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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 41
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OP
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 41 |
[Editor's. Note: This issue is resolved, as the posted links were not pointing to the full crooner bigband demos. Correct links for full bigband crooner demos are: Crooner Ballad BigBand http://nn.pgmusic.com/pgfiles/audio/realtracksdemos/2792band.m4a _BLIZARD.sty or _WINTER.sty style Crooner Bossa BigBand http://nn.pgmusic.com/pgfiles/audio/realtracksdemos/2781band.m4a _GOLDEN.sty ] First, Let me say that I gravitate towards the jazz offerings. So the Hawaiian, house, rap, country, celtic, rock, etc. are not my focus. Also, I do understand the interface has improved/advanced - but my perspective is what comes out of the speakers is king and the buttons or screens to get to that point can be sub-optimal as long as what I hear as an end-result is pleasing. Yes, there may be some improvements here (more time doubling options, etc) - but I am mainly focused on the "core" sound of the real tracks (new content). Even the gypsy jazz is a bit limited. To that end, I was listening to the new horns - 10-part bossa is starting to sound "MIDI". Mainly the sax section is sounding more like a single instrument than individual instruments (synth-like). The crooner ballad style sounds fine from the samples (well, one sample at least - see below). Mittens Jazz w/3 saxes - sounds "off" ( https://youtu.be/d6Ru_aWsVIM?t=265). Flute/tenor bossa - Tenor sounds like a strange phasing at end of long-tone. Overall blending of the horns is "off". This is judging by the demo - which should strive to pick a "best of" clip. ( https://youtu.be/d6Ru_aWsVIM?t=485). Anyone else sensing like the latest jazz-oriented ("straight ahead") styles are sounding more robotic than the past real tracks? It has me on the fence a bit as I saw 2016 as a great set. My main beef with 2016 was the real-track solos and how the phrases would sometimes repeat, like David Letterman, what I felt were the "stinker"/trite phrases instead of using those more sparingly. But the backgrounds I thought were great. 2017, even with all the other improvements - I'm more focused on the new realtracks would would potentially fit into my use.
1/1/2024 - Win 10 BIAB 2019 64bit Build (644), RealBand 2019 (4)
Prior - Sig can't fit a running list - so just showing current version
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,330
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,330 |
First, The crooner ballad style sounds fine from the samples (well, one sample at least - see below). Mittens Jazz w/3 saxes - sounds "off" ( https://youtu.be/d6Ru_aWsVIM?t=265). The problem I first hear with this one is the tempo is just so slow (60 bpm). Must have been hard for the sax guys to play that slow.... But after listening a bit more and hitting regenerate a couple times I did start to hear some phrases and dynamics which showed off more of the horn section then in the demo that you referenced.
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 ).
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,693
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I'm a jazz guy too Jason but not exclusively. I'm also a classic rocker on keyboards as well.
Biab is just another tool, it's not designed to be a complete self-contained computerized jazz group that can come up with the things you're talking about. We're just not there yet.
However, in Real Band you can create multiple tracks of the same soloist (multiriffs) and start stitching together one good solo from a bunch of different versions of it. You can also change the chords and part markers for each generation using RB's chord grid without changing what you already generated. That yields interesting results sometimes. I just did that with the Eric Marienthal soloist. I only needed three different versions to get what I wanted in that case.
As for trite licks and repetition, we don't know exactly how the RT's are produced or how large a RT file can be. I'm sure there are finite limits. Remember the person recording those has to keep things generic because he has no idea what chords a user is going to use. He's playing blind trying to record phrases that will go with basically anything. You will hear a lot of standard 2-5-1 things but what if someone puts a completely different chord into that or stretches it out or whatever?
There has to be repetition because there's only so much room for different licks. I can imagine if they were to double the size of the RT's to allow for twice the amount of phrases and licks that would also greatly increase the generation time especially on older and slower systems.
They can only do so much right now but it gets better every year. Whether that's good enough for you to upgrade is up to you.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,831
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,831 |
The issue there is that you aren't listening to bigband bossa crooner or bigband ballad crooner in those links you posted. Those are links to some specialized versions of them that just have 2 or 3 instruments, not the 10 or 11 the ones using 2 or 3 are playing independently, not like the full one that is playing together. Have a listen to the full big band in the two links on this page, search for crooner to find them. http://www.pgmusic.com/bbwin.realtracks.htmCrooner Ballad BigBand http://nn.pgmusic.com/pgfiles/audio/realtracksdemos/2792band.m4a _BLIZARD.sty or _WINTER.sty style Crooner Bossa BigBand http://nn.pgmusic.com/pgfiles/audio/realtracksdemos/2781band.m4a _GOLDEN.sty The new crooners as good or better than previous ones (e.g. swing) IMO. We do have full band demos in the detailed how-to video for 2017 and the page above. They just forgot to out the full bigband videos in that video you watched. I'll mark this issue 'resolved' since you were pointing out different (non big-band) demos. I'm assuming the ones I posted are satisfactory, if not let me know.
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,221
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,221 |
I fail to see how Realband (which is in the topic subject) is relevant in the original post.
Did OP mean Realtracks and not Realband?
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 41
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 41 |
Yes, the realtracks. Realband is one of the two players available for realtrack content - so in that sense "realband content" is sufficiently correct although perhaps not as laser-focused as "realtracks".
The links were provided because as I was writing the message - I went back and viewed even more video content than I previously reviewed and had - at my ready - links to provide.
My general feedback is the quality of the horn combo/band has, to my ears, gone down vs. the 2016 crooner material. This is subjective feedback. To mark it as solved because I didn't provide a link seems odd - but that's fine. It doesn't change my opinion which remains.
About replacing real players - I completely understand. I have commented in another thread on a possible method to improve at least the solo generation. This thread is more about the water-line not meeting a previous version's content (not some "impossible-to-achieve" bar set by real real-time players).
1/1/2024 - Win 10 BIAB 2019 64bit Build (644), RealBand 2019 (4)
Prior - Sig can't fit a running list - so just showing current version
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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 and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
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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
Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)
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.
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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
- 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
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
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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.
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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!
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!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
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.
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