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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thinking of buying a SD-50 (have downloaded all the user manuals from roland website and compared) - anyone got a patch map for it?

What I learnt:

SD-50 - midi module plus usb midi/wav/mp3 player. You can send midi messages to it whilst the usb player is playing - handy if you want to play e.g. a melody line over backing tracks. Can also alter key and tempo. Sounds right for me as I play keyboards in a couple of bands and also do gigs with a sax player where I have done all the backing tracks via BIAB.

Sonic Cell - midi module plus usb midi/wav/mp3 player. Says you can't send midi to it whilst usb player is playing. "Input/output of USB audio and MIDI messages cannot be used at the same time that the SMF/Audio File Player is playing". No key change. Lots of effects and expandable - designed for those who like tweaking sounds. Probably better sounds than SD-50???

BK-7M - midi module plus usb midi/wav/mp3 player plus accompaniment. Last part is like on many keyboards - you choose what style and it reacts to the chords you play, but you can at least set up lots of parameters beforehand and trigger changes with one button. Can't really see the point if you have BIA, where you can drive either of the two above direct from laptop or store midi files on USB stick and play those. I suppose you could argue that the backing will not be so rigid, and you can pop in another verse or chorus if you feel like it, but you're still going to have play all the chords in your left hand (piano/keyboard) and whilst that may be good for e.g. jazz, not so sure it's how I want to play other stuff.

Please shout if you've got one of the above and I've got it wrong or have missed something important!!?? Hope to get down the music store and try them all out soon.

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Have you checked out the Ketron?


John
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"The only Band is a Real Band"
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Not yet, am downloading brochure now - looks interesting, thanks.

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It's a great sounding unit but have not heard the others though.


John
ESI Gigaport HD+
Lenovo Turion II /4 Gig Ram/ Win7x64 be
15.6" Monitor
"The only Band is a Real Band"
www.wintertexaninfo.com/BANDS/JohnnyD.php
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Looks good, and people rave about the sounds, but it doesn't have a USB port for playing midi/mp3 from a USB stick and that's high on my wishlist at present to save carrying round the laptop.

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Ok, bought the SD-50, and thought I would share some experiences.

1.I have sent patch file to PGMusic and they have put in on the website - thanks.

2.Playing standard MIDI files/songs from BIAB - you can choose between CONTEMPORARY (default) and CLASSIC for GM2 sounds - go for CLASSIC. CONTEMPORARY sounds weird (to me) for playing midi files, and the volumes are all strange, and the whole thing sounds muddy. I was getting ready to take the unit back when I tried the CLASSIC setting and hey presto, all was well. Lots of other sounds on the other banks - still playing with all of those. Guitars and sax all a bit weak (as on many synths) but strings / brass / synth sounds all very good and that's what I need (we have live guitars and sax in the band).

3.BIAB midi driver setup is SD-50 MIDI on the input and SD-50 on the output

4.The ability to change keys / tempo on both midi files and MP3s is magic - bung a USB stick in with the songs you want to play, try a song out and if your vocalist doesn't like the key, just change it. I know we keyboard chaps have transpose buttons, and some of us can transpose on the fly, but this is super quick and neat for agreeing in what key you want. Then you can start worrying about actually playing it in that key!

5.For live work I set up a studio set with 16 pre-programmed instruments (you can have up to 3 studio sets) - load the set, and then just change the channel on my midi ctlr keyboard to choose a different instrument, which gives me a very quick change.

6.You can play live from keyboard plus PC or USB stick playing files at same time. When using BIAB on laptop I use Thru channel for keyboard live. Have to juggle a bit with volumes to get balance right, but I just store BIAB songs now with Thru volume at 127, and I can change that from the keyboard as I'm playing.

Hope that all makes sense!! Shout if you need more / disagree or whatever!

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PG Music News
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!

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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!

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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

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  • 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
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  • Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
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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.

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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!

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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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