Hello,
Current : BIAB 2008
Considering : Update to Plus Pack HD with Real Band

Hardware : PC plus MOTU 2408, Alesis HD24, four VS-2480
Software : Sonar, BIAB, Fruity XL, Ableton 5

I went through the Real Band demos and was blown away with what I heard ! Band in a Box has come a long way.

Being a studio owner I see an immediate potential in a studio environment for Real Band.

My main concern is with Sync-ing audio output from the computer to a stand alone digital recorder. In the past, with BIAB MIDI instruments, I just took the standard MIDI files into Sonar and added groove quantise-ing and recorded the sound module outputs into the digital recorder. Mixes are mainly done outside the computer. Once the MIDI file is in Sonar I can sync the computer to the recorder through SMPTE. BIAB does not support SMPTE or groove quantise-ing.

I am assuming that Real Band does not support SMPTE either. I am using an older MOTU 2408 that only has an D/A converter in 20 bit. Therefore I will be doing the individual track output transfers in digital because MOTU 2408 will pass through 24 bit digital data. It can receive/send up to 24 track of digital via three ADAT light pipe I/O.

Question : Does Real Band support Multiple outputs - one stereo or mono digital output per instrument?
(If you are familiar with MOTU 2408, "piano" to ADAT 1, ch 1 - "strings" to ADAT 1 ch 2 - "stereo drums" to ADAT 1 ch 3 and 4 - etc.)

The long way around of syncing to an external recorder is to visually line up tracks using using the count in, after each track is recorded into the multi-track. That can get pretty tedious and counter productive to any minor arrangement or instrument changes.

Question : Does Real Drums output the used "audio clips" by individual drum instruments ? In other words, were the "audio clips" created as a stereo audio tracks?

Stereo drum audio tracks includes the entire kit. This will not allow any processing of individual instruments, such as re-EQ'ing the kick drum, or applying a different reverb on the toms, etc.

Undoubtedly the addition of Real Band to my studio arsenal will be a plus. I am trying to get an idea of how much of its capabilities I can utilize. Sync to external recorder is an issue I want to understand well before spending $400. Versatility of generated drum tracks is another.

I appreciate any input.

Thanks

www.pointconceptionstudio.com