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I was speaking to a Music producer in Nashville an I mentioned BIAB, he replied "Myself, I find the user interface to BIAB one of the most confounding, and downright biggest UI messes ever, but that's just me. But... that is a great program in terms of what it can do and those real tracks they use now, sound more realistic than anything anyone has going. It really is fantastic." (he also has friends who have recorded for PG)
Well I don't think he is the only one, this is something we hear most often. I mentioned Realband as how many even know of it's existence ?
I think PG needs to vastly improve and promote RB as a decent DAW that can generate Real Tracks that can be used in this Industry and get away from the Auto Accompaniment of BIAB. It is great to use even 1 or 2 RTs in a session.
PG you need to remove all reminiscent of DOS and make it more solid and reliable so it can compete on the world stage with the other sleek DAWs, what other DAWs can do what RB can do ? not even Cubase Chord Track !
Most in this Industry use DAWs, it would be a no brainer to move to RB.
PG I know you will see the picture and get there eventually, but it just takes soooo long.
Thanks.
Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution. It is, strictly speaking, a real factor in scientific research ― Albert Einstein
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I agree entirely.
I sincerely believe that if PG were to address the poor image created by the amateurish graphics, then RealBand and PowerTracks could easily compete with anything on the market. In the case of RealBand, it would be untouchable.
I've been using PowerTracks in a commercial environment for about fifteen years, but it takes time for my customers to take it seriously, purely because it looks the way it does. If I'm expecting a new customer I make sure I have Harrison Mixbus booted, even though I never actually use it! Image shouldn't be important, but it is.
A graphics make-over wouldn't be such a long task, but could reap major benefits.
ROG.
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"If I'm expecting a new customer I make sure I have Harrison Mixbus booted, even though I never actually use it!" Now that's funny right there. 
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Hi Bob.
Funny, yes, but also true and sad at the same time.
Mixbus looks so impressive on the 47in monitor when people walk through the door for the first time, but it lacks many of the features of PowerTracks and just can't compete at all with RealBand.
So, once the first impression has been created, I quickly switch back to RealBand.
Why do I still have PowerTracks as well? It boots much faster. Once the RTs have been generated I work in PowerTracks. For what it costs I can afford to have both.
ROG.
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Hey ROG, Hope you and yours are well. I realize that the GUI in BIAB/RB has been a bone of contention for many, but for me, it's unique facilities far outweigh the shortcomings of the GUI. As for making RB a full-featured DAW, I really question whether PG has the juice to compete with Pro Tools, Cubase, Samplitude, Nuendo, et al.? BTW, and interesting thread on this subject: http://repforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php?topic=1331.0 I think that matched with BIAB, RB has all the functionality that PG's target market requires. Nobody here is mixing pro projects to be delivered to a label. Regards, Bob
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Hi Bob,
Yes, all well thank you and I hope the same with you.
Thanks for the link to the thread - very interesting. I think the consensus is that all the DAWs work well and you pick one for the workflow which suits. I think you're right that RealBand is never going to make inroads into the Pro Tools market, but it can and is used by many people I know who are working commercially.
Personally, we've done hundreds of radio jingles and lots of audio for advertising using PowerTracks. That sort of work is great, because no one sees what kit you're working with, they only get the end product. Never had anything returned.
Yeah, I know I moan a lot about the graphics, but I'm never going to switch platforms whilst RealBand and PowerTracks work so well and at a price a lot of my students can afford.
Take care. Regards,
ROG.
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...As for making RB a full-featured DAW, I really question whether PG has the juice to compete with Pro Tools, Cubase, Samplitude, Nuendo, et al.?.. Nobody here is mixing pro projects to be delivered to a label... It won't replace PT but to have something you can work in without out having to go back n forth from PT to RB. You would be surprised what it has been used on. "He's a top-notch producer himself, and has actually used BIAB on records and there is no way anyone would be able to tell it wasn't live. It's that good and tight."
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...As for making RB a full-featured DAW, I really question whether PG has the juice to compete with Pro Tools, Cubase, Samplitude, Nuendo, et al.?.. Nobody here is mixing pro projects to be delivered to a label... It won't replace PT but to have something you can work in without out having to go back n forth from PT to RB. You would be surprised what it has been used on. "He's a top-notch producer himself, and has actually used BIAB on records and there is no way anyone would be able to tell it wasn't live. It's that good and tight." No argument. All that I'm saying is that RB would have a long way to go to compete with PT in the real world. If you read the thread I cited from PSW, most labels are expecting Pro Tools for their mixes. They have a ton of money invested in Avid hardware and software, and need the mixes to translate without any issues. I love RB, but I record and mix in Sonar. While not nearly as sophisticated as PT, I have a project I'm working on that has 62 tracks at 24 bit with a ton of plugs. Can RB do that? More to the point, should it? I believe that PG's strength lies in it's MIDI capabilities, and of course, Real Tracks. I think their time and effort would be better spent going to 32 bit and expanding the Real Track and Real Drum libraries. “...He's a top-notch producer himself, and has actually used BIAB on records...” Did he use Real Band for the recording and mixing, or dump the BIAB files into Pro Tools? Regards, Bob
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In my mind I take this one step further; give it a nicer GUI
AND
give users the ability to create their own (shareable) skins.
Dream big or get off my lawn
Last edited by rharv; 11/05/14 04:29 PM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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BIAB drag n drop, drag n drop, drag n drop. . . . to main DAW, oh that don't fit will generate, drag n drop again. .
You can't really record in RB, it needs multitrack record arm for each track for selected input, and draw the wav while recording.
It needs more Node modes so you can still mix while parts are muted.
Yes going to 64 bit will help and yes more RT RD, if they just have DI guitars that will save a lot of space.
They will get there eventually as I said, but yea it takes soooo loooong.
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PG Music Staff
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The GUI was modernized last year. If you're quoting an anonymous person critiquing it, at least you could tell us if he was talking about the old GUI or the new one.
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
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Not sure what version he was meaning, but I put him on to RB, he is sussing that out now and sounds excited, I think that is the way to go for what he wants to do and he uses a DAW.
BB is fine for Auto Accomplement, it needs to be complex with so many variables you can enter in to do things automatically on the fly. But RB you can "see" and "edit" things "precisely" in your own time.
As mention before RB is a no brainer move from a DAW.
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Thanks. btw, The 2014 version has been getting good reviews for the GUI. For example, here's a Mac World Australia one... This relentless addition of new features has probably driven the complete redesign of the interface which is the killer feature of this upgrade. Whereas the toolbars formerly seemed to be a bewildering array of unrelated functions, the new look now sensibly groups tools according to their use. A new font adds to the spacious look and feel. And it all works. The new interface certainly removes the clutter which has been my only serious reservation about BiaB. It’s so much easier to find your way around. http://www.macworld.com.au/blogs/hands-on-with-band-in-a-box-2014-131170/#.VCruUmddWSq
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
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Thanks yes saw the Mac write up, if you have a Mac that's a must have app, as I have on my Mac. With Win, PGMusic has 2 Sons that need equal attention and affection, RB n BB. RB has grown and needs to be up n out there along side his bigger brother but in his own right. This way new comers from DAWs will not be faced with the daunting task of working out BB for the first time. Fathers should not give preferential treatment to one son or the other.  I have been in this Industry for many years and "NO" other products can do what these do ! I always promote them wherever I go. I only give them a hard time here to make them better. Hopefully Macworld will be doing a great write up on Realband 2016 for Mac.
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Hi Peter.
Thanks for joining in on this one.
You may have noticed from my posts that I've been using PowerTracks and RealBand in a commercial environment for about fifteen years and I'm a great advocate and promoter of both programs. In my experience, the pro-users with whom I come into contact invariably use RealBand, but rarely BiaB. Like myself, they've moved from PowerTracks simply to be able to incorporate RealTracks into their work.
If people learned how to use all the features of the mixer window, they would realise that even PowerTracks can compete with most of the heavyweight programs and that RealBand is in a league of it's own. I think that Solidrock is right in that RB could be given more attention and possibly released as a stand-alone without Biab and aimed at a more professional user. This would, of course, involve making the mixer's graphics look more like the competition, which has always been my number one on the wish-list. I concede that cosmetics shouldn't make a difference, but unfortunately they do.
In any case, it's good to see "the boss" joining in on these discussions - it doesn't happen in most companies. Thanks.
ROG.
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Peter, the recent GUI updates were very much appreciated and they definitely moved the programs forward a bunch. But (you knew that was coming!) most modern music software is still quite far ahead in terms of usability, stability, intuitiveness (a word?). I have tried numerous times to get comfortable with RealBand, and I am now using it to generate tracks, but it just never quite feels as easy to use as other modern DAWs. I am sure you guys face incredible challenges because of the codebase you must maintain as you move forward. And brand new DAWs that are coming out get the advantage of starting at zero and creating state-of-the-art interfaces.
But you have something very magical with RealTracks that NO OTHER DAW HAS!!! If you could put a brand new modern GUI on it you could own the DAW market!
Or, and I think this is an easier path, perhaps you should re-package RealTracks and the technology into a VST that could be used in any DAW! You already have the underlying tech figured out. What I wouldn't give to be able to fire up the DAW of my choice, set up my chord progressions and then assign a RealTrack VST to each track and pop up the PG window to create each track, bar-by-bar!!!!!
With all of this said however, I must say what you have accomplished with these tools is nothing short of miraculous! So, even if you never changed a thing I am a customer for life! The music I can make, because of you and your tools, is a dream come true! So, THANK YOU!!!
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John, John and John you all nailed it !
We only say these things because we Love it, not to put it down, we just want to help make it better if not the best !
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Dream big or get off my lawn
do you have any idea how hilarious it looks from my end of the discussion to see the little dog avatar saying "dream big or get off my lawn" ??? 
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fixed that for ya. The image was making some of my replies appear snarky.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Now that's a better vu (view).
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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