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#91783 11/20/10 01:21 AM
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Would it be possible to use Real Tracks Soloists to play some of the Harmony parts in BnBox?
This would be a very desirable feature.

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If you're referring to the harmony parts that are generated to accompany a MIDI melody line, then no, it can't do that without some serious rewriting.

It's very much like expecting a BiaB style to generate a harmony that follows a melody. RealTracks uses pre-recorded phrases of notes - the length of a bar or longer. To create a harmony part, you'd need the resolution of the RealTrack to go down to the note level.

Your best bet is to get a more realistic sound source, such as Garritan Jazz and Big Band. Unfortunately, all the real cool articulation and human phrasing that comes for free with RealTracks has to be put in using a controller or manually. But since you've got a wind controller and a Ketron SD2, you already know that...

What you're asking for (in essense) is a program which could use a MIDI file as input, and patch together its output similar to RealBand. Instead of using notes that have been selected to be bland and blend (for a sampler), if the notes were pieced together out of phrases, they should be able to keep their articulations and sound much better.

There are a number of products on the market that do that. Synful Orchestra was the first sample library that I know of that developed a commercial product using that idea. It's got a bunch of instrumental phrases, and builds the output line from there, instead of from individual notes. In theory, the result is a much more natural, expressive output. Unfortunately, the target output is orchestral, not jazz or big band.

Similar technology was apparently used in Garritan's (now discontinued) solo cello and violin. People love these products, but they are currently unavailable, apparently because an agreement couldn't be reached with the folk who developed the technology, who have gone on to develop their own sets of products, including solo trumpet, trombone and saxophones. These would sound awesome through your wind controller - I hope you've got deep pockets!

There's also The Mojo Horn Section that appears to use a similar technology, but aims to reproduce a horn section, instead of simply solo instruments. That's probably closer along the lines of what you've got in mind.

All right, I'll drift way off tangent for a moment. At this point, there aren't any RealTrack string sections or brass sections, and I'm sort of curious about how you'd put one together. To be useful, you'd have to create a string or brass arrangement that works well over a lot of different songs in a given style. I suspect that's the real sticking point: you want enough "style" to be usable, but not to much that it can't be transferred to a lot of songs. That's a tall order.

Plus, unless you're using RealBand, you want a style which you don't have to micro-edit. At some point, it's simpler to play it yourself, or get a sample CD. The real strength of BiaB is the ability to plug and play. A single instrument is a lot cheaper to record than a group, so it's more cost effective.

Still, I'd imagine that it would be possible to write a RealTrack along the lines of the Organ RT - a generic pad. Maybe a horn section could be done with 1/3/7 voicings, and generic riffs between held chords? Most of the sample CDs of horn sections that I've seen concentrate of phrases (which RealTrack already does) and section hits (which I haven't seen). That would be a cool addition!

Anyway, I agree that this would be a cool addition. But I'm not sure how it would be added to BiaB without really going outside their core product line.


-- David Cuny

My virtual singer development blog
Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?

BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Very informative post, David.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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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!

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  • 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
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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 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!

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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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