Regarding ease of use, I have gotten to the point where I have used BIAB during jam sessions with other musicians to blow out quick-and-dirty blues and pop arrangements in minutes. This does require solid knowledge of chords and progressions, but using it in this basic manner is really quite easy. It DOES NOT take advanced knowledge of computers to work at this level, only familiarity with the most basic functions of BIAB.

Note that this was all MIDI through a good synth. Getting comparable results with Real Tracks would require at least passing familiarity with the tracks themselves. Otherwise you get that "box o' chocolates" thing happening (which isn't necessarily a bad thing).

I believe that you will find BIAB less daunting if you approach it as a musical instrument. This makes sense, really, when you consider that you are using it to take the place of several musicians. The great news is that you don't have to learn how to play those instruments. You do need to know what they are capable of. Getting REALLY good at BIAB means investing time--a lot of it--in auditioning MIDI Styles and Real Tracks to discover those capabilities. This isn't hard, either; like I said, it just takes time.

I and others will be able to help you with MIDI if you decide to go with BIAB Pro. Others will be better able to assist you should you go with Real Tracks. I hope that you choose to come aboard soon. In any case, welcome to the community.

Richard

"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."