Hi guys, Help needed please from you more experienced Realband users.
I'm currently undergoing my 6-monthly 'I've got to get back to using Realband and do better with it' initiative.
There are a couple of things I don't understand when trying to open BIAB files in Realband.
Even if I do a 'Save As' in BIAB, the pan, reverb etc settings don't work when I open the file in Realband. For every BIAB file I open (however they were saved) I see a Comment that says 'Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0'. Is there any way of making Realband open a BIAB song with all these settings intact?
Is there a setting I need to change in either programme do you reckon?
Also, in the BIAB mixer window, far right there is a Tone button. Now while I recognise this is just applying EQ, I do actually find it quite a useful feature. But I can't find anything similar in Realband. Am I missing it, or do I have to apply EQ to each track by a plugin in Realband?
As far as opening the songs with settings from BiaB, I don't know.
However there is a way to EQ all tracks at once using one effect. Just place the effect in the FX area for the A1 spot on the mixer. This is the main Audio Output path that all the tracks pass through.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
If you prefer to have the pan, reverb etc settings as they were saved in your BIAB project; Export each BIAB track to a wav file; Open the BIAB project in RB. Be sure the chord chart, key and temp are correct. Erase the BB tracks that opened with the BB import, then import the saved individual wav tracks into RB.
Regarding EQ, the small Fx button under the track name opens up effects for reverb,dynamics and EQ if you want to work on a per track basis.
I'm generally on the same page as guitarhacker in that, for most of my files, I export my BIAB tracks as wavs and then mix them in Reaper. However, recently I've been putting together backing tracks for a duo where speed has been the essence. Even occasionally I'm taking requests in the first set and then, in the break, knocking up a rushed version on my laptop to play in the second set that same night. It's become a bit of a feature of our show.
I sketch something out in BIAB and then open in Realband, for some tweaking - but because of the time, speed and ease of use are the essence.
At the moment I hear something I like in BIAB and it's a bit of a drag, when I open the file in Realband, that I have to recreate the pan, reverb etc etc settings.
So, a somewhat particular circumstance, I recognise. Usually I'm all for the mix in a DAW from scratch approach.
Hey, I'll keep working at it!
Once again, I'm bowled over by how helpful people on these Forums are.
If you like the sound (panning, eq, track volume levels and effects) in BiaB why not stop at BiaB and render the combo (all tracks) to a stereo wav file?
As I recall there are other things like bar settings that do not survive the trip to Realband either. Seems odd that they don't have this fixed yet. Two products from same company that can both open the files from flagship product should be able to do this.
Then they added the RT/Style/Generation support to it and called it RealBand (and included it free with BiaB)
Some fundamental features may have to be compromised to make the import from BiaB better, but some of us don't really want RB to be more like BiaB (and give up the RB exclusive features)! We'd rather see things go the other way. Just my 2 cents
Last edited by rharv; 08/07/1607:55 AM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
The 'on the fly' solution where you also retain all settings and effects and at the same time have the ability to do it all speedily is to do the whole process within RealBand.
+1 That's usually how I work .. I leave BiaB way before any of the above is important. Once I find a style I want, it's on to RB. I don't bother to make panning, FX, 'keeper' generations or such in BiaB.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
I guess you guys have suggested the solution: just go straight to Realband. Maybe it's just habit, but I find myself going to BIAB first to choose the style and do the basic layout of chords.
Again, thanks for the comments. I think next gig when I throw out the challenge that we can come back in the 2nd half and play any request, I'll go straight to Realband to create the track.
Then they added the RT/Style/Generation support to it and called it RealBand (and included it free with BiaB)
Some fundamental features may have to be compromised to make the import from BiaB better, but some of us don't really want RB to be more like BiaB (and give up the RB exclusive features)! We'd rather see things go the other way. Just my 2 cents
Yeah, I hear ya. But as a former programmer I look at this and see two software programs under control of one team and think how hard could it be to import settings and then set them accordingly?
Also, given that there are lots of DAWs that IMHO do the work of a DAW far better than RB, I hope they go the other way and add more powerful RealTrack generation/selection/multiriff/etc. to BIAB! That would eliminate a step for those of us who use a 3rd-party DAW and not impact those who prefer to keep RB as their DAW.
Honestly I don't know why both exist. What would someone who uses BIAB not know how to do in RB? I have used BIAB for like 47 seconds before starting in on RB so I don't know BIAB well enough to know the answer to that, but generate is generate, right? Write a chord chart, pick a style, and generate. Seems like it's the same process in both programs.
"but generate is generate, right? Write a chord chart, pick a style, and generate. Seems like it's the same process in both programs." That says it all !
You can put Real band into BIAB mode but you can't put BIAB into Real band mode.
Real band in BIAB mode for beginners - just hit the big generate button, as mentioned above, that's it ! and multiriff until your heart's content, change chords without having to generate a whole new different track.
Originally Posted By: zedd
Yes please!!!
I would either like RealBand for Mac, or more features in BIAB to allow me to freeze performances for certain bars and not for others. It's very frustrating to lose a great performance because you decided you wanted to add some new chords or even just to change a single chord.
Doing it the hard way, by exporting several different versions of the song into my favorite DAW and then COMP-ing all the tracks is really a tedious job.
http://www.musicdevelopments.com/wiki/doku.php?id=rcwiki:vstplugin "the RapidComposer VST plug-in is a small, reliable plug-in which does not include the whole RapidComposer application as in previous versions, but it communicates with the standalone application through shared memory, also known as 'bridge'. This results greater stability and flexibility.
When the RapidComposer plug-in is loaded by the host (DAW), the plug-in locates the RapidComposer application, starts it, and connects to the application. If RapidComposer was already running, it will switch to “VST Mode” which means the user interface and some internals will be changed."
The vst controller loads into the host and the play/stop events and tempo are synchronized to the main standalone application that runs outside of the host not as an actual vst. So, you load the biab vst controller into your daw. The biab vst controller receives the play/stop events and tempo from the host daw, thus playing in sync to your daw.
But unless multriffs are added it maybe better having real band as a vst as it has multiriffs. This way you may have your tracks recorded in your daw but need some extra tracks added to the session. So generate them up, hit play on your daw, real band will play in sync with the daw, whatever sections don't fit you simply multiriff them to fit, now just drag the tracks into your daw. This way you can fine tune the tracks to fit your session and not have to accept whatever whole track that biab generates.
I agree with you about not wanting Realband to be more like Biab. I too use Biab to make the initial song but I never record any tracks in Biab. I like Biab to make the song initially because it generates faster and it is easier for me to make changes and test different styles. I then bring the raw song from Biab into Realband to do my recording and mixing. This process has worked great for me and I've recorded over 200 original songs this way.
Honestly I don't know why both exist. What would someone who uses BIAB not know how to do in RB? I have used BIAB for like 47 seconds before starting in on RB so I don't know BIAB well enough to know the answer to that, but generate is generate, right? Write a chord chart, pick a style, and generate. Seems like it's the same process in both programs.
It's quite simple. BB generates about 5 tracks and picks from those that are in that style which was selected.
If you have a hard rock style, you get bass, drums, guitars, and maybe the B3.... suppose you want a mandolin in the song? Or a funkier bass? You have to drop one of the existing tracks in order to add it.
Real Band gives you the original 5 tracks and then lets you can add as many "not in the style" instruments as you wish.
My 2 centavos
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.
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
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XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
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In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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