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Joined: May 2000
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No, RT's are not soundfonts. That's for sure.
But I think they are pretty closely tied to MIDI in their 'create and control' aspects.
To me, RT's are recorded tracks with the ability to use them intelligently as samples of varying length, and with nice variation (vs exact repetition). That's a unique combination in music software.
Last edited by rharv; 02/03/12 03:57 PM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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I personally think you are close to the 'truth' here.
Realtracks can operate without midi.
A Newbie has enough on their plate with music terminology when all they remember is a few licks from stairway. Learning terms, general music etc is ENOUGH. The company (pg), in my opinion, would be crazy to develop things expecting hobbyists with racks of old midi hardware making one phrase all day. Sure they do that in the movies. We/They want to make music.
I can spend 4 hours a day on the keys, some time on piano, and I don't give a hoot which it is, but 99 percent of the tracks are substituted with realtracks. I mute the piano and the melody, play the thing looped for about 10 minutes and move on.
Just thing this through. You own the joint. The new technology allows you to get very good sound, and have great guitars and drums etc. Or you throw midi at the newbie. Really.
The poor new guy comes in here with a Yamaha keyboard from Radio Shack and in 10 minutes some one tells him he has to hook it up and here we go again. And we need to explain ASIO. Not again.
The fact that the software can be used by someone who spends all day on the signature lick for Fever, and gets 2 bars done, great. I don't care how it sounded at first. I played it with drums only the 1st time through, the bass only then both. Use a cool organ sound. I can ad lib. No need for midi at all, except wait for it...my Korg uses midi inside.
Thus midi is insidious, and often hideous. That's a problem I've not had with Real Instruments, and it seems obvious that each release and beta things get better as the software that interprets those phrases matures.
The bottom line is if Joe shows up with his Yamaha and he can't play it through so he can duplicate Toccata and Fuge in Dm and see the score, so darn.
But in the end he's happy because without any interface, without knowing a cc from his backside, Joe Newbie made music with his new band and Liked It. Wow.
I know you all are waiting for the next midi hardware release, but I just bet it runs as packets on the internet, so that the lighting control market isn't left out. And I bet they call it something else, like a production data transport packet. Cool.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Joined: Jul 2000
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Quote:
<...> If real instruments sounded worse than MIDI instruments you would never see anything else in a real studio. All real studios have a disproportional amount of equipment geared towards real instruments and real voices. <...> but in all the 100's of sessions I've ever done no one has ever said why don't you play your MIDI guitar it sounds better than your real guitar.<...>
So then you've never seen a synthesizer in a studio? MIDI drums? --- I have.
I have even been hired to play wind synth in a studio. A guitarist/vocalist hired me to play this MIDI guitar part on his CD http://www.nortonmusic.com/mp3/_personalchoice.mp3 (used with permission from the copyright holder). Both he and I play guitar. But he thought guitar synth was right for the lead on this song.
I've also been hired by another producer to play synth trumpet. And I've been in recording sessions where the drummer played an electronic MIDI drum set (Roland V drums if I remember correctly).
Which sounds better or worse? Neither. Use the right tool for the job. Because a MIDI sax sounds different from an acoustic sax, is no big deal -- Selmer sax with a rubber mouthpiece sounds even more different from a Keilwerth with a brass mouthpiece.
Acoustic does not sound better than MIDI any more than a Fender Strat sounds better than a Gibson Les Paul.
Does an acoustic piano player refuse to play a digital Rhodes voice because it doesn't sound like either an acoustic piano or an acoustic/electric Rhodes? Some perhaps, but not most -- as long as the digital Rhodes sound was appropriate.
Sometimes I prefer real acoustic instruments, sometimes I prefer MIDI instruments for the sound. When recording backing tracks for my duo in my home studio I generally prefer MIDI, even if the tone is not quite what I want (as long as it is close). Why? The audience doesn't know the difference and the ability to edit MIDI tracks far outstrips any tone issues.
Quote:
<...> As a guitar player, I would never use midi for guitar parts.<...>
In the wind synth community we call this HIB (Home Instrument Bias), and many people have it. However, most of us do not. My HIB is saxophone, I've been playing it for over 40 years. I use MIDI sax live on stage a lot, even though I bring my acoustic sax. The problem with HIB is that many players look to the synth pad and notice what the acoustic instrument will do that the synth patch will not do. And this is generally true. What many HIB people don't look at is what will the synth patch do that the acoustic instrument will not do. So when I play synth sax, I'm playing synth sax to play the sounds and/or nuances that my 'real' sax cannot reproduce. It's one more tool in the tool box and I feel that I would be foolish not to use synth sax when appropriate for the song.
I have 11 different sax patches that I have on my on-stage wind synth module, and I use most of them. They have different tones (one is a physical model of an alto sax that is made of glass instead of brass). Like guitars, saxophones are capable of producing a wide variety of sounds. Stan Getz sounds nothing like John Coltrane who sounds nothing like Clarence Clemmons etc., etc. Most of my synth sax sounds are closer to the 'universal' sax sound than Getz tone is to Coltrane tone.
MIDI is a very flexible and musical tool. I use it when I need it and I use physical instruments when I need them.
I don't do pre-recorded loops at all though (YMMV). Why? I am a musician and I want to participate in the creative process as much as I can. To me using pre-recorded loops is like painting by number while using instruments I play and/or edit myself (whether they are MIDI or physical) is more like oil painting. I am in complete control of the output.
- What if I don't like the way the loop plays a note? In MIDI I can change it, in loops I cannot.
- What if for a particular song I'd like the piano part to be an acoustic piano instead of a Rhodes? In MIDI I can change that, in loops I cannot.
- What if I want to eliminate the tambourine on a track? In MIDI I can do that, in loops I cannot.
- What if I want to change that held note to a sforzando followed by a crescendo? In MIDI I can do that, with loops I cannot.
- What if I want to transpose one instrument up or down an octave so it doesn't 'fight' with another in the mix? In MIDI I can do that, with loops I cannot.
- What if I want to eliminate a drum roll and put a non-roll measure in without interrupting the decay of the cymbal in the pre-roll measure? In MIDI I can do that, with loops I cannot.
- What if I want to change the timing of the notes in a strummed or glissed chord? In MIDI I can do that, with loops I cannot.
- What if I want to change that slow/chorus Leslie speed on a B3 sound to a fast vibrato? You guessed it.
- There are literally an infinite number of other musically valid things I can do with MIDI that I cannot do with loops - and whey I get done editing and listen, it's rewarding to think "I did that!".
To summarize, there is nothing wrong with MIDI generated synth sounds. They may sound a little different from a physical instrument, but then two similar physical instruments can sound much more different. Physical instruments can do things that the emulative MIDI patch cannot, but then the MIDI patch can do some things that the physical instrument cannot. If the MIDI synth is good, the audience does not care if you are using a MIDI or physical instrument. The editing capabilities of MIDI are light-years greater than the editing of pre-recorded loops.
So for me, I'll play acoustic and synth sax, electric and synth guitar, acoustic and synth flute, plenty of MIDI instruments I cannot play (like trumpet, trombone, harmonica, etc.), MIDI bass exclusively (I even sampled my Faux-Fender-Jazz Bass), and for my backing tracks, good old editable MIDI (including some samples of acoustic instruments that I sampled myself). For my situation I am picking the best tool for the each task at hand.
So I guess I'm a moderate.
Once again YMMV.
Insights and incites by Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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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 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows 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)
- Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
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 PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Video: New User Interface (GUI)
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 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.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 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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