|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
PowerTracks Pro Audio Wishlist
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,365
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,365 |
Remember how in PT10, if you had a big enough monitor, you could view all the channel faders in two rows? In the new mixer you're limited to 24 tracks, which is ok, but scrolling becomes tedious after a while.
If we could go back to two rows of 24 faders, it would be the only DAW I know of where you could see 48 tracks, 8 effects busses and 16 subgroups, all at the same time. If the transport controls could be docked in there as well, it would give the competition something to worry about.
ROG.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PowerTracks Pro Audio Wishlist
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,365
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,365 |
Just bumping my own thread, here, because the more I think about the mixer the more ideas I have.
Suppose we go back to having two rows of 24 faders. Not only could the mixer incorporate the transport controls, but an auto-locator based on the markers window, the big clock and also the VU meters. This would allow all the tracking and mixing to be done from the mixer in a very easy to use format.
Although BiaB is the clear leader in it's field, PowerTracks has always been underestimated in terms of performance. I feel that this mixer version would be almost unique in the field of DAWs, considering the amount of information displayed at one time without scrolling and would help to establish PT as a fully professional system.
Well, it is a wishlist...
ROG.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PowerTracks Pro Audio Wishlist
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913 |
ROG, there's a whole community of folks being raised on the idea of folder tracks and a smaller community being raised without needing a 'mixer' view whatsoever. Honestly, do you truly need to see 48 tracks at once? You have 10 fingers to move sliders, so if you have a 10 slider control surface, do you need more to take action? It's not like you have all hands on deck with multiple engineers hand-fading/mixing a project like at a pro studio. In the DAW I use, if I get more than 10 or 12 tracks, I start asking myself what I'm trying to accomplish - usually it's multiple takes for what will end up as one part or a comp'ed part, and I will folder track those into a single group if I'm not actively mixing them, or just get the comp editing over with and hide the source tracks - in my DAW, I can shrink them down to a fairly thin line. Or perhaps I'll have a few tracks for a double-tracked electric guitar rhythm part or vocal - with those, I will folder track them - so that they only take up one space, or I'll render them through to audio and stack them on top of each other - with the DAW I use, I can set volume and pan and other automation on the 'clip' which is the terminology used to describe a distinct piece of audio file or midi part. On this song, all of the BGV's were recorded and mixed as individual tracks, then when I was happy with them, I rendered each individual BGV to it's own audio, then I dropped them on top of each other, and set their individual pan and volume for the clips. As a result, it took up about 1 cm on the screen. http://rockstarnot.rekkerd.org/songs/new...ute%20cover.mp3Maybe I'm missing as to what would be necessary to look at so many tracks at once, other than to dazzle? -Scott
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PowerTracks Pro Audio Wishlist
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,365
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,365 |
Hi Scott.
In a word - flexibility.
If you're working in BiaB you can put together a good backing using RTs with just a handful of tracks, but what I'm talking about is using PowerTracks as a DAW for laying down a backing from scratch.
True, some songs are simple and can be done with five or six tracks, but a lot of things are more complex. Suppose we want oohs and aahs in three part harmony. We're going to track-up each part three times, giving us nine tracks of BVs. We may also have a sung harmony line which gives us another nine tracks. Add in the other instruments and it's easy to push the track count over twenty four and you find yourself constantly scrolling the mixer whilst you're setting a rough monitor mix to work to.
When we're mixing a track such as this, we assign things like BVs to a sub group, so we want to be able to see all the subs as well, but we still want immediate access to all the individual tracks in case we want to alter something in the sub-mix.
But even this is only part of the story. To make a production work, you often find it's the little extras which make the difference - the things which only appear once for maybe a bar. These are the things which we used to stack an one tape track and which were a nightmare to mix on an old desk with no automation. These days we put each bit on a separate track, just because we can.
I know I'm not alone in this approach to working, though I accept that it depends largely on what type of music you're recording and how you were trained.
Anyway, I hope this goes some way to explaining my wish list for PT2013.
ROG.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PowerTracks Pro Audio Wishlist
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913 |
Quote:
Hi Scott.
In a word - flexibility.
If you're working in BiaB you can put together a good backing using RTs with just a handful of tracks, but what I'm talking about is using PowerTracks as a DAW for laying down a backing from scratch.
True, some songs are simple and can be done with five or six tracks, but a lot of things are more complex. Suppose we want oohs and aahs in three part harmony. We're going to track-up each part three times, giving us nine tracks of BVs. We may also have a sung harmony line which gives us another nine tracks. Add in the other instruments and it's easy to push the track count over twenty four and you find yourself constantly scrolling the mixer whilst you're setting a rough monitor mix to work to.
When we're mixing a track such as this, we assign things like BVs to a sub group, so we want to be able to see all the subs as well, but we still want immediate access to all the individual tracks in case we want to alter something in the sub-mix.
But even this is only part of the story. To make a production work, you often find it's the little extras which make the difference - the things which only appear once for maybe a bar. These are the things which we used to stack an one tape track and which were a nightmare to mix on an old desk with no automation. These days we put each bit on a separate track, just because we can.
I know I'm not alone in this approach to working, though I accept that it depends largely on what type of music you're recording and how you were trained.
Anyway, I hope this goes some way to explaining my wish list for PT2013.
ROG.
Got it. I think Folder tracks would work nicely for you. But, I understand not wanting to have to fiddle opening the folder. In the DAW I use, it looks like a file explorer tree, hit the '+' button and instantly view all the tracks that are in there. Your BGV example would work this way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PowerTracks Pro Audio Wishlist
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,365
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,365 |
Scott.
I can see what you mean about the folders and I can see where it might be useful, particularly for people who are on smaller screens, such as laptops. We're on LG47in LEDs, so we're not short on space and there's something appealing about being able to access anything with one click.
I also like to watch 48 VUs flashing away! (That would be the "dazzle" which you mentioned!)
At the end of the day, merits in both methods, I think.
ROG.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PowerTracks Pro Audio Wishlist
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913 |
"We're on LG47in LEDs"
That would be cool!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: 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.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
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.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,194
Posts801,812
Members40,064
| |
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