I use BIAB regularly for giggs and want to know whether the time and effort required for RealBand are worth the benefits. I also want to know whether some of the possibities one has with BIAB can be used in RealBand. I'm just starting to learn RealBand and want to know whether it will be worth the time and effort to master it.

I use some kind of harmony in every tune. I often use whole notes with three to five part harmonies to back up something I'm singing or playing. What is the simplist way of putting that harmony into RealBand? Can I use Nat King Cole piano harmony as a melody in RealBand? What about a Glen Miller harmony that uses a clarinet and saxes?

On the positive side I could write more sophisticated arrangements. I could be like a big band arranger writing a score for the complete band. I could also sing harmonies to myself or play harmonies to myself on the trombone. This, however, could be done mechanically by adding more hardware.

Richard Corliss