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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Jun 2005
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I'm just trying to catch up before it is too late. (Hell, maybe it's ALREADY too late. I'm 68). I'm 73, I don't want to hear it. It's never too late, it's all in your head, if you believe it then it's true. Or something like that. You obviously are 20 years out of date so forget all these suggestions and comments about how Real Band is slow, clunky whatever. You have no clue about any of this. I did a full album of music with my sister on vocals using RB. RB is free, works well enough and you don't know enough to have an opinion on anything at this point. There is nothing easy about DAW's for someone in your position. It's all new and confusing no matter which one you chose so you may as well work with what you've got. If you struggle with RB, can't get it to work, want to throw it out the window then maybe it IS too late for you because trust me, RB works fine. Other DAW's can be more elegant, look prettier, may do certain things faster (or not) but right now none of that matters. RB will do everything any other DAW will do. What's that you ask? It will record 48 tracks of audio or midi as well as any other DAW would. Other DAW's have unlimited tracks. Do you think you will be recording more than 48 tracks? I doubt it. It will sound just as good. It works with Biab files which no other DAW will unless you use the Biab plugin and you do NOT want to go there just yet. The plugin is way above your pay grade at this point. Just get familiar with RB then you'll have a starting point to begin talking specifics about one DAW vs another. Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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<< Remember 4-track analog recording? >>
Remember it and it's still the best option for any beginner.
<< I'd like some suggestions for some fairly good (and user friendly) home recording software. >>
Spend a day with a hardware recorder and you'll know it's software and every physical control in and out, through and through. You passed the learning curve 11 years ago. Modern hardware multi track recorders are as easy to operate as the multi tracks from 20-30 years ago. Units today are a lot more efficient, feature laden, editing is done digitally and the units have much higher specs than non digital multi tracks from the past. Modern digital units can be connected to a computer by USB providing easy transfer of BIAB generated tracks and also gives you access to more advanced editing of a DAW if desired or necessary.
A Hardware recorder's durability, stability and lifespan is decades better than any DAW.
A Hardware recorder purchased used within your desired price range can provide you 4 - 8 simultaneous inputs.
BIAB 2026:RB 2026, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Apr 2009
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I'm just trying to catch up before it is too late. (Hell, maybe it's ALREADY too late. I'm 68). ........ There is nothing easy about DAW's for someone in your position. It's all new and confusing no matter which one you chose so you may as well work with what you've got. If you struggle with RB, can't get it to work, want to throw it out the window then maybe it IS too late for you because trust me, RB works fine. Other DAW's can be more elegant, look prettier, may do certain things faster (or not) but right now none of that matters. RB will do everything any other DAW will do. What's that you ask? It will record 48 tracks of audio or midi as well as any other DAW would. Other DAW's have unlimited tracks. Do you think you will be recording more than 48 tracks? I doubt it. It will sound just as good. It works with Biab files which no other DAW will unless you use the Biab plugin and you do NOT want to go there just yet. The plugin is way above your pay grade at this point. Just get familiar with RB then you'll have a starting point to begin talking specifics about one DAW vs another. Bob Harsh, but a fair assessment. Yes indeed.... any DAW is going to be a steep learning curve. And.... as has been pointed out, some of those have steeper learning curves than others..... however, if you have BiaB you also have a DAW in Real Band. It is a fairly basic, but useful DAW for someone starting out. I use Sonar because I have been using it for a very long time and know it. My learning curve with Sonar was quite an adventure in frustration at times.... more times than I can count. Dig in to Real Band and learn how to use it. I think you will find it quite capable of most of the things you want to use it for. As you learn how to use it, and if you encounter any real roadblocks to your work flow....at THAT time, and not before, you will have the knowledge you need to find and choose a DAW that does exactly what you want. Carry on and press RECORD. EDIT: When you start using RB, be sure to use the tutorials and help provided by PG. And when you have a question or encounter a problem doing something, there is always the REAL BAND forum where other users will come to your aid and provide you with advice and guidance on how it works.
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 08/22/19 03:16 AM.
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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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 264
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Sorry to have given the impression that I am a total NEOPHYTE! I'm not. I have actually recorded BIAB/RealBand stuff previously and actually figured out how to save the stuff and convert it to MP3. (Or was it MP4?) Yay!! My PC is currently in the shop. Motherboard problem. But that stuff was done a few YEARS ago and I have forgotten most everything and am, thanks to the memory cells, almost literally starting over from the beginning.  Here are some things I did with BIAB/RealBand (not hard to figure out which ones weren't) and, hell, some of it isn't that bad. (Won't be hard to figure out why I asked about Pitch Correct. Darn vocals.) https://soundcloud.com/kiddcarvinThis one ain't too bad. "Fine Fine Fine - Status Quo (work in progress)" (Thankfully I didn't add the vocals. Planned on it. Again, thus the question about pitch correct.) I actually have a bunch of others I did with BIAB/RealBand for karaoke purposes but didn't upload to SoundCloud. And I'm serious about the memory issue. Heck, I don't know if I did the recordings with BIAB or RealBand. Or both. I guess that is why I said I was a beginner. Again, not a total neophyte. Reading the replies, and thinking about what I have actually done in the past, I might just stick with BIAB/RealBand. Maybe all I need to do is refresh my memory on the stuff then find something to help with them vocals. It doesn't have to be PRO quality anyhow. Just good enough to get some ideas and songs out there. cheers
Last edited by rokq22; 08/22/19 08:14 PM.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,590
Expert
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Joined: Dec 2006
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I suspect you'll go from BIAB through Realband and on to Reaper. Maybe only using Realband for a couple of things. I have to agree that many things are more intuitive and easier in Reaper and it's rock solid. To start with just work with BIAB and get your money's worth out of that. Once you really know BIAB, you'll see some cool bits and bobs in Realband (although Multiriffs etc are now in BIAB.) Then Reaper and the VST world are likely to appeal. Finally, you can get some iZotope mixing and mastering software although it's a bit expensive. If you want to work live and are worried about pitch, you could do worse than look at TC Electronic hardware. Lot's of their products have built in pitch correction and harmonies etc.
Last edited by lambada; 08/23/19 03:25 AM.
Windows 10 Home 20H2 Build 19042.487
BIAB 2021 (Build 818)
Intel(R) Core(TM), i3-4160, CPU @3.60 GHz RAM 16 GB, 64 Bit X64-based processor
Zoom UAC-2 (USB 3 interface-built in midi)
VoiceLive 3 Extreme, Sputnik Valve Condenser Mic
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With what you already know about multi track recording, you should take a look at this Tascam DP03SD Multitrack Recorder . You can easily import BIAB instrument tracks (midi or RealTracks) into the unit and add your original parts to the backing tracks. It really is as easy as the old cassette Porta Studios. The 44.1/16 CD quality matches the BIAB exported tracks. It has editing features, Punch in/out, with Onboard DSP Effects and Processing. You can literally create a CD from start to finish without a computer for anything other than generating/rendering your BIAB tracks. You are not limited to only 8 tracks because it can bounce tracks. It has a quality mastering features that is the same as used on the higher cost DP24/32 series hard disk multi tracks and there has recently been a substantial price drop making this fairly close to the price you're looking at. I'm positive you can produce higher quality recordings straight out of the box with this unit (or the less expensive DP008 or DP006) than you will get using any DAW you are unfamiliar with it's operations. With the price drop, it's also worth the price difference. Don't be fooled by it's appearance. It's not a toy.
BIAB 2026:RB 2026, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 264
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Wow, an actually PHYSICAL PRODUCT!!  Thanks for that. And I think that is just what I'll do. Hell, I just sold my Boss ME-80 because, MAINLY, I really didn't want to do the reading to learn how to do it all after not using it for a year or two!! I'll just use my tc electronic "DARK MATTER" pedal and be done with the stuff. (A delay pedal would be nice though). So I just dug out my old "MARANTZ PORTABLE CASSETTE RECORDER PMD101" and had a chuckle. I used to try learning guitar solos with that with my cassettes. TRULY OBSOLETE!! But thye thing is that I really don't enjoy doing everything on the damn computer! click, click click as nauseam. Anyhow, I think your suggestion is the best of both worlds! Thanks, I'm gonna get it.  cheers
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Another "PHYSICAL PRODUCT"! 
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 264
Apprentice
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Apprentice
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Apr 2013
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<< So, Charlie, would I also be able to get a vocal enhancement plugin and use it with BIAB/RealBand and/or the Tascam? >>
Yes for both. BIAB and RB work with most VST's plus you have hardware choices and can also use hardware or software vocal enhancement and pitch correction with the Tascam or any other hardware recorder easily with the ones that have aux sends and returns. You can use hardware/software with the one's that don't as well, it's just a bit more involved with the routing.
BIAB 2026:RB 2026, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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not sure about the negatives for RealBand. It integrates with BIAB perfectly and I've never found anything I couldn't do. it's free if you have BIAB and unless you are a power user i can't see the point in mastering another piece of software. RB is a good way to start and only when you find you are frustrated that it won't do something you want is it time to look for another DAW.
for the average home recorder like me creating BIAB tracks, editing them, generating solos, and then recording vocals and my own instruments both as midi from a keyboard (with access to soundfonts, HIGH Q patches and third party fx incl 64 bit using jbridge) and live from a guitar DI'd and edited with amplitube what do forumites think i am missing (and therefore so would the OP) by just sticking to RealBAnd?
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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 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
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)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- 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
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- 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®!
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!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
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)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
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
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