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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hello fellow BIAB users.

I am thinking about upgrading to 2017.

How do you guys like or dislike new edition?

THANKS!!

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OMG, the sale may be over in hours if they don't extend it into the new year.

I upgraded from 2016 (however, I upgrade every year). But I am liking it. I think the biggest new item is the GUI which is working out very nice for me.


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Cool. Sale ends soon so I better make up my mind:) LOL

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Does the sale end on Dec 31 or is it on sale through Dec 31?

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"on sale through Dec 31?"

Yes according to PG.

DE


Win 10, 64 bit, love my Lenovo T420, BIAB 2019 (613), RB 2019 (2)

Short term memory is getting shorter.
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Thank u!

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The new user interface is sensational. Well laid out and practical.
Together with all of the other new features, it's an easy decision to make. Go for it, you know you want to wink


BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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No dislikes here at all .. BEST version YET!


Cheers,
Mike

My Music * Asus ROG Strix G15CF 32 GB DDR4 4TB HDD + 1 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 8GB Win 11 AKAI EIE PRO Sound Interface. BIAB/RB 2024 UltraPak Build - Latest
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I've had some minor issues, but I have to agree with the others: this is the best one yet. The new interface is much more professional looking, easy to understand, and leaves more space on the page for music rather than icons.

The new realtracks that they've put together from parts of other realtracks are a stroke of genious. (Check out "Cello Apocolypse"... I think that's the name. Sounds like those cello and guitar metal bands!)

I also love the fact that they're including more ethnic styles. They can really liven up a mediocre track.

So, yes... get it! Money well spent!

Jim


BIAB 2020 with Reaper 6, on an AMD 8 core CPU, 16GB RAM, 240 GB SSD and 1 TB HD. Retired and trying to make some serious music, before Arthur Ritis spoils the fun.
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The overall improvement in the sound of the styles and individual instruments is my favorite thing about 2017 BIAB. The piano comping in the jazz styles is a noticeable improvement. BIAB moves closer to the real thing. Oh, it really is the real deal!

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I wasn't going to upgrade as it wasn't 64-bit... but I came to my senses and did it, and I couldn't be happier with the outcome.

So just do it! Your won't be sorry!

HTH,

Last edited by LtKojak; 12/31/16 02:16 AM.

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The new GUI is the best new feature IMHO. It is extremely well thought out. Also I am finding the BiaB loads a lot quicker on all three of my computers. Has anyone else noticed this?


Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Yes, I have noticed the quicker loading. This 2017 update is, in my opinion, the best since 2008 (RealTracks).


BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Thanks for all of your input!!!

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I voiced some constructive criticism about the new horn-oriented realtracks, but now that thread seems to be missing.

I was able to find it by doing a google search "site:pgmusic fence" and pulling up the cached entry.

"First,

Let me say that I gravitate towards the jazz offerings. So the Hawaiian, house, rap, country, celtic, rock, etc. are not my focus. Also, I do understand the interface has improved/advanced - but my perspective is what comes out of the speakers is king and the buttons or screens to get to that point can be sub-optimal as long as what I hear as an end-result is pleasing. Yes, there may be some improvements here (more time doubling options, etc) - but I am mainly focused on the "core" sound of the real tracks (new content). Even the gypsy jazz is a bit limited.

[deleted portion which made the moderator get off track]

Mittens Jazz w/3 saxes - sounds "off" (https://youtu.be/d6Ru_aWsVIM?t=265).

Flute/tenor bossa - Tenor sounds like a strange phasing at end of long-tone. Overall blending of the horns is "off". This is judging by the demo - which should strive to pick a "best of" clip. (https://youtu.be/d6Ru_aWsVIM?t=485).

Anyone else sensing like the latest jazz-oriented ("straight ahead") styles are sounding more robotic than the past real tracks?

[deleted side-note which was not a comment about 2017]

2017, even with all the other improvements - I'm more focused on the new realtracks would would potentially fit into my use."

My overall impression was that the demos of the new styles made the new styles I was interested sound more "thrown together" than the previous 2016 content which, although not perfect, was still an improvement in the evolutionary sense.


Last edited by JasonWhiteman; 12/31/16 02:04 PM.

1/1/2024 - Win 10 BIAB 2019 64bit Build (644), RealBand 2019 (4)
Prior - Sig can't fit a running list - so just showing current version
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Jason,
With the crooner styles, there is a 10 piece big band style that we make. And that's the one that people use, and it is very tight, and in general people love them.

Just to show flexibility, we also make some variation "utility" styles that just use single instruments, and we maybe have two instruments total in th style - obviously not a big band, and obviously not an arrangement. Those play completely independantly, so they are not tight.

So you've listened to the wrong demos. And you're pointing people to the wrong demos. You've listened to these "utility" styles and come to the conclusion that this is what the bigband sounds like. It would be like listening to to something with two members of the Basey big band playing, and concluding that this is what the basey big band sounds like.

If you want to know what the normal crooner Bossa and ballad big band sounds like, here you go...

Crooner Ballad BigBand http://nn.pgmusic.com/pgfiles/audio/realtracksdemos/2792band.m4a _BLIZARD.sty or _WINTER.sty style
Crooner Bossa BigBand http://nn.pgmusic.com/pgfiles/audio/realtracksdemos/2781band.m4a _GOLDEN.sty


Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
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Looks like the links in Peter's post are broken:(

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Typo in link fixed..., try again!


Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
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Thanks. they sound very good indeed:)!

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I like the new GUI choice, but we've lost an important element, at least to me: The main screen now only shows how many choruses are in the song, not the addition of which chorus you are currently in. I know that it shows this at the top of the screen, but that is too light and small to see on a gig.

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With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!

Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!

Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.

Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.

Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!

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  • MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
  • Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
  • Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
  • Playable RealTracks Set 5
  • RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
  • SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
  • iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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  • MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
  • Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
  • Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
  • RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
  • SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)

Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!

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