Just listened to the Johnny Hiland Styles/Real Tracks & there is something badly wrong. I can't exactly say what the problem is but they sound out of tune - what do you think?
Plus they sound like they were recorded in the next building - way too much reverb which means they cannot be added to a mix.
Best Regards Nigel
Nigel Spiers Christchurch, New Zealand info@nzacoustics.com
I just listened to RealTracks solos of 'ChickenPickinTrainJohnny' (3297), and I hear the discordance, but I'm not sure that this is or isn't deliberate. Like this song at the 1:23 mark.
'ChickenPickinWesternSwingJohnny' (3298) sounded OK.
BIAB & RB2025 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
Just checking to be sure, but is the tempo of your song and the Real Track you're trying to use compatible? Generally speaking you get some wicked artifacts if you go too far outside the intended tempo range of the Real Track. The slower the tempo the more noticeable it is when trying to add a RT with a faster tempo. That's not always the case but I've found it to be so more often than not. When you say out of tune or discordant, that's what it makes me think.
I was right the first time - _CROSS and _BYROAD styles - the lead guitar is hopelessly out of tune regardless if you play the songs in their nominated BPM or not and also regardless of the key.
I continue to be amazed at the BIAB community - virtually none of them can hear errors in the real tracks and even when they do they don't comment, complain or even mention it. They also never complain when PG Music completely and totally ignore their requests for new Real Tracks.
This is pathetic and almost funny except when you remember you've just paid NZ $250 for these styles/real tracks.
Not that I expect PG Music to do anything about it as they have not rectified any of the faulty real tracks in the last 18 months.
Deeply dissapointing!
Nigel Spiers Christchurch, New Zealand info@nzacoustics.com
I did spot check Johnny Hiland RealTracks earlier and didn't encounter the problem that you seemed to be hearing. I didn't know from your description if it was something really subtle, or actual wrong notes, or what. Will check those specific styles that you mention. Any other specific details would be welcome. We update RealTracks on a regular basis. Every patch has updated RealTracks files.
I was right the first time - _CROSS and _BYROAD styles - the lead guitar is hopelessly out of tune regardless if you play the songs in their nominated BPM or not and also regardless of the key.
I continue to be amazed at the BIAB community - virtually none of them can hear errors in the real tracks and even when they do they don't comment, complain or even mention it. They also never complain when PG Music completely and totally ignore their requests for new Real Tracks.
Nigel, perhaps a little unfair. I took some time to explore and provided you with what I found. I even searched and found an example of what might have been what you experienced in the audition. I took quite a bit of time to do this.
Perhaps you need to be reminded that when you were right "the first time", you never even bothered to mention the names of any of the styles. Now you identify them. Why didn't you name them originally? You could save yourself some frustration by simply including specifics of your problem. It's not that hard.
Perhaps I am amazed at how this unpaid volunteering community is sometimes treated by other users.
There. I feel better.
BIAB & RB2025 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
1. Subtle or just some notes - every note is wrong - it is like Johnny Hiland is playing in a completely different key to the rest of the band. 2. "We update RealTracks on a regular basis" - excellent - which Realtracks have been been updated for the 2020 release? 3. "Every patch has updated RealTracks files" - I'm not sure what this means - please explain in more detail.
Thanks & Best Regards Nigel
Nigel Spiers Christchurch, New Zealand info@nzacoustics.com
I ran the demo you mentioned and soloed the bass and lead guitar. Johnny is certainly all over the place, but not really in a bad way. Its blues! I did near some sour notes in a few places with a critical listen. So I ran it over into melodyn to see the individual pitches. For the very most part Key of E as claimed. Mostly major blues, with the occasional G (flat 3rd) A#(b5) C(b6). Take a look. Nothing really unusual for a blues player in my (limited) experience. But "hopelessly out of tune" - not what I heard.
BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).
Thanks for your analysis of the Johnny Hiland solo. I have re-listened to his _CROSS & BYROAD Style solos and included in the mix Real Tracks 3248 by Sol Philcox and 422 by Jack Pearson. As you will hear for your self there is night and day between these two guitarists and poor old Johnny's efforts.
I think I will just have to put it down to someone trying to play the blues who is simply not familiar with the genre. There are quite a number of Real Tracks that suffer from the same fate e.g. 3257 by Jim Clark and 3211 and 3292 by LD Miller. These Real Tracks don't have specific bugs in them but they simply don't work at all because the musicians are being asked to play in an unfamiliar genre.
The answer is to get some bone fide blues musicians into the Studio - Guitar - ask Buddy Guy, Horn Section - ask Roomful of Blues or the Fabulous Thunderbirds Horn Sections, Blues Harp - ask Kim Wilson.
Best Regards Nigel
Nigel Spiers Christchurch, New Zealand info@nzacoustics.com
OK, that is a quite a bit different than "...out of tune". You are certainly permitted to have a personal preference for the playing style of any of the artist. That is why there are so many to chose from, but we can't ($$) have them all.
Buddy is a Chicago guy. I run into him occasionally at his bar. He is 86 and still is seen playing, but I don't believe he is up for a trip to the west coast of Canada to record in the PGM studios. - but I do like where you are going with this - keep the fresh talent coming and we can sort it out with the yearly download of new RT's.
Dan
BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).
I ran through the same exercise as Dan this morning, including the Melodyne dump, and agree with his analysis. I did find a few places where a solo line resolved to the right note but that note was a few cents flat, which bugged me.
I do understand Nigel's last points: This RealTrack doesn't come off sounding very musical to me. And I KNOW Johnny can flat BLISTER a fretboard. But for whatever reason this one doesn't quite work.
There are a few things in BiaB that I just don't use for similar reasons. But I use BiaB every day just the same, and each year I get the Audiophile update on the first day it's offered. Awesome program.
The only thing possibly more awesome than the BiaB program is the BiaB forum. By far the most helpful community of people I've run into on the net...
DC Ron BiaB Audiophile Presonus Studio One StudioCat DAW dual screen Presonus Faderport 16 Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
1. "We update RealTracks on a regular basis" - excellent - which Realtracks have been been updated for the 2020 release? 2. "Every patch has updated RealTracks files" - I'm not sure what this means - please explain in more detail.
Thanks & Best Regards Nigel
Nigel Spiers Christchurch, New Zealand info@nzacoustics.com
About 200 RealTracks have had updates since the release of 2019, not including the new RealTracks released in 2020. These were included in the regular Band-in-a-Box patch updates during 2019, and are included with 2020. Typically the updates are in the ST2 database. The recorded audio rarely needs to be replaced. I'm not saying that the blues soloists can't be improved, I'm only clarifying that updates are ongoing unlike what you said earlier.
I look forward to checking out the Johnny Hiland Styles/Real Tracks mentioned when I get my 2020 upgrade (from 2018) next month.
Yes, Johnny is one of the best players around at the moment, I'm also looking forward to hearing his realtracks in a week or so. I always wait to do the upgrade until after Christmas (but before the end of the year so I can still get the good price
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These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
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Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
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Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
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Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
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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.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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!
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.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
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- keep the fresh talent coming and we can sort it out with the yearly download of new RT's.
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