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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 113
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 113 |
I use BIAB mostly for swing music. The bass lines generated in general sound good but there's always places where I hear bad voice leading or jumps that I would not expect a bass player to do.
I realize this is a vague post. I'd be curious to hear from other keyboard players who use BIAB for bass (and perhaps drums).
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,199
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,199 |
Hi Dave,
I've probably read your post wrongly but it sounds like you are asking people to criticize BIAB. I can't do that because I think the program is brilliant.
For what it's worth, my experience is that whenever one uses automation to intimate a real musician, there's a trade-off between what a musician would do and what a computer program does.
For me, BIAB is not the answer to my musical backings, it's the starting place. Once I've created something in BIAB, I take it to Realband and re-generate those sections that I feel do not work as effectively as they could. This applies to all instruments and not just the bass. I also cut and paste those riffs that I like so as to provide some musical hooks. Once I get a sound that I like, I save the SEQ file. I also export it as a WAV file and compress it to a hi-fi mp3.
This is where Realband excels. It allows me to take a computer creation and, using everything that I know about music, to modify that creation and to enhance the realism as I hear it.
Regards,
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2025
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,652
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,652 |
Quote:
I realize this is a vague post. I'd be curious to hear from other keyboard players who use BIAB for bass (and perhaps drums).
For bass I will occasionally hear a super walking line or some fancy pattern which fits nicely, and prior advice about working the arrangement in RB is the way to go. My criticism of some of the bass lines is that it sounds like the bass player wants to stand on the front of the stage and act like he is playing a solo - through my arrangement!  At that point I have to tell him, "dude, your the bass player - just hold down the root notes, I'll handle the solos". Lots have been done in BIAB to provide "simple" and "very simple" bass lines which are super. Check some of them out.
Drums are a different beast. I love BIAB cause I can do drums in seconds, however, if you need that custom arrangements historically I have looked elseware - but beware, drums can drive you nuts trying to program a specific groove...  . By the way I told a drummer once what I said to the "BIAB" bass player above and boy did I regret it. Don't piss off the drummer, my solos sounded like hell when he decided to mess with the rhythm.  I won't do that again.
BIAB – 2026, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud.
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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 |
Dave,
The Simple and Very Simple variations that Dan mentioned may address your needs. I do mostly swing music and rarely use the Jazz RTs relying mostly on the Midi bass in JAZZSIMP style. It is solid and never stands out.
Be sure to try other bass RTs such as Gypsy Acoustic Bass and Pop Swing Acoustic Bass. Also the use of the A/B part markers may make a difference.
R
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 581
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 581 |
I'm in agreement that some of the bass parts get a little 'busy' and may not be what "I" would do or my preferred bass player might do ... The new 'simple' feature is nice to have ! My process is much the same as Noel's. BIAB is the starting point and I'm not there too long. Just long enough to do the chord arrangement, basic instruments etc, then it's off to Real Band for the real work. Once in RB, I will regenerate a bar, a few notes of a bass track until I get something acceptable for the tune at hand. (NOTE: There IS a bug in this process. If your tune has any tempo changes in it, the regen will also erase a few bars after it (arrggh - Hope this gets fixed soon !) There are some tunes with 'signature' lines. These and the ones you feel just don't cut it, can always be hand-written in midi, and now with VST, apply Garritan or other for the bass rendering... here's an example of a 'sig' bass line that just HAD to be done in midi... with the Garritan Jazz & Big Band upright bass applied. http://soundcloud.com/mitchc-1/adventures-in-paradise-mix1Don't fault the tool. It's great at what it does. You need to be creative with how you use it. It's amazing to me that Real Tracks even work !! Imagine what is involved. Any infinate number of chord progressions, tempos etc, and to try to intelligently generate a 'part' out of small phrase samples is just staggering to me !
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 113
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 113 |
Rachel, I'll try the more simple bass parts, thanks!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 826
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 826 |
Hey come on now. We bass players are people too. We deserve a moment in the limelight. And we're not 'simple'. lol
BiaB 2013 b366, RB 2013 b4, WinXP Pro SP3, Toshiba M70, 1.8GHz 2GB RAM 100GB HD. Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, Ketron SD2. BiaB Wiki
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 113
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 113 |
In the real world, when a piano player plays simply, bass players interpret that as an invitation to play more; the piano player just wants to change the mood and keep things ... simple. 
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,608
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,608 |
In my real world, I'm a jazz pianist and love the playing of bassists John Patitucci, Stanley Clarke, Gary Peacock, Eddie Gomez, Christian McBride, etc. Modern jazz pianists (IMHO) don't want a 1-5 player. So it all depends on what kind of music you like and play. If you're playing at a country club, then a 1-5 bassist would be fine. At a jazz club you want more than that. In modern jazz group the bassist is more than a timekeeper. I'm not advocating that the bassist plays like he's constantly soloing, but play like he's doing more than keeping time. Much like the aforementioned bassists. In the end it's what kind of music you like that will determine what kind of bassist you'll like. Later, Ray
Asus Q500A i7 Win 10 64 bit 8GB ram 750 HD 15.5" touch screen, BIAB 2017, Casio PX 5s, Xw P1, Center Point Stereo SS V3 and EWI 4000s.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 113
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 113 |
jim111, thanks for that video.
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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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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!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 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 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-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)
- Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- 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
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Video: New User Interface (GUI)
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!
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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!
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 Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 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 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.
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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