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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6 |
Hi All,
New here and doing some research. Not 100% clear on Band in the Box software and how I might use it. It seems the software will allow me to use different instruments as a back up tool for my piano, but can I somehow record my acoustic piano while using the add on tracks into a finished product. Can rip a music file off my Flip camera or Zoom recorder and then add and mix tracks via band in the box?
Any pianists using this software and how are you using it.
Thanks for any and all info...
Thanks Mark
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
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Mark, A keyboard player of sorts, not piano, but think this may help. Band In A Box also comes with software name RealBand. It is a DAW, Digital Audio Workstation. You can create your backing tracks, MIDI, or Realtracks(BIAB real instruments) in BIAB. Then move them into RealBand. You can then setup mic's or whatever recording instrument you need and play/record along with the existing tracks. There are many guitar folks on these forums doing just that. You can import about 6-8 different audio types into RealBand. Keep in mind there is a free 30 day trial period for BIAB/Realband. Being a "bit of a PC geek" to quote another member helps a great deal. Also folks on these forums are very helpful, and PG music support is outstanding. This will also answer a lot of questions, FAQ's video's and tutorials. http://www.pgmusic.com/support.htmGood Luck!
Last edited by seeker; 04/28/12 08:18 PM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6
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OP
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Joined: Apr 2012
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Thanks frank, that helps a lot. I've been looking at the tutorials and other threads to figure this out.
Mark
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,893
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Quote:
Being a "bit of a PC geek" to quote another member helps a great deal.
Mark, nothing proprietary about this statement as I claim no ownership, feel free to use it often. 
Over the years I have come to understand that in fact this is what separates the "power users" from the rest of the pack, in computer assisted music making, including BIAB\RB.
BIAB – 2026, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 263
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 263 |
Piano Mark, I too love the piano and have found BIAB to be a great accompianment. I have found it easier to input the melodies with a small keyboard controller (USB). Just press record in either BIAB or Realtracks after you have entered the chords in the "style" of your choice, set your key and tempo. You will surely want Real Tracks Disc #70 with the Piano Solo accompianments. They are so beautifully done and a great choice of styles. Of course guitars and strings are always good with piano too so you have a great variety to choose from even in the midi instruments. After you have completed your song, you can always mute the melody part and play along live if you choose but you will need the melody there if you want to add the note based lyrics for onscreen reference. There are several pieces I have done using these acccompianments posted on my site at the link below if you would be interested in hearing them. http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11489803
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,893
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,893 |
Quote:
... There are several pieces I have done using these acccompianments posted on my site at the link below if you would be interested in hearing them.
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11489803
Val, when did this site appear?  Seems like just yesterday you were here at the forum trying to figure out how to install and run BIAB and now all these wonderful compositions on line. Good for you Gal.
BIAB – 2026, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6 |
Quote:
Piano Mark,
I too love the piano and have found BIAB to be a great accompianment. I have found it easier to input the melodies with a small keyboard controller (USB). Just press record in either BIAB or Realtracks after you have entered the chords in the "style" of your choice, set your key and tempo. You will surely want Real Tracks Disc #70 with the Piano Solo accompianments. They are so beautifully done and a great choice of styles.
Of course guitars and strings are always good with piano too so you have a great variety to choose from even in the midi instruments. After you have completed your song, you can always mute the melody part and play along live if you choose but you will need the melody there if you want to add the note based lyrics for onscreen reference. There are several pieces I have done using these acccompianments posted on my site at the link below if you would be interested in hearing them. http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11489803
Wow Val, you really play well!
So you say you don't use an acoustic piano but a digital keyboard? My many goal it to use the software to augment my grand piano. Would love to be able to have some background instruments and then be able to record either with a video or recorder devise most likely in BIAB.
Thanks for the info.
Mark
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6 |
Quote:
Quote:
Being a "bit of a PC geek" to quote another member helps a great deal.
Mark, nothing proprietary about this statement as I claim no ownership, feel free to use it often.
Over the years I have come to understand that in fact this is what separates the "power users" from the rest of the pack, in computer assisted music making, including BIAB\RB.
I've always been the on the geeky side, but as I get older, stuff is passing me by...lol
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Posts: 38,502 |
I find that a good MIDI piano keyboard with weighting is a far better choice for this kind of work as versus the acoustic piano.
The MIDI keyboards of today have some great piano samples available in them, this requires you to audition a few in person to make the big decision as to which one suits you.
But the advantages of using the MIDI piano are many. In no particular order (and likely not covering all the reasons as well):
*Recording MIDI data to the computer is just flat easier to do. No room acoustics problems, no mic placement problems, all that was done by pros who did the original sampling, using high end pianos and studio mics, preamps, etc.
*MIDI data can be easily edited as compared to Audio recording of Acc Piano.
*Recording MIDI also yields NOTATION at the same time.
*MIDI recording takes up far less disk space than audio recording.
*If you come back to a recorded performance and maybe don't like the sound of that particular piano patch, just change the playback patch and listen to that instead. This is powerful.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
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I have an Kawai ES4 digital piano, but after playing my high end grand I can't even look at it anymore. I just wanted to use the software to augment my acoustic, not replace it. It would be like buying a Ferrari but driving a Kia...:)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
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Having a good grand piano is great. I personally rebuilt my 1950's era Kanabe 5'8 grand and it sits in my living room. I never record with it because it's just too much hassle. My whole computer setup is in my bedroom for one thing but like you I also have a dedicated hard disc recorder so I could go that route if I really wanted to. I would have to set up the recorder by creating a new project, recording in the Biab mix, set the parameters, schlep a couple of mic stands with mics and cables running all over the place, set up a headphone monitoring system and try to record something. By that time it's time for dinner and the lady is saying what's all this stuff doing in the living room?
Since I do a lot of gigging I also have a Kurzweil PC3 and it has some great piano sounds in it. Don't be confused by how your real piano sounds compared to how your Kawai digital sounds when you're just sitting in the room listening to them. Once you've recorded your grand and put it into a mix using Biab everything changes. You no longer have that "in your face" ambience you get from sitting in front of a real grand, you're just listening to another piano recording through your speaker system at that point. I can't tell you how many times educated, good players are fooled by a good digital piano after it's been put into a mix. Now having said that I have no idea where your Kawai digital rates as a piano. It may be crap for all I know or it could be really good. Try it and see how it fits in a Biab generated Real Track mix. I suspect you'll be surprised.
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: Nov 2000
Posts: 263
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 263 |
jazzmandan,
Yes, I was on here a while back trying to get my BIAB set up on Windows 7, after my old computer up and died. (All my BIAB discs wouldn't load on Win 7) Finally got things going again and am back in business. Happy that you enjoyed my Soundclick site. I've been an avid fan of Band-In-A-Box for many years, just couldn't function without it. I think my first version was 1996. Just wish I had had it back in my live band days when one or the other of the members didn't show up. They could have just stayed "hung over" and I could have replaced them with this "machine". LOL
Love those Piano-Solo Realtracks!!!!!!!
Val
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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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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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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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