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#601081 06/08/20 12:46 AM
Band-in-a-Box VST/AU and Pro Tools/AAX DAW Plugin (Mac)
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mrgeeze Offline OP
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I just watched the Plugin video for Logic.
I can see some convenience in its capabilities.
From 10k feet, it appears to provide a limited subset of biab features accessible from Logic.
Charting a song, selecting a real style, generating wav files. All the big points.
What about midi tracks? Adding/Changing parts? Any big missing gotchas?

I'm just wondering whether those using it find it a great improvement over having both programs (biab and logic) open at the same time on your mac.
I get not having to gen the .wav tracks and use finder to drag and drop into the project.
Just wondering if enough other features are lost to make this minor inconvenience not worth the effort.

I don't believe there's a right answer here.
Just wondering what experiences users have had so far.

I may crossgrade to the Mac version this year and this feature could aid the decision.

Thank you in advance for your feedback.


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I’m not fully sure what you are asking. The plugin doesn’t have all the tools BiaB does in either pc or Mac. It never will. The idea behind it was to create tracks and drag them to the DAW where the average DAW user is comfortable with the tool set. There midi can be edited with ease. Same with audio. I use the plugin in both Studio one on pc and Logic on Mac. The plugin is working very nicely in both.

You can add midi from midi styles, and any RTs/RDs that have real charts. These can be edited in the DAW. Both Peter and Andrew have said the plugin was not developed to be a full on BiaB, just a way for DAW users to get tracks fast.

Envision Realband In a PC it is a DAW with BiaB generation inside. There you can edit audio and Midi to your heart’s content. This is not done in the BiaB portion of the program, it is done in the Powertracks portion. It is the same with the plugin and your favorite DAW.

Im still wrapping my head around Logic and Mac in general but so far I like it


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so dumb question here...

Are you guys using the daw app in Mac with a windows usb drive?
If so how?
I have the 2021 Audiophile drive but would love to use that with Logic on my Mac.

thanks,
Steve
Ps. new user here

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All the styles and RealTracks can be used on both Windows and Mac (even though the RealTrack audio files needs to be converted from .wma to .m4a, as described in another thread), but the BIAB application and daw plugin are platform specific. Hence you will need the Mac version of BIAB to run it with Logic.

Best regards
/Björn

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Bjorn is correct, however I should point out that converting WMA to M4A will reduce sound quality, as it is converting from one lossy format to another.


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That's right. The quality is good enough for trying it out, but I wouldn't use it for any serious work.

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Hello, I have windows BIAB, this year I switched to Mac and Logic Pro, I an waiting for BIAB Mac. BUT are you saying real tracks for MAC are no good.
What good is it if you cant use real tracks.
Thanks
still learning BIAB, I got it a while ago and never got the hang of it, Im going for it again, really wanted the MAC version, wondering if i made a big mistake?

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mrgeeze Offline OP
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As I understand this conversation the conversion of win real track to Mac real tracks will result in loss of fidelity due to compression.

I assume (please confirm/deny PG Staff) that if one purchases the Mac version of the software all the real tracks will have equal the quality level of the windows real tracks.

There are no doubt other gotchas between the two versions but I'm hoping quality of 3000+ real tracks is not one of those.


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Windows uses the audio file formats wma for compressed RealTracks and wav for uncompressed RealTracks. Mac uses audio file formats MP4a for compressed RealTracks and AIF for uncompressed RealTracks. The file formats used on each platform are native to the platform.

However, RealTracks are not just audio files. RealTracks are made of audio files and supporting files. The supporting files are not cross platform compatible.

Both Windows and Mac Band-in-a-Box versions can import cross platform audio files. You record an audio file in MAC BiaB and Windows BiaB can import the file.

The talk about the loss of fidelity is when you convert from a lossless audio file to a compressed audio file or if you convert from one compressed file format to another compressed file.

A lossless audio file is CD quality. Compressing an audio file looses some data. Compressing an audio file twice like you do when you convert from one compressed file format to another looses even more data.


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Thanks, I also checked PG Music and said the same, ok now im happy I'm going with Mac
Thanks for the info

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Originally Posted By: SalMinasalli
Hello, I have windows BIAB, this year I switched to Mac and Logic Pro, I an waiting for BIAB Mac. BUT are you saying real tracks for MAC are no good.
What good is it if you cant use real tracks.


What we're talking about is converting Realtracks from a Windows version to a Mac version. If you purchase a Mac version, it will be the same quality as the Windows version.

Originally Posted By: mrgeeze
I assume (please confirm/deny PG Staff) that if one purchases the Mac version of the software all the real tracks will have equal the quality level of the windows real tracks.


That is correct. The Realtracks are all saved to either WMA (Windows) or M4A (Mac) at a bitrate of 128-160kbps, so they're the same quality for both versions.


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mrgeeze Offline OP
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Does the bitrate of the audiophile version differ from the above.?


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The Audiophile edition uses uncompressed files, either WAV or AIFF. Bitrate is 1411kbps.


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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.

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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.

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

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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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