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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I'm thinking of getting an Axon AX-100 MkII which is primarily a pitch to midi converter. However, it also has over 500 midi voices. So... Has anyone used one? Does it work well with BiaB and RB? Would it be difficult to find or create a patch map? Any advice or comments would be much appreciated. Thanks.
BiaB 2013 b366, RB 2013 b4, WinXP Pro SP3, Toshiba M70, 1.8GHz 2GB RAM 100GB HD. Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, Ketron SD2. BiaB Wiki
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2009
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Productor Musical
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Productor Musical
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,055 |
Hi Paul, Axon-100 MKII is a fantastic MIDI guitar converter, plenty of sophisticated features and programability. I did try it by two weeks aprox. but because I prefer go straight and simple on MIDI guitar recording area and I don´t need internal sounds, I finally got a Roland GI-20 GK-MIDI interface , it don´t have sounds, but it work fast and accurate with my Godin xtSA, I use it primarily as just a interface for drive my external synths and virtual instruments. It is important to considere AXON has gained the reputation of be the faster MIDI interface, it ' has an early transient recognition system (ETR) which evaluates the impulses from the strings as soon as they are picked and converts them into values for pitch' , it does great and fast in low strings!. Just my personal experience with AXON was not all the successful I wanted, because my playing style tend to be strong and precise and the AXON ETR mode in my case produced ghost and retriggering notes. ETR work great for fingerstyle and soft picking, but in my opinion it sacrifice accuracy and dynamic sometimes. As compensation Roland have six PLAY FEEL modes and individual string sensitivity adjust, all of which work great for me. In the other side Axon-100 MKII as standalone device is a big step up over its little and squalid brother Axon AX 50, which need a PC software for even the minimal taks. Also Axon 100 MKII tone bank does a good job and bring a decent sound palette, although IMO nothing outstanding, just then I did connect it as GM bank to my Band-in-a-Box 2008, it did sound good in an average basis, just that, anyway matter of likes. However it have lot of tone patchs specially designed with MIDI guitar on mind which sound impressive, indeed lot of fun there!. Another plus in Axon is it include a software editor for Windows and Mac and a hold mode with arpeggiator and drum sequencer that work great. But as I said before I prefer go simpler, and I love the convenience virtual synths give me, instant rendering without need to connect and record audio from an external module, btw, I only make that when I have some appetizing analog synth handy  . Like Axon, Roland GI-20 also let me assign different MIDI channels to each string and it have other useful features like foot pedals for hold, expression, prog. change etc, and all I need for real time control is in my Godin xtSA: octaves change, basic switching and volume. unfortunately I didn't record anything while I had the AXON. But I have some videos and examples with Roland GI-20, btw, using BIAB most of times. Look here: Mina Sambinha - MIDI guitar and Band in a Box Band In A Box - MIDI Guitar Audio Recording Carlos
Gabriel Arellano,
Nucleox Music
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Carlos,
I have a Roland GI-20 and Godin xtSA, but I can't seem to get the same results you have achieved in terms of tracking. Any hints on how to set it all up?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,055
Productor Musical
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Productor Musical
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,055 |
Hi Pat, Can you describe what type of issues do you have with your GI-20 and xtSA? About my preferences and setup for Roland GI-20, this is my personal approach, it can vary according your playing style. My setup with Godin xtSA (0.10-0.46 gauge strings): Bend Range: C2 (chromatic) and '12' for pitch bend if absolutly necessary. With PlayFeel: NR , String Sensitivity: 1.4 - 2.4 - 3.3 - 4.4 - 5.4 - .6.4 good for Pads or jazz/rock lead lines with pick (I use Big Stubby Jim Dunlop 3mm) With PlayFeel: Fi (fingered) String Sensitivity: 1.3 - 2.2 - 3.2 - 4.3 - 5.3 - .6.2 great for chords and finger playing without pick. I will put here hint from some web sites discussing MIDI guitar, many of that has been my north to follow. Improves Playing Technique
For optimal MIDI conversion, your guitar playing needs to be clean and accurate. Accidental notes, resonating open strings and other sounds can often be converted into undesired MIDI notes. Often you don’t hear these when playing guitar yourself, but can detect them easily when listening live to the generated MIDI.
Striving to improve MIDI note accuracy, encourages clean picking and accurate fingering, with good control over non-sounding strings by damping them.
Not only will your MIDI output be more accurate, your normal guitar playing will sound clearer and more professional. It’s like having a tutor sitting beside you giving you advice. It’s also great fun!from: http://www.sonuus.com/products_g2m.html I find the pitch tracking pretty bad when I play chords in "normal" configuration-- that is, with pitch bend enabled. I keep my guitars set for "chromatic" response almost all the time. On the rare occasions when I double a guitar lead line with, say, a fretless bass-type sound, bend tracking is quite good. I've read that a lot of Roland users have the same approach-- "Disable pitch bend unless absolutely necessary!" http://jpsongs.com/troubadortech/usmgtr.htmGuitar synths aren't perfect by any means, but with a little imagination a proficient guitarist can create music that would be difficult to realise with a keyboard synthesizer. One of the most powerful performance techniques at the guitar player's disposal is the ability to apply finger vibrato to individual strings with variable depth and rate, which makes things like cello emulation very realistic. Another strength, which I haven't touched on yet, is the way in which guitar sounds (either clean or heavily processed) can be layered with synth voices to create a unique hybrid sound which still retains some of the 'organic' characteristics of a 'real' instrument.
Of course there will always be things that guitar synths are supremely poor at -- such as inputting percussive parts. I think I'd rather rewrite this article using the patch naming facilities on a typical effects unit LCD rather than try to programme a complex drum part from a guitar! Half the battle is knowing when to stop and use something else, which is why I also use conventional keyboards and drum pads in my MIDI studio. But what I don't want you to do is to write off guitar synths as being so imperfect that they're unusable -- even the cheap-and-cheerful Shadow SH075 is a supremely useful little box for interfacing your guitar-playing skills with the sonic world of MIDI. http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1994_articles/feb94/midiguitar.html Other good net references: http://home.epix.net/~joelc/midi_git.htmlhttp://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/recording...-recording.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitar_synthesizerHope this help. Carlos
Gabriel Arellano,
Nucleox Music
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thanks Carlos.. that was an excellent reply, full of good information I can look up as time allows.
The problem must be in the setup of my GI-20, because the Godin sounds amazing when played through the original Roland GR-1 guitar synth pedal. But when I try to play it through a Roland XV-3080 rack synth using the GI-20 as interface, it doesn't sound good at all. (and it SHOULD sound much better)
I'll plug in the settings you recommended and try again.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2009
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Productor Musical
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Productor Musical
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,055 |
You're welcome Pat.
I forgot to mention I connect GI-20 via MIDI ports, not USB, I don't know why but it seem to cause conflict with my iLOK and Steinberg USB dongles. Anyway the difference in terms of speed between both, USB and MIDI, is imperceptible.
Carlos
Gabriel Arellano,
Nucleox Music
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 826
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Thanks Carlos. There's a lot of good info there. Based on your reply, and on other resources, I think the Axon is going to be right for me. I'm going to equip one of my basses with the ghost piezo saddles and hexaphonic board. The idea is to be able to play my bass directly into BiaB. Hopefully that will help me improve my precision and overall musicality. Thanks again.
BiaB 2013 b366, RB 2013 b4, WinXP Pro SP3, Toshiba M70, 1.8GHz 2GB RAM 100GB HD. Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, Ketron SD2. BiaB Wiki
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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You're a collector, like ol' G-Daddy. I picked up my GR-303 Roland Midi/Jazz Guitar way back 20 years ago when Metheny was blossoming...with the GM-70 rack unit, and it's always had great tracking but needs to be soloed very cleanly...it grooves!! This was the beginning into my adding synths to straight jazz hollowbodies...I've an XV-4080 Roland Rack Synth, and a bunch of other synth/sampler keyboards and modules. I've no problems with the sound emanating from these babies...with direct midi connections to all the hardware... Nice having such knowledgeable guitarist on board here. Of course, Carlos is my absolute favorite jazz cat!!!   http://www.thegigbaby.com
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,106
Veteran
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Carlos,
I also connect using midi rather than USB (mostly because there is no 64 bit USB driver for the GI-20, and Roland doesn't plan to provide one)
I did a factory reset on the GI-20 to get rid of all the tweaks I tried to make to the patches, and reset my string sensitivity, and it sounds much better now.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,055
Productor Musical
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Productor Musical
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,055 |
Cita:
Code:
GDaddy
Of course, Carlos is my absolute favorite jazz cat!!!
Muchas gracias Mike!. Although I don´t think to deserve it I appreciate it a lot  ..thanks ... Btw, Oliver (Ganon), drive force behind PGM , is a amazing guitarist and a model I follow.
Cita:
Code:
GDaddy
I picked up my GR-303 Roland Midi/Jazz Guitar way back 20 years ago when Metheny was blossoming...with the GM-70 rack unit, and it's always had great tracking but needs to be soloed very cleanly...it grooves!!
This was the beginning into my adding synths to straight jazz hollowbodies...I've an XV-4080 Roland Rack Synth, and a bunch of other synth/sampler keyboards and modules. I've no problems with the sound emanating from these babies...with direct midi connections to all the hardware...
Wow, GR-303, GM-70 such incredible classic dream gear to death for! . it could be great some pictures to watch of your MIDIfied jazz hollowbodies Mike. What do you use for pickups? the old Roland GK1 or newest Gk2/Gk3 ?
Saludos
Carlos
Gabriel Arellano,
Nucleox Music
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 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 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Video: New User Interface (GUI)
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!
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac 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!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 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 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!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 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.
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!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
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!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 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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