PG Music Home Forums PG Music Product Forums Band-in-a-Box for Windows BIAB 2021 Release - First Impressions

Meh...

Each year I look forward to seeing what new wizardry PG Music cooks up for the new release. This year, I'm sad to say, I'm underwhelmed with a release that seems a fitting end to 2020. There's usually a new feature I'm super-psyched about or some RealTracks that I can envision using but not this year. Not really.

It's not that the new features or tracks are bad, they just don't blow me away like some past releases. It feels like a very low-key update. To me it's like the team said, "Well, we have to put something out there for 2021. I know! We'll enhance what's already there, slap some new Real Tracks on it, and call it a day!" I'll buy it before the end of the month and re-evaluate at that time, but nothing I see in the marketing materials that makes me think, "Wow! I can't wait to get my hands on that feature!"

Feature-wise, I believe I'll use the Utility Tracks and the fixing sour notes within the polyphonic audio the most I'm sure. The rest of the enhancements are pretty... meh. The ability to work with the audio, etc, is negated for those of us who use an external DAW. Maybe, I'll use it at some point? But I already do this kind of editing within my DAW.

The 24 bit announcement is probably the most exciting part of this entire release.

What really brings this 2021 release down for me though are the new Real Tracks. I haven't been this disappointed in years. There's an abundance of Jazz, New Age, and World Music on this release. None of that excites me in the least. I do use jazz basses on tracks from time to time and I know there are those who will relish these tracks, but for me and what I do, I'll probably never touch them. I would like to hear the "Bonfire" and "Sad Ballad" set 374, but there were no demos loaded on the webpage. I've wanted some updated bluegrass stuff for some time now, so I'm hopeful for these but won't know until I can hear the demos. I'm disappointed too that there wasn't more vocal stuff added this time around. The vocals made quite a splash when they were introduced so I'm surprised to see so little added.

Like I said, I'll pick it up as I do every year but I'm already looking forward to next year and hope it's not as flat as this year's release.

not wanting to rain on anybody's parade but it seems to me PG Music have tried to fix 'problems' like extra tracks on the mixer which are not really problems at all if you use RealBand and BIAB together. Now posts are complaining that RealTracks bounced to a utility track won't regenerate. There are many more tracks in RB and they will regenerate. you can add new ones and edit them to your heart's content. multiriffs are amazing. i wonder what PG Music would do with BIAB if they weren't trying to fix things that you can do really well already in RB. maybe that would be a lot less 'flat'.

but of course i will be upgrading, buying the 48 pack and xtra styles 10.

BIAB and RB together suit me perfectly so i can't complain too much

I skipped 2020 for all of the above reasons and have just updated to 2021.
Yes, "Meh" is definitely the correct technical description.

I've been updating since 1997 and used to look forward to the annual, and for a while bi-annual updates, then would spend a week or so exploring the new features, styles, RTs etc. Over the last few years my flabber has not been gasted.
I installed 2021 two days ago and already have seen all I need to see, I've really only updated for the RTs and even then only about 1/3 are of any use to me.

I'm coming to the conclusion that I've reached the end of the road with BIAB.
For 5 or 6 years now, the progamme does what I need it to do for my workflow,
and I probably have more RTs than I'll ever use.

Having said that I will still watch for future developments.

Vintage

I'm not ready to throw the baby out with the bath water but it's getting close. Put it this way, if PG released the RT by themselves, they would have a hard sell with features trying to get anyone to update the product. Other products I use regularly entice existing users all the time.

I'll get it for the RT and like I said, I see very few useful ones this go around for what I do.

Something I'd like to see each year is PG to conduct a poll sometime in advance of recording their new Real Tracks and Real Drums, and ask actual users what types of updated tracks they'd like to see more of in the new release. Or record and release some more throughout the year based on the interest. Repackaging the existing ones into a "Country" or "Rock" or "New Age" pack and trying to unload it for 50 bucks isn't really a big deal for those who do the full update.

BiaB has been a love/hate affair with me through the years. On one hand, I do honestly love it. I've used it on sessions, even produced a minor iTunes Top 100 hit with it, several years ago. I can't say enough good things about it and I can't emphasize that enough when I criticize it as well. The business model seems so antiquated in today's market. For those of us who record music, every other company out there seems to have their fingers on the pulse of their buyers. But PG lumbers along with a business model straight out of the 1990's. If they ever get a serious challenger to this platform, BiaB will lose because of its inflexibility. Case in point... how long have users asked for the ability to subdivide changes into 8th notes instead of the quarter notes they have now? And yes, I know you can mess around with tempo or half-time or blah, blah, blah. But you shouldn't have to create workarounds. Which would be most appreciated? The ability to change on 8th notes or another enhancement to a minor notation feature that makes it print prettier? I exaggerate a bit on the latter but it's the kind of "exciting new features" they roll out every year and market as a big deal. It's not. And don't get me started about marketing the product. At this point, if I owned the company, I'd change the name because most people don't even realize how powerful it is. They still think of the old-school MIDI product for Windows from the 90's. I'd license scaled-down version into someone's DAW so they could sample it for themselves. And I sure wouldn't put all my eggs into a single release every year in December and not really offer an expanded product line the rest of the year.

Oh, and simplify the product line. Do we really need the Super-Awesome-Jiffy-Neato Pack for people with brown eyes AND the Super-Awesome-Jiffy-Neato-Terrific pack for left-handed people with one blue eye and one green?

I do understand that the number of different purchase options and upgrades options confuses many people every year. And yes, there's always room for improvements for nearly all aspects of a product.

I just contact pgmusic and ask which one gives me everything new with what I already have. I can't figure out the upgrade path. At least it's not Ozone's infuriating system that tries to upgrade you to things you already have or less for insane amounts. That really drives me nuts.

That was a fun read

I am relatively new to PG world, but I do have a more positive view than some in this thread. I believe BIAB is standing at crossroads at this point in time. It has a great potential of "getting to be known". As mentioned above, I also believe a Plugin (and a standalone of plugin) after initial conception are matured enough for prime time thanks to Adar, pipeline and many, many other people who contributed. The VST and a handful of RT's priced right could have significant shift in a better direction.... And of course a demo version, the one without reaching for a wallet of that "light" package. Not sure if it is in place, perhaps a student discount?

I also agree, that it would make sense at least to try releasing some requested tracks and sell them in smaller, style or instrument specific packages throughout the year. "Cello" "Flutes" etc,... I do not see a harm in this, because if they do not get proper traction, they can be included in main catalog by the year end.


"I'd change the name because most people don't even realize how powerful it is. They still think of the old-school MIDI product for Windows from the 90's"

I do not agree with this statement, simply because most just do not know what it means or stands for, so they can not attribute or draw any parallels. Name is absolutely fine and fun. I would probably never (re)discovered BIAB if not for a friend that showed it to me in modern reincarnation. But word of mouth is a bit antiquated way. It needs a well deserved display.

To me, BIAB is nearly complete. As soon as Utility Tracks will have same bar functions as legacy tracks, I will be 90%+ satisfied with it. But, as Videotrack said: "there's always room for improvements..."

Not bit the bullet on my Upgrade this year , although the audio engine is the selling point for me. So far the extra utility tracks.. well ,I'm still reading up on these as I am by no means a power user .

However reading all the threads , makes me wonder is some forum users always chasing the chase ?.

Each year its the same thing and it always puts me off for a while, negativity does flow with the newest release every year !.

Remembering the first time I found Biab (midi only and I was not part of the forum or knew it existed) I was gigging and making a healthy living , working on new drums and bass, that's all I used it for then, but having that function then ...!, meant my two piece ...well !!... we where pro and booked out in advance every year.

Now look at what we have got at our fingertips ?.

I have not done a lot in Biab this year, but I have went in recently to get myself back on board and I then realized what the program is capable of and how powerfully constructively it has been in the time I have used it.

That's why I am wondering if its worth me upgrading this year because I have still not got to the end of this programs capability! or near the end , as I read posts I am amazed at the discussions , jargon etc, that I have no clue about until I read and learn so !.

To me there is no end to its capability , Only maybe my own steam to use it, and be constructive to me that's my New year resolution , get back in to things and be inspired more this year.

Just my thoughts on the thread , and yea I will upgrade ... to be inspired again !!

The printed manual is my best resource for learning Band-in-a-Box.

When you upgrade a printed manual is not included. However you can order one through PG Music Sales at a very reasonable cost. I've found the cost to order and ship a manual is cheaper than the cost of printing the pdf file. When you order the manual you'll receive the same Band-in-a-Box manual that first time buyers receive.

Having a hard copy allows me to take it with me when I leave the house. I can read, highlight and make notes to make use of wait times. These actions also help me to better retain important information.

Just like the pdf file is updated throughout the year PG Music has several printings of the manual throughout the year. If it is out-of-stock when you call to order you can request they contact you or pay up front and they will send one when they receive their next printing.

I made several wishlist requests for PG Music to issue the user manual in ePUB format for use with all screen reader displays but it hasn't happened yet. Even if they did I'd still order a manual every couple of years.