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Joined: Mar 2009
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 271 |
I am very interested in buying BB but know exactly nothing about it anymore. I used to use it along with PowerTracks about 15 years ago and loved the way it would put down my bass and drum tracks. But my system has changed since then (hasn't everyone's?) I now have a Roland JV-1010 synth module which I was using with Cakewalk but have found it too time comsuming - ie... bass and drum tracks. Which brings me back to wanting to re-aquire BB and PowerTracks. I'm very confused over how all of this new stuff works now. If I use BB with RealBand, do I still need to use my Roland synth? If I'm using PowerTracks can I record my voice, harmony and accustic guitar? I probably have a lot more questions about this stuff but I figure I'll start with the basics first. Any help that anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated. Bobby bobbyt9999@yahoo.ca
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Joined: May 2000
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Well, if you get BIAB plus RealBand, you won't really need Powertracks as RealBand is based on the PT engine and will do everything that PT can do with the one exception being that RealBand does not include the TC Helicon harmony engine.
As far as BIAB goes, purchase the largest amount of style files as you can, the thing that limits what you can do inside Band in a Box is not having enough styles.
--Mac
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Joined: Mar 2009
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BIAB plus RealBand, huh? OK... I'm starting to understand... but still have a couple of questions. Can I record my voice in RealBand? What about my own harmonies? How about my guitar? Will I be able to put in my own midi tracks in RealBand? What about a mixer - does it have one? I'm guessing that with the BIAB and RealBand apps, I won't be needing my Roland synth module - am I right? So sorry for sounding dumb, but at this stage, I am. Things have changed so much since I used BIAB and PT 15 years ago. Thanks for your help!!! Bobby bobbyt9999@yahoo.ca
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,826
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,826 |
Hi Bobby
Realband is a basic sequencer where you can do all your recording but with realband you can if you want use the real tracks alongside your midi tracks and your voice and guitar or what ever you want to record and you can use Vsti and DXi instruments and your roland modual to play the midi tracks
a lot of people start there songs of in BIAB then port them over to realband to finish them off and mix them so really it would do everything you wanted, although everything has moved on BIAB is still a accompliment program doing what it has always done so it can be very basic or as complicated as any mordern program, with every thing you have a learning curve but BIAB and Realband has a super forum where all your questions will be anwsered
regards Dave Hoskins
I always play the right notes but not always in the right order
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,122
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Apr 2008
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The answer to all the "Can I do this" questions is basically yes, yes, yes.
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Yes, yes, and yes...
What you really need to do is obtain the programs and start getting your feet wet, there is a learning curve, but we are here to help you as you go.
Take advantage of pgmusic's 30-day no questions asked return policy. At worst, it is like getting a full functioning demo for those thirty days. But I think you will keep the programs. They are ridiculously fun.
--Mac
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OK... after hearing about how good BIAB and RealBand are, I'm on the cusp of buying them. However, am I to understand that if I order the UltraPac it would come on an 80gb external hard drive or discs? I'm thinking that if indeed it comes on the HD, that would be the way to go... however, if I ever have to re-install Windows after getting a virus, (this happened to me last year) wouldn't the discs be a better way to re-install BIAB and RealTracks? Is this stuff really THAT big? Wow... How things have changed in 15 years. Back then BIAB and PowerTracks came on a couple of 1.44 floppys.
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I recommend getting the hard drive and not the DVD install disks.
The programs will run right from the hard drive, no need to install.
(However, if you do wish to install to C drive, the files to do so are also on the hard drive.)
--Mac
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Joined: Mar 2009
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OK... IF I wanted to run it from my C drive... how much room would I need? I have 2 - 75gb drives... one of which I just use for storing stuff... pictures, mp3's etc... If I were to run BIAB from the USB drive... would it be slower than my system drives?
Appreciate all the help!!!
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All programs and stuff included on the 80gb USB drive take up about a little under half of the drivespace, or about 35-40gb.
I don't find that using the USB drive to load BIAB songs and stuff is that much slower than my C drive here.
I suggest that you try it and find out for yourself.
The 30-day no questions asked return policy is a good thing, like getting a full featured demo.
Just do it.
And Have Fun!
--Mac
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1 |
Hi,
I'm considering buying the real band package but I am lead to believe I will need a soundcard for my PC? Forgive me but I'm no computer expert so haven't a clue about this sort of thing I'm afraid. My PC is 'off the shelf' so to speak and nothing fancy so would only have, I assume, a very basic sound card.
I will want to plug in a keyboard, guitar and microphone (not all at the same time !) and I have been warned about latency?
I know nothing about soundcards, what features/specifications should I be looking out for? Any help appreciated and any recommendations form other users what they use etc.
Also with real band - how editable are the styles that are produced? For example, if you selected a style and liked the drum beat and bass line but didn't like the guitar twanning on top -could you either change the levels on the guitar bit so you didn't hear it or delete it all together?
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2
Newbie
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Posts: 2 |
Hi,
I would appreciate if someone could advise if BIAB can do the following: to apply the chords "on the fly" - while you play with left hand selecting chords specific notes below the split point on MIDI keyboard, and thus do accompaniment automatically in the real time?
Thanks,
Alexander
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Joined: May 2000
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Quote:
Hi,
I would appreciate if someone could advise if BIAB can do the following: to apply the chords "on the fly" - while you play with left hand selecting chords specific notes below the split point on MIDI keyboard, and thus do accompaniment automatically in the real time?
Thanks,
Alexander
No. BIAB is not an autoaccompaniment keyboard program.
--Mac
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Joined: Mar 2009
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Newbie
Joined: Mar 2009
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Hi Mac,
Thanks a lot for your prompt response.. I see. I thought that maybe some add-on can add such functionality..
Alexander
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 29
Enthusiast
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 29 |
I'm thinking of purchasing BIAB as well. I've reviewed some of the videos outlining the features. What sort of documentation/manuals come with BIAB? There are a lot of features and you could get really lost trying to find some of the options available.
Thanks
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 70
Enthusiast
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 70 |
As a new user of Biab since Christmass, and someone with no music theory background, I play guitar strictly by ear I can honetly say that the biggist hurdle for me was getting the input drivers set up properly. The music making is the easy part. Use the forums and the Live Chat to help solve your questions. It is re assuring that any problem you encounter can be most likely solved. I'm sure that everyone who uses Biab encountered the same issues at one time or another. I don't think you will be dissappointed. One thing I'll warn you is that it is addictive. Have fun!! Get the full blowen real tracks
HI , I'm new here and I love BIAB
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 29 |
Quote:
As a new user of Biab since Christmass, and someone with no music theory background, I play guitar strictly by ear I can honetly say that the biggist hurdle for me was getting the input drivers set up properly. The music making is the easy part. Use the forums and the Live Chat to help solve your questions. It is re assuring that any problem you encounter can be most likely solved. I'm sure that everyone who uses Biab encountered the same issues at one time or another. I don't think you will be dissappointed. One thing I'll warn you is that it is addictive. Have fun!! Get the full blowen real tracks
Darren-I fall into the category as you. I was mainly thinking of how to even get started. There are so many bells & whistles, how do you even get started with just the basics? I'm pretty "hands on" when it comes to learning. Let me sit down and I'll eventually figure it out. I would like some basics to help get things off the ground.
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Posts: 18 |
The learning curve is steep if you want to know how to use everything real band offers, but then again you don't have to learn everything to really enjoy the program.
It has tc helicon in BB whick is a pitch tracker and harmonizer. You can record with realband and save the track as wave file,(Audio/export audio) then load it into bb and pitch track an harmonize your song. Once you completley learn this haronizer you can create perfectly in tune sounding vocals.
It is a necessity to have good sound card. I use the x-fi elite pro by creative which has a breakout box that you can plug in a mike, guitar, and your midi keyboard. I think there about 300 US now.
I bought a tera byte hard drive so I downloaded realband with everything. It is about a 40 gig download.
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Posts: 271 |
Hi... I have been using BIAB/RB since early March and love it even more than the last time I opened it up. The manual for BIAB is FANTASTIC... there aren't many products that come with such an indepth manual. The only thing I wish is that they had the same kind of instructions for RB... buy hey... I guess you can't have everything.  Although you can really become perplexed with all the bells and whistles, I have found that the best way to go about learning this stuff is to simply start off with the basics... do a 3 chord song... if it isn't right, do it again. Once you've done that you should be starting to feel more comfortable within the programs. And once THAT happens you tend to want MORE... and so you start looking at something else you can do with the 3 chord song. In my case, once I mastered the very basics, I started discovering and learning more and more stuff... a lot of it without using the manual. But like someone else said in another thread... you have to be careful because it is VERY addictive. Bobby
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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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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 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 11 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 22.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 22 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 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 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 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 11 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 22.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 22 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 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.
Peter Gannon Talks Band-in-a-Box with zplane
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
Check out the full interview here: https://products.zplane.de/blog/peter-gannon-interview-pg-music
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.
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