Most of the activities you mention can be done in PG Music's RealBand. Also, play-alongs can be generated in Band-In-A-Box and then expanded in RealBand by adding audio and/or midi tracks. I use PowerTracks Pro Audio because I use external sound modules and don't need the virtual instruments available in RealBand. You need to visit the other PG Music Forums such as "Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production" under General Discussions and "RealBand" under PG Music Product Forums. You're on the right track. You can do everything you want to in the PG Music world.