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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,499
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,499 |
First you were watching a Mac video - general concepts are similar but menus and "how to's" in windows BIAB are different.
Now for a very SIMPLE (simpleton actually) answer: if you have a particular set of instruments for a particular song in BIAB already set up on the right channels within Kontakt then you can save that as a bank ("Save Bank") (which is a PG BIAB/RB save function that creates an .fxb file) not the Kontatk (.nkb) file (which is what I think you want), then you can recall that set up for that song in BIAB or RB (won't be very useful, in general, outside that song) or as a Multi (in Kontakt - "Save Multi as") again won’t be real useful outside that BIAB/RB song (in general).
I say in general because you might have a particular small comob (a favorite upright bass, EP, vibes, guitar, flute, and drum kit and you use them form 90% of you jazz tunes then this will be GREAT for all tunes that use that "combo" )
The more complex answer, the one where you can send program changes to Kontakt and get it to change instruments on that channel (e.g, respond sort of like a GM module or HW module, it will not actually be GM complaint, but close enough for this discussion) is:
If you want access to all 128 GM sounds on EACH part (up to 15 parts/channels reserving one MIDI channel, Ch 10, for drums) then you will need a lot of memory and probably need to be running the 64 bit version of Kontakt, on a 64 bit OS using JBridge with BIAB and RB.
to learn "how to" you need to read "Kontakt 5 Application Reference" manual, page 32 and all of Section 9 starting on page 82 where it talks about instrument banks (this is where you create the/a Kontakt .nkb file).
However, with a little more judicious planning on your part you could get by with a smaller memory requirement for BIAB's/RB's use of Kontakt as "GM mini-module" using "subsets or groups of instruments" to match BIAB's use of those channels.
To it this way remember BIAB has set aside (i.e., the defaults) Bass is on Ch 2 Piano on Ch 3 Drum on Ch 10 (as usual) Guitar on Ch 7 Strings on Ch 6 Melody on Ch 4 Soloist 8 Ch 2 And, harmony on Ch's 11-14
So you could make a NI Kontakt instrument bank on ch 2 of all possible "basses" you might use - maybe that's a dozen or so.
Then you could make a NI Kontakt instrument bank on ch 3 of all possible pianos (including EP's and organs etc.) you might use - maybe 2-3 dozen or so.
Now you could make a NI Kontakt instrument bank on ch 7 of all possible "guitars/strings" you might use - maybe that's another dozen or so.
Now you could make a NI Kontakt instrument bank on ch 10 of all possible drum kits you might use - maybe that's another dozen. (although GM usually has fewer).
And so on.
The hard ones are the melody, soloist, and harmony - since you might have a "it depends" what instrument types are even in the running depending on song type so then you create a few dozen such instrument banks (saved as a new "multi" each time) with all the ABOVE but each new bank has a different set of instruments for melody, soloist, and harmonies.
finally, using ASIO and an input thru channel is whole another discussion if you really are new to this.
Note, first off you may not want to use ASIO4ALL - but it depends: what is your audio device and does it not have it's own native ASIO driver? If it does then use, or at least try, that FIRST it's probably better than ASIO4ALL. then make sure to set the ASIO in BIAB ("Opt. -> MIDI/Audio Dries setup" then click on the "Audio settings … (ASIO) " button bottom right and select your ASIO driver (either your audio HW native ASIO driver or ASIO4ALL).
When using Kontakt (or any VSTi/DXi) plug-in with BIAB, and usually any DAW, the audio output will be routed to the BIAB select audio driver - so nothing else to do there.
Next make sure you have selected, in the: "Opt. -> MIDI/Audio Dries set -> MIDI Input Driver " your input MIDI port that your keyboard is on.
From there whatever is set on Channel 5 within Kontakt SHOULD play when you play the keyboard (but you won't hear anything until you hit the play button in BIAB)
Good Luck Larry
Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
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Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
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Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
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Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
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Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
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- 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)
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- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
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