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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 647
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 647 |
Looking quickly through the many REAL updates and new features, I again fail to see any enhancements to Fake Book, or general printing of notation.
It has been years since any significant changes were made, and bugs still exist from back in the old days when BIAB just had a number, not a year designation. Peter Gannon, at this time last year, even said they were going to review it. Seems that they must think it is OK. Well for another year, my money is staying in my pocket. I don't need all of the fancy REAL stuff. I am happy with the midi I have had for years. I just need a better way to present it.
There was even a link on this site "suggesting" that we could now export to FINALE, but on closer inspection, it doesn't support the chord symbols. All very nice, but it doesn't help.
Come un PG Music. Notation and Fake Book are part of the software, and you have ignored them far too long
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643)
Windows 10 (1909)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
Anyone sitting and hoping for anything midi is pretty much flogging a dead horse. Keyboard manufacturers leave some basic midi in their keyboards but they wouldn't sell one at the price if that's all that was there.
I don't think it will survive another 5 years.
I do remember basic DOS, like TRS-Dos and a few others, and the start of midi. It's being left in the dust. The only reason Ketron makes a module is that it's the same stuff they put in their keyboard, without the keyboard part.
I can't for the life of me see a future in any part of midi.
I still have a midi organ, 2 keyboards, 2 modules and 4 software midi things, but all are relics of the past.
As technology improves the need for midi fades, and I don't see groups like Roland and yamaha saying to each other, let's come up with another midi standard...
My 2c or 2p or...2 cennes noires
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,272
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,272 |
Dave, I feel and share your pain. Seems some of these older issues just remain as, well "old issues". I still have a major problem with track horizontal zooming in RB but dispite our wish lists these remain unchanged.  But like someone else said here in the forum, don't throw the baby out with the bath water. IMO, this is still the best show in town and well worth the investment.  Seems we need to have a "town hall meeting" with Peter,  face-to-face, to address some of these priorities. 
BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 647
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 647 |
I have no problem with all the REAL stuff - it's just that I don't need it. At least for now. What I do need is a reasonable Fake Book print function. The MusicXML might work - at least I could probably export the song to a dedicated print software program. Until then we just have BIAB.
Last year I wrote on this forum: "I anxiously await any updates to the notation portion of the software. Again, I guess Santa just gave me a lump of coal... 100 new features and not one of them has anything to do with notation" Dec 27, 2009
Peter Gannon did reply: "Its a good point, we should revisit notation in future versions." Dec 29, 2009.
I guess that this year isn't the right time. So how long do we have to wait?
BIAB is a great piece of software, and I do like it for what it does. It's just that the Print function - all of it - is stll a very poor second cousin to the remainder of the program.
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643)
Windows 10 (1909)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,693
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,693 |
Good luck Dave but printing fake book charts simply is not what people think of when they think Biab. It's an auto accompaniment program. There's lots of full time pros on this forum that don't have a problem with that. They need full featured notation, they buy Sibilius or Finale or do it like I do, print out a basic chart and use some white out and a pen to correct it and make copies. You can also get a free PDF print driver to do automatic PDF's you can email to somebody.
Now, I disagree strongly with John and completely agree with you about the need for midi. Midi is vital because RT's still don't allow you to write or create exact note for note parts. Only midi does that at least right now. He may be right in the future that new tech may create a way to take a prerecorded RT and pull individual notes out of it using some Melodyne type thing but if Celemony has a lock on that tech and PG doesn't want to pay for it, then midi it is. Or, maybe there's some whole new thing we've never heard of that will trump all of it and we just think into our aluminum foil helmets and the aliens create our stuff for us in exchange for candied yams and marshmellows.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
I'm spoiled. Most bands I played in had no charts. Then I played a lot in a band for years that had charts that were a suggestion, no one played what was they, it would be cruel to call it an approximation, I spent a lot of time sort of fixing them so they were close.
For 5 years now I've played in a "British Style" Brass Band. But we play Sousa and Opera stuff, and you name it. Often we get our parts, and they are 'proper' parts, but an Italian March has like 12 repeats so we do none of them, or some of them. We get photocopied parts, which are often too small, because the original was printed to save paper a hundred years ago, and my Bombardini part needs to be 'blown up'. Then you put in the new repeats, change this dynamic, drop these notes, add breath marks here and there, the thing can have 12 or 15 pencil corrections, notations, etc.
Once in a while we get the whole thing on bass clef. Makes it slow learning for old John.
So when I get lead sheets out of Band in a Box, they are pretty good. The wife and I printed 20 of them for Christmas music to be played last night, but we've got about 100 cm (3 feet) of new snow and it's still falling so they canceled that party....
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
I'm for any basic *improvements* that the developers can give us, Notation improvements as well.
I'd rather have a feature available to use even if I don't use it.
Because someday I might need to use it.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 604
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 604 |
If anyone thinks MIDI is dead, check out these cats... They resurrected Art Tatum, and have him playing live on SynKlaviers via their HD MIDI standard... AWESOME stuff..
Jan - 12 Core AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
32GB DDR4
Win 10 64-bit
Samsung m.2 SSD Boot drive,other SSD internal and USB drives.
MOTO 2
Ketron SD4,SD1000
Yamaha RX-v381amp
VB-Audio virtual cables
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
My favorite kinda cat. Invisible. Or is it the missing link?
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259 |
We aren't like you pro guys. We have to have our charts. I actually like the printed notation from BIAB better than Sibelius, but I'm still not proficient enough with biab notation to enter new notation there very often and then I use the qwerty keyboard. I do import midi files into Sibelius and make changes there where I can see the whole score. However, like the man said, biab is not designed as a notation program and our main use for it is for backups. Working with midi, Real Band has been a great help. Between BIAB, Real Band, WavePad, and Sibelius, we are getting the job done even though it's a struggle once in awhile. FWIW
Stan
Cornet Curmudgeon
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,179
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,179 |
Quote:
If anyone thinks MIDI is dead, check out these cats... They resurrected Art Tatum, and have him playing live on SynKlaviers via their HD MIDI standard... AWESOME stuff..
That kind of awesome is hard to obtain. Really hard.
If only there were a way obtain it.
Perhaps some way to link your post to this awesomeness...
/I liked yours too, John!
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 647
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 647 |
I also use BIAB as an accompaniment tool, and it works great. Unfortunately I am not as proficient as many of the musicians on this forum and need the charts and lyrics to play from.
BIAB provides everything I want, except that it doesn't work properly. Try a song with 3 differnt sets words in the endings (using the "repeat" function) for instance. You will find that the last ending appears under the first ending as well as the third. Sometimes the words 'DS al Coda' don't appear. The Coda sign is there, the jump and the actual coda are there, but the DS is just missing.
Now all of this could be fixed, I am sure, and it might be a lot of work. But to have a function that doesn't work properly all the time, and hasn't since day one, is disappointing to say the least.
One solution that seems to have worked with other parts of the software is to partner with specialist software. Why not work with more closely with Finale Printmusic in such a way that we can send all of the fake book elements (notes, chords, lyrics, repeats and endings, etc)to Printmusic and get a professional looking fake sheet. The BIAB webpage 'News and More' says that you can "Bundle Your Band-in-a-Box ...3rd Party Software..." including Printmusic 2011, but only, it seems if you are prepared to essentally rewrite everything except the notes.
Now if you are happy with working without a chart, my hat is off to you. For the mere mortals among us who still rely on printed music, at least give us an option to purchase an add on that will FULLY interface with BIAB. I will gladly spend the $99 for Printmusic if it has a seamless interface with BIAB.
BIAB is my software of choice for musical backup. Just give me a way to properly show off what it can do.
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643)
Windows 10 (1909)
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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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New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!
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
Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)
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!
The 2025 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2025 49-PAK!
Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac!
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
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!
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!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 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.
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!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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 Windows!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac 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!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 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.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
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