I think that Gary, Mac and Notes are all correct when they say that the quality of the Midi sound can be improved tremendously when a decent hardware or software synth is used and for me this isn't a tremendous issue because I do my initial song structuring and basic arrangement inside BIAB and then transfer to Cubase for the final instrumentation and arrangement before doing the mixing. I have access to a range of high quality synths such as Sampletank, Halion and Atmosphere (plus many others) which deliver a huge improvement in the sound of the Midi tracks over the basic VST sound pallete I have within Cubase.

The problem is that Midi, even with the best programming, cannot replicate the nuances and variation and sheer 'real' quality that Realtracks deliver.

I started to realise this with the introduction a few years ago of, the now sadly defunct, 'Steinberg Virtual Guitar' VST plug-ins which were a revelation to me. PGs subsequent delivery of the complete 'Virtual Band' with Realtracks and Realstyles has really convinced me that audio based tracks are the only way to deliver the very highest quality finished recordings. (short of hiring session musicians!)

I agree with Notes that Midi certainly has the advantage in terms of complete programmable flexibility and disk space usage but disks are increasing rapidly in size and plummeting in cost, and PG have promised to address some of the flexibility issues (e.g. holds, shots etc) in future releases.

The point that I was trying to make with this post, (and which Mac has been making for some time), is that in many cases the injection of two or three realtracks into a midi style, played in addition to or instead of some of the Midi tracks, seems to provide enough 'real' feel to a song to lift it into a higher quality category and close to an all Realtracks production.

It has taken PG Music well over a decade to build up the very comprehensive midi style library that they have today, and it will obviously be a number of years before they have anything like the same degree of variety and choice in their realtrack based styles. In the meantime it is well worth trying to squeeze some extra juice out of the Midi style library.

I know that it is hard for third party developers such as Notes to make the investment required to deliver realtracks instead of midi styles, and also PG have not yet decided to publish the format for developing anything other than realdrum styles. Hopefully PG will find some way of opening up realtrack design to third parties in a way which rewards their own significant investment and also maintains the very high quality threshold that they have set.

In the meantime Notes how about joining the party by delivering some Midi styles designed specifically to work with some of the existing Realtracks?

Regards, Aubrey

If I hadn't seen such riches I could live with being poor.