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eddie1261
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eddie1261
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I may have done this but I am old and have no memory.
Can I ask for a headcount of who uses BIAB and who uses RB? I am guessing it might be as high as 90% using BIAB. Which would bring up another question of why they came up with RB if so few of us use it. I am glad they did, but when I see BIAB screen shots and the screen looks nothing like anything I have ever seen, I get nothing from that. I have had PG software for 10 years now and have still never even booted BIAB. I just prefer the DAW feel of RB.
I ask about this because it gets very difficult to try and take answers and suggestions from exclusive BIAB users and apply that to RB, and I am an exclusive RB user.
I don't see way to create a poll like on Twitter or I would have gone that route.
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I use both, if that's what you're asking.
Thanks!
LLOYD S
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I use BIAB to put a song together, then port that to Pro Tools. I skip RB.
 Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
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I use BiaB but not RB. I sketch out a song in BiaB then drag and drop it into Studio One Pro 4.
It takes courage for a man to admit his wife was wrong.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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As you know I use RB way more than BiaB. I still ask beginner questions with BiaB.
As for why they made RB .. they already had Powertracks.
As I recall it, the first thing they did was add Realdrums to Powertracks, which in itself made PT be able to do something other DAWs couldn't.
Then once Realtracks came into being it was a natural to add that feature as well. However then you needed the Realtracks that come with BiaB. So they added the feature and created Realband and then included that with BiaB. They left Powertracks as it's own product so it was still an affordable option.
Though it is not used by as many people as I expected to see use it when it first came out, Realband was one of the best 'New Features' IMO. Added a lot to the BiaB line of product.
I'm with you Eddie; the BiaB interface doesn't interest me, nor does the track limitation. If you've worked in a DAW before, the track count can feel pretty confining.
However if you are just tinkering around with chords and styles, BiaB does generate much faster, so you can get more done at that stage. But once I find a style that's close enough I go to RB before I ever really start constructing the song structure .. which reminds me of another thing in BiaB I never get used to; the default 'chorus' structure.
To me, one time through the intro/verse/chorus/turnaround does not equal a chorus. Plus I rarely end up with a song that is 3X through the same thing.
I'm more of a linear guy I guess.
I know I can 'unfold' it in BiaB, but there's still that track count thing.. and having to decide to keep take A or risk losing it and regenerate B. In RB I can have A B C D and E to pick through and comp easily.
Last edited by rharv; 02/24/19 04:23 AM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Hi Eddie.
I came from an arranger keyboard / Cakewalk DAW mode , to BIAB .
It took a while to get used to this way of working, things like choruses etc and inputting the chords first. The notation entry threw me for a while but I love it now.
Normally I will start in BIAB and providing I don’t want more tracks for midi that may be all I need.
However being used to unlimited tracks I find my self porting to RB quite often.
Another reason is I like to be able to play the selected track voice thru from my controller keyboard just by selecting the track, so if I am editing trumpet track I hear trumpet.
I still use Cakewalk (now free from bandlab ) for some additional task and tweaks
Like running cal files to thin controllers, or maybe add a 3rd or 5th to a single note.
Also some nice FX like the reel to reel tape recorder emulation to take some of the digital feel out and return to that warmer analogue sound at times in the final mix.
Also some useful compressors and limiters for over lively tracks.
So a bit of a SwisKnife approach for me with each part contributing to the whole.
Mike
BIAB2021 UltraPlus,AsusN55S1Tbssd, W10/64,Akai EIEpro Yamaha CVP405,SquireStrat, CoolsoftVMidSynth Novatation Impulse61 Ctr kbd, Cwalk blab Kontakt http://mikesmusic.byethost16.com/
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Journeyman
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I started with BB so that is what I am used to. I guess you can do the same things on RB.
I find BB to be more reliable than RB. I never have an RB session without some glitch. The other day RB just started zooming in all by itself and I couldn't stop it. The way it starts Initializing Accompaniment at random. The crashes. I don't have those problems with BB.
I don't think most people do as much Notation and Piano Roll editing as I do. Those functions are much better on BB.
So I guess it comes down to what you are used to and what you do.
2b
i5-3210 laptop. Win 10 Home. 2.5ghz, 64 bit. 6gb RAM. Focusrite Scarlet 2i2.
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I may have done this but I am old and have no memory.
Can I ask for a headcount of who uses BIAB and who uses RB? I use both. BIAB to get the tempo, chords, rhythm and arrangement locked in only. I freeze those tracks when finished. After saving, I open in RB to add any number of real tracks solo instruments like axe/sax/harmonica, etc. On my recent upload into the showcase I easily had 4 or 5 various lead tracks or instrument tracks of different styles before arriving at the Dire Straits choice. I may spend more actual time in RB listening to and adding potential lead/instrument choices than I would in BIAB. It can be a time vampire but it's worth it. Once I've got all the tracks I need to work with in RB I import the waves/midi into Sonar X3. That is where the ultimate decision making occurs and culling of tracks begins. That's my path....carry on.
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I may have done this but I am old and have no memory. you should have posted this in two different messages, suggesting you forgot that you already posted it. I would have been amused. ------------------------------------------------------ "Amuse your friends and they will always be your friends"
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eddie1261
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eddie1261
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Great comments so far and I hope to hear more.
A few have mentioned how BIAB is faster to generate. I don't know why that even matters. Go to the bathroom, crack another beer if you are so inclined to do that... I mean, time? I have all the time in the world. 2 minutes vs 4 minute, so what? What else do I have to do that 2 minutes matters?
I find it so sad that we live in this microwave world now.
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eddie1261
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eddie1261
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you should have posted this in two different messages, suggesting you forgot that you already posted it.
I would have been amused.
And you are......? 
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Journeyman
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I use BIAB and export to Cubase.
I get why PG Music created Realband. It allows those who are just getting into music production to have everything they need to record a song. While it's a decent product I think most people who get into recording and producing music start out buying a DAW since it's the main software needed. Once they figure out how to use their DAW of choice they tend to stick with it instead of trying to learn something new. If they add BIAB to their arsenal they will probably just export the tracks to their DAW.
Another reason I think people tend not to use Realband is that other DAWs can be easier to use and have more functionality. While Realband has all the basic functions needed to produce a song other DAWs come with a plethora of more advanced plugins and tools to take your productions to the next level.
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I only use BIAB and I use it to create backgrounds for live performance and playing along with at home.
Being a Mac user I don’t even know what RB is and I don’t think I miss it.
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I use both. They do different jobs.
So... if I write a song and use BB to give me a style I like.... such as hard rock, and it's a country song... I need instrumentation that the hard rock style does not give me in BB.
I normally get a few guitars, a bass and drums from BB.
But lets say I want steel guitar, fiddle, and dobro plus some nice B3 organ in the background. The only way I know of to get that happening is to open the file in Real Band and let it generate those tracks for me.
If you are totally content with the 5 tracks BB gives you, that's fine, but if you need more diversity in the final product, you should be using RB to fatten it up.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd 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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I use BIAB to create the instrumental guts of the song (choosing a style, setting the key and tempo, typing in the chords and finalising the structure). Then I open the SGU in RealBand and record my vocals there. I also generate harmonies and do my arrangements (by cutting out instruments in some parts, generating new tracks, etc, etc.). I also do all my mixing in RealBand using Izotope products and iBridge.
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Hi again Eddie
I must say it seems an expensive way to get REAL BAND to buy BIABox and then never use the main programme.
Just curious what version of BIAB and therefore Realband you have.
As Realband shares a lot of resources with Biab like real tracks / drums do you keep your BIAB up to date each year / (week at the moment,) and if so what version to you have as your base software to update .
Also realtrack up dates from time to time.
Or do you just have the basic pro edition plus some extra realtracks. As the basic core Biab program and the Realband program will be the same.
You say you are a ten year user but how up to date are you on both programs.
Just trying to understand your logic on this.
Mike
BIAB2021 UltraPlus,AsusN55S1Tbssd, W10/64,Akai EIEpro Yamaha CVP405,SquireStrat, CoolsoftVMidSynth Novatation Impulse61 Ctr kbd, Cwalk blab Kontakt http://mikesmusic.byethost16.com/
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I use both. Start in BIAB with chords and a few RT's, then over to RB for more tracks (multis and midi). It usually ends there but on some songs I take it further and go over to Reaper or Bandlab Sonar. I do most of the "work" in BIAB because it generates much faster and I tend to slice and dice styles and RT's.
Jeff
Win11, Intel i7 7700K 4.2Ghz, 32Gb RAM, 2x1Tb HD, 500Gb NVMe, BIAB/RB 2025, MOTU 828MK3 audio, MOTU Midi Express, Yamaha Montage 7, DX7II, TX802, Motif XS Rack, Roland Fantom XR Rack, Oberheim Matrix 1000, VoiceLive3 Extreme, Kontakt 6, SampleTank 4.3
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I use BIAB to pick styles, enter chords and set up the structure of the song. I then import it to Real Band, do the vocals, harmonies, etc. I have recently purchased Mixcraft8 as a DAW and the 2019 BIAB Ultra and am looking forward to using the BIAB as a VST through Mixcraft 8 where I will be doing the usual stuff I do in RB.
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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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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
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Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 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.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 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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