just a suggestion and i'm not trying to be an 'A'.
on some rock styles/rt's the distortion is just too over the top and/or just dont crank me up....eg weekend warrior style. it needs to be dialed back a bit on various r's in the rock vein. ie too 'spitty' imho. even in my wildest craziest times in bands we werent that extreme with distortion.
otoh styles like Burbank or Angles or Agleam have a better sound picture imho.
lets consider what good distortion sound pictures sound like... hit examples...
..544 from pg's home province BC. song SHE LA...when everything comes crashing in...heavy. great BC band. ..some Alice cooper hits. ..BTO taking care of biz....subtle. ..Cars let the good times roll...subtle distortion again. ..Halen...Panama...great example of a good distortion sound picture. ..Foreigner......>>Feels like the first time. ..Judas Priest...youve got another think coming.. play it on KLIPSCHORN SPEAKERS...i wish i could afford them...lmao....great rock song. ..Another great cdn band...Love Stinks..J Geils. very subtle nice gtr sound pictures. ..Shadows and Ventures <<< so many great gtr sound pictures. i saw ventures live...amazeing.
all above use distortion that are good sound pictures imho. and not 'spitty' or over the top.
note for anyone reading this heres a crafty idea... for rt's with too much distortion like somehow a boss metal zone gtr pedal has been somewhat maxed out.
1..sample a bit of the distortion useing a noise reduction app. to form a sound print. 2..useing the sound print apply to whole file...now.. 3..reamp useing a gtr amp plugin. there are various freebies out there. note you can also experiment with pg's own vinal and eq plug ins....
the above WONT work on everything AND requires tests etc... but sometimes one gets lucky.
the song 'the stallion' in my soundcloud sig is an example of heavy sounds i like. after much searching rt's i lucked out on the heavy rt used and built a song around it. this is the kind of heavy sound i like.
om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 02/02/2511:26 AM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
Which RealTracks are you talking about? Can you list specific RealTracks? Have you looked in the RealTracksPicker to see if Direct Input is available? Direct Input is the instrument's analog output without any added processing.
1.. examples of too much way over the top distortion imho.
=TEXMETL _BASICRK _METALFS _METALSL _OSMIUM _BELCH <<<< NICE DRUMS THO. _FROWZY _MTSW20 <<<<< i would never use...way over the top imho. ( note...many of the metal styles rt's are too distorted imho. ps ive been in a garage/metal band once.)
2.. some GOOD examples.
-80SYRCK _MENDING _ORIOL <<<< great example of not over distorted sounds. _FIREFLY <<<< another great example of not overdoing the distortion. _ELECRK2 <<<< listen to the 'chugging gtr'...this i could use in a metal song as its not overly crazy distorted. _CRUDDY <<<< pretty good not over the top.
just a final comment...
it all comes down to sound picture...does it crank a person up ? for example Judas Priest i cited in the op just flat out rocks. if i'm not in a good mood i get out my gtr and just crank it...love it. done it a ton of times. (other JP songs not as much for me anyway.)
om
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
I looked through the Styles list you indicate have too much distortion. One listed style is N/A and does not exist. Maybe there is a typo or something. One guitar RealTrack is listed N/A in the MultiPicker both the Styles and RealTracks tabs.Resolved by fresh download of RealTrack Set 446 - 448.
All the rest of the guitar RealTracks have Direct Input available. Direct Inputs have no effect processing since it is the output of the guitar straight into a mixer. You should be able to add whatever processing you want to the Direct Input RealTracks.
=TEXMETL Sabbath Metal 391:Guitar, Rhythm Metal EV 120 Has DI 660:Guitar, Electric, TexasRockCrisp EV 120 Has DI
_BASICRK Chugging Metal Groove 639:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm HardRockTrash EV 085 Has DI 642:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm HardRockHollow EV 085 Has DI
_METALFS Fast Metal 392 Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Metal EV 165 Has DI
_METALSL Slow Metal[/b] 390 Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Metal EV 085 [b]Has DI
_OSMIUM Osmium Hard Rock w Horns 496:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm StoneZHonky 1EV 120 Has DI 502:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm StoneZHonky 2EV 120 Has DI
_BELCH Belch 80s Hard Rock 4497:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Metal80sPopMed8th EV 095 N/AA fresh download and install of RealTrack Set 446 - 448 fixed the error.
_FROWZY Frowzy Grungy Garage Rock 3732:Guitar, Electric, BackgroundSoloist GrungeChugDistChorus EV 100 Has DI 3730:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm GrungeChuggingLow8ths EV 100 Has DI
_MTSW20 No Such Style
I hope this information is useful.
Last edited by Jim Fogle; 02/04/2511:40 AM. Reason: Additional info.
yes i know there is di...the prob is i lke to audition styles fast when im in the zone. ie audition in context.
sorry about my typos re sfyles you didnt find.
happiness..
om
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
for rt's with too much distortion like somehow a boss metal zone gtr pedal has been somewhat maxed out.
That's the only way to use it
Originally Posted by justanoldmuso
1.. examples of too much way over the top distortion imho.
Imho these examples sound find in context for me, in that most of those styles want the ultra-saturated guitar tones. Your examples of "good" styles are completely different genres which would not want that level of saturation.
These days though, modern metal doesn't use nearly as much distortion as metal from the 80s or 90s.
what i typically do is sub the over the top rts with another cleaner rt. i enjoy some of of the metal styles just not over the top stuff. fyi i once mucked around diy dist pedal years ago...used diodes if i remeber.
happiness
om
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
what i typically do is sub the over the top rts with another cleaner rt. i enjoy some of of the metal styles just not over the top stuff. fyi i once mucked around diy dist pedal years ago...used diodes if i remeber.
happiness
om
This is an excellent point. Would it be useful to you if you could have two tracks that are exactly the same, but one is the distorted guitar, and the other is the DI? Right now if you put a distorted guitar on one track, then the same guitar but using DI on another track, they'll be generated independently, but a potential new feature could be to have the two tracks linked so that they're both exactly the same performance.
************************* Tobin Frank (he/him) PG Music Inc.
1..to be fair to you and pg... music groups i was in there were often heavy arguments about how much distortion to use. and many different opinions. eg yelling at the lead guitarist...lol.. if we thought the distortion being used didnt sound great. i was in a session once in a studio with primo gear and someone used just a baby gtr amp and some pedals and on playback everyone was rocking out. the lead gtr guy was a genius. in summary there are some distortions that sound groovy and others that just dont. i'm not trying to be a "A" but some of the metal styles...(and maybe its personal preferences)... just dont crank me up. but others might disagree. some of the guitar rt's make me go WOW i can use that but others dont.
2..yep thats a decent idea. then i can futz around to get the sound picture i want relating to the song. btw...saw steppenwolf live once...amazeing live gtr sounds. audience went potty. lead guy was useing marshalls. also loved cheap trick live...
happiness.
om
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
fyi i once mucked around diy dist pedal years ago...used diodes if i remeber.
Do you mean LED's? Those are typically what I find sounds best to my ears, though regular silicon and germanium diodes are also great.
Originally Posted by Tobin - PG Music Inc.
This is an excellent point. Would it be useful to you if you could have two tracks that are exactly the same, but one is the distorted guitar, and the other is the DI? Right now if you put a distorted guitar on one track, then the same guitar but using DI on another track, they'll be generated independently, but a potential new feature could be to have the two tracks linked so that they're both exactly the same performance.
I for one would personally love that.
Originally Posted by justanoldmuso
i was in a session once in a studio with primo gear and someone used just a baby gtr amp and some pedals and on playback everyone was rocking out. the lead gtr guy was a genius.
Not sure if you're a Queens Of The Stone Age fan, but Joshua Homme is well known for using the cheapest of the cheap amps. Similarly, I've got a couple cheapos that I regularly use - a battery powered Orange CR3, and a 40-some year old Peavey Audition. Honestly I prefer them to many amp simulators.
re distortion diy i was mucking around with op amps and diodes and tbh i failed to get a sound i liked. now i just dont have time for diy.
your obviously a gear guru...the hits that bug me as to great sounding gtr sounds are...
..heartbreaker by heart ..hold on loosely by 69 special
and others. ive tried various amps and cant even get close....lol. i know often its studio tricks as some groups cant reproduce the sounds live.
happiness.
om
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
re distortion diy i was mucking around with op amps and diodes and tbh i failed to get a sound i liked. now i just dont have time for diy.
I don't really have time for DIY anymore either, but I'd love to change that. Maybe I'll spend a long weekend finishing the dozens of distortion pedals I've yet to finish...
heres a link to one of my crazee rock songs showing the type of gtr 'sound picture' or 'tone' i rather like. not perfect cos i had a miniscule budget but good enough i guess.
Apologies if you hate it. it was mixed for good earbuds. so please use such. for me i rather like the rhythms and the rock lead plus the what we used to call 'vegas outtro'.
fyi...the song idea was developed in pg powertracks and more work and mixing in a small commercial studio. the song was done when in what i term 'my crazee rocker' era and a crazee woman i knew into rock....lol. my vocals. man i had some fun crazee great mad times. (i also have sang live opera...not only rock...lmao. cos all music is fun to me.... sadly as i age i'm loseing my upper registers.)
dont take me the wrong way...i like lots of the pg gtr rt's...particularly the rhythms. its just extreme over the top distortion ive never been a fan of. i have a metal zone pedal here and really have to dial it back.
as i said apologies if you hate the song. some people have told me they like it but you might not.
happiness always to you and all pg staff. respect to you both.
om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 02/06/2501:51 PM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
heres another song of mine to show the guitar tones i like. note >>> the lead break and outtro sound. done useing bb/rb plus pg content. its bonkers...lol. all about fast cars. wish i had a shelby mustang...lol. mixed for good earbuds..once again apologies if you hate it.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
Herb, Humble Pie Rockin the Filmore is one hell of a record. I have it in my collection and you made me want to listen to it again. It has been a long time since I last heard it!
It takes courage for a man to admit his wife was wrong.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
..humble pie...yep talented band. ..maybe some might disagree....but from experience irrespective of method used to lay down gtr tracks ie.... live or plugin or whatever it can be lots of work. even for some pros who have specific sounds in mind.
even us lesser mortals can spend lots of time finding THAT SOUND one hears in ones mind. for example the raceday and stallion songs gtr sounds rt.s in my sig i lucked out on after a fair amount of work. just the likkle tremelo gtr sound on pretty girl was work also. we all know songs are work with a serious song.
lol...simon...once i went thru a metal phase. i call it my evil vocal phase....totally crazee. if i get time this year i think i might have a bash at a extreme metal song with vocs to fit the genre. lots of fun.
om
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
its a social comment song....about old folks with no money and bankers etc.
keep rocking...lol.
om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 03/02/2501:53 PM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
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.
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Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
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