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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 73
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 73 |
Hi, I retired a couple of years ago and since then have gotten into playing guitar and singing the local bars. Now I would like to get into recording my own songs and to that end have purchased an audio interface, DAW etc.
All good so far but I would like to add drums, bass, maybe some slide guitar etc. all things I can't play, so I started researching the net, which lead me to BIAB and this site.
I have perused the Showcase section and am loving some of the stuff posted, which sound like just what I am after. However I am a bit confused, I appreciate that if I add a chord sequence the software will fill in with a melody but that's not really what I want I can play the rhythm guitar and sing the melody I simply want the software to follow that or at least let me tell it what to play. Can it do that? And can realband also do that?
Also, am I better downloading the software or buying the physical box/harddrive?
All and any advice gratefully received
Cheers Steve
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,725
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,725 |
Welcome to the forum,
I could go on for paragraphs but I won't . . . the answer to your questions is YES. With a little clarification re: the melody question (as it won't fill in "exactly like the record" melodies" but if you want it will fill in "a melody")
I purchase the harddrive as it serves as a back-up "just in case" but over the past decade or so I have never had a "just in case issue."
Bottomline, run to your phone and order as soon as you do that you will start being blown away with your results.
PS: While I do very little with Realband I understand that in itself it is a pretty darn good DAW. Others sill chime in.
Later,
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,906
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,906 |
I agree with Danny. Buy it, as it will do exactly what you are asking.
BiaB will only add melody or solo parts IF you ask it to do so. Personally I rarely use the soloist but on occasion I will use the melodist to generate a melody to get me out of “writer’s block”.
I am a guitarist also, but I am not a singer. What I do is to input the chords to BiaB and have it generate a backing track from any of the many styles. You can use either MIDI only, RealTracks only or a combination of the two, the sky is the limit on what you can do. I then move the tracks to Sonar but many here use the included RealBank DAW. You can move the tracks to your DAW.
Many times I will mute the bass and guitar parts and play them myself while other times I will use what BiaB gives me. Many times I will modify the BiaB parts, I use mostly MIDI but have been known to cut and paste RealTracks to get what I want. I then will add my leads.
If you think of BiaB as a new instrument with a learning curve you will be just fine. Watch the videos, go slow and have fun and you soon be having a ball!
There are functions in BiaB for live gigs however I do not play out anymore. Many others use those functions so they will be more helpful than I can.
I hope this helps and good luck!
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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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 |
That's exactly why I bought BIAB -- to add bass and drums (and other things) to my songs.
So you pick an appropriate "style", pick a tempo and key, add your chord progression (and sections) and voila, you have a backing track for your song.
Picking a style is a trial and error type of thing and you can change it down the road if you need to. Once the BIAB song is done, you follow it and play acoustic guitar and sing. It takes some effort to make the song exactly the way you want it, but it is reasonably easy to get 90% of the way there.
I only use BIAB for original songs and I compromise with BIAB to get the song done -- but it mostly ends up the way I wanted it to. Feel free to peruse my BIAB at the link in my signature to see what I do with BIAB.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047 |
Also a nother powerful tool that you simply cannot purchase....
Is the knowledge and help you can garner in the "FORUMS".
There are some outstanding professionals who are great at
helping, and also many others that do contribute to the help sources
also.
And on top of that.. PG Music folks are top dog in sales, tech help
and following up on issures.
One of your own great ideas was to use the ShowCase forum.
Using their experience in music and using PG Music was immense help
to me. Will always be greatful for that.
I had PowerTracks Pro since 2005 then migrated to RealBand when
purchased BIAB.
A pure DAW was sorta new in its use, but Realband is very straight
forward relatively easy to use. Knowledge base determines that.
Results for a newbie in DAW area.
Also did not read the fine print above, but PG has a 30 day trial
period. Even using the basic version will put you into the ballgame.
Select a style, select the key, enter chords and play....
Good luck, and As Dr. Gannon seh's Have Fun
One last thing "when" you drop the hammer, purchase at least Ultra Pak Plus.
It contains terrific amount of styles and other support item.
$$$$ depends on how many "Taco Bell" 89 cent burrito's your willing to eat.
Last edited by seeker; 10/14/13 11:20 AM.
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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 |
I live in the UK. If I download BIAB then I get regular price. If I get it sent to me on a hard drive then I have to pay 20% VAT and a £10 'handling charge from the post office for the privilege of queuing up in the rain for the package.
Zero
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 2009
Posts: 10,976
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,976 |
Yes, it will do everything you asked about.
Since you have a DAW and an interface, you are ahead of the game...
Listen to my stuff...the top 5 songs on my music page are all excellent examples of what this software will let you do. I use BB to write, and then Real band to create/render the tracks..... I add my own guitars and mandolins and sing in Sonar... all mixing, mastering, and live recording in Sonar X1.
Buy the hard drive version..... it's plug and play and has the real tracks on it. Buy as far up the "food chain" as you can afford to buy. You will not regret that decision.
I started with the lower versions and soon realized I really needed the highest version they had (short of audophile).....
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 10/14/13 12:18 PM.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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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 |
As noted above, the tech/musical support provided here in this forum is unmatched. It is worth at least half the price of the software.
And PG Support is outstanding as well but I find that you will get multifaceted ideas/tips/tricks and advice on MUSICAL issues right here and that makes this forum the "go to" support resource.
It is VERY rare that any questions "stump the band" here...literally or figuratively.
Best,
Jim
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,174
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,174 |
Welcome Steve,
Hope you have a lot of fun here on the forum and with biab.
Only a few months to go now hopefully before the Big PG music annual sale and band in a box 2014 flying off the shelves, either in hard drive or downloadable format, which due to its size requires a good internet connection.
You will not be sorry you bought this software.
Musiclover
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 73
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 73 |
Thanks for all of the friendly welcomes and advice, I was going to get BIAB for Christmas off the missus but is it being suggested that I might be better off waiting for a sale or indeed a new version. Is this an annual thing and is the discount worth the wait? After all I am a pensioner now and making the pennies count.
Cheers Steve
Last edited by Steve Mac; 10/15/13 05:04 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,250
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,250 |
Hi
Around Christmas time the latest version of BIAB comes out andnius usually at a good discount for a short while.
Buy the Download version to save oN Taxes etc. Its a MONSTER DL but it all loaded without any bother - just took a long time. If the pennies matter, and I'm on a pension too now, then that is the way to go.
Cheers
Ian
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,647
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,647 |
If you REALLY need to watch pennies, then the download is cheaper. However, being a computer guy (and relying on the supplied hard drives sometimes) my personal opinion is that the included drive is worth the increase. Easily.
Considering it's a reliable 150 gig external drive (already loaded with PGMusic recording tools) has value. If you can swing it get the hard drive. If things are really that tight, I understand, but I think the preloaded hard drive is more than worth the price difference. I have PGMusic drives, many years old, that have been carried around in cars, etc .. and still work as expected years later. I can go to a new location (or a new computer) plug in the external drive, run BiaB/RB (and add Realtracks!) with very little time/effort getting things set up.
I appreciate the value of the drives.
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: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,976
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Posts: 10,976 |
AND.... the hard drive isn't 100% full.... so there is even room to set up a new folder to save your finished tunes, and work in progress.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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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 |
The problem of the USB Hard Drive choice has to do with some several countries other than USA or Canada and the Import Laws governing them.
There is up to a 100% Import Duty imposed on hardware in these countries.
People who reside in those countries would save considerably by selecting either the download option or the DVD option (or BOTH if they enjoy a fast Internet connection, download and install and get started while awaiting shipment of the DVDs as backup.
They could always choose to purchase a USB drive locally and place the entire program and files on that drive if they wish or need to run the programs from it - and still save quite a bit of hard earned money.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,976
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,976 |
Gotta love those protective import tariffs....
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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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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Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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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®.
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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!
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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.
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- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
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Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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