PG Music Home Forums PG Music Product Forums Band-in-a-Box for Windows 2011 first impressions?

Well there needs to be a thread like this - so I started one.

I just bought the update and my overall view is that BIAB is a stunning piece of software.

This upgrade seems to be largely about two things

1} Real Track enhancements to the program (and an enahanced audio experience)

2] The Iphone app

Plus of course more RealTracks

My opinion is that its worth every penny and I have no qualms about keeping up with each development

However,

1] I still can't record my favorite VST piano (TruePianos) along with a BIAB track - because there is no proper BVST rack in BIAB . I know I cna do it in RB but I dont weant to loose the fatures of BIAB. I regard this as essentially nobbling BAIB for me - as a recording tool. The program is like a fantastically capable superhero with a serious wound. Others might not worry about this, I acknowledge, but hey this is an accompaniment tool that does not support your favorite VST??? In 2011?

2] Still no mixer in BIAB - those 'mis-named' buttons and spin buttons are so terribly WIn95 - still. OK so the GUI weasnt the focus of this update, I can accept this, but soon PG.. please, its more than a decade since we have been limited to this kind of thing in other software.

3] I (Like many) dont have an iphone and dont really need to contro0l my PC from a hand held device. If I wanted to use BIAB tracks for a gig I would simply record them onto any of a variety of recorders I have, or stick them on a usb and laptop them. I do see that PG might want to get into the phoner app market though.

I will use the real tracks and I hear they are very good (as they usually are). I notice that the genres are pretty typical on the whole of what has gone before. I need to check my facts really before I come to a conclusion here.

Dont take this as a downer on the update. The Realtracks alone are totally worth the price, and Getting biab to fit more snuggly with Real Tracks must be a priority. As I understand it, Real tracks are much more flexible in the new enviroment.

My initial verdict? Great work, Worth Every Penny!

Now please PG a proper VST rack in BIAB?

Zero

Well moneys a bit tight at my end, being a recession and all. So I have biab 2010 and very happy with that, I reckon it has more realtracks than I will ever need. Not overly excited about the app for the iphone (don't even have an iphone) Seems to me that though 2011 is a great upgrade its more of an upgrade for the basic biab than anything else.

Will catch up with everyone at this time in 2011 for the 2012 program. Going on current pricing it will only cost me $20 more and I will have all ultra pak stuff that will be available.

In the meantime I congratulate PGmusic and wish everyone well and hope you enjoy your 2011 band in a box and all that it offers.

Happy Christmas

axeplayer

With every New Release, we are confronted with features that are attractive to our own operating style - and features that do not interest us personally at all very much, at least not at the moment.

For example, someone who has been clamoring for someting like the iPhone app is likely going to really appreciate seeing that happen, someone else with no need for that particular feature at the moment will come along and say all sorts of downside stuff about the feature they don't have a need for at the time.

Happens every year.

Band in a Box is such a feature-laden program, most of which features are there due to people's Wishlist requests and the like, that it should take more than a day or two of use before anyone can report even "first impressions" in my opinion. Takes that long to even get started finding out what new features do.

Human nature being what it is,

Carry on,

and--

Take it light.

Have Fun,


--Mac

Just wanted to clarify that it is not just an iPhone that runs this new feature. It also works on an iPod Touch, and an iPad.

nice to have some gospel!

Considering the annual upgrades of other companies (like the Adobe Creative Suite) I think the BIAB upgrade is overwhelmingly (is that a word?) full of new stuff. I mean, look at all those changes, improvements and especially the new Realtracks they made. The last upgrade of the Real Tracks was in Summer. Ever since they made like 20 new Realtrack Sets. If you know what kinda work that is, you will appreciate.
They have to put the focus on something, though. And MIDI seemed not to be one of it, ever since the Realtracks were out. I think that`s pretty ok, since you can do the Midi stuff with a Sequencer anyway.

I think it is truly amazing what you get for your bucks with this program.
And therefore I accept the old fashioned GUI. And isn`t Retro/Vintage "en vogue" now anyway ;-))

What I also find supercool is, that you can post your wishes in the wishlist Forum, and they are usually heard. I would call this "App 2.0". *I* can say what I want in the next version and its done. I`ve never seen this with any other company. During the years I`ve seen my "Trade 4s", "MultiStyles", "Fast Bebop Jazz RTs", "Ballads Jazz RTs" and now the "Gypsy RTs" have come true.

PG Music makes ME feel like the Boss, telling the company what to do. Thank you PG Music just solely for that feeling, LOL.

Sandra

I downloaded yesterday, and am eagerly awaiting the delivery of the new hard drive. I got a chance to use both BiaB and Rb for a few minutes last night. So far i am impressed. I think that there are some great new features, and it will be a solid system going forward.

I hear Zero on the VSTi thing and said so on a post before even downloading. I do not share his need to add a full on mixer in BiaB, since that is exactly why PG developed RB, to offer those things on the backside of BiaB functionality. Hanging on to the hope that PG will turn BiaB into everything is not very realistic, it would render RB usless. I will say that a small synth rack would be nice, giving those that use it like Zero does the ability to use better sounds in it, but making it a full on DAW is rather redundant with RB attached to it's side for that very purpose.

What i feel is important is for PG to develop the VSTi ability inside RB, and PTPA for that matter, since that is the whole point of the program is to offer a full on mixing system, that can take the creations of BiaB and even it's own creations, and finish them. Sure the focus is on RT development, but as I mentioned in the other post there are places where RTs will not fit, and midi is still very useful. Please fix the VSTi to work with really cool apps like Jamstix, and such then the program will be a true superhero!

Finally, i want to say good job! to the PG team, this program continues to give a lot to those that love it. I look forward to continue to learn to use it more fully.

Just installed it, and I'm looking for the feature that will reduce the size of my RealTracks folder. Can't find it. Can someone tell me where to look?

Andrew, it's Options, Preferences, RealTracks: the button marked "Erase Unneeded +/- Files".