My take:
  1. I'm happy that PG has both MIDI and RTs so that people can use the tool that fits them best
  2. I use both but I get much more use out of MIDI
  3. I will continue to make new MIDI styles as I think you can't have too many, and my customers seem to agree

I think the Real Tracks are well done, and I'm amazed at the programming genius applied to make them work. It borders on magic.

There are times when the Real Tracks work out perfectly and I use them, there are times when I mix the RT and MIDI tracks, but most of the time I use pure MIDI myself.

So don't take the following as a reason to abandon RTs. It's not a balanced comparison, but simply a list highlighting the pros of MIDI and ignoring both the cons of MIDI and the advantages of Real Tracks

I admit, I'm not your average user so YMMV.

Why would I prefer MIDI to the actual sound of an instrument? After exporting as MIDI and importing to a MIDI sequencer (PTPro, Sonar, etc.):
  • I have good MIDI sound modules that were made with samples of real instruments, so the sound is 90%-95% as good as the RTs - my favorites are the Ketron SD2 and the Edirol SD90, but there are so many more I haven't tried (I only have 7 synths and 2 hardware samplers. This gives me thousands of different instruments. Example: I can change the clean guitar sound from a generic 'clean guitar' to a Tele Rear (or front) pickup, Strat, 335, Les Paul, Electric 12 string (Ric), and dozens of others
  • I can even change instruments, the piano might sound better as a Rhodes or even a jazz guitar for a particular song, the ride cymbal might sound better as a cowbell, the strings or horns as a s synth pad, etc.
  • I can mix and match different BiaB styles for different parts of the songs, and if they use different instruments, I can change them so the same instrument plays both sections
  • I can add song-specific licks using the very same instruments that play the other parts - no change in tone
  • I can modify the endings (make them 8 bars if I like), clean up shots, make all instruments join the holds, and so on
  • Transpose with zero artifacts
  • Change the balance - there is a difference between recording balance and live performance balance. In live situations for all but traditional jazz it is often better to have the snare on beats 2 & 4 to be much louder than would sound good on a recording. Other dynamics should be exaggerated too
  • For live performances, often the groove should be exaggerated as well, a little more swing feel, beats 2 & 4 a little more ahead or behind the beat (depending on the groove), eighth notes rushed or dragged a little more, a couple of clicks with a groove filter does wonders
  • I can move things around, get rid of rolls, or swap them, make my own parts, etc.

But I like to play with Band-in-a-Box and the musical output. I like to try this and that, add this or subtract that, change this or that, and spend hours on a song. It's my favorite toy.

And I play live for a living. I also play pop/rock/country music (though I'd love to play jazz, it's difficult to make a living doing that around here). I want it to sound right for the audience, and the audience responds more to the feel of the song than they do the tone. Example 1: Good singers with bad voices like Dr. John, Stevie Nicks, John Lennon, and so many more. Example 2: The general public listened to music on 45rpm singles, cassette tapes, and today the low-fi equivalent, mp3 files.

Those are my needs, as I said, I might be a special case.

If I were recording demos for Nashville or LA, I'd probably use all Real Tracks - except for non-emulative synth parts. If I was making a record to self-publish and sell, I'd probably mix Real Tracks with MIDI tracks. For my duo backing tracks it's mostly or all MIDI sometimes with Real Tracks added.

But as I said, it's nice to have both RTs and MIDI, as they both serve different functions and it's good to use what is more appropriate and mix them when that sounds good.

While I don't use all the features of BiaB (some are for other users), It's nice to have so many tools and toys available to make music.

Thank you PG Music for providing me with my favorite computer tool and toy.

Insights and incites by Notes

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
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