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I've used BIAB for a while for what it does best: auto arranging. I then export the midi files for use in my other DAWs ... mainly Cubase.

I understand Real Band is or is intended to be a DAW (correct me please, if needed)

What, if any, special features beyond possibly directly opening a *.sgu or *.mgu file, of integration with BIAB does Real Band have ... that otherwise couldn't be done equally well in any other DAW?

I ask only because there is always a learning curve with any new software. Unless there are some scintillating advantages of integration that I don't know about, I have no real incentive to learn Real Band. Please understand, I'm not disparaging it, just saying if its like the tools I already use, I would have no reason to take the time to learn to use it.

Thanks.

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DAW = Digital Audio Workstation

Band in a Box is an Auto-Accompaniment software.

However, it ships with RealBand included, which is pretty much a full-featured Audio and MIDI segencing softwares, it is a multitracking DAW software.

Autoaccompaniments created with BiaB can be moved to Realband - or just about any other DAW software, where you can record more tracks from instruments, vocals or what have you and finish creating your masterpiece.


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Mac ...

I know what a DAW is.

My question is whether RealBand has any integration with BIAB ... for example, BIAB running alongside RealBand and piping midi to VSTis hosted in RealBand in real time ... beyond what you can already do with any DAW and imported midi ... from
BIAB or anywhere?

Your answer seems to be, "No." Correct?

Prado

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First, I do not use RealBand, because I already knew another DAW years before. Second, I don't know anything about running BIAB and RealBand together in real time.

However, I think if you are asking if there is anything else RealBand can do that other DAW software cannot, besides loading in BIAB files, the answer is Yes. RealBand can regenerate tracks in the same way as BIAB, so you can keep trying for a track you like.

Here's a link to the video introducing RealBand: http://www.pgmusic.com/realbandvideos.htm


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Thanks, Matt!

That was the type of info I was looking for. I think Rharv mentioned the same thing in my other thread about RealTrack styles.

I'll take a look at the video.

You must have a lot of patience, as I guess these questions come up over an over again. FWIW, I had watched the RealBand video ... but I obviously missed what you are directing me to.

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You're welcome. You didn't miss anything in the video, though; as I recall, it did not explicitly talk about freezing and regenerating. For one thing, it covers version 2010.5. I just referenced it in case you were not familiar with RealBand in a basic way.


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Hi Prado,

Because of its partnership with BIAB, Realband is very different from any other DAW on the market.

To my way of thinking, RB is a track generation factory. Using RB, it's possible to generate parts of tracks or whole tracks. This allows me to create unique backing and solo tracks that fit perfectly with my arrangements. I also use RB to add harmony to my recorded vocals.

When assembling a song, my work flow is as follows:
  • Select a suitable style in BIAB and compose the song.
  • Open the song in RB.
  • Play around with different Realtracks (adding solos and accomps.) and develop a set of tracks that do the song "justice" within the scope of how I hear the song.
  • When tracks are chosen (and it's possible to have a huge number of tracks in RB), I work through each track and cut/paste, regenerate sections, etc., until I have a track that ideally suits my purposes.
  • When all tracks are done, I export them as wav files and move to Reaper for mixing and mastering.

Quite honestly, I could not do without Realband.

Hope this helps,
Noel


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Noel ... this is great information. I see, from your perspective and presumably eventually from mine as a traditional DAW user ... RB apparently is a 'roll your own loops' program.

I'm picking up:

1. RB opens *.sgu and *.mgu files.
2. RB permits regeneration of just parts of track (as well as whole ones, obviously) ... to hone in on what you'd like to improve.
3. You can pick any instrument to create/ regenerate any track you like ... till you find the one that sounds/ fits right.

So ... have you forsaken midi to hardware or softsynth entirely?
And, are you using the audiophile pack? You mention drag n' drop *.wav files ... so otherwise you'd be drag n' dropping *.wma, right? Not talking about the dxi render midi to audio ... but the Real Tracks).

Thanks.

Prado

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Hi Prado,
Quote:

RB apparently is a 'roll your own loops' program.



Whilst the tracks that I create are not loops, it is possible to think of RB in this light. Have a look the link Matt Finley posted for the RB tutorial and you'll see what I mean.
Quote:

1. RB opens *.sgu and *.mgu files.



Yes!
Quote:

2. RB permits regeneration of just parts of track (as well as whole ones, obviously) ... to hone in on what you'd like to improve.



Yep!
Quote:

3. You can pick any instrument to create/ regenerate any track you like ... till you find the one that sounds/ fits right.



Yes and you can even have a multitude of instruments on a single track as a piecewise fit. (I don't really use this, though, as I would simply create another track for each instrument.
Quote:

So ... have you forsaken midi to hardware or softsynth entirely?



No. I find midi piano and strings very useful. I usually create a wav file from these midi tracks, though, so that I can apply DAW effects.
Quote:

And, are you using the audiophile pack?



No. I have the standard edition.
Quote:

You mention drag n' drop *.wav files ... so otherwise you'd be drag n' dropping *.wma, right? Not talking about the dxi render midi to audio ... but the Real Tracks).



I don't use the drag 'n' drop feature. I prefer to export my tracks to individual wav files and then load these, as a separate event, into Reaper for mixing.

You should start having a play around and see what you think!

Regards,
Noel


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Prado,

Like you I use cubase. Say I want to get a bit of lead guitar which sounds right with a song I generate maybe 6 tracks of lead guitar in realband and then import into cubase. I then audition different lead guitar parts for each part of the song and use that.

Also the tc helicon harmony feature for vocals you would probably use realband for that as well.


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RealBand does not have the TC Helicon harmony feature UNLESS you also have purchased and installed PowerTracks. See the feature comparison chart, here: http://www.pgmusic.com/salesfaq1.htm#6


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Quote:

RealBand does not have the TC Helicon harmony feature UNLESS you also have purchased and installed PowerTracks. See the feature comparison chart, here: http://www.pgmusic.com/salesfaq1.htm#6




Matt, that got changed with RB 2011. It now has this feature without power tracks.
Brian


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Quote:

Quote:

RealBand does not have the TC Helicon harmony feature UNLESS you also have purchased and installed PowerTracks. See the feature comparison chart, here: http://www.pgmusic.com/salesfaq1.htm#6




Matt, that got changed with RB 2011. It now has this feature without power tracks.
Brian



Good to know, thanks.

Do you have a source for your info please?

PG Music's site chart still says it does not include this, and there is no mention of this in the announcement of RealBand by Peter Gannon, here: http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=297201&an=0&page=0#Post297201
nor in the most recent update, here: http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=306777&an=0&page=0#Post306777

[I cannot see any reason anyone would buy PowerTracks now if this difference is eliminated.]


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My notebook never had PT installed and I can access the harmonizer via the track menu pulldown

People would buy PT still because they don't use (or have) the Realtracks ..


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Thanks to all. This thread may be useful to others in the future, but for now I'm done ... got what I needed to know with help here.

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Realband is PG's Power Tracks and Biab rolled into one software. You can use multiple DXi/VST(i) on EACH track vs a single midi output like Biab.

You can generate a new part, instrument, or whole section in RB like Biab does.

Other then those two main differences, any other midi/audio sequencing program will work fine for dropping your Biab songs into. there is a learning curve for implementing the DX/VST instruments and effects in RB. It also come with some nice plug in features as well.

Cubase is also another great program for adding FX to midi tracks etc. No need to reinvent the wheel when one is familiar with another software.

RB also uses the Audio Chord Wizard to decipher cords from a song.

The end result is a stereo wave file. There are a many roads that lead there.

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Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

RealBand does not have the TC Helicon harmony feature UNLESS you also have purchased and installed PowerTracks. See the feature comparison chart, here: http://www.pgmusic.com/salesfaq1.htm#6




Matt, that got changed with RB 2011. It now has this feature without power tracks.
Brian



Good to know, thanks.

Do you have a source for your info please?

PG Music's site chart still says it does not include this, and there is no mention of this in the announcement of RealBand by Peter Gannon, here: http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=297201&an=0&page=0#Post297201
nor in the most recent update, here: http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=306777&an=0&page=0#Post306777

[I cannot see any reason anyone would buy PowerTracks now if this difference is eliminated.]



RealBand 2011 – 50 cool new features!
RealBand 2011 is more powerful and easier to use than ever, and now it sounds better than ever too.

We′ve made big improvements to the sound of the RealTracks with a new élastique Pro V2 time stretching and pitch transposition engine so that they sound more natural over a much (3x) wider range of tempos. And we′ve made the size of the RealTracks much smaller, so that they now only take up 30% of the space that they used to. The new version will shrink the size of your existing RealTracks too, so that you can free up lots of space on your drive.

You can now have RealTracks styles changes within a song, and generate Soloist Medleys – solos that play RealTracks instruments during the solos. Soloists can now have a "bluesy" setting.

RealCharts have been added, so you can see, and print, notation for the RealTracks you generate.

There are lots of improvements to the StylePicker, including additional columns of information, new filters, auto-generated memos, and the ability to use Band-in-a-Box MultiStyles (up to 16 substyles) with RealTracks.

There are new MIDI and audio transpose options for key signature changes, replacing the previous Yes/No dialog for MIDI transpose. Tempo changes are easier too, with improved audio time stretching from the new élastique Pro V2 time stretching and pitch transposition engine.

You can now generate MIDI solos and MIDI harmonies, and also add audio harmonies to audio tracks using the built-in audio harmonies feature in Band-in-a-Box and PowerTracks Pro Audio.

Info on Realband
I don't see a real need for myself to use Power Tracks instead of Real Band
Brian


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Quote:

Mac ...

I know what a DAW is.

My question is whether RealBand has any integration with BIAB ... for example, BIAB running alongside RealBand and piping midi to VSTis hosted in RealBand in real time ... beyond what you can already do with any DAW and imported midi ... from
BIAB or anywhere?

Your answer seems to be, "No." Correct?

Prado




BIAB can run in VSTi mode in any DAW which has VST.

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Spinner ...

What is BIAB "VSTi mode?"

Are you saying BIAB has a VSTi *.dll that goes in your plugin folder and will show up as a VSTi when your DAW scans that folder ... to be loaded for midi output?

Or do you mean something along the lines of using virtual midi patching like Maple or LoopBE to send from BIAB into your capable DAW? ... though I can't see how you'd lock transport.

Thanks,

Prado

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The difference between RB and Say Reaper, Sonar, or Cubase is that as a typical Sequencer the later name programs have a bit more content as far as Effects goes, right out of the box. Also all of those three have better automation envelope capabilities. Rb is rather young in some of those features, but it still does have all of it, it is just not quite as advanced. But those three do not have ANY of the generation tools, and that is where RB is directed. I am hoping that the next two or three versions will begin to address some of those other features and maybe add a few new RTs but more DAW refinement would make RB a very serious contender! If PG fixed the VSTi tempo lock, added node based automation, Audio and midi clip implimentation, and couple otehr small items it would rival the others and exceed them in some areas, Rt generation being the main area.


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