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RealBand
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 129
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 129 |
Hi all,
I just upgraded from BIAB 2008 and Power Tracks 10 to BIAB 2010 that includes Real Band.
I do not see much difference between Real Band and Power Tracks. Since we have to launch Real Band outside of BIAB as a seperate program, what purpose does it serve not to use Power Tracks? Can you tell me what advantage is there to use Real Band instead of Power Tracks? Thanks.
jol
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RealBand
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,907
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,907 |
This was once a very popular topic. To the best of my knowledge RB has everything (with the single exception of TCHelicon) that PTW has. But it also has much more. What you ask? Best I recall is the integration of RTs into RB is one of the primary additions. 
BIAB – 2026, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud.
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RealBand
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,731
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,731 |
RB has several of the features of Band in a Box integrated into it. So Rb is PTPA with BiaB generation abilities. Real Tracks, and Real Drums plus the ability to generate tracks and solos.
So what you could do with PTPA you can do with RB, still some will use and buy PTPA since all they need is a lean simple DAW.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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RealBand
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
I think RB represents the fulfillment of many Band in a Box wishlist requests.
"Freezing of tracks" -- Typical of the PGMusic "outside the box" design methodology, instead of trying to incorporate that inside BiaB, or turn the autoaccompaniment program into a static multitrack sequencer, they took their already developed static sequencing program, PowerTracks, and added the BiaB autoaccompaniment generator to it. This does away with the BiaB "number of choruses" issue entirely, laying everything out as the BiaB "one long song" does, but with the new twist -- the first generation sticks and is visible in the tracks and can be easily edited.
"When I edit the Bass in BiaB, it changes when I hit play" -- A constant forum post from noobies, this one bites almost every new user. I know it got me at one time many moons past. You see the doggone notes, the notation editor in BiaB lets you change the doggone notes, then you hit Play and they disappear, being replaced with the auto-generated notes from the Style file. In RB, the first generation STICKS. Need to edit the bass line in order to get a particular riff, go ahead and do so (if its MIDI based, of course) and that's that.
BiaB is more oriented towards the realtime PLAYER. Someone who needs a backing band to practice with, or someone who needs a backing band in live performance but abhors static backing tracks playing the exact same thing every time.
RealBand is for RECORDISTS who want or need the advantage of automatic accompaniment for those critical "bed tracks".
Powertracks is for Recordists who don't want or need auto-accompaniment.
Just tools.
When the Screwdriver was invented, were there groups of people worried about the decline of the Claw Hammer?
The smart smith knows that the power saw, while very useful for many tasks, will not entirely replace the smithy's collection of handsaws. There are certain tasks...
--Mac
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RealBand
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 129
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 129 |
Thanks Mac. Lots of cobwebs are now cleared up.
But why is RB playback volume about less than half of BB, when I play same song (.sgu) in BB and opened the same song in RB, in .seq, sgu, .mid files?
The midi devices are set identical in BB and RB, Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth, and I set speaker volumes at maximum in Contrl Panel - sound. Is there any other way at all to boost the volume in RB to same level as in BB for the same song? Thanks a million Mac.
jol
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RealBand
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Quote:
But why is RB playback volume about less than half of BB, when I play same song (.sgu) in BB and opened the same song in RB, in .seq, sgu, .mid files?
That is because RB does not read in the BiaB Volume or Pan data by design. You get the tracks into RB ready to use the more powerful RB Mixer on them. Remember, even inside BiaB, those tracks "in the raw" do not have that info actually imbedded into them, the BiaB cc7 volume does the task in realtime.
Quote:
The midi devices are set identical in BB and RB, Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth, and I set speaker volumes at maximum in Contrl Panel - sound. Is there any other way at all to boost the volume in RB to same level as in BB for the same song? Thanks a million Mac.
Mix the song in RB using the Mixer faders.
Also note that BiaB has the MIDI Velocity "compressor" feature that, if you have that on, is acting on the MIDI playback. RB does not have that, although it is possible to manually boost the velocities in a track, one track at a time. RB is not an automatic accompaniment program. BiaB is. Just because the two can play the same song doesn't mean that the two are the same programs or treat the songs identically. What would be the point?
--Mac
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RealBand
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 129
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 129 |
...manually boost the velocities in a one track at a time... is the solution? Thanks a million Mac. Most of us would be at a loss without you biggies...
jol
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RealBand
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 484
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 484 |
Mac, you cracked me up on this comment. If only I read that note before I tried, I would have been one of those noobies who saved several hours of time. It is confusing how you can have an editable notation window yet when you hit play it recreates everything you just wrote. I like to tweak what was created. And man, it burned me. That was the reason for my asking if we can regenerate only certain sections of the song.
Yep, we noobies live and learn!
RickeG
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
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The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
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Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
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Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
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