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Brille Offline OP
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I have a problem that might be easy to solve. I just don't know how and I've been wondering about it for a long time.

The real tracks and the HiQ Instruments (Jazz Combo), which come with Band in a Box, have about the same volume and can therefore be easily combined. But when I combine other samples, for example from the Garritan library supplied with Finale, the latter are much quieter. I always have to set the Garritan tracks in the mixer to 127 and all other tracks to 20 or so to get a reasonably balanced volume.
Are the samples so differently loud and can I adjust it somewhere so that all samples have about the same volume level?
What about the "Garritan Jazz & Big Band 3" package. Are these samples similar in Volume to the HiQ-Instruments and the Realtracks supplied with Band in Box?


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All Garritan instrument volumes are not controlled by the volume control, but instead by the modulation wheel instead. You can control this easily for the melody or soloist track by inserting a CC command to set the mod wheel value for that track high enough to get the volume you want; not sure about the other tracks, however, and I'm not in front of my music machine to test it out.

You might be able to control it in the Aria VST interface as well.


John

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According to the manual for Aria Player for Finale, the track volumes will respond to MIDI CC7 (which is what our volume sliders send), and the Mod Wheel will also affect volume, as John mentioned.

Brille, if you go to Options - Preferences - MIDI Options, is "Zero the ModWheel Controller when stop pressed" checked? If it is, be sure to uncheck it.

Also, does moving the Mod Wheel on the Aria interface help? The default setting is likely pretty low, hopefully moving it with the mouse will do the trick, and it doesn't reset itself. I don't have that plugin here to test it though.

If needed, John's idea of inserting a MIDI CC to the Melody or Soloist track should also do the trick. Hit the "#" button in the Notation Window to get to the Event List, click Insert, and choose Control Change. The CC for Mod Wheel is 1, and a value of 127 would get you full volume.

If Aria is on a track other than Melody or Soloist, you could use Copy - Copy Special - Copy/Move Tracks to copy that track's content to Melody or Soloist, insert the MIDI CC, then use the same command to move it back. Alternately, you could insert the MIDI CC pretty easily in RealBand.

I'll come back if I think of any other ideas.

Thanks
Kent
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There is no easy answer to this Brille. It's called digital audio and everybody has different ideas about it. This is where Biab's limitations really show up.

Basically Biab is designed to work with a GM synth. GM synths are created with a balanced set of samples. That's why you can use the Coyote Wavetable or Forte Dxi and it's all balanced fairly well. But as we all know the overall sound quality of GM is anywhere from decent to awful. When you move over to dedicated VSTi's the developers could care less about GM. Each sample stands on it's own and is designed to be used in a DAW where you have complete control of your tracks using the mixer. The best ones allow you to interface with a hardware mixer and you can balance those tracks very easily.

Not so easy in Biab. Yes, Biab can work with VSTi's but it's not a DAW, it's really supposed to use a GM synth. This is why pretty much everybody on this forum will tell you to use a GM synth to get your basic song together for the chords and overall layout then move it to a DAW so you can start adding your VST's to replace the GM instruments for mastering.

Bob


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Brille Offline OP
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Kent (and all the others).
Thanks for all the advice, but I haven't really made any progress in this point.
I (usually) don't use an external MIDI keyboard. I want to use the Garritan sounds exclusively as better sounds within BiaB (without transferring everything to a DAW).
I already read that the Garritan samples put the volume on the mod wheel. But that doesn't help me within BiaB. The Aria VST player has a mod wheel, but this unfortunately does not work as a volume control. The Sforzando VST Player does not even show a mod-wheel.
And yes, Options - Preferences - MIDI Options, "Zero the ModWheel Controller when stop pressed" is unchecked.

I also tried to put a CC 7 (127) into the MIDI track via #, but even that doesn't change the low volume. And I don't want to buy the Garritan JABB 3 package without knowing if the samples are too quiet.
The JABB-3 is advertised on the BiaB website as an third party sound extension to BiaB - how do other users solve this volume problem?


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Brille -

For Garritan instruments, you need to put a CC 1 (with some value) on the MIDI track to change the volume. Set it for 127 for very loud and lower numbers where you want it softer.

That being said, Garritan sounds are really much better controlled in a DAW than in BIAB. You can do it, but it's a lot of work, and of course if the MIDI data is on anything than the melody or soloist track, you run the risk of everything getting overwritten when you regenerate.

That being said, here's another thing you can try that might help out. On your track with Garritan instruments, insert the PGDynamics plugin in the second VST slot for that track, which will compress the Garritan output effectively making it louder (and I would probably put PGPeakLimit in the third slot to make sure you don't get any digital thwacking). That might help even out your volumes. Worth the few seconds it takes to try it.


John

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Excellent answer Bob. To add one more thing good DAWs have mixers included that will work the same as your hardware mixer suggestion. I use Studio One Pro 4 and its mixer works fine. I adjust different VSTi volumes with it with no problems.


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Brille Offline OP
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Bob,
Thanks, to add a compressor in the next slot sounds like a good idea, i will try this out!


Biab/RB latest build, German Language Pak, Win 10/64 Pro, 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM. Notation SW Finale, StaffPad, SmartsScore – Playing Double Bass, Guitar, Piano
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe

This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.

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You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

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We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!

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Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 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.

Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!

Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 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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