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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 66
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 66 |
This is nuts.Why does one need a Real Band program when he can do the same stuff with BIAB? If you want to playback real tracks you can do that in BIAB.So what is the purpose of Real Band but another gimmick?
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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 |
Sorry, but you sound just a tad grumpy this morning...
Real Band is a better tool to use if you plan to add 'live' players to your songs. It's also better for mixing all the tracks down to a stereo .wav or .wma file.
If you don't need to use it, just ignore it. It didn't cost you any extra $, right ?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,722
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,722 |
As Mitch pointed out many users of BIAB use Realband for a truckload of reasons, none that I can offer as I don't use it (yet) but hey it did not cost any extra so one of these days I might get around to getting more involved with Realband myself. Until then, do what I do, enjoy BIAB and ignore the Realband desktop icon.  Regarding "a gimmick" I hardily think PG Music is so desperate they have to sell product by confusing the consumer with any gimmicks. Later,
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 349
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 349 |
Hi rd151 Welcome to the forums. Lots of useful info here and experienced people always willing to help. Sometimes the learning curves can be frustrating with any new programs and these forums along with the excellent PG Music support staff can solve pretty much any problem you might have. I like to suggest to newbies to check out "Song from start to finish - BIAB, RealBand, & Reaper" videos located here: http://www.pgmusic.com/videos.user.htmIt will give you a good overall view of some of the capabilities of BIAB in conjunction with RB and their use with other DAW's, in this case, Reaper, to bring your musical ideas to reality. Best wishes, Carkins
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109 |
here's why *I* like RB:
1) you have MUCH more flexibility to PLACE sound, both audio and MIDI, exactly where you want to in a track
2) you have MANY more tracks available
3) you have multiple MIDI ports available (BIAB has 1)
4) you have more MIDI resolution if you want it
5) The ability to pick and add instruments as needed without loading a whole style at once is (in my opinion) easier in RB (although ver 2012 made it about as easy in BIAB)
6) The use of loops is more convenient in Real Band
7) You have more control over effects (maybe not empirically, but it seems more intuitive to me in RB)
8) if you are already used to other DAWs, RB's paradigm is pretty familiar already...
9) audio effects that make it easy to fade in and fade out instruments according to taste
10) many more tracks on which you can record your own playing (BIAB only has 2)
11) since many people take BIAB projects and develop them further in a DAWQ, RB is the perfect one to use because it is included with BIAB, and it natively reads all the same proprietary file types (not true of other DAWs)
I could go on, but my wife is looking over my shoulder waiting for me to take her shopping... But that's a brief overview
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,426
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,426 |
To sum everything up RB is a DAW and BiaB is not.
Love is grand.
Divorce is twenty grand!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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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 |
To add to the rest, you can import a midi file and edit some or all of the parts and print out the related notation. I even use it to cut and paste mp3 files.
I bought Mixcraft to use as a DAW, but mostly use RB instead.
Cornet Curmudgeon
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,833
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,833 |
Quote:
This is nuts.Why does one need a Real Band program when he can do the same stuff with BIAB?
That's not a true statement. There are many things RealBand does that Band-in-a-Box doesn't do, and vice versa. The two complement each other. And again, if you don't need it, don't use it. It's just part of the package.
I don't use Microsoft Publisher, but it came with Microsoft Office. No big deal.
Click on this FAQ link to find out more about the differences between the programs.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,522
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,522 |
It's funny, I've seen users ask the exact opposite - "if RB can do all this why do I need BiaB?"
Learn them both, and you'll be twice as amazed at the deal it is to get both of them included. 90% of my work happens in RB; I used to think I was an exception (and I probably am) but I see a lot more RB ethusiasts lately.
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: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697 |
Quote:
This is nuts.Why does one need a Real Band program when he can do the same stuff with BIAB? If you want to playback real tracks you can do that in BIAB.So what is the purpose of Real Band but another gimmick?
Another gimmick. Right. Spoken like a true ignoramus who doesn't have a clue...
Why is it always the ones who don't know anything about anything who make these kinds of statements?
Real Band and Biab are two entirely and I repeat entirely different programs. They do NOT do the same "stuff". Under certain condidions and circumstances yes, they're similar. Jeesh. That statement alone shows you have no clue. How many different midi instrument tracks does Biab have? No, you have to look it up. Real Band has 48. You never do any live audio recording? How many audio recording tracks does Biab have? Look that up too. RB has 48. Start with these two and do some reading. Oh yeah, ever tried to create a really long song in Biab? What's the maximum number of bars can you use? Look that up as well. Don't worry, there's more.
It may be true YOU don't need all the different functions in RB, maybe you only work with small 4 or 5 piece arrangements but that doesn't make your post any less ignorant.
What's the matter with simply saying nicely you don't understand Real Band and could someone please explain how it could work with Biab?
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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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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The only thing similar between the two is that they both play back music.
A rickshaw and a Corvette are both wheeled vehicles that will get you from point A to point B but they are not the same thing.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 300
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 300 |
Quote "It may be true YOU don't need all the different functions in RB, maybe you only work with small 4 or 5 piece arrangements but that doesn't make your post any less ignorant.
What's the matter with simply saying nicely you don't understand Real Band and could someone please explain how it could work with Biab?"end quote
Excellent analysis... I totally agree with your answer.. I have yet to learn RB, & am looking forward to using it, & it's certainly not a gimmick on PG Music to sell BIAB.. They have a money back guarantee if a person doesn't like it or if they feel they were coerced into buying it,.MHO
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 583
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 583 |
Like others, I'm one of those long-time BIAB users in a live setting and have never messed with RB. However, I hope to get around to it. I'm working New Year's Eve with a 4-piece group, with BIAB as the main rhythm section. Recently, I got the PreSonus Studio One software for multitrack recording. Never done that on a computer. Have always used stand-alone recorders. Got 3 of 'em. Probably should have looked at RB first; but, I needed a good interface that came with the program. Maybe rd151 said what he said just to get folks started.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 84
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 84 |
Oh my, so much grouchiness in one little thread  For play-along, BIAB is all you need. I use it to practice and to investigate new arrangements. The odd time I wish to record my guitar or (god forbid) my voice, I use RB. I could record in BIAB but it just isn't as flexible and the results are less editable. Now smile everyone. Get with the spirit. Spread the love via PG Music  John
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697 |
We're all smiling John and there's plenty of love for PG Music around here. If one guy wants to simply ask some questions about the differences between Biab and RB all of us will certainly help him including me.
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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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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PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!
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Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
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Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
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There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
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Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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!
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