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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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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 blog
Vocal 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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dcuny.....thanks for the input....Anybody else want to chime in?

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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

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jford: Thanks for the input. I am thinking the MegaPack version would be better for me.

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Rockman59,

Buy as much as your budget will allow, you can thank me later.

Welcome Aboard!

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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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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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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.


John
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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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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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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


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Realtracks = game changer


Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
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I have the Everything pak and it is everything I need. I probably will never even get through all of the RT's.


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Dang! I didn't know about the cello realtrack -- it sounds great. I missed the upgrade special this time around, though. Maybe in December.


Now at bandcamp: Crows Say Vee-Eh @ bandcamp or soundcloud: Kevin @ soundcloud
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How many synthesizers in BB 2012 in order to transfer midi lines to separate wave lines
ttvl

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that can be done with as little as one DXi or VSTi GM MIDI synth.


--Mac

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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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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe

This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.

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  • MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
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  • Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!

Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.

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Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 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 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!

Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.

Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 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 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

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.

Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!

Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 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.

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