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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259 |
Many thanks for taking time to show those controllers, Notes. That's a great help to many of us and it's crucial to me. THANKS A HEAP!!!
Stan
Cornet Curmudgeon
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 618
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 618 |
Hi Earl and all,
I agree. I've always loved MIDI because of all the control and editing I could do with it. I find realtracks never seem to fit into what I'm doing. They sound great but I can't do anything with them. Also Realband is still a mystery to me. I've used BIAB since the first version on an Atari ST and now use BIAB and PowerTracks.
I'm just getting used to recording digitally. I recorded for decades, all analog.
Real Tracks remind me of when synths changed. I got into midi early on and bought one of the first Yamaha DX-7s. I loved that I could program all these new sounds. It was so much more rewarding programming new sounds that made every piece I did new. Then all the keyboards turned into like sample players.
Each one, who had the best piano and bass and horns. Don't get me wrong, General MIDI was a great thing. It solved so many problems. I had 2 Roland SC-55s and was thrilled, but I always kept a couple of Yamaha Synth modules for all the organ sounds I programmed and so many other sounds. Alas, I lost all my equipment in a flood 3 years ago.
I try, but I still can't seem to fit any of the realtracks into what I do.
I suppose one day I'll open Realband and it will just hit me. Oh, that's why this is so good. So far I still don't get it. I know it's popular. I get nervous when I read posts saying why use PowerTracks when you can do it all in Realband. I still seem to be clueless with Realband. I do everything in Powertracks.
Wayne,sorry for the long post
p.s. pg-music-----Don't stop making PowerTracks, Please.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 137
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 137 |
There is probably a very good and easy enough way to settle this once and for.
Maybe someone like Notes Norton could take a realtrack style such as the country realtrack lead guitar with ref,
Guitar, electric, soloist ev 165 by Jason Roller,
Transcribe the notes from it (I have listened enogh to this one of my favourite realtracks and there is definitely a limited amount of musical phrases that it has) rearrange it in midi form into a Biab style and then we might be able to see the real advantages it has over the original realtrack with proper endings etc and how it plays during a solo.
I know people might say it will depend on the soft synth that I have which is vsc dxi but I'm sure it wouldn't be that bad, and with proper endings maybe even a lot of people might opt for it.
I would do it myself but unfortunately I don't possess the musicmanship or understand the processes involved to do so.
thanks,
Paddy
Last edited by pwhack; 12/05/09 04:12 PM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
You're asking for quite a lot of work there, Paddy.
It would take manhours of time to do that.
And I can already tell you that it would be going in a backwards direction, for that is exactly what the MIDI styles do anyway, ie transcribe a real player into MIDI notes.
BTW -- for RealTracks that include notation with them, identified by the Green RealTrack name being underlined, the human transcription to MIDI notes has already been done. Actually, its already been done for each and every RealTrack. But BIAB blocks sending that MIDI data out of a port. Instead, it substitutes the Audio loops from the target RealTrack base recording.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 137
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 137 |
Quote:
You're asking for quite a lot of work there, Paddy.
It would take manhours of time to do that.
And I can already tell you that it would be going in a backwards direction, for that is exactly what the MIDI styles do anyway, ie transcribe a real player into MIDI notes.
BTW -- for RealTracks that include notation with them, identified by the Green RealTrack name being underlined, the human transcription to MIDI notes has already been done. Actually, its already been done for each and every RealTrack. But BIAB blocks sending that MIDI data out of a port. Instead, it substitutes the Audio loops from the target RealTrack base recording.
--Mac
Thanks for reply Mac. If I understand you correctly If all the realtracks have already been transcribed to Midi, wouldn't it be an easy enough task for Pg to offer them as a midi style together with the endings and all? I know they have realtracks in some styles but its not in midi form I believe.
Would give more choice to the end user I think.
Paddy
Last edited by pwhack; 12/06/09 05:03 AM.
Paddy McGurk,
Liverpool,
Don't mention the Beatles!!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 52
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 52 |
Wow, this list of posts has really got me thinking. I have used only midi background on stage for years and I was about to buy BIAB 2010/Real Band when it comes out next week. Now I have to wonder if that is the best thing to put into a new on-stage laptop for files that are real track audio or that combine midi and real track audio because of the suggestion that the real tracks take up so much space and may create some reliability problems during performances. I have tried to keep my system simple and reliable: laptop, roland SD-20 sound module, reverb unit, and mixer. But the laptop is old with windows 98 because it is the latest operating system that plays Cakewalk Pro - whose Play List feature is something that I just love on stage.
Now I am thinking about updating to a new, much faster laptop dedicated just to my music, mostly country and standards. I just don't know how to invest my limited funds. I would really appreciate any recommendations from the wonderful posters I have been reading on these forums. Thank you very much, Scott.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
W. Scott--
I have never put the newer versions of BIAB with all those RealTracks on my laptop's internal hard drive.
Just order the program that comes on the included USB Hard Drive and you can run everything from there.
If you are overseas and have that Tax problem because the hard drive is hardware, you can still do this by ordering the DVD install disks instead of the pre-installed hard drive and do the intallation to a USB or FireWire external Hard Drive that you already have or can purchase locally.
I use the external hard drive method to work with BB both on the home desktop and to play out live with the laptop or to take all of my BB with me when traveling.
Works a treat.
And I now don't have to worry about always copying the bb files I'm working up via thumb drives or the like so that both my computers stay on the same page. Just take the USB drive along and everything is in one place.
You only have to install the notation oriented Fonts and a couple other very small size files to any computer you want to run the hard drive contents from USB. The directions come on the hard drive. Great idea and it works!
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 52
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 52 |
Mac, Thanks again. I understand the suggestion about buying the external HD with the UBS connection. Since you did not mention a certain laptop I assume you think any of the new fast laptops and soundcards would work just fine - through an audio-midi interface device - to run all the midi and audio-midi combination files - is that correct? Thank you very much! Scott 
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
The BIAB USB outrigger drive has been working well with quite the majority of laptops, we even have great reports from those using the newer mini laptops such as the ACER or HP with it. Those little ~$200 jobbies. Small screen, maybe, but BIAB with RealInstruments on USB drive runs well on them.
I don't think you will encounter much in the way of problems, but if you are looking at buying a new lappy for the purpose, I'd say steer away from Vista OS and go for either Windows 7 or XP OS on it.
I would also recommend plenty of internal RAM. TIP: One can save money on new purchase if they are savvy and can use a small screwdriver, following directions. Laptops that come with lots of RAM preinstalled often cost more money than purchasing the same overall model with same OS that has less RAM in it and purchasing RAM upgrade stick(s) at the same time, installing them yourself as an upgrade. Or having the store install it can sometimes still come out as less overall expenditure.
Not to say that Vista is necesssarily "bad" -- but there have been problems and certain tweaks are necessary.
Also, Vista 64 bit won't run the VSC DXi software synth that ships with BIAB. That is because the VSC code was written 16 bit for use on 32 bit puters. The Forte DXi synth that pgmusic sells separately does work under Vista, but since we now have the Windows 7 choice, I'd go with that. Or XP in the right deal. XP is now the "mature" OS and I'm still using it for my music machines for just that reason!
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 52
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 52 |
Mac, Your advice really hits home here because this whole upgrade process was started when my wife gave me a relatively new laptop she was not using much. It is much newer and faster than what I have been using. BUT it has a VISTA OS and I have already had some problems with it with my PT application. These problems required me to spend much of yesterday on the phone with PG Music before they got it resolved by moving all my PT application to a new folder. So my plan now is to talk to Tiger Direct, the on-line computer store, and select a new laptop with all the RAM, etc., that I need and an XP OS. I will go to the store here and get the cable you suggested to try to use the headphones output effectively. I will then buy the new 2010 BIAB/Real Tracks program and their external disk drive, as you suggested. I note my wife and I used to live in Columbia, MD and work at the Pentagon (not all that far from where you live) until we retired and came down here to the North Carolina foothills in December 2002. We love it here. The only drawback for me is that there are very, very few places to play music here (unless you are a Bluegrass pro). The area is very poor, very rural, and lacking in places that hire people to do the kind of one-man-band, country-standards entertaining that I do. Thank you once again. I need to spend more time on the forums to keep learning how to do all the stuff the PG Music programs make possible before I get too hold to punch the computer keys! I am hoping it will keep me a little younger for a little longer than I would be without it!  Scott
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Here's the cable I'm currently using: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2290564 If you need to input as 1/4" -- which I sometimes do when using House PAs -- I carry a pair of these adaptors also, because they take up less space than another cable: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index....rentPage=family I'm up inside the beltway quite a bit on subcontracts myself, same boss, basically, 'nuther dept. NC is only a hop, skip 'n jump from here, as you know. Yeah. I hear ya on the Bluegrass issue, loud 'n clear. Play yer heart out on a nice jazz ballad. Then the guy comes up to the piano and sez, "Don't ya'll know any ELVIS?"  --Mac
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Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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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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Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
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.
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- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
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