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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 38
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 38 |
Hi,
I am using BIAB 2010.5 MegaPak under Win 7 32 bit.
I am not happy with the instrument sound that is produced by BIAB.
I bought this package with the understanding that it would be like a little band in the corner.
My hardware consists of:
1 - onboard HD Audio (on the motherboard)
2 - two Logitech Computer Speakers with a Bass Unit.
3 - one Yamaha P-85 Digital Piano.
The MIDI configuration is set as follows:
Input = No MIDI
Output = USB Uno MIDI
Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth
When I set the MIDI configuration to output USB Uno MIDI, the piano comes through but that is all.
When I set the MIDI configuration to output MS GS Wavetable everything sounds like a Kazoo..lol
I am very computer literate but I am Audio illiterate.
It seems as if there is something missing in my configuration.
Without breaking the bank, any recommendations would be appreciated.
TIA northcoast
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,488
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,488 |
Hi, Have you tried using the VSC/DXi soft synth rather than MS Wavetable. Try this and see if it helps. You are in a fortunate position since you have a 32 bit operating system. - Opt. | Preferences | MIDI Driver
- Activate "Use VST/DXi Synth"
- Activate "Route MIDI thru to MIDI drive"
 Now a pop-up should happen to tell you that you have installed the soft synth. If for some reason, you do not see VSC/DXi in the top slot of the pop-up window, click on the drop-down menu list arrow on the right and select it.  All the best, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 38
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 38 |
Thanks for the quick response.
I made the suggested changes and yes, the sound seems to be much better.
I am new at this so there is much for me to learn.
When I add a Melody and than set up the Harmony to "Super Saxes", it sounds like an accordian instead of saxes.
Maybe I am expecting too much too soon.
Back to the Tutorials...
Thank you..Northcoast
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,616
Expert
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Expert
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,616 |
Quote:
I am not happy with the instrument sound that is produced by BIAB.
Unless you are using RealTracks and/or RealDrums, BIAB sounds are only as good as the synth it is playing through. It is my understanding that the Roland VSC/DXi synth won't work under Windows 7. BIAB ships with a Coyote Wavetable that will work under 7 but sounds the same as the MS Wavetable. PG sells Coyote Forte, which works under Windows 7 and has some nice sounds. You can try it for 30 days.
From what I can tell, your Yamaha P85 has only a few keyboard voices. If you want to use those, you would need the patch numbers from your manual and put those in the BIAB part(s) you desire. Depending on what instruments you want, Forte would probably do the trick. If finances are an issue, there are free synths that use readily available sound libraries such as VSTSynthFont.
R
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 622
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 622 |
There is a reason expensive sound modules are expensive. The Ketron is not cheap, but the sax sections sound less like accordions than any software sample player, and most other hardware modules. The vibrato tends to be a little heavy using the default sax banks.
I wish there were a way to make harmonies out of the upper banks though. Does anyone know a way ?
Jan - 12 Core AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
32GB DDR4
Win 10 64-bit
Samsung m.2 SSD Boot drive,other SSD internal and USB drives.
MOTO 2
Ketron SD90
Aerophone AE-30, Yamaha WX-7
Yamaha RX-v381amp
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,730
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,730 |
I use Real Band for this reason. It allows me to take a song i develop in BiaB and move it to Rb, where i can use several different softsynths, TTS, Sampletank, PS fretted, and even sound fonts if i want, and blend then with Real Tracks and get a very realistic backing band. Even cheap sound sources like Microsoft synth Gs, and VSc, need effort to sound decent. Learn which synth have good sounds. I like TTs for some sounds, sampletank for others. Still sometimes you have to add effects and tweak the sounds to get what you want. To get good results it take work and learning. If all you had to do was type in a few chords and out came a song that rivaled the best bands on the planet where would the art of it come in? There would be thousands of out of work musicians, and every concert hall in the world would be filled with computer geeks! eeeeeekkkkk that's a horrible thought!
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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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,492
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,492 |
Yes, as we all should know, MIDI has no sound, but simple recreates the gestures of a synth player and sends those gestures in digital form to the synth.
The synth creates the sound, and the sound a synth creates can be either realistic or lame or anything in between.
To get realistic sounds out of any MIDI program, you need good synths, either hardware or software, and the synth in your computer's sound card isn't going to do it.
For a computer user who doesn't want to add another amp and speakers, a small hardware synth like the Ketron would probably be a good bet. I'm sure there are some great software synths out there now, but I prefer hardware synths so I can't recommend any.
Insights and incites by Notes ♫
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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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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Team PG
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