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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2011
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Hi BiaB experts.
While I do own a BiaB license, I am here to ask in behalf of a friend of mine who does not (yet).
He requested me to help him purchase a program called RealBookSoftware for some $150, but when doing a bit of research on that software in the Internet, I got the strong impression that the thing is a fraud.
The advertising for RealBookSoftware says, using it you can search a database of a great [*****] of RealBook songs and have the program play the selected song for you and display/print the lead sheet or musical notes and text.
I do know that BiaB would be able to do just this, when combined with a huge (well structured) directory of decently done RealBook transcriptions.
So I would like to recommend him to purchease a copy of BiaB. But where to get a really good collection of RealBook BiaB files ?
Thanks for any help,
-Michael
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,129
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I think you're into an interesting aspect about licensing here, because if my understanding is correct, purchasers of BB/RB are free to sell their compositions. To the extent that the material itself is in the public domain (of which I would imagine most RealBook tunes are not) - then it would be perfectly legal.
For those tunes that are not in the public domain - then I would imagine the issue would be that of not paying royalties to the copyright owners of each song, but NOT for the generation of the music.
There are many more knowledgeable than I about such things. I hope to learn more and if appropriate be corrected regarding the angle I presented.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Michael, I would not recommend RealBook software. Like you I did some research and not only does it look illegal there are also a lot of activation problems with it, if in fact you can activate it at all! A much better and legal way to do this is to buy BiaB, a legal fakebook like one of these http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&key...sl_6szbqc16ue_band the matching Fake Disk, if there is one, from Norton’s music http://www.nortonmusic.com/contents.html#fakeIt is legal as Norton’s Fake Disks have the chords only, however the chords are in the identical key as the fake book. Just load the song in BiaB and play along. You can not copyright a chord structure so all chord progressions are legal to copy and distribute. It’s the lead lines that can be copyrighted. If there is no Fake Disk just input the chords from the fake book and go from there. I hope this helps.
Back in my day the only time we started panic buying was when the bartender shouted "last call"!
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: May 2011
Posts: 13
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OP
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I did find the site of Phillips Music and downloaded a ZIP file with some 500 BiaB File, seemingly containing chords and melody, many also the words.
I suppose this will be a good starter. BiaB can create a song list from the files that has some information What is lacking here is a kind of database that provides e.g. the Author.
-Michael
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Michael, I would not recommend RealBook software. ... there are also a lot of activation problems with it, if in fact you can activate it at all!
Exactly, This package rears it head occasionally over the years. My experience based on the money I paid for it - don't go there! 
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Check out www.iRealb.com 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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+1 for iRealb
I had major issues with the RealbookSoftware. False delivery schedules, things NOT working as advertised etc etc just not a happy experience at all. It promises much, and delivers very little. To be avoided!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2011
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No offers like that for Windows PC ? -Michael
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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It's for Mac and Android. I sometimes use iRealb on short gigs. I have it installed on my android phone and android tablet. Later, Ray
Last edited by raymb1; 06/29/13 04:46 PM.
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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Mario - thanks for that suggestion - it sounds interesting to me. How good do the arrangements in the matching Fake Disk sound, and are there any tricks to quickly making the sound better (if that's even needed) ? Also - what do you think of the song selection in the particular Fake book(s) available in this format ? ?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi Joe,
A fake book only has the melody line and the supporting chords. There are no arrangements. The chords in the FakeDisks match identically to the chords in the fake book and will input a corresponding style. Most of the time the style matches but occasionally I change the style. If you are looking for an exact arrangement to say a pop song it isn’t gonna happen with BiaB styles without a lot of manipulations.
I have three of the Norton FakeDisks to date, The Beatles, The Ultimate Broadway and The Ultimate Pop and Rock, and I like all three. I also have a few other FakeBooks that are not on Norton’s list. What you want/need will depend on what you want to play/practice.
I buy the FakeDisks as it saves me a ton of time, I don’t have to input the chords and find a starting style myself. However you can buy a FakeBook that is not on Norton’s FakeDisk list and manually put the chords and styles in yourself.
I hope this helps.
Back in my day the only time we started panic buying was when the bartender shouted "last call"!
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: Feb 2010
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Hi Mario,
On the strength of your recommendation I am going to try one of these Norton disks. I have always thought them a bit expensive, but I did not realise they contained all the chords written out.
Do they also have recommended styles for the tunes (within BIAB of course)?
Dennis
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Bob Norton can answer better, but my experience has been that the Norton Fake disks use a mix of both PGMusic-provided and Norton-provided styles. He chooses a style he feels best works with the song (as I understand it, also based on the input from his own beta testers). So, if you don't have Norton's styles, you'll see the "style not found" message and have to load one that you do have. If you then save the song with the new style applied, you won't get that message the next time you open the file.
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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Hmmm I just bought one anyway, as a test and I am going through the songs, and already I have an error. The Sher New Realbook 1 (legal) has Black Narcissus as a 3/4 Jazz Waltz yet the Norton disk has it as a 4/4.. I have sent an email enquiring about the methodology used in ascertaining styles. It is not a criticism at all as other songs seem to be fine, although I have not finished the song scan yet. It is more to say that there may be some Norton songs that actually don't match up to the book charting. EDIT: Thanks John, I just noticed your post after I did mine. Yeah I read that in some of his spiel. I have the full BIAB style library so hopefully there should not be too many mismatches. As I wrote I am a little concerned re correct time sigs..anyhoo I have sent an email to him so I will await his instructions  Dennis
Last edited by joden; 07/01/13 01:49 PM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Brilliant support - Bob has already replied and we are now checking the style list..I do have the entire BIAB style library and at his end the jazz waltz style is loading...
More to come...
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Well it looks like it may be a PG Music issue. The style supposed to load is #J~WLTZ1.STY but after a search of the BB directory (factory default installation) there does not appear to be any styles that start with the prefix #
And the Norton website says no user styles are used, only factory ones. So it cannot be a missing "user" style.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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My version of Black Narcissus sounds fine with the PG style, ^J~Window
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Matt what is ^J~Window ? And I assume it is a 3/4. As I tried to stress it is NOT a criticism in any way of the Norton disk, and in fact Bob is providing good support. But when I am using BIAB live, I need songs to load as per the book. I really do not have time to go through every song listing (I have quite a few fakebooks so I ws planning to buy several of the Nortons Disks) and if I get a call for a tune I have not checked, I was sorta hoping the songbooks would load up according to the chart. Imagine if I had gone out and used this one cold at a gig, got a call for BN, everyone is expecting a 3/4, and it pops out as a 4/4 standard  This is the first Norton Disk I have bought, and I am only at B's - with a mismatch already...I guess I am trying to ascertain just how accurate they really are... Random selections also seem to only throw up a base ZZ style. So even though the books are setup, I suspect there will be a lot of editing to more accurately match styles, BUT at least all the chords are entered so that is a major bit of work that can be avoided Dennis
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Dennis, Then I think you and Bob have the answer - unless I misread your post. I just read elsewhere ( http://bandinabox.wikia.com/wiki/Styles ) that it is Notes Norton styles that start with a "#" , NOT PG Music styles? As confirm I also have no styles starting with "#" in my directories anywhere (I've got all files/styles going back to BIAB for DOS and I'm up to date with 2013 but I have zero Norton styles) Even sans the "#" there is no "J~WLTZ1.STY" - closest thing NAME WISE is a style called "J~WLZTRI.STY" - for the record it IS a 3/4 time, jazz trio waltz style. Difference between your given style and this one is: The "Z and T are transposed" and where you have a number "1" this style has the letter "i" (eye) - but again sans "#" Larry
Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Ahhhhh thanks Larry. That makes sense.
So what you are saying is I would also need to buy Nortons Styles as well, to get a 100% accurate match-up, yes?
Dennis
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