<< To be honest, I have always been confused with Artist Performance Tracks (APT) and Songs Lessons Pak (SLP). What exactly does each of them offer? Are they simply some pre-made SGUs/MGUs, aka pre-made styles with chords already entered? Do they have same contents overlapping each other?
I understand that SLP is included in Ultra+ but not Ultra version, in other words, SLP is basically the "+". On the other hand, APT is included in both Ultra and Ultra+ version, usually from the 49 Pak and Bonus Pak. The question is, what are they and how do I use them? >>
Artist Performance Tracks are the recorded audio files attached to any SGU/MGU project. They are the artist's accompaniment performance for a lesson or demo. Current example are the vocal tracks on the Vocal Demos. BIAB and Users normally would create Artist Performance Files in a project. My BIAB software program has hundreds of demos and lessons dating back to 2009 that contain Artist Performance Tracks.
Artist Performance Files are custom audio User Tracks attached to any BIAB project that can use every sound medium BIAB recognizes like RealTracks, SuperMidi Tracks, MIDI and audio. The Artist Performance Files feature permits and empowers BIAB to convert audio files so they can be copied and moved to any BIAB Mixer Track. An Artist Performance File can be a single instrument, a mixture multiple instruments and can consist of any combination of sound media recognized by BIAB. It's a very versatile and powerful tool for BIAB. Several years ago I posted more information about Artist Performance Files *Here*
A note of interest; 100% of the Artist Performance Tracks in Demos and lessons, every one of them, are finalized and saved as an SGU/MGU type file. Although many of these files use recordings that originated in RealBand or another DAW, edited, effects added, multiple tracks comped, routed and bused in the DAW and that audio was exported from the DAW and imported into a BIAB project and mixed and rendered from there with the finished imported DAW audio saved in a folder with the BIAB SGU/MGU file. None are finalized and saved as a RealBand or DAW file.
It's an interesting conceptual reversal of a DAW track export to BIAB rather than exporting BIAB tracks for a DAW project. Recording a project in this manner is much faster, easier and allows for a more complex arrangement because 100% of every BIAB tool, technique, function and feature remain instantly available for use in the song rather than only having a few BIAB/RB generated tracks available with 0% of BIAB tools, techniques, functions and features available to the DAW project. Artist Performance Files are a critical component of accessing this composition toolbox and turn BIAB into a very powerful, robust, digital multi track recorder.
There some samples of things that don't work correctly at the moment, with the V5.0.9 plugin version included in the build 1006 update:
- when re-opening a DAW project, the plugin comes always 2 bars late. The song has to be re-generated first, before it is in sync again. And it will forget once I closed and re-opened the Daw Project again. That's not specific to any DAW, it happens with Samplitude, Reaper, Cubase and Studio One. - e.g. inserting a bar at the chord sheet creates a mess with the song structure, other than with the standalone application. - the "paste special" function does not work - re-opening an already generated song in in Reaper with the DAW the plugin, it always shows a tempo mismatch - Whatever I try to set in the plugin preferences or e.g. count-in in song structure seems to be ignored. - worst of all: since recently, the plugin consumes some 28GByte of Ram when opened (checked via the task manager). That's some 25 times more than what the BiaB standalone would use, opening the same song. This leads to a freeze of my computer and the plugin won't respond anymore, for some minutes. The memory is not freed-up anymore until I kill the session. There seems to be some kind of memory leak with the VST3 plugin.
Interestingly enough, the BiaB standalone application works fine in the 2023 version.
Interestingly enough, the BiaB standalone application works fine in the 2023 version.
I'm so glad to hear this. I'm 100% using on the standalone version and never use the BBPlugin, so all these bugs you mentioned won't apply to me.
In my opinion, I always feel the standalone version is like an iPhone, where the BBPlugin is like an iPod. You may be able do a things or two on the iPod for fun, but when it comes to more serious tasks, you never want to do them without an iPhone.
A Canadian music producer, singer songwriter, composer, and professional guitarist.
I have read your Artist Performance Tracks post written in 2020. The post was more of a feature introductory than a step by step tutorial.
Could you give a bit more details on how you and your brothers use the APT/APF in real life productions?
Quote:
Artist Performance Files are custom audio User Tracks attached to any BIAB project...
My understanding is APF is just a WAV/WMA file being mapped by the chord structure inside a SGU template with the same file name. This WAV file, can be a single instrument, or multi instruments, or a song, or external recordings. If a chord is later used but not pre-made in the SGU template, BiaB will use its zPlane Elastique engine to pitch shift to the nearest chord.
As I've searched, there's no video tutorial on YouTube specifically talks about using APT/APF. So How do I open a factory made APT/APF in BiaB? What exactly are the functional differences between an APT/APF and a regular RealTrack?
A Canadian music producer, singer songwriter, composer, and professional guitarist.
<< Could you give a bit more details on how you and your brothers use the APT/APF in real life productions? >>
Artist Performance Tracks and Artist Performance Files operate in BIAB similar to the RealTracks/UserTrack relationship. APT's are made by PG Music and APF's are user developed. PG Music's Bootcamp video where Tobin takes an existing PG Music vocal demo and completely creates a new mix is a good example.
How I use APF has changed over the last couple of yearly version releases. PG Music developers have used APF's to perform functions automatically that were manual operations prior to the introduction of Utility Tracks. Before Utility Tracks, I used APF's to enhance the BIAB Mixer into a very robust and powerful digital multi track recorder. With APF's there was no 8 track limitation to BIAB. An APF could be configured to function as a virtual track, a group, a sub-mix, a comp track, an aux track and a bounce track. Of course, being digital, there was no loss or degradation of mixed audio, no matter the number of routings used in a project. With PG Music adding the 16 Utility Tracks made these processes more visible and simplified the process. It's not complicated to produce a 50 track song in just a few minutes using only BIAB and APF's. Using APF's in conjunction with the RealTracks Medley Maker and MultiStyles makes creating very complex arrangements very quick. Instrument replacements and regenerations can be made without changing or losing the arrangement.
The main functional difference between an APT/APF and a regular RealTrack most obviously is how they generate. APF's will not regenerate to adjust to chord changes. That has to be done manually. APF's will follow key signature changes and tempo changes but don't adjust to bar changes such as adding or deleting measures or rearranging sections. They do not respond to Part Markers. I view them as an advanced track freeze option. A static track.
A user converts a track to an Artist Performance File with a Rt click on the track using the mouse, open Track Actions, Save track as Performance File (Wav/M4a). Saving an APF is different and faster than saving a WAV file. The audio file is automatically named and the track labels change to orange to show the track is an Artist Performance File. APF's can reside on all 24 tracks and are edited in the Audio Edit Window and can be accessed by the Audio Button at the top of the screen for additional functions and commands. This can be quite useful because for example, there are 18 different ways to modify volume control once a track is converted to an Artist Performance File.
<< " So How do I open a factory made APT/APF in BiaB?" >> The easiest way to open a factory made Artist Performance Track would be to open a Song with Vocals demo SGU/MGU or a Song Lesson. My current BIAB version has hundreds of these dating back to 2009. There are no Pre-made APF files.
Here's the Moveable Audio Edit. It should not be hard to implement. You can have an option to display multitrack or single track. It will also have vertical zoom.
This shows BiaB with a set tempo map (as it can't do decimal tempos) Rewired to the slave Reaper, Reaper has a varying decimal tempo map but it syncs to Biab constant tempo 120bpm map by adjusting the playback rate to follow BiaB. The same way BiaB can have a sync vst to slave it to any DAW and follow it's tempo map. All files dragged out of BiaB will have acid info to fit the DAW tempo map.
Here's the Moveable Audio Edit. It should not be hard to implement. You can have an option to display multitrack or single track. It will also have vertical zoom.
Band in a Box has the Moveable, sizable Audio Edit Window. MultiTrack is likely coming in the future but a Moveable Audio Edit Window is here now.
Both pics have the icon but the title bar name is missing "Audio Edit" yet the moveable Notation has "Notation" and the moveable Piano Roll has "Piano Roll"
APT refers to additional audio content PG Music offers...
PG Music offers many different Add-ons and Paks, and many of them have overlapping songs/styles/tracks/contents. When you install all these different Paks to the same C:\bb folder, is system going to generate duplicate files when overlapping contents are installed?
In Windows, installing the same program/content to the same location will result in one of the two possibilities:
(1) Same folders/files were replaced/overwritten, which is the most ideal, because the destination folder will be clean. (2) A new folder/file is created and renamed by the system, making a mess. For example, previously a file exists called "MyFile", when being installed again, system creates a new file in the same folder called "MyFile (1)", therefore it will have duplicate files existing in the same folder.
So, when install all these paks and addons, how to avoid the same file being installed twice causing duplicate folders/files in the bb folder?
A Canadian music producer, singer songwriter, composer, and professional guitarist.
... Also, if the same .exe installer is installed twice by accident, is it going to make a mess?
Historically, that has never been a problem. Running the same installer twice, or running a later installer over the top of an existing install simply updates whatever is required to be updated. It does not create duplicates. This is by design.
BIAB & RB2025 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
More of a mock up of what's possible. Currently, there's no advantage to show multiple tracks in the Audio Edit Window because it's a single track editor and the menu's, functions, and edits are all single track. With the introduction of Utility Tracks and audio being able to load on more tracks than just the Audio Track, this is changing over the last few years and Multiple track edits are a reasonable expectation for future updates and enhancements.
In the multitrack audio edit whatever track you focus on is the track you edit. It works the same way as selecting the track in the drop down but can display all tracks. This can give you an instant visual of all tracks where you have volume automation or where instruments come in. Actually it would not be that hard to code.
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!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
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
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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!
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.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.
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