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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 71
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 71 |
Hi all I have trawled through lots of posts about which software synth to use etc but none really seemed to address what I am wondering about. So forgive me if there is any duplication here, I did try to RTFM first! Using Windows BIAB 2018. Windows 10, 64 bit. I am putting together backing/practice tracks for blues/Americana/Country covers band. Using the built in GM sounds gets things going but sound awful. So I am looking for a good quality sound module for Drums. Just standard Blues/Rock/Country kits, nothing techno!! Bass. Nice vintage Fender electric and smooth acoustic uprights. No synth bass! Keys. Nice trad upright bluesy piano and electric keys like Rhodes, Hammonds etc. Nothing techno! Not fussed about guitars (I play those :)) or millions of daft sound FX. I think you get the picture  I am not too worried about price, just want it to 1. Sound good/authentic 2. Work reliably 3. Not be too much of a bear to implement in BIAB/RealBand Any suggestions will be very gratefully received! Thanks in advance Mark
If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all...
BIAB 2019 Mac on a MacBook Pro. All paks & Styles.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,753
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,753 |
I often use the free Studio Instruments that come with the free Cakewalk by BandLab. I don't use them in Cakewalk, BandLab, BIAB or RB. I use them in Reaper because that's what I am used to and productive using.
SI Drums, SI Strings, SI Bass and SI Electric Piano (which doesn't have a plain old piano) For SI Bass you may need to move your bass midi file up an octave but it's no big deal once you get the hang of that.
For piano I often use the free Keyzone Classic by Bitsonic.
For a slightly more complicated structure but way more choices I often go to SampleTank 3.
If you are not worried about price at all check out the Native Instrument offerings.
Does the noise in your head bother me ?
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,685
Expert
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Expert
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,685 |
Ketron sd 1000.. ive used/owned a load of rolands and this is way better. The videos etc, on you tube do not do this wee beauty justice. http://www.ketronmusic.co.uk/products/ketron/micro_modules/sd1000.html
win 10 64 bit 16gb,i7 chip, ssd 500gb, m-audio air, ,Roland BK-7M, 1000,shure sm7b,sonar,acid,mixcraft, variety of plugins.Sample tank 3,Kontakt. TC Helicon Voicelive 3 2 . https://beatmaster1.bandcamp.com/releases
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,173
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,173 |
I am lucky in that I have a number of good synths having built up a fair collection through owning Sonar and having purchased several keyboards etc. If I do go down the midi path I would normally use Dimension Pro (it may no longer be available) for guitars and bass or odd instruments. For strings I go to Studio Instruments. I use Addictive Drums or Session Drummer (Cakewalk) (Studio Instruments are similar). For piano I have Addictive Keys also several others. I would often seek a sound I like and use an SFZ file pulling that into Dimension Pro you can pull SFZ files into Sforzando which you already have with BIAB. If not Sforzando is a free download from https://www.plogue.com/products/sforzando.html There are many SFZ files about with well recorded guitars, strings etc. Tobias mentioned the Studio Instruments that come with Cakewalk they are ok and well recorded instruments. I rarely use midi these days nearly all I use are RealTracks adding only bits for fills or intros etc. My two bobs worth Tony
Last edited by Teunis; 10/02/18 11:30 PM.
HP i7-4770 16GB 1TB SSD, Win 10 Home,
Focusrite 2i2 3rd Gen, Launchkey 61, Maton CW80, Telecaster, Ovation Elite TX, Yamaha Pacifica 612
BB 2022(912) RB 2022(2), CakeWalk, Reaper 6, Audacity, Melodyne 5 Editor, Izotope Music Production Suite 4.1
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,362
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,362 |
I will second Tobias. If you can afford it, Native Instruments has some of the best sampled instruments around. If you go to to their website they have a lot of demo songs for each of their instruments, so take a listen and decide for yourself.
Will
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,844
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,844 |
Native Instruments just released Kontakt v6 and a host of other instruments.
I have found that I got a lot of bang for the buck by buying the Komplete Ultimate (originally got it on sale at significant savings) and have upgraded from v8 through v9 through v10 through v11 and am looking now at v12 that just came out). Not exactly cheap, but a pretty good deal when on sale. And I've found if you have purchased anything else from them, you will start getting the sales offers.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
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Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
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Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
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