|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,085
Expert
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,085 |
Has anyone noticed noise on Piano Real Tracks?
I've experimented with these RT's: 831, 1701, 2049, 2117
There seems to be a hiss and/or a background rumble that I can detect on my KRK monitors and with headphones. I don't detect that same noise on other Real Tracks I'm working with. Violin or mandolin for example.
The noise is present on RT's in BIAB, in RB, and on those tracks imported to my DAW.
I don't rule out a hardware or settings problem, just starting here.
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,139
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,139 |
Yup. Some of the piano RT's have artifacts. (actually more obvious in the Audiophile version).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,085
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,085 |
Whew! Thanks. All ear fatigue aside, I was starting to think I was hearing things:)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Sometimes the best of Piano, and certainly Bass tracks, when Solo'd, can sound like someone is workin' on a Buick in the background.  Proof of the pudding is how they sit in a mix. If there are Silent parts, where the instrument does not play at the time, any background noise issues will come to the fore because of Signal to Noise ratio. Highlight those silent parts and edit them to true zero silence. --Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,085
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,085 |
This is noise contained within the audio. More present in the bass clef, I hadn't noticed it before.
No problem. I'll deal with it. Thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,446
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,446 |
I haven't heard this in a few years, but in the early days of RealTracks I would on occasion hear a superfluous noise (for example, a bang) that I reported to PG Music Support. They would patch it in the next RealTracks update.
If you listen to the raw RealTrack file itself, in the RealTracks folder, you can determine if there is something particularly annoying going on. If there is, report it.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,725
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,725 |
I've heard this and attributed it to room noise picked up by the mic used to record the piano.
Its more evident when the piano is solo or nearly so.
Yeah, you're not hearing things..... it's there.
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: Aug 2011
Posts: 289
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 289 |
I've noticed something similar on one of the rock / blues organ tracks - slight distorion occasionally. I'll have to check which one it was and let PG know. Thought it was my ears / phones as well until I swapped the phones around and the distortion moved to the other ear. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
I've noticed something similar on one of the rock / blues organ tracks - slight distorion occasionally. I'll have to check which one it was and let PG know. Thought it was my ears / phones as well until I swapped the phones around and the distortion moved to the other ear. Such may be the result of mic'ing a Leslie cabinet with one mic at the horn level and another down below at the speaker rotor. It is often the case that these two mics are panned a bit to either side, turning what is originally an "up/down" into a L/R on the soundstage. When a Hammond Tonewheel Organ is set up for "grit" - typically accomplished by readjustment of the negative feedback capacitor inside the expression capacitor's circuit, and sometimes also with a bit of circuit tweaking of the Hamnmond Preamp as well, the distortion thus created will often first happen at the Horn, which is on a crossover at about 700Hz, leaving the lower bass speaker, typically a 15" woofer pointed downwards into the lower rotor, still sounding rather clean. When the Blues/Rock Hammond Realtracks were introduced, this old B3 lover, with years at the helm behind him, immediately heard that the organ used for these tracks is of the type that is treasured by players of the roadhouse blues and rock genres, often they prefer a B or C model that has a lot of mileage on the tonewheel rotors, which translates to a different sound than the "tight" B3 sound preferred by most Jazz and players of other genres. The famous rotary speaker Leslie cabinet also is known for certain sounds "other than the organ" emanating from the cabinet, often only noticeable when the organ is not being played, but not always, such as mechanical noise from the rotation motors, drivewheels, belt pulleys and belt tensioners. Not usually noticed in live performance work, easily spotted when a Leslie is close-mic'd as in the studio. Matter of fact, many good Tonewheel Organ digital simulators come complete with user-selectable "models" that, while all being B3's, sound very different from each other. The venerable old Native Instruments B4 simulator at one time included an addon pack that allowed the user to choose from "worn" organs and "tweaked" Leslies for just this reason. In the realworld, no two B3 organs sound exactly alike. Blues players, Rock players and even some Gospel players often prefer the sound that comes from the older organs in which the capacitor banks were built using the old wax paper caps rather than the poly caps that were built into the organs starting sometime in the mid 60s. Grit, baby. And since each tonewheel has its own separate cap on the circuit, the variance of sound between each note is sometimes all over the place. A rather clean Bb note with a rather raspy D above it, things like that, which actually give the organ that "character". Don't get hung up in the notion that all tracks MUST be entirely pristine, with the only sound being that of the instrument itself, in the real world, such is the exception and not the rule. Matter of fact, if a Rotary Organ track is "too clean" when solo'd, it is often the telltale sign of a MIDI patch or a poorly designed digital simulation in which the designers did not do what it would take to add the various configurations of distortion, overdrive when Expression pedal is floored but clean when lifted a bit, and perhaps one of the most difficult parameters to simulate authentically, the various mechanical sounds of the spinning rotors. There is also the Wind Noise of the spinning horn in there, too. Again I attempt to tell folks that the bottom line is how the track sits in the mic, NOT what you hear when Solo'd. Of course, there do exist certain anomalies that may fall outside of these parameters, that would be things like a continuous buzz or hum on the track, which might indicate one of several electronic circuit problems or interferences, there could be certain background noises picked up by the mics - sometimes the performance on the track yields the decision to go with that take anyway, though, as the performance might be deemed to far outweigh the fact that the mics picked up someone coughing, or feet shuffling at one point, or whatever. Experience with the mixdown of multitracked recordings is likely the missing ingredient with many of these kind of complaints, especially the experience of having to come in after the Tracking phase is completed, on a project you've never heard before and your task is to do the mixdown. First thing I always do in that situation is throw up all the faders, just to see what I've got. From there the task is to make the overall happen from the various tracks and worrying about little anomalies on one track out of a possible 24 won't get the job done - and more importantly, is not likely to be heard or noticed in the context of the full mix. Signal to Noise is expressed as a Ratio for a reason... In layman's terms, Signal to Noise means that a low amplitude level sound may stick out when the overall tracks are at a lower amplitude, but that same sound will actually "disappear" when all tracks in use are playing at realworld amplitudes. Don't get too involved in the "hunt for noises on the RealTracka" unless you find one that actually stands out in the context of a full mix. --Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 204
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 204 |
Mac, As always, right on.------Leon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,725
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,725 |
Don't get hung up in the notion that all tracks MUST be entirely pristine, with the only sound being that of the instrument itself, in the real world, such is the exception and not the rule.
Again I attempt to tell folks that the bottom line is how the track sits in the mic, NOT what you hear when Solo'd.
--Mac
exactly. The other instruments can cover a multitude of issues. It is only a problem if that piano is playing with a solo voice and nothing else.
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: Nov 2008
Posts: 479
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479 |
I just recently noticed it yesterday. I was working on some tracks and I thought someone was walking around upstairs. Its more than an artifact and will possibly make this particular project unusable.
WSS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,132
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,132 |
I pretty much gave up with putting the RealTrack pianos in the forefront because of this. Because of the sustain pedal, it's often more obvious where cuts happen. In the mix, it sounds fine. Exposed... not so much.
Fortunately, I can often find MIDI tracks that come close. It's one of the few instruments where the MIDI replacements can be swapped in without losing too much.
But it was a huge disappointment, because there are some really lovely RealTrack pianos.
I've also had trouble with the mandolin as well.
-- 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,446
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,446 |
As I mentioned, if it's that obvious (like hearing footsteps), identify the individual RealTrack and report it to PG Music Support. Individual RealTrack files aren't so long; you should be able to identify the time in the track where the offending sounds occur.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479 |
hey I don't know if this will be helpful or not, probably not, but I think I found the source of one of my problems. I was using one of the new age patches with acoustic guitar and added a piano track. I kept hearing something and something like someone was walking around upstairs. the drum track seemed to be empty so I didn't think about it but when I soloed it there was some noise every couple bars. Muted the drums and the sound went away.
WSS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,446
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,446 |
There are some genres like a mystery movie sound track where the sound of someone walking around upstairs could come in handy...
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 289
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 289 |
Hi Mac.
Thanks for the very detailed reply, that was a very interesting explanation regarding the cabinet sounds themselves. I also take your point regarding the real world not being a clinically clean sound box.
I'll have another listen but I think the distortion crops up at one of those inconvenient points in the mix where everything else subdues. I need to play around with it.
Thanks again.
Mike.
Last edited by Mike. R.; 02/20/14 04:57 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,725
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,725 |
If you are game, and if you are confident of your editing skills, try this.
Go into the BB folder and navigate to the real tracks and into the folder where the actual wave files are kept for the given style.
Play the files from that folder one by one listening carefully with good speakers. I used a 3rd party wave editor to do this initially.
Enlarge the wave form on the screen. At the ends of several of the held chords I was looking at, there was a little "blip" in the wave. It could have been the sound of the damper pedal being released, or someone bumped a mic stand, someone setting their beer glass down, or whatever. No matter the cause, it was there, audible, and visible.
Simply load that file into a DAW track, and use the editing tools available there to fade the chord a bit quicker so it is completely faded before it hits that "blip" at the end. Once satisfied, save that file back to it's original location.
You now have the same file but this time without the noise in the file.
Easy fix if you want to pick the nits and clean up the sound a bit at the source as opposed to fixing it in the mix.
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 02/20/14 04:59 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: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,732
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,732 |
Go into the BB folder and navigate to the real tracks and into the folder where the actual wave files are kept for the given style. Thanks Guitarhacker! I was going to recommend the same thing. I'll probably use Adobe Audition to edit my original RealTrack .wav files if I get to that point of needing to.
 Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,725
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,725 |
Go into the BB folder and navigate to the real tracks and into the folder where the actual wave files are kept for the given style. Thanks Guitarhacker! I was going to recommend the same thing. I'll probably use Adobe Audition to edit my original RealTrack .wav files if I get to that point of needing to. I know I can do that if I need to but so far, I can hide or edit the noise in the project track.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. 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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows 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)
- Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
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 PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics85,734
Posts795,443
Members39,941
| |
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean