|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 167
Apprentice
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 167 |
Part 1)Sorry if this question has been asked before,tried searching but could not get results I was after. How come it's not possible to sample from the live tracks and use the individual notes in a song instead of the pre-made phases.If for example I use Sample Modelings Sax and Trumpet and they are made from sampled instruments why not the real tracks that PG Music makes? Is it really that impossible to do or would it just take to much time and not be financially feasible.
Part 2)Would it be possible to turn loops of real instruments into real tracks? I mean is there a way to save the file and place it for use real tracks to use? Thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,572
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,572 |
Two good questions.
The first question has indeed been asked frequently. To make a long answer short, suppose you could sample one note for use in the melody. What would be its attack, duration, timbre, vibrato or volume? I don't think it's as easy as it first appears.
Users do not have the tools and instructions to do your second question at this time. It is a reasonable request, though, as this is possible for RealDrums so one would think it could be for RealTracks. As a practical matter, we cannot read the instruction files for RealTracks; the ones for RealDrums are simple ASCII text. Just a guess, but perhaps PG Music wishes to keep its very successful process proprietary.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815 |
(1) already exists -- it's called midi (ha, ha). RealTracks derives its "real" sound by recording a bunch of phrases that take care all of those things that Matt mentioned up above for you. As you get closer and closer to one note, you move closer and closer to what midi does with its use of samples.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
(1) already exists -- it's called midi (ha, ha). RealTracks derives its "real" sound by recording a bunch of phrases that take care all of those things that Matt mentioned up above for you. As you get closer and closer to one note, you move closer and closer to what midi does with its use of samples. Exactly! Consider this: You already have various MIDI samplers that are made by sample recording separate notes of a real instrument and then you are enabled to assign a note value for each note, assembling that into a performance. But you also know that MIDI quite often cannot sound realistic. The PGMusic Realtracks get around that problem by incorporating groups of notes - musical phrases - that were recorded in realtime by live very high quality musicians and the software is enabled to select from those phrases and place them intelligently overtop of your entered chord changes. Trying to frorce Realtracks to play your desired notes, one at a time, is therefore a self-defeating prospect. On the other hand, there are quite a few MIDI instruments that can sound realistic enough, the Keyboards, Melodic Percussion Instruments, etc. that can, when presented along with a few Realtracks and the Realdrums, sound very real indeed. And depending upon your selection of the MIDI synth or sampler involved, you can generate some very convincing work. Even using MIDI guitars in the case of some synths. --Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,870
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,870 |
I too wanted... hoped that BB/RB would be able to do this.....I wanted it to be able to play a melody of my choosing.... but it doesn't exactly do that so I work within it's limitations and my imagination and efforts to get better than the average result from it. The fact of the matter is that if you render the same real track several different times, lets say 5 times.... you WILL have 5 completely different tracks with many variations between them but also with great similarity between them. Some parts will tend to be nearly identical between the tracks and other areas will be totally different. Case in point: The Best Christmas http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11971116 It's a song I wrote some time back now.... but in it, I have 3 piano tracks and if I'm not mistaken there are 5 guitar tracks.... both piano and guitar were rendered multiple times from the same real track..... and looking at the screen shot you can see the differences. The piano fills and the guitar fills and solo are constructed with creative editing to achieve the desired result.  hope this helps.... it takes some work but you can get some interesting stuff with some effort. If you absolutely have to have something that follows your notes.... such as a sax or piano, or anything else.... midi is the way to go, short of getting a live player to play the part for you. There are some really nice (but costly) sampled synths out there which are specific to certain instruments.... simply do a Bing search and you'll find them. Asking on various recording forum sites can often turn up player with the specialty instrument you seek and who have a decent home studio and most importantly are willing to help for free. Check on the forum sites for all the major DAW manufacturers. Another song I did: Missing Person http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11962059 has 3 musicians from 3 different states.... fiddle from Vermont, vocals, guitars and mando (me) from NC, and vocals, bass, guitar, dobro from Georgia.... just ask and people will jump in on a project that interests them. We have never met nor talked on the phone....everything was through the forum and PM, and email.
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 10/27/13 08:07 AM.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 794
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 794 |
You can always import the sample (mind you they are quite buried in the BB RT folder - but the samples can be located) into a DAW and do either the volume envelope as GH pictured or even chop the sample down into individual notes if you wanted, remove those you don't and then replace the edited sample back into the BB RT folder. Ensuring the exact same name (including case) is used. They are, after all, only WMA files and can be manipulated as such. Sonar can export WMA files, as can most other DAW's I would imagine. Of course you would copy out the original to another location first 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18
Enthusiast
|
|
Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18 |
Just for the record, the "sample modelling" products are not related to sampling as the operative word. Yes, it was likely (just guessing really) analysis of samples that produced their proprietary methods. But "modelling", as in generating a model algorithmically, is the operative word.
Apparently Sample Modelling modeled many sonic timbre signatures that are as variable as can be, based on the physical changes that happen during an actual sax, trombone or trumpet note or phrase. Then they wrote algorithms to achieve these sound signatures or change processes.
Pianoteq (a 20 meg program, no typical sample library) also has a real time modelling method, but for pianos and other keyboard instruments. MIDI can be used to play these instruments but each accepts other variables from what i could glean from videos. Pianoteq uses adjustments prior to play that create very distinct intruments.
Sample modelling's offerings are more zeroed in on a particular individual horn, and apparently, allow editing of performance data. But they both probably allow controller access during performance. I am not sure exactly how MIDI or proprietary controllers come into play in real time versus on the piano roll editor of these products. Getting a nearly perfect performance, for horns or sax, might require piano roll editing.
Anyway, if realistic instruments were to be had by basic sampling with loops and simple envelopes, these would be the more boring of the bunch (Why u look at me dis way xylophone? I don't mean to insult you xylophone! Marimba, get hold of yourself.). Even the combination of vibrato rate and depth makes it hard for a sampler to approach violin or cello perfectly. Sax and trombone and trumpet are as hard if not a lot harder since the overtones are varying not as would be reproducable by filtering, but radically, and in contrast to a linear envelope, these changes happen as a player blows harder or forms lips in different direction, which he/she can do early or late in the note or phrase. I really don't know with any certainty or precision about this stuff; if i'm wrong please correct me! But its fun for me to think about which is why i put my 2 ¢ in.
I don't work for a virtual musical instrument modelling company.
Last edited by curiousCat; 10/29/13 01:16 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,870
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,870 |
Curious cat nailed the problem...
You can replicate the notes with ease using a variety of methods.... however, the human feel, the characteristic of the instrument and how it's played.... also known as ARTICULATION ... that, is the hard part of replication with patches and samples.
Band in a Box and Real tracks does a decent job in many respects with this issue.... but when you start chopping things apart and putting them back together.... the result will not have the proper articulation.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 167
Apprentice
|
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 167 |
I use both Sibelius and Finale and both programs have features that try to emulate a real person playing just like BIAB does with embellishment. Could they not improve on this feature by making say the melody do whatever the instrument that you choose play, be it guitar or piano of a Sax so that the chosen instrument would only have articulations that are meant for that instrument. Like a bend in a guitar or an overblow for a sax. Just wondering
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18
Enthusiast
|
|
Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18 |
In the case of modelers that augment the function of MIDI for musicians, pianoteq has a great page on there web site that some may find helpful. Its a list of things that their little program adjusts that you will recognize are not either in the realm of MIDI or the realm of samples: https://www.pianoteq.com/listen_featuresTonight I bought the stage version of this piano to try out with BIAB. Mainly because I got tired of my east west grand piano, which uses 2 gigs of memory. From the audio examples on this page I can tell I am going to be enthralled with this program, which is only $130. Here's more explanation of the difference between a sampler and such a modeling program. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTbXnbfymdcStill wish I could afford sample modelling's offerings but I think its like $800 for everything...
Last edited by curiousCat; 10/30/13 07:57 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: 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.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
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!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
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.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
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.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,221
Posts802,046
Members40,070
| |
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean