|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913 |
To try to avoid derailing JoeV's post on 'Making it after 50'...
What were music gear or software that you came across that kicked you in the pants and opened your eyes to the possibilities? (Musicstudent's agreement on my last list entry got me thinking about this topic)
My time line:
1981: Korg Delta synth (not mine, belonged to the choir I was in)
1981: Wurlitzer Model 200 (not mine, belonged to the choir I was in)
1985: Ensoniq ESQ1 synth
1989: Ensoniq VFX-SD synth
1996: PG Music Power Tracks Pro Audio DAW
1996: SoundBlaster Platinum soundcard and a pile of soundfonts and the quest for the ultimate GM soundfont.
1999: Larrivée L-03 Acoustic Guitar
2000: Minimogue VA VSTi running on CMuzys DAW
2000: Mr. Ray's Electric Piano on CMuzys DAW
2000: Triangle I VSTi
2000: Bionic Delay VST
2000: Frohmage VST
2000: Organized Trio VSTi
2001: Tracktion1 DAW
2008: SX 1962 Custom P-bass copy (first bass guitar)
2011: Zoom B3 Bass amp and multifx simulator
2013: Epiphone Nighthawk Custom Re-issue (3rd electric guitar)/ Zoom G5 amp simulator & multifx
2017: Hammond M3 with a GSi Burn Leslie simulator (not mine, it's at our church)
2018: EZ Drummer 2
I wonder what's next?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,531
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,531 |
Hi Scott. BIAB, when they added RealTracks (something we had not requested nor imagined). About 2009, I think. That was my exact quote: This Changes Everything. PG Music used it in their promotion. But you already knew that.
Other than BIAB? I’d say 1992, Encore music notation software.
Recordings (and radio) of 1963 - Brazilian music hits the USA. I had just started playing professionally.
For instruments, 2007, Kanstul 1525 flugelhorn. Plays and sounds like butter.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,047
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,047 |
Not sure of exact years.
Mid 70s I got a Sony reel-to-reel tape recorder for Christmas that could do sound on sound and sound with sound. Spent many, many hours making multi track recordings, playing all the instruments. I learned a lot and had lots of fun in the process!
Early 2000s, getting Cool Edit Pro, my first DAW. I still have and use Adobe Audion 1.5 which is basically the same program, even though it is ancient it is still the best program I have found for recording and editing audio files, although I use Reaper for my main DAW now.
BIAB of course, also early 2000s.
Lots of other cool stuff over the years, instruments and software, but nothing I would consider to be game changers like the above.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,495
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,495 |
Don't know about the years. - Switching from drums to saxophone
- My first gig playing sax in a rock band - (This is what I want to do for the rest of my life)
- Berg Larsen 100/0 stainless steel sax mouthpiece (can you say Rock & Roll or R&B sax?)
- Wollensak reel-to-reel recorder (later Teac 4 track)
- MIDI and my Atari/ST computer
- Master Tracks Pro - the ability to sequence music and make my own backing tracks without the Teac and the degradation of bouncing tracks
- Band-in-a-Box and the ability to write styles.
- Peter Gannon calling to help me with my fledgling aftermarket business offering to convert my Atari styles to IBM format (Microsoft DOS).
- Yamaha WX7 Wind MIDI controller and TX81z
- Physical modeling synthesis and the Yamaha VL70-m which makes me feel like I am playing an instrument with my Wind Midi Controller (now a Yamaha WX5) instead of triggering a synth.
- Digitech RP355 amp-modeling/FX/Direct-box pedal for gigging with my guitar
- My custom built Parker DF522NN guitar(NN for Notes Norton)
- EV-ZXL15A powered speakers - so much better than anything I've ever used before
I've probably left something out  Insights and incites by Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
THE moment probably came when I bought an Ensoniq Mirage and learned how to sample. I was able to be any instrument I wanted to be.
Had you not specified music, it would have been "Good god. I got married AGAIN???"
Last edited by eddie1261; 05/29/18 11:35 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,840
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,840 |
BIAB, when they added RealTracks (something we had not requested nor imagined). About 2009, I think. That was my exact quote: This Changes Everything. PG Music used it in their promotion. But you already knew that. RealDrums were introduced first in BIAB 2007, also completely unexpected and revolutionary: RealDrums - We’ve added real audio drums to Band-in-a-Box! RealDrums replace the MIDI Drum track with real recordings of top studio Jazz/Rock/Country drummers. These are not "samples," but are full recordings, lasting from 1 to 8 bars at a time, playing along in perfect sync with the other Band-in-a-Box tracks. Ctrl+click on this button to open the RealDrums Settings to make global settings for RealDrums.
For example, choose a brushes style, and you will now hear lush Jazz brushes. The results are dramatically better than MIDI. They sound like a real drummer, because they are recordings of a real drummer. Adding a real instrument to the mix makes all of the Band-in-a-Box parts sound more authentic. You’ll wonder, "Why does the guitar sound more real?" It’s because the realism of the drum part has the effect of improving the overall sound.
As well as improved drum sounds, you are hearing the exact rhythms played by the drummer, including features not seen in MIDI (subtle drum rolls, variations in ride cymbal taps, complex fills etc.). And the tracks intelligently play differently at faster/slower tempos, so you hear appropriate playing for the current tempo (not seen in MIDI drums). Change tempos or volumes during playback, using the same tempo/volume controls as MIDI. And best of all, we’ve seamlessly integrated the RealDrums into Bandin-a-Box, so you just use the program as you normally do, and you will hear RealDrums instead of MIDI drums, according to your preferences.
You can fully control which styles you will hear MIDI vs. RealDrums. New RealDrums styles can be made by the user or third parties, using standard WAV files. User created styles can control fills/postfills/pattern lengths/Substyles etc. We include a huge library of RealDrums styles to get you started, and all of the RealDrums styles are available in special value PAKs. And then in BIAB 2007.5 (remember the half-year releases?): RealDrums improved! - Faster. Smaller. Now take up much less space, using WMA files instead of WAV files, still with great quality! Uses 1/10 of the space! When you install, you can either install as WMA or WAV files. Either can be used. This allows your downloads and installations of RealDrums to be much faster!
RealDrums Variations of instruments with each "play." Most RealDrums styles (starting with RealDrums set 5) contain may instrument variations ("brushes vs. Sticks", "HiHat vs. Ride Cymbal" "Percussion only" etc.). Now, by selecting Prefs-Real Drum Settings - choose different Variations with each play, you can hear a different variation each time play is pressed, so the song sounds fresh each time. One time you’ll hear it with "brushes," the next time with sticks and ride cymbals, etc.
"Favor Brushes," "Favor Sticks" settings. When selecting RealDrums styles to use for a style, BB will use your preferences for brushes and sticks. For example, if you choose "Favor Brushes," BB will always choose from among variations that include brushes (when available).
Selectable Folder for your RealDrums styles. Now you can choose any folder (e.g. e:\Drums) for your RealDrums. This allows you to, for example, conserve space on your C:\ drive.
RealDrums "Compatible song/style finder." In the RealDrums Settings dialog, there are now buttons that will, for a chosen RealDrums style, enable you to (1) play the RealDrums demo song, (2) show a menu of BB styles that would work with the Real Drum style and (3) play a song demo of various BB styles that work with the Real Drum style.
Tempo checking for chosen RealDrums styles. If you choose a RealDrums style, and the tempo is outof-recommended-range for the style, BB will inform you of that - you can still use the style of course. RealDrums styles that get chosen automatically by Band-in-a-Box will always be compatible with your song. RealDrums styles can now have 2 separate feels, with different push amounts, and custom fills for transitioning between Substyles (see above). We made a great new style that starts out in Bossa, and changes to ‘swing’ at ‘b’ substyle, with custom drum fills for the transition fills. This "BossaThenSwing" style is on RealDrums 10, and is very effective for Latin/swing tunes.
Drum Fills can now be customized to include fills specifically used when changing from ‘a’ to ‘b’ substyle (and vice versa).
RealDrums "Developer Mode."
1) People making their own styles benefit from the "Developer Mode," that outputs TXT files with information about their style-in-progress. Now they can render a batch of songs, which will all save separate TXT files, useful for analyzing their styles.
2) Bars Blocked limit increased to 2,000 bars And then in 2008, we were completely floored by the three, count-em, three RealTracks they released. RealDrums were one thing, and that seemed relatively easy as they didn't need to respond to chord changes. But RealTracks. Who can do that? Well PGMusic did and still does that: RealTracks - With the previous release of Band-in-a-Box, we added RealDrums. Now we’ve added additional "Real" instruments, including Real Pedal Steel, Real Acoustic Guitar, and Tenor Sax soloing (RealSax). These tracks replace the MIDI track for that instrument, and can be controlled just like the MIDI instrument (volume changes, muting etc.). Best of all, they follow the chord progression that you have entered, so that you hear an authentic audio accompaniment to your song. These are not "samples," but are full recordings, lasting from 1 to 8 bars at a time, playing along in perfect sync with the other Bandin-a-Box tracks. RealTracks can be built in to the style, replacing the Bass, Guitar, Piano, or Strings part, or they can be generated to the Soloist (or Melody) track using the Soloist feature. And then in 2008.5 (another mid-year release), along with multiple SETS of RealTracks, BOOM!: Faster Generation of RealTracks. - The time it takes to generate RealTracks is now three times as fast!
"Waveless" and much smaller in size, Version 2008.5 uses 1/8 of the hard drive space compared to
Version 2008! - RealTracks and RealDrums no longer need WAV files - they can use WMA natively. This frees up huge amounts of your hard drive, so that the RealDrums and RealTracks take up only 1 /8 of the space that they used to take! The handy "Archive" function will remove the no-longer-needed WAV files with a single-click. This means that the new version uses up much less hard drive space than previous versions.
Tempo stretching quality enhancements.
Now the RealTracks sound great over a much wider tempo range, typically -15 and +40 beats per minute from their original tempo.
Stereo panning is now available for the RealTracks.
Automatic prevention of audio clipping. (New Float mixing and Peak Limiter added.)
RealStyles available - These are styles that include all "Real Instruments," with no MIDI. Up to 7 Real Instruments all at once in a single style!
Improved transitions for RealTracks eliminating Pops/Clicks.
Right-click menu is available for each part in Band-in-a-Box (bass, drums, piano, guitar, strings), allowing you to quickly assign RealTracks (or RealDrums), MIDI SuperTracks, or loops to that part along with other functions like mute, solo, save as WAV file, etc.
RealTracks browser dialog shows comprehensive information about the RealTracks, including name, genre, feel, tempo, type, demos, and preview. Lists can be sorted or filtered by any column.
Easily save a style (.STY) with RealTracks, directly from the main screen ("save what you hear" as a style).
RealTracks Rests and Shots - RealTracks work for rests and shots.
Endings are now present in RealTracks.
Name of RealTracks or RealDrums display at the top of the screen for each part.
Save Single Track - Right-click on a part to save that single track to disk as a WAV file.
RealTracks demos now present in RealTracks - demos folder, and can be opened from the StylePicker.
RealTracks Preview function to hear how a RealTracks will sound, without losing your current song.
Time Shift RealTracks - Ability to time shift a RealTracks by certain amount, to achieve more laid-back playing for example.
Variations of RealTracks can be made, for things like a simpler type of soloing, or certain variations.
RealTracks can have multiple Substyles - For example, the Jazz Acoustic Bass plays "2"’ feel in "a" substyle, and "4" in "b" section.
Soloists can solo over different chords than the chords of the song - For example, the Metal Guitar Soloist can have a tonal center controlled by the user, different than the song chords. So that the Metal Guitar can be soloing over a G chord, while the chords of the song are G F G Bb, for example.
"Crescendo" Soloing can be generated for some RealTracks that have the intensity of the solo building up with the flashiest part of the solos played as the solo builds.
Musicality of the solo phrasing improved, phrasing much closer to human.
RealTracks button added to Soloist dialog, with color coding to allow quick access to RealTracks.
RealTracks folders now have descriptive names - Instead of cryptic names like RacG001, they have names like "Guitar, Electric, and Soloist Cowboy Ev 165"
Bass track can now play RealTracks!
StyleMaker lists RealTracks names on the main screen.
Non English versions will work with the newest RealTracks without a new translation of the Soloist list (Default.SOL file).
Archive and Install WAV buttons to control the use of the WAV files for RealDrums and RealTracks. WAV files are no longer needed as the program can use the much smaller WMA files. If you prefer to use WAV files (slightly higher fidelity and slightly faster operation), these commands provide the option to install or archive the WAV files on a global or folder by folder basis. As Matt said, it was totally unexpected and was truly revolutionary.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,836
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,836 |
Piano: age 7 & the Beatles around that same time
Guitar: age 14 add electric and an amp a few years later
Tascam Porta-One : 80's
Cakewalk Music Creator : 90's
Band in a Box : 2005ish
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,092
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,092 |
1972 - 1953 Kay Jazz Master blond upright bass. It resulted in 35 years of playing in bluegrass bands (and one blues group). 1974 - Sound on sound reel to reel tape recorder. Hey, I can do this home studio thing! November 2011 - BiaB. Well, Janice I think I found a way we can re-enter the music making world and try out those genres we could never get the band to do Bud
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457 |
It was about 1970, I guess. First time I ever got to play my Les Paul out of a Marshall Super Lead 100. I was in heaven for that gig. (prior to that, and after, far as that goes, cuz I just had the Marshall for that gig, I was having to put up with my VOX Super Beatle and not caring for it too much)
Fast forward a few years. By 1973 I'd been studying and playing classical guitar for about a year. I managed to swing a deal on a Jose Ramirez 1a Concert Model. Man-o-man, what a guitar. I owned it for 30 years and finally sold it when I began building my own guitars.
No real "This Changes Everything" that was music related until I began to wake up to the power of the DAW back in about 2000. I had already owned a copy of BiaB for a couple of years by that point, but I just used it mostly as a backing tracks program, and it was very useful for that. But being able to do my own recording at a quality that rivaled that of top-notch studios, well that was definitely revolutionary to my way of thinking.
And really, since then things have been evolutionary more than revolutionary. Some cool stuff has come around since then -- including the later BiaB editions! -- but still it's been stuff I've been able to assimilate without getting my socks blown off.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
Order now!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,124
Posts800,506
Members40,037
| |
Most Online44,367
Mar 4th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean