaB correctly: diminuendo
  • Expressive devices impossible to do in BiaB correctly: accelerando
  • Expressive devices impossible to do in BiaB correctly: ridardando
  • Expressive devices impossible to do in BiaB correctly: fermata
  • Expressive devices impossible to do in BiaB correctly: sforzando
  • I can re-arrange, add, or eliminate the drum rolls with a few mouse moves
You can't do these things with Audio Loops

All in all I can get a MUCH more expressive arrangement out of MIDI than I can with the RTs (perhaps this is the reason why most professional musicians I know prefer MIDI to loops).

Granted the tone of the RTs might be slightly better than a pro-quality sound module, but for the listening public, expression is MUCH more important than tone. That's why singers with poor voices can sell so many records (think Dr. John, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, John Lennon, Blossom Dearie and so on).

And what's good tone anyway? Take guitars. Ask 100 different listeners and you might get 90 different answers, including Slash, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Gale, Jim Hall, Carlos Montoya, Duane Allman, Joe Pass, Kenny Burrell, Joe Walsh, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Eddie VanHalen, Johnny A, Ritchie Blackmore, Steve Howe, Dimebag, Esteban, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Don Felder, Carlos Santana, Chet Atkins, Adrian Belew, Chuck Berry, Wyclef Jean, Brad Paisley, Randy Bachman, Martin Barre, Larry Carlton, Dick Dale, Carl Wilson, Tom DeLonge, Peter Green, Rick Derringer, Emily Remler, Duane Eddy, Robert Fripp, Billy Gibbons, Jay Graydon, Kirk Hammett, Stanley Jordan, Tony Iommi, Elmore James, and I could go on and on, you get the idea.

And don't get me started on saxophonists. Play John Coltrane and Stan Getz to a causal listener and most people will think they are playing different instruments.

As long as the tone is in the ball-park for the kind of music you are playing, it's OK as long as the expression is there - if the tone is perfect and the expression isn't there, the music will reek.
CONCLUSION:

Since the ability to edit MIDI tracks can produce a MUCH more expressive song than audio loops, as long as you have a decent synthesizer, MIDI is better.



Insights and incites by Notes


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Quote:

Hi gibson,

I have all the MIDI styles and the latest in my collection is Disk #77 (UK Pop). On BIAB version 2011, this information is accessed via Stylepicker >> Filter >> Show all style disks. As far as I know, there haven't been any additional styles for a little while now. Since the Realtracks are musical phrases, how they play is not determined by a particular style.

Regards,
Noel




Check out http://www.nortonmusic.com -- it's your Band-in-a-Box MIDI upgrade!!!!!!!!!

Self-serving but yet still a public service plug by Notes


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Ahh the MIDI vs RealTracks argument. Use what works for you. When you write original stuff, there are no 'signature licks' to worry about yet. Some fine work can be accomplished with Realtracks on original songs. Some fine work can be done by MIDI too. Let the method fill the need.

Of course, if you want to be a purist, nothing beats a group of good live players! But those are rare, which is why a lot of us are here to begin with.


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I actually use only the midi features of biab 2010. I like midi and I like the biab paradigm where I can think along the lines of chords and melody instead of just grooves and clips. (like the sonar paradigm, although both are good and have their merits).....I really like creating my own styles and then when songwriting I can write just chords and melody and then have a completely original tune real fast:)...real tracks are cool yet for original music they can make it less original.


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I think things are pretty cool as they stand. I've got a "music store" of midi keyboards and rack samplers, soundmodules, and specialized cards for the computer like Korg's thousand-dollar (ended up you could grab one for a mere $200) Oasys/midi PC cards...
pretty midi-prepared studio for an old geezer.

I also love to jam with real instruments,
and Real Tracks/Band allow me to do this, as it's library of "real" doo-dahs grows exponentially to meet just about any musical taste.

Cost me way under $200 for the new swinging data base from PG. Most of the larger "box-type" churches I attend seem to have enough budget to carry symphony-sized orchestras, and various other small to large choral, hip-hop, jazz, etc..... REALLY LIVE
musical combinations!
...but they could still successfully integrate BIAB, with the comparitively tiny investment needed.


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Hello ,

I joined this forum today to post my feelings about the direction BIAB has taken with " Real Tracks ", and seeming to have abandoned Midi improvements , no new styles ect .
First I should give some history of myself: I'm a guitarist of 47 years . I started using BIAB with version 6 as it came bundled together with my first sound card along with MidiSoft sequencer . I'm a schooled musician , so I read standard music notation . Working with Midi was and still is the core of how I create music . Working with a music score is paramount to how I develop musical ideas into original compositions . Standard music notation is still the best way to preserve ones music for other musicians through the years . Sorry if I tread on anyone’s feet here , but any serious music student needs to learn to read standard music notation . I have a home recording studio and over the years have built up quite an arsenal of gear . I won't list everything here , but I will note the Midi equipment I use .
My first real synthesizer was a Roland JV-1010 , and I still use it for the Session onboard expansion card . I have a Roland XV-5080 with several expansion cards , and being a guitarist , I have a Roland GR-33 and also have the Terratec Producer Axon AX-100 guitar Midi controller along with 4 guitars equipped with Midi , 2 using the Graphtech Ghost system . Other synths used are the Korg Triton Rack , and a Kurzweil K2000R V.A.S.T. player which are daisy chained to and share a SCSI CD Rom reader and SCSI Hard Disk Drive , which holds a very large library of custom Midi patches . I also have a Yamaha Motif-Rack ES . I use a Starrlabs Ztar midi controller and a Zendrum that I use a Roland TD-6V Drum Module with , I also have an extensive library of BFD2 Midi triggered Drum/Percussion samples . So YES I'M A Midi-Idiot . I can say without a doubt , my Midi tracks sound quality is WAAAAAY better than any real tracks . Not my fault others are using a rinky dinky Sound Blaster or freebie VST synth .
In conclusion I say please don't abandon the future development of new Midi Styles , and improvements such as the ability to view a full music score , yes in standard music notation ... All those in favor please post your feelings here so Peter Gannon will know how we feel .

Ztarman

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Here we go again, MIDI vs Real Tracks. I play jazz piano and use only Real Bass and Real Drums for accompaniment. If you're a cover band then MIDI is probably better for you. For my purposes MIDI dosen't come close to the sound and feel of the Real Tracks. I used the MIDI tracks for many years and it was like a miracle when Real Tracks came out. For me, no comparison. Real Tracks, hands down.........


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I know I can turn of the RT's because that is what I do know and all is good with BIAB.
I do not want PG Music to transfer their development from RT's back to MIDI.
I would just like to be able to NOT download all the RT's in the 1st place but STILL get the MIDI files/Style that appear in the style maker for the new RT styles when the RT's are turned off.
that's all.
Is that even possible, no one has jumped to say if it is possible or not?

As lawrie says "No special version of the software or anything, just a packaging alternative"

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Quote:

I would just like to be able to NOT download all the RT's in the 1st place but STILL get the MIDI files/Style that appear in the style maker for the new RT styles when the RT's are turned off.
that's all.
Is that even possible, no one has jumped to say if it is possible or not?

Alyn




That is a very good question that I would like answered also.

Also what is the latest count on style discs? I have 77 style discs, is that all of them to date? If so then no work has been done on new style discs in some time now.

Another possible option would be to sell style discs seperately, much as RTs are sold seperately. I believe style discs could be a download only purchase.


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there are more style disks than you can shake a stick at on Notes web site. Add those as needed.


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Quote:

there are more style disks than you can shake a stick at on Notes web site. Add those as needed.




Yes I know, but thanx for bringing that up. This is at least one source of new styles. I was trying to find out if BiaB has produced any new styles.


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Would anyone advocate a BIAB version without MIDI tracks?


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The trouble with my wish is very few people that have responded have actually read my wish and an example of the quality of response is raymb1
Quote:

Would anyone advocate a BIAB version without MIDI tracks?



I will not dignify THAT remark by responding.
I also know of Notes Norton's styles BUT I was enquiring about Band in a Box 2011.

I think I can safely say that the answer to my wish is a categoric NO, it is not possible to download BIAB 2011 WITHOUT downloading the RTs, which was all I wanted to know.

Thanks to Mario D and jeffgee for joining in

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Gibson, I just checked if you have BiaB 2010 you can get the upgrade for $49 that has a few RTs. There is no option for an upgrade without RTs.

I also noticed the answer to my question in that there are only 77 style discs. So no work on style discs have been done in sometime now. I also couldn’t find any information on the improvement of the midi application in BiaB, such as increased resolution. So this and the fact that the RTs I have right now suit my needs it looks like I will not be upgrading for the first time in a long time.


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Yeh I checked that too, Thanks MarioD.
I too have many Real stuff and like the music that plays when I choose a Real style with Rt's turned off. I say music because it seems that no midi should be present if the style is an all RT style, yet I can save it as a midi file and do stuff with it.
And anyway who cares as an old girl friend from 35 years ago contacted me before Christmas, luckily I did remember her!! and we are slowly getting back together as we are both available again. She hasn't changed much and says I haven't also.YAY!

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"I would like a MIDI only BIAB as before the Real Invasion"

Just para-phrasing your very first statement. Sorry if you got offended. Later, Ray


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I think I am the one who should be apologising to you, Raymb
<holds out hand of friendship> :>)

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Excuse some early-morning ramblings. It's been a long night.

Reading through this discussion I have noted an underlying assumption on the part of those who argue against a MIDI-only version of BIAB, namely, that everyone who uses BIAB plans to produce more-or-less standard music styles--jazz, pop, country, and the like.

Erm, not. Apart from a few novelty pieces in old jazz styles, everything I do is electronic. (Check the link below for examples.) Even in the MIDI Styles the pickings are pretty slim for me.

Okay, I'm in an overwhelming minority. Which merely means that I need to act on something I have long believed, which is that the true sorcery of MIDI-based BIAB lies in the Stylemaker. Time ta start rollin' my own.

But here's a thought that should boggle everybody: WHAT IF, up yonder in Vancouver, they were working toward implementation of Real Track-quality audio driven by the Stylemaker as is presently done with MIDI noises?

Bet you'd see some interest in expanded MIDI capability then. Or would you still be content with Real Styles as they are doled out to you? Hee hee.

Don't see why it's not doable. Just triggering samples note-by-note instead of bar-by-bar.

Richard

P.S.: I was astonished to see ANY discussion of the quality of MIDI sounds come up in this thread. Just goes to show that, just I know maybe 5% of this incredible program, those who prematurely predict the death of MIDI may be equally limited in their view of (some of) BIAB's potential.


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Well, BIAB still fully supports MIDI; that hasn't gone away and I doubt it will. Notes Norton still creates quality MIDI styles; you can purchase additional styles from him. You're not limited to only the ones provided by PGMusic. You can even turn off the use of RealTracks and RealDrums - they're great but you don't have to use them.

I'm all for more MIDI styles, as well, but I'm also finding that once you get into the thousands, you go into MIDI overload and it starts actually getting more difficult to choose a style. I find that if I want more styles, they now tend to me more song-specific, with signature riffs. That gets into copyrighted territory. But that's also where the style wizard can come in to convert MIDI files into a BIAB style.

Also, using the hybrid style maker, you can easily mix and match the individual components from various styles to roll your own. Or use the style wizard to create unique styles from MIDI files (takes a little work, but it's not too difficult). Or just roll your own from scratch.

That being said, it would be nice if PGMusic teased us now and then with some additional MIDI style sets.


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Quote:

Here we go again, MIDI vs Real Tracks. I play jazz piano and use only Real Bass and Real Drums for accompaniment. If you're a cover band then MIDI is probably better for you. For my purposes MIDI dosen't come close to the sound and feel of the Real Tracks. I used the MIDI tracks for many years and it was like a miracle when Real Tracks came out. For me, no comparison. Real Tracks, hands down.........




Hi you all

Just want to add my grain of salt... I have to say that my opinion on MIDI vs Real Tracks echoes toward what raym1 had to say. Only been working with BIAB since 2005.I also play jazz on the tenor. I am definitely not an expert on BIAB. I use it primarily for accompaniment and jazz composition. For accompaniment, I just want to enter chords, choose a style, play on top to see if it fits and burn it to a cd. For composing jazz themes, I just sit down at the piano and when I'm ready, I choose the appropriate style and try it directly with an accompaniment that sounds real, afterwards I use a notation program. (That's one feature BIAB I would never touch with a ten feet pole, but that's another ball game...) That being said, one can "MIDI tweak" all they want or use "hyper" real tracks, nothing will ever replace live musicians.

I don't have anything against MIDI and I guess we have to choose what suits us better to achieve our goals. Until now I was using only MIDI. Last week I bought all the jazz Real Track and as far as I'm concerned the sounds are out of this world. Frankly, for what I have to do BIAB, I don't miss MIDI a bit.

Last edited by Switzerland; 01/03/11 09:55 AM.

Best of all and hope your day is a nice one

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I think the problem lies in that everyone wants to have a version that suits them. Not practical. If you are a midi user only, great BiaB and Rb both support midi and midi processing, there are nearly 2000 midi styles, and the ability to make hundreds more with the hybred style maker and the midi style maker. If someone wants to use Midi and not RTs great the ability is there, and if one wants RTs and no midi great the Rts are there. You do not have to strip the midi out for the RT users, and neither do you need to strip out the RTs for midi users. Just use the parts you want to.

With nearly 2000 styles, and the hundres of norton styles it is there for whatever one wants. I agree a few new style disks would be cool for midi users. But we frequently hear folks say I want a style like "xxxxxxx" and almost every time someone comes up with a style either here or at Notes site that covers it, and if there is not one can be made using the hybred method.


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Rob -

That's what I keep reading in the posts, also. It seems that everyone wants a personalized version of BIAB that meets their own workflow requirements. And some feel that that version should be imposed on everyone else ("I don't need to use it, so why should you? Since we have RealTracks, why should I have to even see the MIDI styles; besides, MIDI sounds like crap and I wouldn't want to listen to it.")

Me, I like having the plethora of options in BIAB.



John

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Back for a few words..

Don't want to be misunderstood : BIAB should have both MIDI & RT. The more choices the better...


Best of all and hope your day is a nice one

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I love it when a whole country drops by to leave an opinion!

My point exactly John.


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Quote:

With nearly 2000 styles, and the hundres of norton styles it is there for whatever one wants.




I am truly bewildered by the 'antis' who seem to be deaf to what we MIDI users are doing and what we are asking for. The whole point of the OP and of my additional comments is that the above JUST ISN'T SO. Quit trying to tell us that it is.

Our needs in terms of MIDI styles have progressed beyond what PG presently offers. We are simply asking that PG continue to develop what has, up to now, been done easily and well by them.

Quote:

But we frequently hear folks say I want a style like "xxxxxxx" and almost every time someone comes up with a style either here or at Notes site that covers it . . .




"Almost." In most cases, probably so. Not in mine.

The reason I bought BIAB in the first place was to take the place of having to step program drum parts, which was the available technology at the time. (Anybody want a lightly-used KORG DDM-110?) I continued to use it because it does the same with other parts as well.

My requirements have morphed beyond the basics precisely because of what BIAB does so well--help to create original music. I have progressed from creating or covering standard pop music into composing original electronic music that would otherwise require a heavy investment in hardware sequencers and programming time.

You and others are telling me to create our own Styles. Fine. We have the ability to do so. Just realize that you are asking/requiring us to spend time on nuts and bolts instead of creating music, which is why we got BIAB in the first place.

Quote:

. . . and if there is not one can be made using the hybred method.




Not if the component parts aren't available. Read our collective lips: THEY AREN'T.*

Someone up in Vancouver has done a fantastic job of creating the existing MIDI styles. We simply ask that they not abandon us po' MIDIots entirely and continue to invest some effort in their excellent MIDI Styles.

R.


*I would like to see a more extensive range of Styles based on so-called "classic" electronic music: Jean Michel Jarre, Tangerine Dream and its component members, Kraftwerk, Kitaro, Mike Oldfield, Peter Gabriel's ambient work, and others too obscure to mention here. (I have requested this elsewhere in the Wish Lists.) PG have touched on these, and done well; we are asking for more.


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Quote:

I love it when a whole country drops by to leave an opinion!




Well Rob, Switzerland is a small country and I did have time to make a quick survey before writing the post, a couple of emails, a few phone calls... And yeah, seems like the whole country is on my side !

Last edited by Switzerland; 01/04/11 02:26 PM.
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That's cool Switzey! I called everyone on the block here and most of them were already asleep!

Okay I hear ya Rich, but that is not what the original poster said, he said he wanted a MIDI only version, and that is as silly to me as someone asking for an all RTs version. wanting more styles or even a better way to make styles is reasonable. But with the ones you have, you have tons more than the RT users have. And having to make a midi track from Piano roll, or even from keyboard is still part of the process. If an RT user does not have an appropriate RT he has to either play the track, or get someone else to do so. For my part i do not want to get so "BiaB lazy" that i let it do ALL the work. I want to still create some of it myself. Or else just buy the CD and listen to it in the car.

One thing to think of, is that if over 3000 styles available, and the ability to make hybrids of all of them are not enough we might have to resort to learning to record the old fashioned way. Those artist you mentioned I am sure did not use BiaB to create those classics. They played the instruments. Me as I am sure it is with many others here am not that good, i play two to three instruments one fairly good two more poorly. I am trying to endeavor to play more tracks myself.

I agree though that at some point they should not abandon the midi portion of the programs.


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Quote:

You and others are telling me to create our own Styles. Fine. We have the ability to do so. Just realize that you are asking/requiring us to spend time on nuts and bolts instead of creating music, which is why we got BIAB in the first place.




But the argument I keep hearing from the MIDI side of the fence is that it is PGMusic's responsibilty to keep creating the styles instead of creating music software, which is why they got in the business in the first place.

The styles are a creative component, one part of the bigger system. PGMusic has created the system, and also thousands of styles to work in the system. They have also made known the procedure for creating new styles, and even created about 3 different versions of style wizard.

Personally, I think it is in everybody's best interest if PGMusic keeps focusing on SYSTEM development, while letting 3rd party experts like Notes Norton and others focus on COMPONENT development.

But that's a point of perspective, and not everyone shares the same perspective.

The old MIDI standard is pretty much fully supported in the SYSTEM provided by PGMusic. But there is some proprietary development to MIDI... libraries that achieve phenomenal realism by extending the scope of existing MIDI attributes and samples. Once that technology is fully developed and becomes mainstream, I expect that PG will either license the technology or find a way to incorporate the best of the best into "the system"

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I will respectfully disagree with you on two issues.

Quote:

But the argument I keep hearing from the MIDI side of the fence is that it is PGMusic's responsibilty to keep creating the styles instead of creating music software, which is why they got in the business in the first place.......

The old MIDI standard is pretty much fully supported in the SYSTEM provided by PGMusic. But there is some proprietary development to MIDI... libraries that achieve phenomenal realism by extending the scope of existing MIDI attributes and samples. Once that technology is fully developed and becomes mainstream, I expect that PG will either license the technology or find a way to incorporate the best of the best into "the system"





Although creating more styles would be nice I want PGMusic to improve the MIDI system. They are not “pretty much fully supported” when MIDI resolution is locked at 120 PPQ and there is only one MIDI out port. My old Atari had 960 PPQ MIDI resolution and most all MIDI people use more than just general midi.

Other improvements I would like to see that would help both sides of the fence is the ability to place more than four chords per measure and the ability to place chords at 16th note intervals. Just think of the improvement in styles if this were to occur.

The above four suggestions are not new ideas nor are they propriety developments. They have been around for years however PGMusic has not incorporated them into BiaB; my guess is that it would take a complete rewrite to do so. The risk in not improving the MIDI side is other companies my come up with a better product.

Just my USD $0.02.


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Quote:


I will respectfully disagree with you on two issues.

Quote:

But the argument I keep hearing from the MIDI side of the fence is that it is PGMusic's responsibilty to keep creating the styles instead of creating music software, which is why they got in the business in the first place.......

The old MIDI standard is pretty much fully supported in the SYSTEM provided by PGMusic. But there is some proprietary development to MIDI... libraries that achieve phenomenal realism by extending the scope of existing MIDI attributes and samples. Once that technology is fully developed and becomes mainstream, I expect that PG will either license the technology or find a way to incorporate the best of the best into "the system"





Although creating more styles would be nice I want PGMusic to improve the MIDI system. They are not “pretty much fully supported” when MIDI resolution is locked at 120 PPQ and there is only one MIDI out port. My old Atari had 960 PPQ MIDI resolution and most all MIDI people use more than just general midi.

Other improvements I would like to see that would help both sides of the fence is the ability to place more than four chords per measure and the ability to place chords at 16th note intervals. Just think of the improvement in styles if this were to occur.

The above four suggestions are not new ideas nor are they propriety developments. They have been around for years however PGMusic has not incorporated them into BiaB; my guess is that it would take a complete rewrite to do so. The risk in not improving the MIDI side is other companies my come up with a better product.

Just my USD $0.02.




The ports and PPQ are both addressed in RB. Since number of ports is more of a live performance requirement, and BIAB is the auto-accompaniment program, it does surprise me that additional ports have never been added. But going back to the SYSTEM vs COMPONENT way of looking at it, 3rd party components like MIDI YOKE allow more ports. They may feel that as long as its possible, it doesn't matter whether they provide the component as long as they provided a HOOK for the component (I can't speak for PGMusic, obviously. I'm just offering my own thoughts here)

Seems to me that PPQ is more important in recording, so RB is the place for that .

But you're right about the risk of getting sidelined when somebody else comes up with a better product. I have to believe they put considerable thought into their strategy. Watching from the sidelines, they seem to be gaining customers, not losing them.

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Yes, I know the ports and PPQ are addressed in RT however until RB has ALL of BiaB incorporated in it I will continue to my sequencer of choice.

PPQ is very important for timing so IMO the styles could be a lot better with higher PPQ. Subtle timing variations can make a huge difference with backing tracks.

Personally I don’t know of any home studio that doesn’t use multiple midi ports. Even if you use only soft synths you need to use multiple midi ports, especially in a recording mode.

PGMusic’s strategy is a good business model. Everyone wants more RTs so they make more RTs. Now don’t get me wrong; I use RTs a lot. They have saved me a lot of time as I have a number of clients who sing to them, i.e. using RTs is much faster than me playing all of the midi parts for the client. However I use more midi in my personal projects.

Even though we have a difference of opinion on this subject we both agree that PGMusic does produce fantastic products. I would venture to say many of use would not still be playing and/or singing if it weren’t for BiaB, PTPA and RB.

Peace


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Mario, the only think i disagree with on your argument is that BiaB is a home studio, Rb is a home studio it was designed from the ground up (foundation in PTPA) as a pure Audio/midi DAW. BiaB is designed from the ground up to auto generate tracks for backing and practice, and even playing along, but it was never designed as a recording home studio, and has very minimal recording features. It does have tons of creation features. One of the reasons for developing RB was to bridge the gap between BiaB and PTPA, and have a solution for those who love BiaB to take projects to the next level with ease.

Still youe ideas are not without merit, better midi resolution is a good idea. Multiple ports not a bad one. I can't see PG turning BiaB into a full DAW why with RB attached, but adding a second Midi out port wouldn't hurt. But still once a song is setup properly sending to to RB make a ton of sense.


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Mario, the only think i disagree with on your argument is that BiaB is a home studio, Rb is a home studio it was designed from the ground up (foundation in PTPA) as a pure Audio/midi DAW.




Hi Rob, I should have been more specific in my answer. I was referring to a home studio as one that has a DAW, effects, mics etc. and not inferring that BiaB was a home studio. Pat had mentioned that “ports is more of a live performance requirement” and I was trying to explain that I have never seen a home studio, as I described above, with only one port.

Sorry for any confusion.


I want my last spoken words to be "I hid a million dollars under the........................"

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No need to be sorry my friend, you are such a enjoyable part of this forum, and discussion. I hear you, there are tons of ways that PG could go with this software, and it will be fun to watch what comes out of it going forward.

We all have different needs and wants here, and yours are as important as mine, most likely more so. Thanks for the clarity. I tend to be slightly narrow viewed at times.

I really do enjoy reading all the different views, and have learned so much from so many here. Mario, Pat Marr, Rharv, Mac, Rachael, Silvertones, Jford, the list goes on and on. What a really great bunch of folks.


Lenovo Win 10 16 gig ram, Mac mini with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2022, Realband, Harrison Mixbus 32c version 9.1324, Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app, Komplete 49 key controller.
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Quote:

Quote:

Mario, the only think i disagree with on your argument is that BiaB is a home studio, Rb is a home studio it was designed from the ground up (foundation in PTPA) as a pure Audio/midi DAW.




Hi Rob, I should have been more specific in my answer. I was referring to a home studio as one that has a DAW, effects, mics etc. and not inferring that BiaB was a home studio. Pat had mentioned that “ports is more of a live performance requirement” and I was trying to explain that I have never seen a home studio, as I described above, with only one port.

Sorry for any confusion.




Mario, exactly... but I wasn't suggesting you don't need multiple ports for the studio... that's a moot point because RB is more of a studio app than BIAB, and it HAS multiple ports. I was affirming your observation that the lack of multiple ports in a performance based app (BIAB) is perhaps your most valid point.


Rob, Ditto on the forum comeraderie <--(spelling?)
I like hearing the one liners that clever people tend to weave into their communication. These forums are not only informing, they're also a real hoot. Every day!

Last edited by Pat Marr; 01/08/11 09:34 AM.
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<...> That being said, one can "MIDI tweak" all they want or use "hyper" real tracks, nothing will ever replace live musicians. <...>




That's an odd statement since live musicians play both traditional instruments and MIDI instruments. Rick Wakeman, Keith Emerson, Patrick Moraz are a few live MIDI players.

And once things are digitized, they are all samples anyway.

The notion that MIDI instruments are inferior to "real" instruments is pure BS and quite Luddite in nature.

I have nothing against the RTs, there is definitely more than one way to make music, but when people state or infer that MIDI is inferior to "real" musicians, I have to do my best to try to educate them. MIDI can be step-entered or played by real musicians. If step entered, it's going to sound stiff, if played by a real musician it will reflect the talent and technique of that musician and if the musician is excellent at both, the music will be excellent.

There are a few things many of us would like to see incorporated into the MIDI section of Biab, including but not limited to and in no particular order:

1) Higher ppq resolution. A lot of the expressiveness of music comes from very minute timing variations. 120ppq is not quite adequate, especially at slower tempos. I would like to see the ppq expanded to 240ppq minimum.

2) The everlasting request for support for a diminished triad

3) Better control of shots and holds.

4) Accel, rit, cresc, dim, and other expressive controls

5) Support for multiple MIDI instruments, so I can choose the bass from my i3, the guitar from my SD90, "doctor solo" from my MT32 and other sounds from my half dozen or so other sound modules and hardware samplers.

6) User controlled (in the StyleMaker) variable length endings (up to at least 8 bars) with the ability to do a held chord at the end with an sfz - cresc.

And quite a few more that I will think of as soon as I press the submit button ;-)

MIDI and RTs both have their advantages, and each one will suit an individual user. Most will probably use both.

RTs have the advantage of better sounds. But they are only slightly better than a good MIDI sound module.

MIDI gives you the advantage of more sounds and more flexibility, plus you can customize MIDI tracks to change the expression to suit your musical ideas. If the MIDI capabilities of BiaB were improved, they could match any live performer.

Plus for the people like myself who believe that by tweaking MIDI, they can produce a more individual, more expressive, and better music, I will continue to make superior quality MIDI styles as long as you want to continue purchasing them. I won't abandon you as long as you still want the advantages that MIDI gives you.

For your MIDI upgrade to BiaB, simply go to http://www.nortonmusic.com and have some fun!!!

Insights and incites by Notes ♫


Bob "Notes" Norton smile 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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+1 to all of the above, plus Jan Hammer Rules MIDI!



"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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+1 to all of the above, plus Jan Hammer Rules MIDI!






Another +1

Very well said Notes


I want my last spoken words to be "I hid a million dollars under the........................"

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