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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697 |
Quote:
I hear you, but not totally true Bob, I don't think you can say "A typical DAW cannot do any of those things" most DAWs have notation windows, piano rolls that use cut and paste, and many have drum sequencers like Session drummer etc, and midi pattern sequencers, with drop and drag samplers that allow you to build tracks from patterns, and loops. Sonar has built in features that do this and other things like V-vocal that allows you to build internally harmony tracks and such.
Piano rolls, cut and paste, notation etc are all editing functions, I said that. As for pattern sequencers and loops, how do you change the key sig or add chords with those? Have you tried creating a 5 chord song with loops and then deciding the key of G is too high for the vocalist so you want it in Eb? Good luck with that. It's a semantic thing I know, but to me at least putting a beat track together is not creating a song. The V-Vocal still needs a track to work with, it won't create one from nothing. To me you can't compare a DAW with Biab. Two entirely different things.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926 |
Quote:
The 2009 HDD upgrade didn't come with a printed manual at all
I talked with someone a few days ago at PG Music who says that a printed manual is in process and will be announced on the site when available. No date, though.
R.
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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 never said you could compare them. All I was getting at is that DAW software is very deep and complicated, and does a lot of things BiaB will not do in the creation of a musical project. Same can be said of BiaB, it does stuff no DAW can do, they are truly Apples and Oranges. Creating a midi based song in a DAW is not less a creation than typing in the chords in BiaB and selecting a style. I would venture it is far more complicated. You are creating from scratch, BiaB does the bulk of the work for you. You said A DAW can't do ANY of the things BiaB can do, that is simply not true, it can't do some of the things, but BiaB can't do some of the things aDAW can do.
Piano rolls are far more than editing tools, you can create a mnidi track from zip with them, people do it all the time.
Also Loops are sometimes midi, not just audio, there are tons of midi loops available, and on those you can change the key sig if you want.
The vast majority of songs are created today in a DAW, not in BiaB. So creating a Beat track is still creating, and a far cry harder to do than type the chords in and hit generate.
Bob, I think we are saying the same thing, just differently. I feel strongly that dismissing the DAW process as not being a true creation is just not correct. BiaB just makes it easier for those who do not play all the instruments, and want to creat stuff personally, and quickly. I am not knocking Biab, heck I am a user, but i also use several DAW programs, and have made many songs in them from the start. let me tell you it was far harder to do, BiaB takes the fight out. Thanks for listening, Rob
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: Dec 2006
Posts: 17
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17 |
The thing that amazes me is that no one has done a "Band in the Box Power" book or the like. That's the first thing I looked for when I bought the program. Seems there is an opportunity for someone out there.
To me that's the fundamental problem - the manual and written documentation is not up to the high standards of the functionality of the program.
Sure, its easy to enter the chords and go for a backing track but the rest is not overly intuitive. Sonar is much easier to go deep with - plus the documentation (Cakewalk and third party) is more abundant.
Anyway, somebody should write a book, because let's face it, if Peter and Co wanted to do it they would have already.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 707
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 707 |
Fine have a "power" book, but I can't believe that anybody could come from cold to Sonar and master it by reading, for example, Scott Garrigus's book on the subject. It is a really good book, and I got a lot from it, but any book can only take you so far. I got a book on Sonar 2 at the same time as I bought the programme. It might as well have been double dutch for all the sense it made. It has taken me about 6 years of experience to (mostly) understand Sonar. The Sonar 7 book I bought got me from, say, 60% to 70% understanding. I doubt it would have got me from 0% to anywhere far ...
My view, for what it's worth, is that the BAIB manual is as good as any other manual, and a lot better than some. It starts from a low base - its main trouble is that it looks like it was produced on an Atari in 1990 something!
My 2p
Brian
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479 |
A few thoughts.
A It's a lot harder to learn anything from a manual than sitting down with someone who understands.
B It's a music program.
If you are clue free about music you'll have a tough time doing anything.
MS Word would be impossible if you couldn't read and write.
C it IS easy to learn, just hard to perfect.
You can learn to play golf in five minutes, but you'll suck at it for a long time.
WSS
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 217
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 217 |
I found the basics easy to learn. I found some simple things like tags and such difficult and I can read music.
I found the videos very helpful. They can be the BIAB for dummies.
However, with NO musical knowledge it would be very hard to learn.
I had to start thinking like a jazz musician (instead of a rock and roller) to really do some things correctly.
And we all know how jazz musicians think.....
I find the cool thing about PG music products is they can be as simple or deep as you want them. Like many that have posted, I have used BIAB for years and still consider myself a beginner and scratching the surface of what this thing can do.
Everyone here is willing to help on even the simplest of questions.
Be blessed
Bob
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259 |
Quote:
A few thoughts.
A It's a lot harder to learn anything from a manual than sitting down with someone who understands.
B It's a music program.
If you are clue free about music you'll have a tough time doing anything.
MS Word would be impossible if you couldn't read and write.
C it IS easy to learn, just hard to perfect.
You can learn to play golf in five minutes, but you'll suck at it for a long time.
WSS
This says it all.
Cornet Curmudgeon
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 707
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 707 |
With regard to point C, approximately 40 years and counting ...
Brian
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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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Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
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We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
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Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
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