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RealBand
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8 |
Hi everyone,
Before I start off with my problem, I'm using a HP pavilion notebook, windows VISTA and the 2 audio drivers listed are "IDT High Definition Audio CODEC" & "NVIDIA HDMI Audio". Instead of using my notebook speakers, I've connected one of the headphone jacks into Logitech speakers (with bass woofer and all) . I've been using GuitarPro5 to compose music (the file formats are .gp3, .gp4 or .gp5) but got sick of the articial sound which hinders me from being innovative. So I was looking for a music software that could create "real-sound" or "real sound samples" which sound good then I decided to try BIAB & RealBand. BIAB was a real disappointment for me because not only was it alot harder to use as compared to GuitarPro5, it sounded EXACTLY the same. However, I was listening to 2 of the ONLY playable samples in RealBand (demosng1 and rock) and it sounded reasonably good. Since GuitarPro5 has the feature of exporting those .gp files into midi files which can be directly played by Windows Media Player, I thought of composing songs in GuitarPro5, exporting it into a midi file and then saving it as a real track in RealBand.
I'm a real newbie/idiot when it comes to computer sound devices so I can only understand very elaborate terms. When I opened mp3 files in RB, it played fine but when I opened midi files, it was silenced. Took me so long to get the output driver thing set-up properly that I almost smashed my notebook into pieces! And when I finally got the sound going, this pop-up "Couldn't open the wave device" appears whenever I click PLAY, and then it sounds EXACTLY like GP5 and BIAB!
I'm really on the verge of giving up and uninstalling this program but I already bought it. If any of you can suggest a fix for this problem, I would REALLY appreciate that. Also, IF this program does work, would there be a way to export the file into a wma or mp3 file to be played by Windows Media Player? I'm craving for some good quality sound and karaoke tracks!
One more problem, whenever I exit RealBand, this pop up from windows saying "RealBand has stopped working, windows is searching for a solution.........." appears. Though it doesn't affect me in any way, it gets me a little paranoid.
I apologise for making my issue such a long one. Please HELP me if you can! Thank you soooooooooooooo much!
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RealBand
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
Veteran
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926 |
Quote:
Hi everyone,
Before I start off with my problem, I'm using a HP pavilion notebook, windows VISTA and the 2 audio drivers listed are "IDT High Definition Audio CODEC" & "NVIDIA HDMI Audio". Instead of using my notebook speakers, I've connected one of the headphone jacks into Logitech speakers (with bass woofer and all) . I've been using GuitarPro5 to compose music (the file formats are .gp3, .gp4 or .gp5) but got sick of the articial sound which hinders me from being innovative. So I was looking for a music software that could create "real-sound" or "real sound samples" which sound good then I decided to try BIAB & RealBand. BIAB was a real disappointment for me because not only was it alot harder to use as compared to GuitarPro5, it sounded EXACTLY the same. However, I was listening to 2 of the ONLY playable samples in RealBand (demosng1 and rock) and it sounded reasonably good. Since GuitarPro5 has the feature of exporting those .gp files into midi files which can be directly played by Windows Media Player, I thought of composing songs in GuitarPro5, exporting it into a midi file and then saving it as a real track in RealBand.
I'm a real newbie/idiot when it comes to computer sound devices so I can only understand very elaborate terms. When I opened mp3 files in RB, it played fine but when I opened midi files, it was silenced. Took me so long to get the output driver thing set-up properly that I almost smashed my notebook into pieces! And when I finally got the sound going, this pop-up "Couldn't open the wave device" appears whenever I click PLAY, and then it sounds EXACTLY like GP5 and BIAB!
I'm really on the verge of giving up and uninstalling this program but I already bought it. If any of you can suggest a fix for this problem, I would REALLY appreciate that. Also, IF this program does work, would there be a way to export the file into a wma or mp3 file to be played by Windows Media Player? I'm craving for some good quality sound and karaoke tracks!
One more problem, whenever I exit RealBand, this pop up from windows saying "RealBand has stopped working, windows is searching for a solution.........." appears. Though it doesn't affect me in any way, it gets me a little paranoid.
I apologise for making my issue such a long one. Please HELP me if you can! Thank you soooooooooooooo much!
Welcome to the PG Music community. You have just joined the friendliest and most helpful forums that I know of. Asking questions is the first step toward getting the most out of the incredible programs this company offers. (Note that I am a fellow user, not an employee.)
No MIDI program generates its own sounds. It is dependent on an external sound source. If you are playing all your MIDI files through the same sound card, then yes, they will all sound alike.
If you are NOT using Vista x64 you can select the Roland VSC (Virtual Sound Canvas) as your MIDI output driver. It sounds markedly better than any off-the-shelf PC's sound card. If it is not listed you may have to install it separately. It is on your BIAB/RB install disk. You may also use an external General MIDI (GM) synth such as a keyboard or the Ketron SD-2. Good MIDI files played through a superior synth/sound card sound spectacular.
You also need to know that MIDI (nor any other type) files cannot be 'saved' as Real Tracks. RT are digitally-recorded loops of actual musicians. RT are controlled by chords which you load into your PG program. Those chords can come from a MIDI file or you can enter them yourself. But if you use the chords from an existing MIDI file, know in advance that the Real output won't sound much like the original. In the opinion of most of us, that's a good thing. Those Studio Guys in a Box can play a heck of a lot better than the average user. 
Once you have completed a song sequence to your satisfaction you can render it into a .WAV file, which you can then convert into a .WMA or .MP3 (or you may be able to do it directly; I don't recall and don't have the program running). Play to your heart's content in WMP or any other suitable media player.
Lastly, give BIAB another chance. I don't know anything about GuitarPro. BIAB is, as far as I know, a unique program with unique capabilities. For that reason it is very deep--to the point of being intimidating. I have been using it since the mid 90s and its original capabilities (not the hundreds of add-ons and improvements that have been made since then) still blow my mind. It is my go-to tool for music creation and rehearsal. I have even used it during jam sessions, letting the Melodist create tunes on the fly or doing it myself. Trust the intuition that brought you to acquire the programs(s) in the first place. It may take a while to 'get' it--but when you do . . .
Again, welcome. Keep asking questions. Stick with your PG products. When they start working for you, you'll never let go.
R.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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RealBand
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021 |
The sound you get from BIAB or Real Band when you play *.mid files or midi like files is going to be dependent on your sound card. If the sound card is crap the sound will be crap. The exceptions to this of course is if you use Real Drums and Real Tracks within these programs.
Now the scolding!
Read, read and re-read the manuals that are included in the BB & RB folders as PDF files. I can tell you haven't. Both programs are extremely complex. Read this stuff and then we can better help you as you progress but you've got to get the basics under your belt first.
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RealBand
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 272
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 272 |
Hi Kevin,
I feel your pain; I started using this program about 6 months ago and had a lot of trouble initially getting RB to work satisfactorily, but with the generous help of several people at this forum I gradually worked through the issues one by one and have found that it was well worth the patience.
Ryszard is right; once you get the Roland VSC working as your software midi synth, your midi sounds will improve greatly over the stock sounds you are getting now from your computer. Once you have installed it, open RB and you can click on the "Midi DRV" icon near the top of RB, unselect any of the midi Output Drivers that might currently be selected by clicking on the white space, then check the box for "Re-Route MIDI playback to default Dxi/VSTi Synth" and select the "VSC Dxi" choice from the dropdown box as the Default DXi/VSTi Synth". Then click the "OK" box. A pop-up box will open up saying "No Output drivers are selected - Continue Anyway?" Click "Yes", and your midi will now be re-routed to the Roland VSC synth.
Your sounds will get even more realistic once you start to master the concept of using the "Realtracks" generation feature. Realtracks are not played back by midi, but are sections of sampled performances by real musicians and involve real audio rather than midi. It will take some study of the manual to make this most useful to you, but you will likely find it to be very worthwhile. The program will automatically generate these tracks for you, after you choose the parameters you want to use, such as time signature, tempo, chord changes, and maybe most importantly - style.
Do a lot of reading, ask questions, and tackle the problems one-by-one, and I am sure that with the help of others here you will find this program to be a unique tool in your music-making efforts.
Terry
BIAB/RB 2018 PlusPak. Dell Inspiron23 running Win10, 12GB RAM, 2.5GHz i7, Presonus AudioBox USB interface.
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RealBand
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8 |
Thanks a bunch for all the replies! I truly appreciate the effort in typing out all that info. About that Roland VSC, there seems to be a slight problem with the installation. However, I've found sharing websites which I can download this driver from. Is there a difference between Roland VSC 3.22 and Roland VSC 3.23? Before this I downloaded one which said Roland VSC 3.2 and after restarting my computer (as requested), some error message popped up just as soon as my computer loaded the desktop page. Would the Roland VSC appear automatically in the "Midi Devices list" immediately after installation or would I have to do anything else? Ryszard, Quote:
Once you have completed a song sequence to your satisfaction you can render it into a .WAV file, which you can then convert into a .WMA or .MP3
When you mentioned a song sequence, were you referring to BIAB or any program that can create midi files?
multitracker,
Quote:
Your sounds will get even more realistic once you start to master the concept of using the "Realtracks" generation feature.
Hope you don't mind me asking, I know that you will have to plug in real instruments to use this feature but is it possible to use notation (adding one note at a time on a sheet music) to get this "real sound"?
Thanks again!
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RealBand
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926 |
Quote:
Ryszard,
Quote:
Once you have completed a song sequence to your satisfaction you can render it into a .WAV file, which you can then convert into a .WMA or .MP3
When you mentioned a song sequence, were you referring to BIAB or any program that can create midi files?
I was referring to PG Music products--Band-in-a-Box, RealBand, and Power Tracks--which have built-in rendering tools.
Quote:
multitracker,
Quote:
Your sounds will get even more realistic once you start to master the concept of using the "Realtracks" generation feature.
Hope you don't mind me asking, I know that you will have to plug in real instruments to use this feature but is it possible to use notation (adding one note at a time on a sheet music) to get this "real sound"?
No. The "only" control you have over Real Tracks is chord, tempo, and style. A little thought and experimentation will reveal why.
Beyond that, all I can say is to reiterate--read the manuals. It is the fastest way to a comprehensive understanding of what you can do with these products. Write out what it is you are trying to do and stay focused on that; it is very easy to get distracted as BIAB in particular is an expanding concept. Write out other questions as they come up, but stay on task or it will take you forever to accomplish your initial goal.
Quote:
"When you are up to your a** in alligators, it is easy to forget that the original job was draining the swamp."
LOL,
R.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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RealBand
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8 |
Hey thanks again. Quote:
Write out other questions as they come up, but stay on task or it will take you forever to accomplish your initial goal.
Okay I will. But I still have problems with the Roland VSC though (as mentioned above). Any suggestions on that? Thanks
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RealBand
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926 |
You need to know which version of Windows you have. Roland VSC will not work under Vista 64 bit. You would need to use the Coyote Forte soft synth instead. It has a 30-day free trial and costs $40 thereafter. It is available through PG or from the manufacturer.
If you have 32-bit Vista and still can't get the VSC to work, you will need to be more specific. Have you read and followed the instructions for selecting a MIDI output driver (including those for DXi/VST instruments)?
R.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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RealBand
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Is this a case of an error message popup and then your VSC-DXi will work after that, or is it a case where the VSC-DXi refuses to work at all?
--Mac
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RealBand
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 272
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 272 |
You should not have to download the VSC Dxi driver; it should be on your BB disk. Here is a link to the FAQ directions on how to install and get it running (from the FAQ on the PG Music website): http://www.pgmusic.com/DXinfo.htmAs far as Real Instruments, you cannot use notation or midi to make this work, and you do not use outside instruments. Rather the program generates the Realtracks using snippets of real musicians playing real instruments to build the individual tracks (various Realtracks are included on disk and installed to your computer, depending on which BB/RB package you purchased). These might be Realdrums, Realguitar, etc. You make some initial selections regarding which real instrument you want the track to use, which style, key, tempo, etc, and the program uses your choices to generate the track for you. If you don't like what it initially generates for the track, you can have the program re-generate the track until you get something you like. You cannot control this feature note per note, but you will find that it has the ability to create very real-sounding tracks and solos. Terry
BIAB/RB 2018 PlusPak. Dell Inspiron23 running Win10, 12GB RAM, 2.5GHz i7, Presonus AudioBox USB interface.
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RealBand
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8 |
Ryszard,
under the "system" page of my computer, it says System type: 32-bit Operating System (don't know if it's good or not) and Memory (RAM): 2.00GB. Yes I have. But I doubt I understand most of it. It talks alot about Midi Latency or something.
Mac,
I really don't know if does work or not. The error message just appeared when the desktop started and when I clicked RealBand, Options, Preference, Midi, Midi devices, the VSC option wasn't there. Only Microsoft Wavetable Synth (Which is highlighted) , and Microsoft MIDI Mapper. I don't really know what to do after installing VSC though.
Terry,
Okay I'll figure it out then after I get the Roland VSC thing working. Thanks.
Thanks everyone!
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RealBand
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8 |
WAIT...I AM SO SORRY.
I reinstalled the program and found that I did install the Roland VSC. But this is what I see when I go to RealBand, Options > Preferences > 6-MIDI > MIDI Devices...
Then this window titled MIDI Driver Setup Appears.
The Input Driver(s) box is empty...... while the Output Driver(s) box has Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth (which is highlighted) and Microsoft MIDI Mapper (which isn't highlighted).
Then there's an unchecked box which says "Re-Route MIDI playback to default Dxi/VSTi Synth".
Below that,
Default DXiVSTi Synth : (VSC DXi) Vol. Trim: 0
Do I have to change any of these?
Whenever I open ANY of the samples from the RealBand folder and then click PLAY, this message "Couldn't open the wave device" appears. even despite that message the song still plays, but sounds very MIDI-like. However, the 2 different sample tracks "demosng1" and "rock" has that same message appear but doesn't play at all.
I really don't know where to start! Sorry guys. Thanks again.
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RealBand
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,525
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,525 |
Put a check in the checkbox for 'reroute to default synth'.
Then look in 'options - preferences'- under the AUDIO tab click the drivers button
We need to fix your audio drivers, not the midi drivers (the above step should fix midi driver issue)
What choices are under the audio drivers button?
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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RealBand
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Quote:
The Input Driver(s) box is empty...... while the Output Driver(s) box has Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth (which is highlighted) and Microsoft MIDI Mapper (which isn't highlighted).
That area lists all possible MIDI solutions that are NOT DXi type.
Quote:
Then there's an unchecked box which says "Re-Route MIDI playback to default Dxi/VSTi Synth".
Checking this box to true will force use of the DXi synth instead of whatever is highlighted for output in the upper window.
Check it off and listen to the VSC DXi.
--Mac
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RealBand
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
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Kevin, you really need some basic training. Not ragging on you at all, we were all there once. You need to learn the basics of midi, digital audio and how it all works with computers. See the "Audiominds" link in Mac's signature? Go there and click on "getting started' and start reading. Then click on everything else there. After that this stuff will be a bit clearer. I'm about to lose my connection at work but look for forum member Gary Curran. He has some killer tutorials on his site too but it was down for a while, not sure if he's back up or not but the link should be in his signature.
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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RealBand
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8 |
I'm so sorry for such a late reply. Been really busy..Okay anyway I'll do that..Thanks again for all the help!
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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