Yep.... Real Band is a very basic DAW and as such, does not have the full functionality one expects in a DAW.

I would suggest that you look into buying something like Cakewalk's Music Creator 7 for $20 from their website or what ever other DAW you might prefer. I use Sonar, also by Cakewalk and a few steps up from the MC series. I started with the MC series so I have no doubts it will do what you need.

I write my songs in Band in a Box and then use Real Band to render the audio tracks. I export those tracks one at a time into Sonar. So essentially, I am using 3 different programs to do what I do. You will find that many others also use a separate DAW to do their final mixing. It's also where I add vocals and my live played instruments and other synths.

In Sonar, I can easily add the volume and panning envelopes I need to control the sound of the instrument in the track. Sonar's envelopes are easily controlled by inserting nodes manually or it will follow "writing automation" in real time. Essentially, turn write automation on and during the playback it will record the fader and knob movements you make. I don't like doing it that way because it's messy ( one fader movement can easy deposit 20 to 30 nodes into the envelope) and not very accurate. I find I get the best control by surgically inserting the nodes exactly where I want them. Fades in and out are very easy to accomplish and by dragging the track vertically larger, you can get precise dB settings on those nodes.



The photo above is a typical look at a project I do in Sonar. Notice the bright yellow lines with dots.... those are the volume envelopes and the nodes. Panning envelopes are red where they are used. Whichever mode you are in is highlighted. This is volume mode.

By zooming in on the track, I can place my envelopes surgically to get one note in one track and the very next node in the track above it to make one piano fill.(<< That was done in a different song.) I can also easily fade instruments in or out as you can see in the photo.

NOTE: Always take your tracks into the DAW for mixing as full uneffected, dry tracks. Don't do any fades or edits in BB/RB. The edits that you "burn" to the tracks upon export from BB/RB become permanent and that's not the best option. Leave the tracks 100% complete and dry, and you can always do your edits in the DAW and those things are easily changed by adjusting the envelopes.

With a good, fully functional DAW, you will be able to do everything you are asking for, and do it easily.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.