BIAB's various styles are mainly displayed through guitar and piano. In fact, the songs that many young people like in modern times have very few guitars. Most are electronic instruments instead of guitars. BIAB developers should take note of this and react quickly. I'm not saying it's bad right now, I just hope it's better. What do you think?
If I guess right, young people listen to such music now！ grin
Here is a comment I made back in 2012. Not much has changed since then. Even the MIDI Super Tracks focus on traditional instrumentation that more easily translates to MIDI for novices (piano, bass, etc.):
"I sometimes am discouraged by the number of comments I see that assume the most important capability of MIDI is to emulate traditional instruments. I am most entertained by the things that are impossible for traditional instruments to accomplish and can only be done by MIDI and computers. These are new capabilities that can advance music into new territory and create new genres.
However, I don't think this forum is the best place to look for people who share this view because I don't believe it is frequented by a representative cross-section of BIAB users. We all understand that the regular forum contributors are typically older and not much interested in new sounds or new genres.
But a lot of this can already be accomplished by simply ignoring the BIAB style labels and GM instrumentation and substituting unexpected MIDI sounds and patches along with new loop capabilities. This can definitely make any MIDI style sound completely different than its original intent. That to me is the most important argument for MIDI development in addition to more RealTracks.
But it sure would be nice to see these concepts appreciated in new MIDI style development."
This is certainly a generality and there are users who will say they are older and use MIDI, but they are clearly swimming upstream.
This is certainly a generality and there are users who will say they are older and use MIDI, but they are clearly swimming upstream.
My joke about salmon met with disapproval. Let me just point out that your earlier impressions were from 2012, so hopefully today's modern geriatric is more open-minded. I do not share your perception that the elderly scorn MIDI.
re "..typically older and not much interested in new sounds or new genres." well this doesnt apply to me a "resisting gradually ageing" type. i can assure you. lol. i'm always searching for new sounds and techniques that will give my crazy song creations an edge. as evinced in my posts in the pg wishes forums. eg ive stated in the past that some sound pictures of real traks sound "blah"...and that i want a ton of new rt's and orchestral sounds that prod my inner creativity. and my soul. many times i spend lots of time manipulating rt's into a different sound picture to get what i hear in my head. for example recently i manipulated a rt solo to sound like a gaggle of geese effect i wanted in a certain song i was doing. best om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 01/17/2210:48 AM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
..............We all understand that the regular forum contributors are typically older and not much interested in new sounds or new genres.
WRONG That is the worst kind of generalization one can make without any data to back it up. I for one look for new genres and sounds and I don't think that I am alone. I think your remarks should be generated at PGM as they are the ones that are dragging their feet. I think they should come up with more genres and add accompanying sounds to the SFZ.
Originally Posted By: cxp
This is certainly a generality and there are users who will say they are older and use MIDI, but they are clearly swimming upstream.
I am older, well really just old, but I do not swim upstream. At my age I just ride along with the current, much like a lazy river.
It takes courage for a man to admit his wife was wrong.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
As I suggested before, you can have Electronic MIDISuperTrax and have a synth with lots of presets to go with them. I could make some up right now but they haven't implemented the MidiUserTracks yet. If they don't do neither:
Originally Posted By: Pipeline
I can make up a script that will read the Biab song.SGU then read a chosen SGU & midi file UserTrack then piece it together to fit the chord sheet. It will also play a Hold or Shot from the UserTrack Holds.SGU UserTrack Holds.mid So the midi file will be created and then can be dragged into Biab or a DAW, might even be able to put it into a VST form.
Having more Electronic Styles/instruments/beats will attract more younger users to Biab. I think Biab mainly uses Loops for these:
Are these all BIAB drums? Actually, I would replace all the drums of all the BIABs. Because I think the drum beats have a huge impact on the song. However, BIAB's drums were not what I wanted. I now use UJAM drums, REFX NEXUS drums, VPS AVENGER drums to replace BIAB drums.
Now many trendy pop songs may only have a drum, bass, and electronic sound. But the timbre changes. Maybe BIAB can't do it? So, only piano, guitar all the time? Although there is some electro-pop music in BIAB, it has a different feel to the current popular electro-pop music. I can feel it. I believe other friends can feel it better.
I think there is a basic flaw in the original question. Firstly there are still only 12 notes in a major/minor scale. BIAB and RB are stuck with that when it comes to midi. (I know eastern music uses quarter tones but that really complicates things with a chord based program like BIAB)
with that in mind any midi part already in BIAB can be played on a synth patch. but then you come to the problem of sound. synths are totally flexible. for a RealTrack audio recording the synth sound may not be what i am looking for but i would be stuck with it. and who decides what sound to record in the first place?
but with midi there are numerous free synths - i have crystal which works with sforzando. but to get the sound i want i need to play with the synth settings.
a piano to a large extent is a piano - rhodes, upright, grand etc. but synth sounds are a whole new can of worms.
so what do you want the synth to play? surely there is a midi part in BIAB somewhere? but what do you want to play it on? set your own sound on the synth of your choice.
i'm sure the OP has something in his head - and it's probably achievable in BIAB but it will take a little work. but getting that sound in BIAB courtesy of PG Music - who are not mind readers - at the touch if a button without making an effort is a a little too demanding.
I think there is a basic flaw in the original question. Firstly there are still only 12 notes in a major/minor scale. BIAB and RB are stuck with that when it comes to midi. (I know eastern music uses quarter tones but that really complicates things with a chord based program like BIAB)
with that in mind any midi part already in BIAB can be played on a synth patch. but then you come to the problem of sound. synths are totally flexible. for a RealTrack audio recording the synth sound may not be what i am looking for but i would be stuck with it. and who decides what sound to record in the first place?
but with midi there are numerous free synths - i have crystal which works with sforzando. but to get the sound i want i need to play with the synth settings.
a piano to a large extent is a piano - rhodes, upright, grand etc. but synth sounds are a whole new can of worms.
so what do you want the synth to play? surely there is a midi part in BIAB somewhere? but what do you want to play it on? set your own sound on the synth of your choice.
i'm sure the OP has something in his head - and it's probably achievable in BIAB but it will take a little work. but getting that sound in BIAB courtesy of PG Music - who are not mind readers - at the touch if a button without making an effort is a a little too demanding.
I actually like some traditional instruments like guitars in music. But if there are too many guitars, pianos, it will feel like oldies. The most important thing is that many popular songs now don't really have these traditional instruments, just some nice electronic sounds.
i'm sure the OP has something in his head - and it's probably achievable in BIAB but it will take a little work. but getting that sound in BIAB courtesy of PG Music - who are not mind readers - at the touch if a button without making an effort is a a little too demanding.
I probably wanted BIAB to input chords and immediately hear the style of the most popular songs right now. If it is still guitar and piano, then there are more styles, in fact, it may be similar.
I totally agree with Matt and get fed up with people who claim to represent everyone
We all have different mus1cal needs and BB covers a very wide range of styles and genres
The drum and bass tunes which are generally loops and electronic sounds are pretty basic or you can make them more interesting, which I have found not to be favored by the younger set
I tend to use the HYBRID feature of BB to get what is required - by replacing or muting certain instruments a whole new sound and feel evolves
Rather than trying to do cover versions, I strive to make my own arrangements and to create something to advance my skills as a musician
Brian
BIAB - RealBand - 2022 Windows 10 64 Zoo computer with 7i processor- SSD 1TB -2TB HDD Roland keyboards
i'm sure the OP has something in his head - and it's probably achievable in BIAB but it will take a little work. but getting that sound in BIAB courtesy of PG Music - who are not mind readers - at the touch if a button without making an effort is a a little too demanding.
Indeed. So far I've mostly used BiaB for accompaniment whilst practicing at home. For that I type in the chords, pick a style that suits, generate and play, warts and all.
I'm now starting to put together works that might be releaseable, but there's almost no way I would expect BiaB to produce what I want, straight out-of-the-box. Indeed, whyever would I even want that? I want something that's special to me. I have numerous VST instruments that I think BiaB doesn't (Cora, Balaphon, Djembe, et al). I may graft some of those onto MIDI tracks, some I'll play via the keyboard, I'll expect to spend quite some time adding nuance, character, expression.
I like and rather aspire to MusicStudents tagline: "...My goal is not to create backing tracks for my music, but rather to get more of me in my music."
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
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We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
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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!
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