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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 38
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 38 |
Hi,
I am using BIAB 2010.5 MegaPak under Win 7 32 bit.
I am not happy with the instrument sound that is produced by BIAB.
I bought this package with the understanding that it would be like a little band in the corner.
My hardware consists of:
1 - onboard HD Audio (on the motherboard)
2 - two Logitech Computer Speakers with a Bass Unit.
3 - one Yamaha P-85 Digital Piano.
The MIDI configuration is set as follows:
Input = No MIDI
Output = USB Uno MIDI
Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth
When I set the MIDI configuration to output USB Uno MIDI, the piano comes through but that is all.
When I set the MIDI configuration to output MS GS Wavetable everything sounds like a Kazoo..lol
I am very computer literate but I am Audio illiterate.
It seems as if there is something missing in my configuration.
Without breaking the bank, any recommendations would be appreciated.
TIA northcoast
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,637
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,637 |
Hi, Have you tried using the VSC/DXi soft synth rather than MS Wavetable. Try this and see if it helps. You are in a fortunate position since you have a 32 bit operating system. - Opt. | Preferences | MIDI Driver
- Activate "Use VST/DXi Synth"
- Activate "Route MIDI thru to MIDI drive"
 Now a pop-up should happen to tell you that you have installed the soft synth. If for some reason, you do not see VSC/DXi in the top slot of the pop-up window, click on the drop-down menu list arrow on the right and select it.  All the best, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 38
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 38 |
Thanks for the quick response.
I made the suggested changes and yes, the sound seems to be much better.
I am new at this so there is much for me to learn.
When I add a Melody and than set up the Harmony to "Super Saxes", it sounds like an accordian instead of saxes.
Maybe I am expecting too much too soon.
Back to the Tutorials...
Thank you..Northcoast
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,616
Expert
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Expert
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,616 |
Quote:
I am not happy with the instrument sound that is produced by BIAB.
Unless you are using RealTracks and/or RealDrums, BIAB sounds are only as good as the synth it is playing through. It is my understanding that the Roland VSC/DXi synth won't work under Windows 7. BIAB ships with a Coyote Wavetable that will work under 7 but sounds the same as the MS Wavetable. PG sells Coyote Forte, which works under Windows 7 and has some nice sounds. You can try it for 30 days.
From what I can tell, your Yamaha P85 has only a few keyboard voices. If you want to use those, you would need the patch numbers from your manual and put those in the BIAB part(s) you desire. Depending on what instruments you want, Forte would probably do the trick. If finances are an issue, there are free synths that use readily available sound libraries such as VSTSynthFont.
R
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 625
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 625 |
There is a reason expensive sound modules are expensive. The Ketron is not cheap, but the sax sections sound less like accordions than any software sample player, and most other hardware modules. The vibrato tends to be a little heavy using the default sax banks.
I wish there were a way to make harmonies out of the upper banks though. Does anyone know a way ?
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 SD90
Aerophone AE-30, Yamaha WX-7
Yamaha RX-v381amp
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,832
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,832 |
I use Real Band for this reason. It allows me to take a song i develop in BiaB and move it to Rb, where i can use several different softsynths, TTS, Sampletank, PS fretted, and even sound fonts if i want, and blend then with Real Tracks and get a very realistic backing band. Even cheap sound sources like Microsoft synth Gs, and VSc, need effort to sound decent. Learn which synth have good sounds. I like TTs for some sounds, sampletank for others. Still sometimes you have to add effects and tweak the sounds to get what you want. To get good results it take work and learning. If all you had to do was type in a few chords and out came a song that rivaled the best bands on the planet where would the art of it come in? There would be thousands of out of work musicians, and every concert hall in the world would be filled with computer geeks! eeeeeekkkkk that's a horrible thought!
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,511
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
Yes, as we all should know, MIDI has no sound, but simple recreates the gestures of a synth player and sends those gestures in digital form to the synth.
The synth creates the sound, and the sound a synth creates can be either realistic or lame or anything in between.
To get realistic sounds out of any MIDI program, you need good synths, either hardware or software, and the synth in your computer's sound card isn't going to do it.
For a computer user who doesn't want to add another amp and speakers, a small hardware synth like the Ketron would probably be a good bet. I'm sure there are some great software synths out there now, but I prefer hardware synths so I can't recommend any.
Insights and incites by Notes ♫
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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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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Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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Regular hours resume Tuesday, May 19th!
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With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
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-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)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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- 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
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