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The only practical way I have been able to find to use BIAB is with the Microsoft Synth. The other stuff takes for-e-ver to get ready to play *every* time. Has that been fixed? I really do appreciate this product and have used it a lot over the years. What can I use that has pretty good sound, or do I have to keep using the old synth sound when I want a glorified metronome for practice? I have used the Real Whatever bass sound on recordings. I played it once, recording it out to my standalone digital recorder. That's the only use I've gotten out of the Real XXX stuff.

Last edited by bugbuster; 01/01/12 03:46 PM.
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Bugbuster,

I'd check this with the PG Music sales staff but if memory serves me correctly, in 2009, the RT generation was completed before play started. This meant that there was a waiting time. These days, there's an option in the RT preferences called "Speed up generation of Realtracks". What this does is that it allows the song to start before the full RT generation is completed. Once the song starts, the RTs continue being generated in the background. To use this feature to full advantage, though, the computer needs to have sufficient processing power. There is also a new audio stretching and shrinking procedure that PG Music use in 2012.

To give you and idea of starting time, I just generated a 69 bar song of mine that has four RTs and RDs and it took around 5 - 6 secs for the count-in to start.

What are the specs of your computer (processor speed, memory, operating system)? Also, how long does it take a typical song to generate and start on your present set-up?

Regards,
Noel

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I do believe that the "Freeze" Option is new since 2009. This was one of the biggest impacts to loading RT time since now it only loads onetime when the file is first created, after that its immediate.


BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).

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I agree with Noel and Dan. There's no question in my mind that RealTracks load faster now than they did in version 2009, providing you are using a reasonably fast computer. There are now several "speed settings" in the Preferences, RealTracks dialog.

For the ultimate in speed, the audiophile version loads somewhat faster than the regular version, since uncompressing of .WMA files is not required.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Loading times for RealTracks appear to be much improved in 2012 vs. 2009

I just upgraded from 2009 to 2012, and the loading times for RealTracks are quick enough now that I can work with them full time. In 2009, they were slow enough that it was very frustrating. I would seek out MIDI tracks to avoid the wait. So close, and yet so far.

Freeze was handy for things that were 'in the can.' But I always felt boxed in when I froze a track, so I avoided it whenver I could.

Just looking around the preferences menu, I can see that the 'speed up generation of realtracks' option is checked in the RealTracks preferences, so it's enabled by default on installation. If that's the secret in the sauce, it's working.

Depending on your computer, YMMV. But I don't feel hampered by the load times for 2012 like I did for 2009.

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Hmm... anther acronym!

Doug, what does YMMV mean (for future reference)?

Noel


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I've gotten amazing performance boost on my 7 year old XP machine by doing the following:

- Decompress the RTs that I use
- Enable the +/- RealTracks option (the newer RTs don't have these)
- Decompress the RDs that I use
- Defragment the RD/RT drive(s)

A 4 minute song containing two RTs completely generates in about 8 seconds. Before, it took about 30 seconds. You can speed this up further by Freezing the RTs. Granted this will gobble up disk space but, if available, well worth it.

Speed up generation and tempo stretching RT options are disabled.

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YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary


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Quote:

YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary



Thanks, John. I would never have managed to work that one out!

Noel


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kilomeratige outside of the u-essay.

Give him a centimeter and he'll take a kilometer.


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I run a Windows XP machine, and have noticed a marked improvement in loading times of songs using RealTracks.
I find I'm more willing to choose a RealTrack style now then I was in the past with older versions of Band In A Box.
A question though. How much more space do the RealTracks take up uncompressed?
Even though the RealTracks load much faster, even faster would be better.

Tim

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I think it's about 10 to 1 in size, .WAV to .WMA. It's hard to say exactly since the compression seems to vary instrument by instrument, looking at a sample of the RealTracks I have.

By the way, Rachael mentioned uncompressing the .WMA files. Although by doing this the quality of the sounds does not change, you do benefit from the same small speed boost that the audiophile version would give you. BIAB looks for a .WAV file and uses it if it finds one; otherwise, it uses the .WMA file, which takes a bit of time to uncompress.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Keep in mind also, that once a generated part is a 'keeper', freeze the track(s) you like and next time it loads, will be much faster since no regeneration occurs on frozen tracks.. but I'm guessing you already knew this ?

oops... Jazzmandan already posted this... sorry.

Last edited by MitchC; 01/02/12 11:24 AM.
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Mine sure loads faster or starts playing sooner while it's regenerating .

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Quote:

kilomeratige outside of the u-essay.



Just remember that satellites got lost due to this outdated u-essay idiosyncrasy ...


Martin
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What is odd to me, is that the USA, severed all TIES to Britain, the King was a tyrant and despot, so there was a revolution.

In the mean time countries started doing metric, and now only the USA and maybe 1/2 of another country use BRITISH measure, called Imperial measure.

That's plain weird. Of course if we buy something made in the USA, like a car, they have to make it metric to sell it here.


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We do what we want down here. No standards and measures needed, as it detracts from the confusion.
Selling a car that gets 40 MPG is easier than selling one that gets 17 KPL

Last edited by rharv; 01/02/12 01:56 PM.

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XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!

Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

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In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!

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Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

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