PUMPS2 Sound "quality" involves a lot more than bit depth and compression levels
Exactly what I was saying..!
PUMPS2 When I take BIAB tracks into a DAW where I can use the full palate of tools..
Do you mean you can use 64 plug ins...?
PUMPS2..I can create a much higher impact product
For if and when you are a producing artist the radio stations would turn it to mp3...what bit rate then...?
PUMP2..In short, the sound coming out of BIAB today might sound pretty good compared to the days of tinny sounding GM softsynths. But it is an UNPOLISHED sound, clearly inferior in a world that raises the bar every year
What bar we are going back the way with recordings not tinny synths...No to the way we listen to music...android ...ipad ...cmon you know fine what im saying.
And for the same reason, I have very little use for the PGMusic realtracks. Give me great MIDI lines and I can run that through the best VST instruments out there.
PUMPS2..And for the same reason, I have very little use for the PGMusic realtracks. Give me great MIDI lines and I can run that through the best VST instruments out there.
Can you put your chords and do all those things we do in BIAB..THROUGH your VSTI out there...
PUMP2...This sounds a bit dated your own words.... Give me great MIDI lines and I can run that through the best VST instruments out there.
PUMPS2 When I take BIAB tracks into a DAW where I can use the full palate of tools.. Do you mean you can use 64 plug ins...?
I mean when I want something to actually sound presentable -- something better than I would use for strictly basement practice purposes, I either pull MIDI from BIAB or else I render WAVs for EACH INSTRUMENT from BIAB and then run it into a full-blown DAW environment. And yes, these DAW environments are almost exclusively 64 bits these days -- have been for most of a decade.
Originally Posted By: colly
PUMPS2..I can create a much higher impact product
For if and when you are a producing artist the radio stations would turn it to mp3...what bit rate then...?
I don't think you understand what I am talking about, or I am doing a very poor job of explaining it. MP3 is irrelevant. I can give you a great sounding MP3. Chances are it will be 320 kb/sec. I don't often use anything less these days, and increasingly people are using FLAC, which has no bit loss at all. The losses over the radio waves are far greater than any fidelity loss from MP3 at those bitrates.
Nonetheless. I can take a file coming directly out of BIAB and put it into MP3 @ 320. And I can take that same material through a DAW and mastering tools, also ending up in MP3 @ 320. It will be night and day. I am not joking here. If you have not experienced that, I really recommend that you do that. I think you will find that a very educational and rewarding experience.
Originally Posted By: colly
PUMP2..In short, the sound coming out of BIAB today might sound pretty good compared to the days of tinny sounding GM softsynths. But it is an UNPOLISHED sound, clearly inferior in a world that raises the bar every year
What bar we are going back the way with recordings not tinny synths...No to the way we listen to music...android ...ipad ...cmon you know fine what im saying.
No, I really don't know what you are saying. I think you are confusing the speaker fidelity of the device with the content of the music file. As I said above, I can give you an MP3 that sounds great -- and I can make a big improvement on any file that comes directly out of BIAB. Yes, obviously, if I try to play that file on an Android phone, it won't sound like much. But with good headphones and/or a nice stereo Bluetooth speaker, the quality will be evident.
Originally Posted By: colly
PUMPS2..And for the same reason, I have very little use for the PGMusic realtracks. Give me great MIDI lines and I can run that through the best VST instruments out there.
Can you put your chords and do all those things we do in BIAB..THROUGH your VSTI out there...
Yes. I can generate MIDI from BIAB and run it into a DAW, then render it with VSTis. I would far prefer to use Addictive Drums, for example, than any of the drum audio that comes out of BIAB, because I can control that sound to an gnat's eyelash. If you have not worked with these tools, you should try it.
Or I can render each instrument in BIAB and move each instrument's WAV file to the DAW. I do both techniques routinely. I would rather use MIDI because then it is easy to align the bars and beats in the DAW, which is useful for many things, such as synchronizing a delay each to the beat of the music.
In addition, I often take MIDI from BIAB into a notation program -- not to notate the MIDI, but to include a rhythm section bed in an arrangement, for example. This is why I say the MIDI output is far more useful to me than the RealTracks.
I think the fundamental issue is that BIAB started as a practice tool. It gradually evolved to something higher quality, but the authors and majority of the user base were comfortable with the walled garden. During that same time, we have seen an explosion of tools that really do work together, and BIAB does its best to not play nice. There is a certain percent of the BIAB user base that is very much committed to this broader music technology world and finds PGMusic's insular approach to be out of line with what is happening in the broader space. It is a shame that PGMusic looks at it this way because there really is no reason why they cannot excel in both market segments.
I think there is a great misunderstanding when it comes to MIDI. Some think all MIDI sounds like the inexpensive GM sound source that comes with BiaB. Some find it to hard to work with while I find it much easier to work with than audio. But on the down side good sounding MIDI sources has an extra cost factor and MIDI has another learning curve.
99% of my work involves MIDI. The other 1% is RTs that I use for other peoples songs.
YMMV
I got banned from Weight Watchers for dropping a bag of M&Ms on the floor. It was the best game of Hungry Hippos I've ever seen!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
I think there is a great misunderstanding when it comes to MIDI. Some think all MIDI sounds like the inexpensive GM sound source that comes with BiaB. Some find it to hard to work with while I find it much easier to work with than audio.
TBH, I reckon a lot of people should listen to a lot of the real tracks in isolation to hear just how clumsy a lot of the recordings are. Metronomes in the background, chair noises, audio artifacts,human noises etc can all be heard. Of course when in among other tracks (especially drums) these are not really audible, but when trying to use guitar tracks in isolation for simple piano/guitar tunes it can be annoying.
I only write this to suggest that there are far more important things (including incorrect chord generation - maj for min, min for maj etc-, real 6/8 RT instrument tracks, proper compound time chord sheets and so on and so forth, that need to be done before we worry about getting 64 bit. For the record I too think the code should have gone 64 bit ages ago and bridged 32 bit plugs (not bridge 64bit plugs to 32bit OS) to run. Which is the way pretty much most modern audio software does things.
I'm wondering if a new 64 Bit Band-In-A-Box is coming in 2017? I'm still using my 2014 version of BIAB. It works perfectly and I have no reason to upgrade unless 64 bit is implemented. BIAB one of the last audio apps made that doesn't offer a 64 option. So far I've saved around $450.00 in upgrade charges. Either way I win. If 64 bit is implemented I will be the first to buy it. If no 64 bit, then I get to keep my money.
Thanks MJames for starting this thread, over 45,000 views, correct me if I'm wrong but I have not seen another topic in the forum ever with this much interest.
Thanks MJames for starting this thread, over 45,000 views, correct me if I'm wrong but I have not seen another topic in the forum ever with this much interest.
Pretty sure Our forum member Don Gaynor has the record which I believe exceeded 1,000,000 before it was taken down.
BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).
What was the topic about ? "before it was taken down." Free Po#n ???
Jokes, jokes and more jokes. One or two of them was actually funny.
BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).
this thread isn't isn't even close - and less useful
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
There's a lot of Reaper users 32 and 64 but they don't fight, I wonder why ? There is even a Linux version coming. That guy that made WinAmp must be crazy.
REAPER is just fantastic programming. Using 64-bit version of REAPER you can load 32-bit vsts without any issue. I think it works the other way round too loading 64-bit vsts into the 32-bit version although I can't see many people doing that. I have loads of 32-bit vsts operating just fine in REAPER 64-bit. I don't see the big concern about BIAB needing to be 64-bit as I don't view it as a DAW. I tend to use it to output the song backings and drum parts which I then load into REAPER and work on further.
One group that doesn't care or need 64-bit BIAB and this makes the 64-bit group distraught for some reason.
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
My assumption is; if I purchase the audiofile edition of BIAB it uses .WAV files for RealTracks instead of the claimed lossless .WMA files in the budget version that I can afford. My assumption is also a much higher quality end result, uh, dependent on the user, of course. Perhaps sound quality-wise I would have no desire for 64 bit version. But, only for compatibility issues.
There have been many views expressed on this subject and it is fair to say that most have some merit I have been with Biab since the floppy stage and thought at the time that is was the "LAST WORD" Since then it has improved rapidly year by year astonishing me with the advances made meaning we can ENJOY our music with near studio like results PG Music and its staff love music and also throughout the years have made good business decisions and re-invested their profits in to making bb the force it is today Everyone has the right to buy or not to buy but should acknowledge that PG Music is one of if not the best companies to deal with and I have always found them to be highly responsive - courteous and approachable right up to Peter himself Whether as a former beta tester or a regular user my suggestions/problems have always been dealt with promptly - efficiently with a resolution PG Music, is at the end of the day, a business and I trust them to progress this wonderful program forward to the benefit of the company and us the user knowing that suggestions we make will be listened to and acted upon where appropriate I am a better musician because of BiaB and the PLEASURE it gives me in music terms keeps the technology part in its rightful place
BIAB - RealBand - 2022 Windows 10 64 Zoo computer with 7i processor- SSD 1TB -2TB HDD Roland keyboards
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!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
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!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
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
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 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 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
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
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 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!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order 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 Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows 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!
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!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order 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!
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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