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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 196
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 196 |
I believe this subject has been posted before in different ways with some agreeing and disagreeing that the sound for a song is somehow different in B&B and RB. I’d like to revisit this to make sure I am not imagining too many things. Make no mistake both sound great but my bl..dy big ears tell me something is not quite right.
First, after listening carefully to the same guitar song, what I notice definitely is that guitar shots (eg A..d ) are much louder in RB than in B&B to the point of mild distortion.
The other aspect, that I can only describe as “presence” seems better in B&B than in RB. But before jumping to conclusions has anyone figure what the PG Reverb settings should be in RB to exactly match the new 2010 setting in B&B?
(I have run the song without any reverb in both and I reckon in a blindfold test I could tell in which program the song is playing with the exact volume and pan settings in both)
Re
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
I have always been of the opinion that the exact same song in Band in a Box sounds much better than in RealBand, that's my ears...and I know I posted that and got replies....
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,633
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,633 |
Hi Frank,
You are correct, Realband does sound different.
This difference is because RB does not load individual instrument settings for pan and volume. All instruments are loaded with pan at the center and volume set at 100 (digitally) - at least on my system.
If you want RB to sound the same as BIAB, simply make a note of the settings for each instrument in BIAB and transfer those settings to RB. This only takes a minute or two at the most. To set the pan in RB, simply right-click on an instrument's pan slider and enter the number that was in BIAB for that instrument. Similarly, right-clicking on the volume slider will let you enter the BIAB volume setting for that instrument.
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,696
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,696 |
Frank, Noel, John Seems a shame to have to spend time working on your instrumental mix in an SGU/MGU format, and then have it all disappear when transitioning to RB, and then have to re-enter it manually. I would have thought the software was beyond that stage. I suppose one could export the midi date via midi file (as we do with PT) and import that into RB complete with vol, pan, verb etc. in tact. Then render the RTs and import them as wave files. Hmmmm - you may be right Noel - easier your way.  Just to check . . . I picked a midi track (from an imported BIAB MGU) in RB and clicked F2 - no basic CCs at all. Too much thought for Sunday morning coming down . . . need more coffee  Ian
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
This is because both programs have their own separate mixers in them.
The tracks themselves are what we want to have when importing into another seqauencing program such as RealBand. They come to us Dry, and as if they were just recorded, with levels such that they are not too low nor too high to allow us to use the doggone mixer in the host program to obtain a good mixfit.
If we had a 16 track tape made at Studio A and moved the tape to Studio B, we'd have exactly the same situation -- the mixer moves applied over in Studio A would not transfer over to the tape being played on Studio B's transport through Studio B's mixer, we'd have to "throw all faders up" and see what we have and start mixing it.
That is a Good Thing.
Imagine the problems that would ensue if BiaB exported the track turned up all the way and then you discovered that you needed to turn that track down... Gain Staging would smack your project right in the forehead. Sure, it can be turned down softer, but it would still sound "blasty". That's just one example, there are others.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,633
Veteran
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,633 |
Quote:
The tracks themselves are what we want to have when importing into another sequencing program such as RealBand. They come to us Dry, and as if they were just recorded, with levels such that they are not too low nor too high to allow us to use the doggone mixer in the host program to obtain a good mixfit.
I agree Mac. I've found it a real asset that RB is not influenced by predetermined settings in BIAB. I see the two programs as complementary but very different (hmmm, that could be stating the obvious!). To me, BIAB is about getting a good sounding, fully functional accompaniment with the minimum effort. Realband, on the other hand, is about taking the "ingredients" that make-up the accompaniment and mixing them to make it exactly how you want. It's for that reason that I never spend too much time putting an arrangement together in BIAB. I use BIAB to give me a starting point for an arrangement that I develop in RB.
Ian, as an aside, when I used to go from BIAB to Sonar, I would always render my wav files with panning at zero because I wanted to shape the stereoscape myself. Once you start playing with RB, you realise that the way it works is good.
Noel
Last edited by Noel96; 01/10/10 01:42 PM.
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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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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Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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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!
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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.
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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
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