I know there is a simple way to do this, but I can't find it. I am using an RT for a song. I don't like the bass sound or the note selection. Is there a way to replace just the bass with a midi track?
Assigning a MIDI patch to a track that contains a RealTrack won't do anything, as there are no MIDI notes there to play. The RealTrack would be unaffected.
The easiest solution would be to use the RealTracks Picker to pick another bass RealTrack, but if you really want to switch to MIDI, there are a couple options.
You can right-click on the track name and go to "Select custom MIDI style for this track", which allows you to pull any track from any MIDI style, but you'll need to know which MIDI style has a bassline you like.
I'd right-click on the track name and hit "Select MIDI SuperTrack for this track", which will generate a MIDI SuperTrack. That method is far easier.
I just recall you, that don't work for the DRUMS track in BIAB 2017. That has been confirmed by several users and reported to the developpers on june 20, 2017. Don't work neither in BIAB 2018. We hope a fix will fix soon this issue.
It's one of the many advantages of MIDI. Don't like the bass sound? A few mouse clicks later, it's perfect.
Want that piano to sound like a clave? No problem.
Want that trumpet section to sound like saxes? Click, click, click -- done.
Want that distorted guitar to sound like a clean one? No problem.
MIDI is thousands of times more editable than audio - at least at this point in time and technology.
And with a good MIDI sound module, the tracks can sound 95% as good as the recorded instrument.
I'm not saying that the RTs are bad. I'm just saying that there are different situations and different tools. Sometimes you need a hammer, and sometimes a set of wrenches.
I know there is a simple way to do this, but I can't find it.
This question is a good one. I knew when I saw this, that there is no simple way!
I have had to work through this in the past. In the case when you have a great group of RTs but you just need one of the instruments to go midi(for any number of reasons). I quickly found out that the RT Styles do not contain the info to generate a midi track. For that you need a Midi Style.
I am glad Kent jumped in quickly. While it is possible to insert the bass from a midi style into the single track, inserting a Super Midi Track is a simpler option since it behaves like a Real Track and a Midi Track.
Wow, I thought I was asking something that everyone but me knew. Turns out to be a little more complex after all.
As far as using RT vs. midi, I use both. I guess I am one of the few people in the world that thinks acoustic bass sometimes clashes with other things in the low end. So a little editing seems in order.
Thanks to all for the ideas. I will see what I can do.
Wow, I thought I was asking something that everyone but me knew. Turns out to be a little more complex after all.
As far as using RT vs. midi, I use both. I guess I am one of the few people in the world that thinks acoustic bass sometimes clashes with other things in the low end. So a little editing seems in order.
Thanks to all for the ideas. I will see what I can do.
2b
The complexity comes from all of the available options you have to get the sound and notes that satisfy you from the BIAB program.
It's a simple problem with overwhelming solutions. ;=)
I understand that since a lot of the Realtracks contain underlying midi data, then that can be copied to a different track such as soloist, and then you can select any midi patch you want, though the results can be strange and I have never heard of anyone doing it in a song on here.
from Edit menu---copy special....copy/move tracks
if you do try this you will probably have to regenerate again, won't change the notes being played though
Windows 10 (64bit) M-Audio Fast Track Pro, Band in a Box 2025, Cubase 14, Cakewalk and far too many VST plugins that I probably don't need or will ever use
Ive just done my first year with BB and renewed for 2018.I got it in the frst place because of all those lovely RTs and styles.Now im more used to it all i have realised that RT styles have limitations that midi styles don't. And there are twice as many midi styles than Rt ones.So i changed the way i start a new sgu by going looking for midi ones first.Then it's easy to dub in an RT if you want cos you can't do it the other way around.
BiaB2022PLUS,927. every extras pack I can find ;-),Sonar7XL,Win 10
...So i changed the way i start a new sgu by going looking for midi ones first.Then it's easy to dub in an RT if you want cos you can't do it the other way around.
Wendy,
I often do something very similar.
When I'm first looking for song inspiration I regularly use many of BIAB's midi-based procedures such as styles, chord progrssion of style demos, melodist, soloist, etc. One of the really big advantages for me is that midi generates almost instantaneously and this is very useful when I'm fine tuning a chord progression (especially when the changed chord occurs well into the song).
Once I have my song's building blocks in place, I then move on to Realtracks. Sometimes I start with a style containing RTs and sometimes I simply add RTs track-by-track.
BIAB was sophisticated, highly developed midi-based backing software before Realtracks were invented and, as a result, there are many midi-based song creation tools that I find invaluable in building a song.
If there is a perfect Real Style that works, I'll use it.
Most of the time though I'll use MIDI because if the MIDI style isn't perfect, I can edit it to as close to perfection as my skills allow me. And the more I do this, the better my skills get.
I can exaggerate the groove of a MIDI track, this goes great for live performance backing tracks.
Speaking of that, I can pump up just the snare or whatever I need to make it sound more live than a recording. Have you ever noticed when you approach a venue with a live band, you hear the bass and the crack of the snare first before you even enter? Live mix is very different from recording mix.
I can change instruments, and use different styles as needed for A, B, C, parts, and change instruments so it sounds like the same musicians are playing the different styles.
I can export to MIDI and use a MIDI sequencer/DAW to add song specific licks, change chord inversions to complement the melody better, rearrange some of the parts, put a real intro or real ending on the tune, add musical cues to help me with my live performance, change a few notes of any given track without the same instrument/mic/recording studio, add kicks, change any instrument or drum kit, and do so many other editing tricks to get the very good MIDI output into something really ready for prime time.
Through the years I have collected many different synths, hardware samplers, and sound modules. My Ketron SD-2 and Edirol StudioCanvas SD-90 usually get the bulk of the sounds. Bit players are my Roland SC-55, Yamaha VL70-m, Yamaha TX81z, Roland MT-32, Korg DS-8, Korg i3, Korg DDD5, or my Akai or Peavey sampler. But then I got my first synth in the 1980s (Korg DDD5 and then the MT-32).
The perfect clean guitar might be on one module, while the best sax is on another. I've got a Tele rear pickup on one synth module that might sound great but I also have LPs, 335s, Strats, and other guitar sounds. Dozens to choose from. And that's only the clean guitars. Other instruments work the same way.
The external sound modules have for all practical purposes zero latency (I think they are about 5ms +-1ms) and are always in sync.
Plus they are never orphaned. My first sound modules were purchased in the Atari ST/pre-Windows DOS/Motorla CPU Mac days, and they still work perfectly using MIDI cables today. So I don't replace, just add, and they never go obsolete by an OS update. In addition, they don't tax the computer's CPU and never crash.
If I were to recommend a 'starter' sound module, I'd recommend the Ketron SD2. It has a great General MIDI sound set, a few other banks, and all the sounds are solid. Then when you can afford it, instead of buying a new soft synth that will some day be obsolete, get another MIDI sound module.
In most cases I can find sounds that are 95% as good as the real tracks, and in very many cases I can find sounds that are much more appropriate for the song I'm doing than what is on the Real Tracks.
This is not to dis the RTs though. When the RT is right, it's easy-peasy and sounds great. Depending on the song, I just try to use the tool that will make the song come out right, and I'm not going to ignore any tool.
In fact, I have been known to combine MIDI and Real Tracks in the same song in my DAW. Sometimes using both tools is perfect.
BiaB is an immense, multi-functional app. There are so many tools in there to help make better music, that for me, I want to use whatever is best for the job.
And don't give me the line about MIDI sounds cheesy. Some MIDI synths sound cheesy, but you hear MIDI on virtually ever major studio recording - and it doesn't sound cheesy.
Excerpt from Electronic Musician (EM) February 2013 by Craig Anderton:
…Thirty years ago, at the 1983 Winter NAMM show, a Sequential Circuits Prophet-600 talked to a Roland JX-3P and MIDI went mainstream. Since then, MIDI has become embedded in the DNA of virtually every pop music production (yes I stole that line from Alan Parsons, but I don't think he'll mind)…
IMO it's foolish to overlook MIDI in favor of the Real Tracks, but instead to use them both, either one or the other or both to make the music sound better. And the more you play with your Band-in-a-Box tool/toy, the better you will get at using the tool, and the better your music will sound.
Reminds of something I recently stumbled across on this site.
Quote:
Points to remember if you are comparing RealTracks to MIDI... The term "RealTracks" means "Real Musician, playing on a Real Instrument." With our RealTracks styles, we have included the "musician" in the style, by actually recording fabulous musicians. On the other hand, MIDI styles just contain chord patterns based on a C7 chord, played by the keyboard player who made the style. There are more MIDI styles in Band-in-a-Box®than RealTracks styles, so you might use a MIDI style because there isn't a RealTracks style available. Mixing MIDI and RealTracks styles can be done easily in Band-in-a-Box. You can get the best of both worlds by doing this, and the RealTracks will usually make the MIDI sound more realistic. MIDI styles are more editable than RealTracks styles. If you plan on doing a huge amount of editing, consider using a MIDI style. Otherwise, small audio edits can be done using a DAW like RealBand.
Then there's this
Quote:
What are MIDI SuperTracks?
Instead of MIDI styles based on C7 chord patterns that get repeated over every chord, the MIDI SuperTracks are based on actual playing by studio musicians. When you play the SuperTracks with your favorite MIDI synth or VST plug-ins, you'll hear great sounds using MIDI. MIDI SuperTracks are an excellent option for those looking for the editing and control capabilities of regular MIDI tracks, but with the added bonus of incredibly good MIDI sounds!
Windows 10 build 16299 2018 Ultra Intel i5-3550 @ 3.3GHz p8z77-v pro RAM: 32GB Roland V-Studio 100 Alesis VX49
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
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Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
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MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
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Note: 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.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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