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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 9
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 9 |
I do a solo vocal/keyboards/drum machine act....playing 50s, 60s, 70s tunes at upscale country clubs and private parties and am looking to add a little more "zoom" to my performance by using backing tracks. I do everything from Jerry Lee Lewis to Van Morrison to Ray Charles to Jimmy Buffet. I am considering buying the "Pro" package from BIAB. Will I be able to use their midi and realband stuff to my advantage? I don't want to sound like a 10 piece band...just add a little bass,drums (instead of the drum machine), and a few strings and/or horns one some tunes. I plan on using an IPad running thru my PA system and my piano/organ keyboard live. Comments please.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,201
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Joined: Sep 2010
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Quote:
Will I be able to use their midi and realband stuff to my advantage?
Yes.
Quote:
I don't want to sound like a 10 piece band...just add a little bass,drums (instead of the drum machine), and a few strings and/or horns one some tunes.
You can leave empty or mute any tracks that you don't want to use.
One caveat: When you say "strings", you're talking about MIDI strings. BiaB has some great fiddle RealTracks and a nice cello RealTrack, but for string pads and the like, MIDI is your only option right now.
Similarly, there are some great solo trumpet and saxophone RealTracks, but if you're looking at doing horns as a section, you're looking at MIDI.
BiaB has a great MIDI auto-harmonizer, so if you've got a melody (or countermelody) that you want to give to a section, you can just put in the top voice and choose one of the built-in voicings (such as 4 Part Close, Drop, Drop 2, etc.) to quickly create parts for sections.
But RealTrack "string sections" and "horn sections" don't exist... yet.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 9
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 9 |
dcuny.....thanks for the input....Anybody else want to chime in?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,844
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Posts: 12,844 |
The Pro version only comes with a handful of styles and RealTracks. It will give you a pretty good idea of what the program can do, but I'm pretty sure once you use it, you will be clamoring for more styles and tracks.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 9
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 9 |
jford: Thanks for the input. I am thinking the MegaPack version would be better for me.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,724
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,724 |
Rockman59,
Buy as much as your budget will allow, you can thank me later.
Welcome Aboard!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
By all means go with the MegaPak.
Don't let the style genres and such get in the way here, many styles that may be labeled as something other than the way you want to perform a certain song can be pressed into good use in other genres.
And the more of those Styles and Realtracks you have, the more you will be able to do with your show, as well.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,609
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,609 |
As much as your budget can afford.
QFT
You'll be glad you got the whole deal to start with, rather than adding later. Some have tried going minimal and adding later, but it's not as cost effective.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021 |
Not getting at least the megaPack would be like buying a Ferrari and asking them to put a governor so it could only go 50MPH.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,026
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,026 |
Silvertones and Rharv are right! I bought Pro version first and a week later realized I needed the Mega pack version, now I can't imagine Biab without the Everything version.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 392
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 392 |
We haven't gone the backing track route yet in my wife's and my band. We gig with at least keys and bass and play jazz where my wife...the singer...feels the need to take the songs where ever she wants to go...in terms of repeats...rubato endings...solos etc.,. so using drum tracks is problematic for us.
But if I were doing what you do...as a solo act, I would JUMP onto the BIAB bandwagon.
And there is NO QUESTION but that using BIAB even in our structure would result in a MUCH more comprehensive music experience...for the audience. But, since we ain't doin' this for the money, my wife's personal musical fulfillment is issue NUMBER ONE.
I suppose if I got up to speed on the "conductor" features in BIAB then we might have more latitude than would be the case with fixed backing tracks...but I am WAY not ready for prime time on that aspect of the software.
But for a LOT of uses...and what I perceive to be your use...I couldn't recommend biab more strongly.
Best,
Jim
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697 |
Jim, since it's your wife, using the Conductor will work as long as you do some rehearsal with her. I subbed for a sick friend a few years ago with his partner and I used Biab with the Conductor. No rehearsals, just reading out of the real book. The problem was he wasn't familiar with it so he would suddenly do his "front man" thing and decide to just vamp wherever we happened to be in the song with no warning. Normally with a band, that's no problem, just follow him and he'll cue us when he starts to sing again. That's a disaster with Biab and trying to work the Conductor with no warning. He suddenly starts singing the bridge and I'm still looping a vamp or the verse. However if you work those things out ahead of time, she knows to tell you first and give you time to figure out what to do then there's no problem. Once you're familiar with the Conductor we're only talking a few seconds it's not like you're leaving her to stand there for 8 bars or something. I had it set to jump at the next part marker but you can set it to jump at the next bar if you want and it will stay in time. You can set it to jump instantly but that doesn't sound good. If you hit the key at beat 2.6 it jumps immediately and starts with a new bar on 1. Not good.
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: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,869
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,869 |
Realtracks = game changer
Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 236
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 236 |
I have the Everything pak and it is everything I need. I probably will never even get through all of the RT's.
Todd
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815 |
Dang! I didn't know about the cello realtrack -- it sounds great. I missed the upgrade special this time around, though. Maybe in December.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1 |
.
How many synthesizers in BB 2012 in order to transfer midi lines to separate wave lines
ttvl
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
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that can be done with as little as one DXi or VSTi GM MIDI synth.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
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Ttvl, to be clear, Biab itself does not have sound of it's own. This constantaly confuses new people. Biab is not a DAW like Sonar or Reason that has a whole rack of built in synths. PG Music gives you the Coyote Wavetable synth just to get you started for 64 bit systems. It uses your Windows Wavetable sound. Not very good. For 32 bit systems you can use the Roland VSC that is also free from PG and that's a bit better than the Wavetable. Beyond those two, it's up to you to use either software plugins, hardware synth modules or keyboards for sound. The better the sound the more they cost. This is why PG has several good synths for sale on the website like Garritan for software and the Ketron for hardware. You can use multiple VST plug in synths, one for each instrument if you want. This is for midi, the Real Tracks/Drums are audio so they don't depend on a synth for sound, they sound the same regardless of what synth you are using.
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.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
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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!
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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.
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Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
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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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