How do I know which RealTracks are Playable? Are the Playable RealTracks available in Real Band?
The manual states: This means you can get the RealTracks to play the notes you want at key parts of the performance, either augmenting or replacing what the RealTracks is playing, for the section you want to change.
Does this mean that I can have the MIDI notes in unison with the sound-alike RealTrack notes? I'm thinking, for example, of inputting the chords to my song, then going into the bass part RealTrack, and then being able to pick which notes of this part that I want to edit, leaving the root notes that work as RealTracks, but then input or otherwise edit the other notes.
Is that at all how Playable RealTracks works?
Last edited by Funkifized; 09/05/2204:55 PM.
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
There is a video on Playable RealTracks that might be helpful to show you the workflow.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Thanks... I found this video very helpful, in spite of the continuously, distracting, superfluous mouse movements. I see this as a very powerful and useful feature.
but back to one of the OP's questions... "How do I know which RealTracks are Playable?" Maybe I missed it in the videos.
I do not know of a direct way to determine which RealTracks have a Playable RealTracks association. However, you can open the "Select MIDI SuperTracks" window to indirectly determine the association. That is because the audio samples used to create MIDI SuperTracks are also used to create Playable RealTracks.
While what RealTrack was used to create a specific MIDI SuperTrack is not stated, I think it is safe to say that a Bass, Pop Half Notes, Push, Even 085 tempo MIDI SuperTrack played by Byron House likely corresponds to RealTrack # 314, Bass, Pop Half Notes, Push, Even 085 tempo by Byron House.
While what RealTrack was used to create a specific MIDI SuperTrack is not stated, I think it is safe to say that a Bass, Pop Half Notes, Push, Even 085 tempo MIDI SuperTrack played by Byron House likely corresponds to RealTrack # 314, Bass, Pop Half Notes, Push, Even 085 tempo by Byron House.
Jim, how did you determine "RealTrack #314..." from your description example?
Last edited by bloc-head; 09/11/2207:38 AM. Reason: added text
Bloc Head, I'm glad you asked. It seems my initial response was wrong. I apologize for the error.
I should clearly state my answer is a conjecture, a guess.
The MIDI SuperTrack instrument patch was not sampled from bass RealTrack #314 because there is no RealTrack bass #314. Instead it appears the sample was taken from the acoustic bass used in RealTracks set #314.
I compare the description of the MIDI SuperTracks to the RealTrack descriptions. See the two screen shots below.
The answer I got from Support is this: "There isn't a list of the Playable RealTracks, but the closest thing to a list of the RealTracks that are playable will be found by right clicking on a track in your Mixer, then selecting | Select MIDI Instrument (Patch) Select Hi-Q MIDI Patch Plugin | and looking in the list of patches for any patch that says Playable RealTracks."
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
Thanks for sharing that feedback, and for marking as 'Resolved', as this can assist others in the future.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
When is the more in-depth vid for Playable Tracks going to come out?
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
When is the more in-depth vid for Playable Tracks going to come out?
That's a question that only PG Music can answer. Perhaps send an email to their support.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
The answer I got from Support is this: "There isn't a list of the Playable RealTracks, but the closest thing to a list of the RealTracks that are playable will be found by right clicking on a track in your Mixer, then selecting | Select MIDI Instrument (Patch) Select Hi-Q MIDI Patch Plugin | and looking in the list of patches for any patch that says Playable RealTracks."
Remind me please, which install was needed for Hi-Q MIDI? Sampletank?
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
This is ridiculous. How are we supposed to at all identify what tracks go with what MIDI files for Playable Tracks. I thought that was an answer, but it just leads down another rabbit hole. I'm trying to do a harmonica Playable Real Track, but to no avail.
If PG Music doesn't start paying more attention to their documentation, I'm out.
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
You are trying to do a Harmonica Playable Real Track?
In an effort to recreate what I think you are trying to do, just now I added Real Track #626: Harmonica, background Travis EV 085 to the Melody track of my song in BIAB. Generated the track then tried to edit some notes using the Playable Real Tracks capabilities and was successful in doing so. By the way, I like this background harmonica so much I'm going to leave it in the song.
This thread caught my eye because my understanding is all real tracks can be made playable. In working with them, I have not found one yet that can't be made playable. That said, from a workflow perspective, Playable Real Tracks are a great way to make small modifications to what the the Real Tracks artist plays after the track is generated.
For me, identifying which real tracks have corresponding midi patches/files really complicates things because it seems unnecessary when BIAB "knows" what corresponding midi patch to use when I tell it I want those notes to be editable (playable).
Yes, Rocket's comment is correct. The answer is that ALL RealTracks are playable, provided that you have installed (a) Sforzando plugin (which is installed along with the main BB program), (b) HiQ Instruments, and (c) Playable RealTracks.
When you click either the PRT button in the Notation Window, or the "Playable RealTracks" button in the Piano Roll window, Band-in-a-Box will load in the best Playable RealTracks MIDI sample that is currently available. There isn't necessarily a direct one-to-one correspondence between RT and PRT. Some RT's don't have a perfect match, but it gets better over time as more PRT samples are developed.
As support mentioned earlier in the thread, if you want to see a list of HiQ and PRT samples that the feature draws on, you can look at the list of HiQ patches by right-clicking on a MIDI track. You can also look in the Sforzando Plugin Instrument --> Band-in-a-Box Sounds menu, or directly in the folder where they are located (by default): C:\Program Files\PG Music Inc\Band-in-a-Box Sounds\Programs.
If all RealTracks are playable, then why have I gotten this answer from Support?: We do not have a list of RealTracks for the Playable RealTracks feature. To be able to enable the Playable RealTracks feature, the RealTrack must first have notation available. To know if a RealTrack has notation or not, first go to the RealTracks Picker. Then look under the Chart column. The "N" means it has notation. Also, "Gt" means that the guitar will display a guitar tab, or if it is a bass then the bass track will display a bass tab. Then it is a matter of having a Hi-Q instrument that sounds similar to the RealTrack, which is the instructions you had posted in your response.
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
That statement isn't correct. It works whether or not the RT has RealCharts. You can still add PRT notes even if there isn't existing notation. Sorry for the confusion. If it DOES have notation it's true that you could edit existing notes / convert them to PRT notes which might be useful in certain cases. As Tobin points out in the video though, the RealCharts aren't necessarily meant to be heard, since they are a transcription rather than what was actually played.
The drop-down menu to the right of the PRT button has a number of useful options - e.g. converting notes to playable, muting RT audio for a region, or choosing a different sample. Also, in that same menu you can see which sample it's using - the ones that start with a number (e.g. '026 xxxxx') are typically ones that use material recorded in the actual RT session. The ones that start with 'HiQ' (e.g. 'HiQ 025 xxxxx') are closest matches that we currently have. Hope this helps.
So, Chantelle is incorrect? Who are we supposed to believe?
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
So, Chantelle is incorrect? Who are we supposed to believe?
Both are correct. Midi data is determined by the presence or absence of Real Charts. If a RealTrack instrument has Real Charts, the midi can be used as is, modified or deleted and replaced. If a RealTrack instrument does not have Real Chart Midi, then the user would enter the midi data to be played by the Playable RealTrack.
"The answer is that ALL RealTracks are playable, provided that you have installed (a) Sforzando plugin (which is installed along with the main BB program), (b) HiQ Instruments, and (c) Playable RealTracks."
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 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® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 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 22 requires the 2026 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.
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
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