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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2004
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 392 |
Just curious....
How many of you folks use BIAB/RB in live gigs?
How many who do gig with BIAB/RB, are solo performers and how many are duos/trios etc. who mute tracks for insturments you have in your bands?
Do you feel any great loss of "interaction" with band members when most/all of them are "in the box?" In other words...money aside...is gigging any less "fulfilling" for you?
Do any of you have live drummers and if so, how do THEY feel about not being able to control tempo?
What sort of comments...if any...do you get from audiences??
Any other comments????
THANKS!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Not the situation you are looking for, but I often use a BIAB track to back me up on solo horn. I never use the BIAB soloists (that's my job), so there is nothing to mute. I might do this in, say, a coffee house where there is little chance of anyone else there being able to back me up to play jazz. My wife might be the featured performer and they know I am also a musician, so I do a little playing of my own music.
It is always very well received. Most have no idea it's a computer playing behind me. Of course, I generally only play one or two tunes, so the 'mystery' of what I am doing remains. Nevertheless, if I had to do a solo gig, I am confident it would work fine.
[Rather than take a laptop anymore, I prefer to prerecord the backing track onto my iPod as a .WAV file. Less to set up and less to go wrong.]
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Journeyman
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OP
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Thanks Matt. I've been "abstaining" from the iPod and Iphone. But I AM going to get an i5 when it comes out and may well have to bite the bullet for the iPad too!!
(Are you monitoring this thread Mrs. Claus?)
(-:
Jim
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Over the years, I've used a variety of MP3 players, then some better ones like my SONY PCM-M10 that accept .WAV format files. Now I just use the iPhone (and an iPod would be the same, if you had that) for its size and user interface. I do have an iPad3 and love it in the studio, but I don't think I would want to take that to a gig. It's solid enough but still more likely to get broken (or stolen).
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Jim, imo the only reason to take a laptop to play Biab live at a gig is you're going to use the Conductor to change the arrangement of the tune on the fly like extending a solo section for example. That's a different question with it's own set of challenges.
Other than that if all you're doing is hitting play and letting the song play out to the end then that's the same as playing a prerecorded song anyway. Why take the chance of your lappy getting damaged by someone knocking it on the floor or you mouse click the wrong thing in the middle of a set and everything goes wonky until you reboot? Just pick up the gadget du jour that plays MP3's with a playlist you like and be done with it. You can't tell the difference between quality MP3's and wav files through a PA system at a live venue. A lot of us can't tell that difference sitting at home in front of our monitors for that matter.
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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Quote:
Just curious....
How many of you folks use BIAB/RB in live gigs?
Many including me, don't know the exact number but I would bet many more than the ones here who participte in the forum. I know because I meet lots of them out on the private party gig circuit. Not all BIAB users, some use competitive software. I will also add that when most see my setup with BIAB many appear to be envious.
How many who do gig with BIAB/RB, are solo performers and how many are duos/trios etc. who mute tracks for insturments you have in your bands?
I do a solo act, BIAB my guitar and vocals. I play all guitar solos but do use some rhythm guitar realtracks on occassion. I also have a few old musician friends who join me from time to time, mostly horn players so when they do I use special arrangements I have edited so their instrument is not on the tracks.
Do you feel any great loss of "interaction" with band members when most/all of them are "in the box?" In other words...money aside...is gigging any less "fulfilling" for you?
Of course I miss my old players but that was another time and lots of other places. With that said gigging has never been more fulfilling for me.
Do any of you have live drummers and if so, how do THEY feel about not being able to control tempo?
Live drummers can control tempos? Wow! 
What sort of comments...if any...do you get from audiences??
All positive.
Any other comments????
This just may be the most important comment I have regarding gigging alone even with great backing tracks demand at least these three things:
#1. You have to have a handle on being a showman of sorts or at the very least be able to work your audience. After all it's only you out there. (Great Platter's Tune)
#2. Not nessecarry but I feel you have to be proficient with your instrument of choice.
#3. You have to be able to sing on key 90% of the time at least.
By the way I have been using a laptop set on a music stand since I started the act 6 years ago doing 85-100 gigs per year. Never an accident, never a glitch I could not handle with the stroke of a key
Hope this helps, I am sure others will chime in.
THANKS!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I often take my laptop and use BIAB. Depending on what I'm playing sometimes I mute
different parts (almost always the melody).
I play guitar sometimes just with drums and bass and sometimes use the piano for comping. If someone sits in I add more choruses.
I've even traded fours with the different solists.
I'd like to use the composer but I haven't found it to be reliable at all.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Journeyman
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OP
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jazzmammal...."Live drummers can control tempos? Wow!"
Hey...I didn't say that they control a CONSTANT tempo...just the tempo that is being played!
I'm not a drummer but I DO know that a trio is 2 musicians and a drummer!!!
(-:
THANKS for your comments. I pretty much agree with your laptop comments. The butt edge of my guitar has uses other than being part of a musical instrument!!!
(-:
As for MP3 vs. wav files...I think you'll get a big argument on that. Scientifically, of course there is a TON more "information" in a wav file...none of which is either missing or compressed.
The differnece between them...played "side by side" on the same stereo equipment jumps out at me and I would say that my hearing is mediocre at best.
OF COURSE...a LOT depends on the type of music being played. If it's a jazz trio or maybe a rock band using a ton of distortion... that's one think but a modern day big band or symphony orchestra would be quite another.
Actually, I think that a piano solo would be readily distinguished.
But on a gig? You're probably spot on. Some gigs you have to play so softly that the "superior" sounds would not be present or you are SO loud that you are moving hair and everyone's half (or 100%) drunk and could care less!!
(-:
Jim
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Expert
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Expert
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At least the bass player can't run off with the drummer's wife 
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Or the bandleaders. That was the cause of my very first time playing left hand bass. We were on the road, the bass player got high/drunk/both and was all over the leaders wife who was an average girl, not some supermodel type. The next day there was a note on his big Sunn Colisieum rig to please use his pay to ship it back to California along with a big apology. We never heard from him again and I played key bass for about a week until our agent and the leader found a new bassist and he drove in.
Jim, if you use a high bit rate for MP3's like 196k or similar, it's very hard to tell any difference at all regardless of what you're listening too. And, I'll say definitely if you use the max setting which I think is 312k you can't tell, period. Don't take my word for it, just do it and see for yourself.
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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I still like using my laptop with BiaB in live performance simply because, as a jazz improvisor, I love the way BiaB will generate a slightly different performance each time an unfrozen songfile is loaded and played.
After two or three performances, I find the static playback of MIDI files, mp3 and other audio, to be detrimental.
And less fun for the performer.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi Bob. I have NO doubt that you are correct. I was referring to "run of the mill" MP3s that most people would listen to.
But having said that, SO much depends on the SYSTEM you are listening to. I recently heard a pair of JM Labs Maestro Utopia speakers playing and "audiphile" version CD of the Boston Pops orchestra side by side with a "normal" home Harmon Kardon driving a pair of good quality JBLs.
The difference was ASTOUNDING! You heard things through the Maestros that weren't just BETTER than the JBLs....they weren't PRESENT on the JBLs!!!!
And yes...we can all run out and buy a pair of Maestros for...oh...around $50K!!!!
(-:
But my point is that in comparing formats, there are TWO issues.
A. How much data is present and
B. How much of that data is the playback system capable of presenting.
But again...in the real world, I have no doubt you are correct.
Best,
Jim
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Apprentice
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going through a PA, there is absolutely no need for high fidelity!
Imagine a bar full of people with a few drunkards amongst them (a regular night) how many will notice a 24bit 96kHz wave file?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
going through a PA, there is absolutely no need for high fidelity!
Imagine a bar full of people with a few drunkards amongst them (a regular night) how many will notice a 24bit 96kHz wave file?
I WOULD!!!! With the paltry gig money available these days, we are often playing almost as much for our own pleasure as anything else!
Of course, a LOT depends on the genre of music and the nature of the audience. But for jazz gigs...some people do actually listen...you know...the ones who shove some dead presidents in the tip jar!
For Rock/Blues gigs at biker bars, we're lucky if they don't shove US in the tip jar!!!
(-:
Jim
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I bet you wouldn't under all the noise. In fact I would defy anyone to notice the difference between 16bit/44100Hz & 24bit/96000Hz in a crowded bar. I've been a gigging musician for 20 years (ie I earn my living from it) & I've done enough to know its not possible to know the difference passed through a PA
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I've already done rather extensive testing in the live performance environment, including my own observations while playing and listening to others perform as well as quizzing a rather random assortment of my audience, and I came to the conclusion that, in the average live performance environment, and within reason regarding the kbps choice, the use of the compressed audio .wma format as used in Band in a Box works very well indeed for the purpose.
--Mac
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Jim, 5 or 6 years ago I had a period of time where I needed to sub for a very sick friend in his duo. I used Biab for the first time with the Conductor. It was ok, I got through those gigs but it was a chore. I've since done a lot of testing at home over the years and I just can't get the Conductor to do what I need. Silvertones John has done a lot of that too and he says Real Band is much better for that so if I had to do it again I would look at RB or just forget it and use MP3's. If I were doing this full time sure I could probably put in the time to make it work but for me, I might only get a call for that once in 4 years maybe. By then everything's changed, I have to refresh myself and then try to set up a song list. It ain't worth it.
Also, at that time to keep it simple all I used per Mac's recommendation btw, was the basic old Roland VSC DXi. That is still free from PG but it doesn't work on 64 bit Windows. At home I hate it but at the gig going through a Peavey head with a pair of JBL mains it sounded great. That typical stage set up is far from being hifi or even sort of hifi. It's 'bar band' fi. Don't worry about it at all.
Trying to get close to real hifi in a live venue has been my holy grail for years and it's frustrating. The new Yamaha DXR powered speakers are sounding very good right now and I may sell my Barbetta and other speakers and get a pair of those. Then after a few months I'll regret it because they're still not good enough and so it goes.
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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Quote:
Just curious....
How many of you folks use BIAB/RB in live gigs?
How many who do gig with BIAB/RB, are solo performers and how many are duos/trios etc. who mute tracks for insturments you have in your bands?
Do you feel any great loss of "interaction" with band members when most/all of them are "in the box?" In other words...money aside...is gigging any less "fulfilling" for you?
Do any of you have live drummers and if so, how do THEY feel about not being able to control tempo?
What sort of comments...if any...do you get from audiences??
Any other comments????
THANKS!
I use RB live as a solo. Interaction with other players is WHY I use RB.
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BIAB works for me, serving as backing tracks with me playing live guitar melodic and solo lines. Thinking of hunting up an attractive vocalist willing to work me and my arrangements. Kind of like what Norton and his female vocalist have been doing. I enjoy the variety in the playback of BIAB tracks, and so prefer using them with a laptop rather than using static tracks, like Mac said... keeps me in the music. I've played weddings, receptions, cocktail lounges and hotel venues using this setup and audiences are regularly pleased, and curious. Setup can make a difference to keep funky power lines from boosting noise levels, so I have found using a DI device, and power line filters helpful for keeping my sound clean. A mic is always handy for introducing songs, connecting with the audience, and making announcements. Looking forward to doing more as time permits, and the "geezer hours" (not so late) circuit expands.
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Quote:
an attractive vocalist willing to work me and my arrangements.
Usually the "willing to work you" part comes later after you've managed to rope her in... 
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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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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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!
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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!
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There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac 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)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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 PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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