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Hello,
Current : BIAB 2008
Considering : Update to Plus Pack HD with Real Band

Hardware : PC plus MOTU 2408, Alesis HD24, four VS-2480
Software : Sonar, BIAB, Fruity XL, Ableton 5

I went through the Real Band demos and was blown away with what I heard ! Band in a Box has come a long way.

Being a studio owner I see an immediate potential in a studio environment for Real Band.

My main concern is with Sync-ing audio output from the computer to a stand alone digital recorder. In the past, with BIAB MIDI instruments, I just took the standard MIDI files into Sonar and added groove quantise-ing and recorded the sound module outputs into the digital recorder. Mixes are mainly done outside the computer. Once the MIDI file is in Sonar I can sync the computer to the recorder through SMPTE. BIAB does not support SMPTE or groove quantise-ing.

I am assuming that Real Band does not support SMPTE either. I am using an older MOTU 2408 that only has an D/A converter in 20 bit. Therefore I will be doing the individual track output transfers in digital because MOTU 2408 will pass through 24 bit digital data. It can receive/send up to 24 track of digital via three ADAT light pipe I/O.

Question : Does Real Band support Multiple outputs - one stereo or mono digital output per instrument?
(If you are familiar with MOTU 2408, "piano" to ADAT 1, ch 1 - "strings" to ADAT 1 ch 2 - "stereo drums" to ADAT 1 ch 3 and 4 - etc.)

The long way around of syncing to an external recorder is to visually line up tracks using using the count in, after each track is recorded into the multi-track. That can get pretty tedious and counter productive to any minor arrangement or instrument changes.

Question : Does Real Drums output the used "audio clips" by individual drum instruments ? In other words, were the "audio clips" created as a stereo audio tracks?

Stereo drum audio tracks includes the entire kit. This will not allow any processing of individual instruments, such as re-EQ'ing the kick drum, or applying a different reverb on the toms, etc.

Undoubtedly the addition of Real Band to my studio arsenal will be a plus. I am trying to get an idea of how much of its capabilities I can utilize. Sync to external recorder is an issue I want to understand well before spending $400. Versatility of generated drum tracks is another.

I appreciate any input.

Thanks

RealBand is based on the PowerTracks engine and look and runs very much like PowerTracks Pro. Both can support SMPTE. However, the user must realize that when Audio tracks are involved, which is what the RealTracks are, that realtime tempo stretching cannot be supported as it can be easily done with MIDI tracks but not with Audio.


--Mac

I can vouch for the syncng of the sequencer/DAW.
SMPTE and midi time code still apply.
If tempo is known it is easy, and if it isn't, one of the strong features of RB is the ACW which not only analyzes chords, but also tenpos, allowing one to rewrite the tempo map for syncing if necessary.

You are right- the drums are indeed a stero mix, but the ones I've used were recorded well enough that with proper EQing you can do a lot with the kit mix.

About the RealDrums:

Do they work in *every* case?

No. There are certain types of productions where the drumkit mixing is a part of the production. In these cases, the producer is likely better off using a different drum solution that allows that kind of total control over each instrument in the kit, with separation.

However, for a good amount of work, the RealDrums have proven to represent a super shortcut that sounds very good to excellent. For example, I've been asked who the drummer was on the session. By another drummer.


--Mac

Yoda, you can use use MIDI Sync as Sync Source. You would press play on RealBand and awaiting MIDI Sync dialog will pop up.Then hit play/record on your recorder. I use an HD8. works a treat!!!

Thank you all for your response.

Interesting . . . The software engine for RB is Power Tracks and not BIAB and it supports SMPTE or MTC. Cool !

So when I get Real Band, there is a dialog box to send MTC. My VS2480 sends and receives MTC, so I can bypass the MTC to SMPTE converter. Cool #2 !

Question for Stephan326 . . .
Can Real Band act as the "sync slave" ? Your post sounds like RB can indeed do that. If I can control RB via MTC from the recorder . . . that would be Cool #3 !

About the drums. Although they are some of the best sounding drum samples I've ever heard, on most of my mixing process, I would need or want more control of each drum instruments. Fortunately I have several local drummers available to replace the finished drum track. Certainly there will be situations where Real Drums output will be just fine to use on the final mix.

I will be ordering my upgrade within a couple of weeks.

Thanks

Yes RB can sync to either MIDI sync, MTC or SMPTE

Yoda, that is absolutely correct!!

You really need to speak to Harvey Gerst. If you don't recognize the name, google it. Big time producer, engineer and studio owner. He's a forum member and uses Biab and Real Tracks a lot in his work. He's very helpful around here and if he doesn't see this thread, I would email him.

Bob