|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand Wishlist
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109 |
Sonar has a feature I use all the time that I'd like to see in RB...
I forget what they call it, but here's how it works:
you can record a measure or two of either audio or midi, then turn that snippet into a loopable acid-like sample that can be dragged & stretched to fill whatever space is needed. The advantage is that you can still play the passage to get exactly what you want without searching through megabytes of pre-recorded samples, but you only have to stay in time for a measure or two... when you stretch the sample, the software adjusts it to keep it in time. The result is that you can throw together a very customized song derived from your own playing, and the software sews it together seamlessly for extremely rapid development
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand Wishlist
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109 |
"groove clips"
that's what they call it in Sonar.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand Wishlist
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,838
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,838 |
Sonar does a nice job of that Pat, but nothing makes loops like AcidPro, i love the Render looped region only command, that makes the best and most seemless loops you will find.
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand Wishlist
|
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926 |
According to the SonaramaWIKI, groove clips are, in fact, "acidized" loops. I've played around a bit with both Acid and Cakewalk/Sonar, and groove clips are quite the stuff. (For them as is interested, you can get a free copy of Acid 7 Express at acidplanet.com.) Per the above article, Cakewalk's $99 Project 5 will make and play groove clips with the Cyclone DXi. Can we use them--or the Cyclone DXi--in RealBand or PowerTracks? Don't know, myself. Anybody? R.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand Wishlist
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109 |
I would tend to think that the programming required to make this happen would be very similar to what they are already doing in order to make Real Tracks stretch to fit a song...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand Wishlist
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
RealTracks can pick from one of three -- or four -- "base" recordings that are in different keys, usually a half step apart, for the stretch.
In Acid, there is only one wav file in whatever key it is in, but the Acid algorithm has the ability to pitch shift that one file to any key without digital artifacts showing up.
--Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand Wishlist
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109 |
Quote:
RealTracks can pick from one of three -- or four -- "base" recordings that are in different keys, usually a half step apart, for the stretch.
In Acid, there is only one wav file in whatever key it is in, but the Acid algorithm has the ability to pitch shift that one file to any key without digital artifacts showing up.
--Mac
coming back to Real Tracks:
advantages of "acidizing" a passage you just played yourself:
1) it's already in the right key so no transposition artifacts should occur
2) you can play your snippet to the metronome, so no time stretching should be required
3) since you play it, it can be exactly what you want
the software would basically just have to manage the task of copying/pasting repetitions
of the snippet while keeping the size of the snippet such that it doesn't go out of time
from a programming perspective, this should be the easy stuff...as one requestor said
"the low hanging fruit" that yields high user benefits with minimal development
something like this wouldn't just be bells and whistles.. this would be a "new feature"
probably provided with a minimal change to the existing engine
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand Wishlist
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109 |
A recurring request in the wish list forum is "how can we make our own real tracks?"
another advantage of providing a way to easily copy-paste-loop our own passages is that it empowers users without PGMusic having to give away any trade secrets about real tracks
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand Wishlist
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,838
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,838 |
I did a tutorial on loop making a few years back for the entry level Cakewalk program, that would work in most applications, i will try to dig it up. The base level Cakewalk is called Music creator, and is only $39 and until PTPA or Rb does looping here is a cheap option
Making Loops in Cakewalk Music Creator:
The loop making page in the lessons area of the cakewalk site has some good information, but also has some confusion along with it, as it mentions some features are for Sonar. I spend three years using AcidPro software and became fairly adept at making loops with that program. It has some very advanced loop making tools that make it the king of loops. Having said that loops can be made fairly well in MC as well, it is a decent workable tool, the one feature it lacks is the render looped region only feature that Acid has, to take the fight out of the process. But since Cakewalk is a great all around program bringing both midi and audio together in a very powerful package, and for most of us here a cost effective one at that, it is good to explore the full capabilities of the program, so I put together a simple process to make loops.
As was mentioned in a previous post, loop making helps us where we want to add an instrument we might not be as adept at so that we can have a good outcome, you want to make a song with three chord in it C, D and G, and for instance maybe you play the guitar a bit, but every time you try to play a song and record a whole track of backing acoustic guitar chords you make a mistake somewhere in the track and have to start over, well looping can solve that problem, he is how:
First plug in the guitar or mike it then get ready to play, then open an audio track and arm it. Let’s begin with a “C” chord, Strum a few measures of the chord till you feel that it sounds like you want, now hit record, and strum the “C” chord for about six measures, then hit stop.
Now look at the wave file in the audio track it stretches for six measures, but you only want two measures of the “C” , so listen to the whole track and it sounds pretty good, but the middle two measures are the best sounding, no mistakes.
Take your cursor to the middle of the wave file, and left click, and the whole wave file will turn dark, then slide the cursor to the ruler bar above the track and right click in the gray area of the ruler bar, and a box will appear, find “set loop points”, two yellow arrows will appear above the ruler bar and at each end of the wave file.
Slide those loop points until they are at the beginning and the end of the area that you want to keep as a loop, then hit play the looped area will play over and over, you can fine tune this loop by sliding the loop points until the loop plays perfectly as if you were strumming the guitar on the same chord over and over seamlessly, now that loop area is a perfect loop. (Note that the loop point will only slide to the snap points of the grid, most likely the beginning of each measure, that may be right, but it also may not be a perfect loop, if so then you will need to undo the snap to grid feature, at the bottom of the track view window there is an icon next to the plus (+) and minus (-) icons that looks like a box with a four smaller boxes in it, unclick that and the loop point arrows will slide anywhere you want them too, unaffected by the snap to grid feature.)
Once you have the loop playing flawlessly, then slide the cursor to the ruler bar again and right click, then click on “select looped region”, the area between the loop points will turn dark, now in that area, right click, and choose split, a box will appear, in the box it will have a smaller box that asks for the time to split at, insert the ruler position of the beginning of the looped region, (this will be displayed in the boxes above called “loop from and loop thru” these boxes are on the tool bar between “loop on/off” and “set to loop selection”. If these are not visible on the tool bar then you need to add them from the View/toolbars) and click okay, then repeat for the end of the looped area.
You will see that the area that is looped will split off from the proceeding and following areas of the wave file, now click on and delete the extra areas outside the looped area, now only the wave file in the looped area will remain, the process in not done, to lock in these properties, right click in the middle of the looped area and click Groove-Clip Looping, this will turn the wave file into a groove clip with the tempo and key signature embedded, and make sure that the part you deleted is gone from the file. Now this can be exported to a folder for safe keeping.
Now repeat this process with the “G” chord and the “D” chord and save them now you can import these clips as loops in an audio track and used to build a song add the chords as needed, to make the song structure. This process can be used with drums, bass piano anything to make a complete song.
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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 amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Mac® to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed 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 transcribe 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, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
Holiday Weekend Hours
It's Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada. Our Customer Service hours are:
Saturday, May 16: Closed
Sunday, May 17: Closed
Monday, May 18: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Regular hours resume Tuesday, May 19th!
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
Don't wait - order today!
Check out all the new features in the redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,485
Posts805,605
Members40,130
| |
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean