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Hi everyone,

Before I start off with my problem, I'm using a HP pavilion notebook, windows VISTA and the 2 audio drivers listed are "IDT High Definition Audio CODEC" & "NVIDIA HDMI Audio". Instead of using my notebook speakers, I've connected one of the headphone jacks into Logitech speakers (with bass woofer and all) . I've been using GuitarPro5 to compose music (the file formats are .gp3, .gp4 or .gp5) but got sick of the articial sound which hinders me from being innovative. So I was looking for a music software that could create "real-sound" or "real sound samples" which sound good then I decided to try BIAB & RealBand. BIAB was a real disappointment for me because not only was it alot harder to use as compared to GuitarPro5, it sounded EXACTLY the same. However, I was listening to 2 of the ONLY playable samples in RealBand (demosng1 and rock) and it sounded reasonably good. Since GuitarPro5 has the feature of exporting those .gp files into midi files which can be directly played by Windows Media Player, I thought of composing songs in GuitarPro5, exporting it into a midi file and then saving it as a real track in RealBand.

I'm a real newbie/idiot when it comes to computer sound devices so I can only understand very elaborate terms. When I opened mp3 files in RB, it played fine but when I opened midi files, it was silenced. Took me so long to get the output driver thing set-up properly that I almost smashed my notebook into pieces! And when I finally got the sound going, this pop-up "Couldn't open the wave device" appears whenever I click PLAY, and then it sounds EXACTLY like GP5 and BIAB!

I'm really on the verge of giving up and uninstalling this program but I already bought it. If any of you can suggest a fix for this problem, I would REALLY appreciate that. Also, IF this program does work, would there be a way to export the file into a wma or mp3 file to be played by Windows Media Player? I'm craving for some good quality sound and karaoke tracks!

One more problem, whenever I exit RealBand, this pop up from windows saying "RealBand has stopped working, windows is searching for a solution.........." appears. Though it doesn't affect me in any way, it gets me a little paranoid.

I apologise for making my issue such a long one. Please HELP me if you can! Thank you soooooooooooooo much!



Welcome to the PG Music community. You have just joined the friendliest and most helpful forums that I know of. Asking questions is the first step toward getting the most out of the incredible programs this company offers. (Note that I am a fellow user, not an employee.)

No MIDI program generates its own sounds. It is dependent on an external sound source. If you are playing all your MIDI files through the same sound card, then yes, they will all sound alike.

If you are NOT using Vista x64 you can select the Roland VSC (Virtual Sound Canvas) as your MIDI output driver. It sounds markedly better than any off-the-shelf PC's sound card. If it is not listed you may have to install it separately. It is on your BIAB/RB install disk. You may also use an external General MIDI (GM) synth such as a keyboard or the Ketron SD-2. Good MIDI files played through a superior synth/sound card sound spectacular.

You also need to know that MIDI (nor any other type) files cannot be 'saved' as Real Tracks. RT are digitally-recorded loops of actual musicians. RT are controlled by chords which you load into your PG program. Those chords can come from a MIDI file or you can enter them yourself. But if you use the chords from an existing MIDI file, know in advance that the Real output won't sound much like the original. In the opinion of most of us, that's a good thing. Those Studio Guys in a Box can play a heck of a lot better than the average user.

Once you have completed a song sequence to your satisfaction you can render it into a .WAV file, which you can then convert into a .WMA or .MP3 (or you may be able to do it directly; I don't recall and don't have the program running). Play to your heart's content in WMP or any other suitable media player.

Lastly, give BIAB another chance. I don't know anything about GuitarPro. BIAB is, as far as I know, a unique program with unique capabilities. For that reason it is very deep--to the point of being intimidating. I have been using it since the mid 90s and its original capabilities (not the hundreds of add-ons and improvements that have been made since then) still blow my mind. It is my go-to tool for music creation and rehearsal. I have even used it during jam sessions, letting the Melodist create tunes on the fly or doing it myself. Trust the intuition that brought you to acquire the programs(s) in the first place. It may take a while to 'get' it--but when you do . . .

Again, welcome. Keep asking questions. Stick with your PG products. When they start working for you, you'll never let go.

R.

"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."