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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 74
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 74 |
Just had my first chance to test-drive the RealTracks Hammond B-3 (blues, background from RT Set 10). Kind of disappointing -- every variation sounded distorted. Same result when I played back several of the WMA files directly from Windows Media Player, rather than with BIAB.
The narrative for the Real Track describes the sound as "Gritty". Funny... I worked with a B-3 player every weekend for two years. His axe never sounded like that. Just a clean, powerful sound from that rotating Leslie cabinet. The BIAB B-3 is virtually useless to me.
Tried downloading and reinstalling the latest posted RT updates for Sets 10-12, dated 11/23/08. Also tried copying the Organ folder directly from the USB drive that contained the 2009 UltraPak -- Of course, they were the same files, and produced the same distorted result.
Has anyone else run into this?
I'm running Windows 98SE on a Sempron 2800, 512MB RAM, 160 MB 7200 RPM drive about half full. Sound card is a Creative SoundBlaster Live. Using no external synths or other hardware of any kind. Boot configuration is extremely "lean and mean".
Drive is defragged weekly and this box has never had an Internet connection.
BIAB version is 2009, build 282.
Thanks in advance!
Jon
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 436
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 436 |
ColoradoGuy;
Mine sounded funny too when I just listened to the samples in the folder. The organ was ok in my right speaker, but the left one sounded like a space ship taking off. However in a song, it was un-noticable. I don't know, I have never used it until tonite.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815 |
I used the B-3 here: http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6879039 I thought it came out alright, but I guess I ought to listen again (but I can't right now). Kevin
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Quote:
The narrative for the Real Track describes the sound as "Gritty". Funny... I worked with a B-3 player every weekend for two years. His axe never sounded like that. Just a clean, powerful sound from that rotating Leslie cabinet. The BIAB B-3 is virtually useless to me.
There are many "voices" to the mighty B, in this instance, the one you got used to was set up for a clean sound, the one recorded for these particular RealTracks is set up for a distorted sound ala blues and rock players.
Perhaps in future pgmusic will record some B tracks from a different organ, but for now, it is what it is. Save it for dirty blues tracks.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 177
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 177 |
I suspect that the BPM element may be slower than the lower limit of the preferred BPM range for the B-3 Real Track instrument. That circumstance invariably results in unstable rendering of the wave based instrument. Try speeding up the passage. Any different?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
"Same result when I played back several of the WMA files directly from Windows Media Player, rather than with BIAB."
And that sidesteps the BPM thing altogether.
No, it is indeed the fact that the particular organ and leslie used to record these RealTracks is set up for a distorted sound and it is intentional.
Whether or not you like that kind of sound -- or more exactly, the type and genre of music in which you would like to invoke a B3 track -- is the issue.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 74
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 74 |
Thanks for your answers! Mac’s final answer is the one I suspected, but still don’t want to hear.
I was trying to use the track in an instrumental version of “More Today than Yesterday” (Spiral Staircase), and also planned to use it in “Smoke From a Distant Fire” (Sanford Townsend Band). A good B-3 track would make these tunes killers!
Luvs3rds: Thanks for listening to the BIAB samples. For what it’s worth, I had More Today than Yesterday set with all “B” part markers (to keep the drummer cookin’), which had the adverse effect of pushing the B-3 into its “grittiest” mode – which I guess would be called True Grit (nyuk, nyuk).
Kemmrich: I listened to your tune. The B-3 is pretty well buried in the mix (which is fine); so I couldn’t hear any obvious distortion. Since yours is a classic blues tune, the B-3 RealTrack is a perfect fit.
To DrDUBose: I was using the B-3 at 140 BPM, the upper end of its tempo range. When I suspected the distortion was possibly due to time-stretching, I used WMP to get a “second opinion”. But thanks for the thought.
To Mac: I didn’t even know it was possible to get a distorted sound from a Big B (at least one that’s working right). Shows you what I know. You da man.
Since there is only one B-3 RealTrack available at this time, sounds like a “clean” B-3 track is a prime candidate for the Wish List.
Meanwhile, since my immediate objective is recording, I’ll try setting all the part markers to “A” and rendering just the B-3 track. Maybe that’ll tame the beast a little.
Thanks again,
Jon
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 368
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 368 |
Jon: If you're interested in recording a clean-sounding B3 into a sequencer program like RealBand, Sonar, etc you might want to consider the VST instrument VB3 by Genuine Soundware http://www.genuinesoundware.com/?a=showproduct&b=24It is a fantastic sounding B3 with 9 drawbars, Leslie and reverb - nearly all the controls from a real B3. It costs 49 Euros -- about $ 63. I bought it a few months ago and am very pleased with the sound quality and the flexibility of the sound. There are audio samples as well as a working demo you can download. The system requirements are listed in the manual as: Minimum System Requirements: • Microsoft Windows 98se/ME/2000/XP • Intel Pentium 3 @ 500 MHz or AMD Athlon @ 500 MHz • 256 Mb of RAM • 4 Mb of free disk space • An ASIO compatible sound card • A 61 keys MIDI keyboard Recommended System Requirements: • Microsoft Windows XP • Intel Pentium 4 Dual Core @ 3000 MHz or AMD Athlon @ 3000 MHz • 1 Gb of RAM • 10 Mb of free disk space • An ASIO compatible sound card with near-zero latency • Two 61 keys MIDI keyboards and an expression pedal VB3 is a VST plug-in, and needs a VST host application to run. John
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 114
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 114 |
I use the B4 plugin from Native Inst. and it is awesome. It has a great interface but you really won't use it much because the preset styles cover just about everything from Jimmy Mcgriff to Greg Rollie (Santana) although I'm still trying to find the perfect style for Garth Hudson( I know, I know, he played a Lowrie)
Last edited by Zan Cantwell; 03/12/09 07:45 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 74
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 74 |
John, thanks for the info. I just listened to the VB3 streaming samples and downloaded the demo. This shows some serious promise! I’ll play with it first chance I get.
Zan, the Native Instruments B4 seems to be the gold standard (Mac swears by it). Thing is, it doesn’t run under Windows 98. And for a vast variety of reasons, I plan to avoid an OS conversion for as long as possible. That’s my story, and I’m stuck with it. Thanks for the thought.
For what it’s worth, I added “clean” B-3 RealTracks to the Wish List. If anyone else feels this would be useful, please go over there and “ditto” my request.
Thanks,
Jon
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
The original B4 version 1 ran under win98SE. Perhaps you could find one on ebay or the like if interested.
--Mac
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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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Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
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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!
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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.
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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
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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.
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-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
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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.
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Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 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.
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!
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Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 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.
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