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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 260
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 260 |
Hi,
I've been considering getting sample tank 3, has anybody used the new Live Mode function, if so, how successful is it.
best wishes
rikki
BIAB 2025
Korg PA5X
Yamaha sx900
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,096
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,096 |
Hi,
... has anybody used the new Live Mode function, whats that?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,499
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Joined: Jun 2000
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To keep you from reading all this - I have NOT actually played with live function. Also from a sound prospective - you need to listen to demos and decide that on your own. But I will say, having both ST2 XL l and ST3, which comes with full ST2 XL sound set plus new ST 3 sounds, I WOULD NOT pay FULL MSRP for ST3 (I wouldn't pay it for Kontakt either) - wait for a sale (and you just missed the biggie holiday sale) . Back to "live function" question, this will be no help so consider my post just frivolous and useless filler. I have NOT ventured into the Live function area yet except to play the demos - interesting but….. To one specific use of Live: On IK forum - it was alluded to that between using Multi's and the Live function you could make a GM compatible set. However, when IK rep was pressed, no real info on how to do this has been made available (yet). I've been meaning to take a few days and try to see how it could be done, but I have a real life outside of figuring out how to make SW do stuff that is not already built-in  . I think this use of Live function to make a GM set would end up like trying to do a similar GM feat in Kontakt. You'd have to pre-load 16 parts with 128 patches (2048 total) - that is a hell of a lot of system memory - and would probably grind even the most robust PC to a halt quickly. Actually only need to pre-load 15 parts (channels) because part/ch 10 is GM drums and you could pre-load that with just 2 or 3 drum kits that would still be 1905 patches. Even with judicious picking for the GM stand-in instruments/patches (ignoring FX sounds, nontraditional instruments, and general GM crapola sounds) like maybe: a few pianos (acu. and EP's), a few organs (B3 and Vox) , vibraphone (love me some vibes!), a few horns, woodwinds, reeds, guitars (2 or 3) , basses (2 maybe), strings (one solo, one ensemble) , etc. you might get it down to say 40-50'ish sounds so around 600 to 750 instruments (15 x 40 to 15 x 50'ish) - still a whole lot of memory tied up. Clearly, marking ST 3 a GM sound generator should NOT be the reason to buy it and obviously not what IK had in mind for Live function. GM is not the end all for me either but when using BIAB having a VSTi/DXi that CAN BE used as GM it is a major PLUS. 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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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 260
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 260 |
Hi Larry,
Thank you for your reply.
Apart from the sample tank in biab, I haven't had anything to do with it.
4 / 5 years back I was using a complicated setup with Biab ,using Brainspawn Forte, which allowed me to pick and choose sounds from garriton, Kontakt, and whatever else I had all at the same time. All too complicated, but I had fun fooling round with it. It was a learning experience, that's about all.
The other option I had was my soundfont player, or forte Dxi. I was never that wrapped in the sound of forte dxi, so at one stage there, I started to swap samples, with better quality ones. At least my sound fonts and forte dxi, gave me the Gm sounds required and they were a direct plug in instead of having to use virtual midi cables etc etc.
I gave up eventually and started to use my keyboards as my sound source.
A couple of years ago I gave up my music hobby completely, now I'm back.
5 Years down the track, we've got all those great real track and super midi track styles, but for the midi styles I still need a sound source. I checked out the hi q instruments , but they only cover a few sounds, I want to use Biab independently
of my keyboard, so at this stage looks like I'm back to using dxi forte or my sound font player.
I was hoping the Live function in sample tank 3, ( I was only going to get the lite version for time being not the full one,) might work. I may have totally the wrong idea of how it works, but what I was planning to do was sort out the songs that used the same instrumentation into their own folders and have the sound setup for them. I got the impression it loads more quickly or something?
I wasn't really expecting it to work like dxi forte where the 128 sounds would be on hand.
best wishes
rikki
BIAB 2025
Korg PA5X
Yamaha sx900
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,499
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,499 |
I personally will not put any effort into using the Live Mode function as it is explained, or at least as I understand its intended use, because I have no need of that - song/sets for live gigging.
Again one of these days I might play around with trying to get it set up as a GM set.
But you do know that ST3 has a FREE version you can download? Supposedly all that stuff works. I've not tried it since I already have ST3.
Good Luck
Larry
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 260
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 260 |
Thanks Larry,
May do some more checking before I spend the money. Thanks for the tip on the free version.
best wishes
rikki
BIAB 2025
Korg PA5X
Yamaha sx900
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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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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 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 11 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
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It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 22.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 22 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 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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Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
Check out the full interview here: https://products.zplane.de/blog/peter-gannon-interview-pg-music
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