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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5 |
Hi,
There must be a hundred posts on this topic, but I couldn't find one that worked. Using the search engine for "Audio Units" or AU or even "software synth" doesn't provide anything helpful.
So forgive me for asking this again. I looked at the FAQ's too, but they suggested using RAX, and provided a link that did even worse than to come up with a 404 - it just said "GONE" that's at "grantedsw.com".
Anyway, I just upgraded to the latest version of Plugsound Pro for my OS, and it should work. All my software, Biab, Mac OS 10.5.7, and drivers are up to date. Going throught the FAQ's on PG's website - when I try to set the MIDI settings in Biab, it presents me with Core Midi, which only deals with external Midi devices (as does Audio Midi Setup), or Quicktime instruments. How can I get Biab to "see" the various software synths that reside on my hard drive? Can it use AU, or MAS plug-ins, (my preference) or only VST's? What I have besides Quicktime is, Motu's MachFive 2, and MX4, Plugsound Pro, and Kontact Player 2 (which I can't get to see its own files). If you can help me to get Biab to link to any or all of these I'd greatly appreciate it.
I've been using Peter Gannon's program since it was first advertised in the electronic music mags of the late 80's. He used to be 'tech support' all by himself. Please help me to make Biab sound as good as possible.
Thanks - JB
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 404
Journeyman
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 404 |
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 791
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 791 |
Hi jbmando, If you have any trouble getting Band-in-a-Box to work with RAX, let me know. Just send me a message or email support@pgmusic.com
Blake
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 49
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 49 |
Interesting..Think I'll give the demo a try.
Is it possible to render the midi tracks in within BIAB to audio using the sounds from ext. audiounits/instruments loaded in Pax?
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 404
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 404 |
Rax has a recording feature. So you could record the MIDI playback as audio. But in my experience Rax is a bit unreliable. I've got several crashes while experimenting with it. Personally, I prefer using Logic Express in conjunction with BiaB. As a full featured DAW it can be used for playback, recording and editing of MIDI and audio. The setup of Logic as a multi-timbral sound module (with recording facility) is described here http://www.logicprohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=32201
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,199
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,199 |
Thanks, Fred! This looks very cool.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5 |
Hi,
Trying to find an answer on how to get Band-in-a-Box to communicate with my software synths/samples led me to the PGMusic site, where I learned about Biab 2009, which I purchased and downloaded. It is so much of an improvement, I could give up on the question, but I won't. I still have some software sounds that are an improvement of the AppleDLS sounds, so any help you can provide would be great!
After I searched through the Rax manuals for a way to use it with Band-in-a-Box, I could see that the answer doesn't "leap out at you". Because of the free trial period offered by Rax, I downloaded it, and have stared at the Rax interface for hours, and referred to the manual many times, trying to figure it out. I have a couple days left to get it working before the trial period expires.
Perhaps someone with experience can answer this. That way the answer will be here for anyone who wants to connect Biab in Mac to internal 3rd party sounds through Rax.
Thanks for your help, JB
I have a further question regarding Rax compatibility with MAS and VST. The Rax manual only mentions AU.
In case this matters, here's a list of the synth/sampler programs I have in my Mac.
1.Motu MachFive 2
2.Motu MX4
3.Motu Orchestral
4.Motu Classic Keys
5.UVI Workstation (Previously plugsound)
6.Kontakt Player 2 (can't get it to work yet)
7.Intend to get Korg Legacy Digital Collection (M1 & Wavestation sounds)
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,199
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,199 |
Email Blake at PG Music. He posted the email address in his message in this thread.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 335
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 335 |
Does this allow you to use RealTracks and other software synths at the same time? I think it is an either/or thing in the Mac version. The PC version I believe allows you to use RealTracks AND DXi or VST instruments together........
Musician, Polymath, Google Jedi, Apple Master, Windows Wrangler and Digital Wizard. High ratings in Nerd-fu & Geek-fu.
M1 Mac Mini, MacBook Pro Touchbar 15", Intel 27" iMac, M1 Mac Mini
https://musician.social/@ericdano
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
You can use any compat MIDI synth AND RealTracks together at the same time in BB Macintosh 2009. For the record, the same applies for the PC version also.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 335
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 335 |
Quote:
You can use any compat MIDI synth AND RealTracks together at the same time in BB Macintosh 2009. For the record, the same applies for the PC version also.
Not really want I want. I cannot use BinaB 2009 Mac with my Kontakt Player 2. I suppose that RAX thing might be the solution, but that is adding to the cost of the program.
Why not just put in support for AU/VST instruments????
Musician, Polymath, Google Jedi, Apple Master, Windows Wrangler and Digital Wizard. High ratings in Nerd-fu & Geek-fu.
M1 Mac Mini, MacBook Pro Touchbar 15", Intel 27" iMac, M1 Mac Mini
https://musician.social/@ericdano
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Got it, eric. Sorry for my confusion there.
I think there is lots more to come in the way of updates to the program, Build 3 was just released, be sure to get that.
Maybe that kind of implementation (AU/VST) is in the near future, don't know.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 335
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 335 |
The other thing is IF they put in AU/VST support, then it should be able to render RealTracks and AU/VST instruments together. Programs like Digital Performer can do this and it is really cool.
And of course, having support for maybe recording audio and maybe having the program pipe it's audio output to something other than what is set by the system.
But I'm enjoying BinaB none the less.......
Musician, Polymath, Google Jedi, Apple Master, Windows Wrangler and Digital Wizard. High ratings in Nerd-fu & Geek-fu.
M1 Mac Mini, MacBook Pro Touchbar 15", Intel 27" iMac, M1 Mac Mini
https://musician.social/@ericdano
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23 |
The IAC Driver is an alternative to Rewire or RAX; it creates a virtual MIDI 'bus' that allows you to input/output through the driver. All you have to do is find another software that will host your synth.
Try this:
- Go to the Audio/Midi Setup application, in the Midi Devices tab
- Select the IAC Driver and press Command-I (or menu MIDI->Show Device Info)
- Put a check-mark in the "Device is online" box
- Under the Ports list, you'll notice there's already one called Bus 1. Use the Plus button to add another Port, it will likely be called "IAC Bus 2".
- Exit out of that window.
Now open BIAB2009Mac
- If you haven't done so already, open menu "MIDI->Select MIDI Driver or Apple DLS Synth".
- Select MacOS X CoreMIDI
This will bring up the Select Ports/Instruments dialog. (If you already had the CoreMIDI driver selected, use the menu "MIDI->CoreMIDI (Choose Ports) to bring this window up.
- Now in each port you'll find the two IAC busses (in addition to any other midi interface you may already have.)
- Try choosing the "IAC Bus 2" port for everything (in and out)
- Now go into your synth host and choose the same IAC bus for your synth. If your software is capable of seeing MIDI hardware (i.e. through a USB MIDI interface), it can also see the IAC Driver busses.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 63
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
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Posts: 63 |
So IAC driver feeds to BBvia the coreMIDI, and how would you bounce that track?
It would be external, so I'm not seeing what purpose it hold, other than say practicing. I suppose you could export BB's as SMF and import in to you host, but that would defeat the purpose, or not . Depends on what the goal is I suppose.
Eric, if BB went to a full fledged DAW which it seems to by your description of adding audio capabilities, we would eventually loose what BB is all about me thinks. I wish PG Music would beef up what BB is about in wider genre's. By this I mean being able to write/work some real tunes. The realtracks stuff seems to be a good movement, but is stuck in blues or jazz, country, rock. At least from what I can tell-sorry I have't delved too much into that stuff yet. Perhaps the styles stuck in 4/4 or 3/4 is what's holding it back? The styles seems to keep you in a certain vibe, thats too straight.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 63
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
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Posts: 63 |
jbmando,
Its better to stick with AU, with all you MOTU VI's do you use DP? I realize DP6 has a rendering bug with its own external VI's though-or should I say the VI do not work with DP.
I tend to use BB to start up tunes for chord progression/and minor arrangement (as much as BB allows) and get the MIDI stuff close, then export / import into DP for further manipulation-i.e using VI's. But I can see that perhaps using a VI within BB can help with the melody, to get close to the sound you want to create a vibe for what your doing.
If BB had a open backing tracks capability w/ MIDI instead of being stuck with the styles, I think it would open up the capabilities for creating some good tunes outside of the norm. Or am I missing something? Having styles is good, but to much grid work in a loop hampers the work flow with style maker. Perhaps allowing both open MIDI in conjunction with sytles would be a great working method !!
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
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Posts: 23 |
Quote:
So IAC driver feeds to BBvia the coreMIDI, and how would you bounce that track?
It would be external, so I'm not seeing what purpose it hold, other than say practicing. I suppose you could export BB's as SMF and import in to you host, but that would defeat the purpose, or not . Depends on what the goal is I suppose.
Huh? You lost me there. As I understood the original question, he's got software synths he wants to use. Set up an IAC bus for each software synth. Then in BB, assign that MIDI output port/instrument (piano, bass, etc.) to the IAC bus that routes to the synth. That allows you to choose a high patch for that instrument, specific to the synth. Done that way, you can literally have a separate synth hosting each instrument, on a separate IAC bus.
As for input, just route your melody or Thru port to an IAC bus and then assign that bus to the midi input port.
That's not a practice thing; that allows you to have a full setup, with the best synth for the job for each instrument, all running on one mac every time. Route the synth audio outputs to a DAW. Put together a batch command to fire up your synths in order and then BB.
Myself, I route it through Logic first, then to my synth, that way I can capture all the midi events on-the-fly, instead of (as you pointed out) mucking with SMF files. The only reason I'd put the synth before the DAW is if the synth was going to contribute to the MIDI event stream.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 63
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
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Posts: 63 |
ah, I see. I did'nt know you can capture the MIDI data with IAC. Just hit record in Logic (DAW)? Does it sync up?
T
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
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Quote:
ah, I see. I did'nt know you can capture the MIDI data with IAC. Just hit record in Logic (DAW)? Does it sync up?
T
I haven't really bothered with midi clock, if that's what you mean by sync. I don't like that Logic only wants to be the master when using std midi clock (if I'm wrong, somebody pleeeeez help me figure that one out!), and I'm not sure yet how to do this in BBMac09 (slave). I just put Logic in record mode and hit play in BB. What I get in the DAW is like importing SMF's, except I've captured everything in perfect sync (including those elusive high bank patch changes that don't seem to make it into the SMF dumps from BB.) And, of course, any real-time thru action from my keyboard.
Nice thing I like about the IAC driver, versus the BB Virtual Driver, is that I can be real specific where each port goes to. If you think of the IAC busses like midi cables, it makes sense. So instead of routing directly to my DAW, I can put a synth inbetween; and any real-time events are captured into the DAW.
You got me thinking on that sync question; It definitely would be sweeter to have BB slaved to the DAW than the other way around. I think I'm gonna fire up a thread in the tips-n-tricks for that question.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 404
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 404 |
Quote:
I haven't really bothered with midi clock, if that's what you mean by sync. I don't like that Logic only wants to be the master when using std midi clock (if I'm wrong, somebody pleeeeez help me figure that one out!), and I'm not sure yet how to do this in BBMac09 (slave).
There is no way to sync Logic and BiaB with midi clock since both can run as master only.
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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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XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
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Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
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Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
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Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
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