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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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(EDITED)
Hi Jim.
I have been thinking about what you said in your most recent post and wondering if my problems with the RealTracks add-on has anything to do with not really understanding what RealTracks are or how they work in anything other than a very superficial way.
Until quite recently, I wasn't even interested in RealTracks. Midi has worked well for me for many years.
Up until now I have just accepted PG Music's marketing hype that you just type in some chords, select a suitable style and press the button for instant music. Perhaps this is the wrong way to look at working with RealTracks. I have been searching the internet including this forum for more information, I found what seems to be a lot of conflicting ideas and get the impression that I am not the only one who is confused. Is it correct to say that with RealTracks, the "old fashion" styles are now obsolete or at least redundant? Does the RealTracks Picker Dialogue replace the StylePicker? Is there a new or better way to work than simply selecting a style and pushing a button? If these assumptions are at all correct it would make what PGMusic are saying about their add-on sets much more understandable.
In my search for information I came across a couple of video tutorials on how to make your own RealTracks which I understand are called UserTracks. These tutorials didn't look too forbidding. I think I will have a go at trying to create my own RealTrack/UserTrack. In doing so I hope to increase my knowledge and understanding of this technology.
Regards
Tim Oddly, Jim and I had a discussion over several hours the other day and covered most of the questions you have today. First, UserTracks that are useful can be quite forbidding. There are limitations that have existed for 6 years that retard their ultimate potential and success. In the UserTrack Forum, active enthusiasts have dwindled down over the past few years and UserTrack development has plateaued. Yesterday I posted a *-l-o-n-g - * comment detailing another type of UserTrack, the Artist Performance Track. I personally think the APT can ultimately be more useful and beneficial to more BIAB users than the more popular UserTrack. My long comment derived from mine and Jim's conversation that APT seem to suffer from unawareness and a lack of understanding to what it is. The fact that a limitation of an APT is perceived to be it's suitability more for a single song than useful across many songs like RealTracks, UserTracks and Loops. I think the opposite is true. Overwhelmingly, users will find greater need and more use for single use APT's. "Up until now I have just accepted PG Music's marketing hype that you just type in some chords, select a suitable style and press the button for instant music. Perhaps this is the wrong way to look at working with RealTracks." Many times this is the wrong way to look at working with RealTracks. The marketing pitch to type in some chords, select a suitable style and press the button for instant music is where a serious project begins, not ends. A great example of this can be found in the User Showcase "Announcing... The Birth of a Song". If you have't watched it, I recommend it. The artist, Floyd Jane begins with a 'scratch' style and during the project, searches, auditions and replaces most of the Style's instruments with RealTracks that he finds more suitable for his specific song and provided stock by the Style. (In his project, Floyd is, in effect, creating APT's specific to his song. In his case, there's no need to take the extra step and convert the tracks to APT's). Learning about APT's streamlines Floyd's personal process and also allows easy tools to share projects and APT's user to user. Since you're just starting your journey with RealTracks and other add-ons, it may be worth your while to spend the few minutes it takes to read my * l-o-n-g * post about "The Case for Artist Performance Tracks" in the UserTracks (and other add-ons) Forum. It may be useful to you knowing that APT's work equally well with midi as they do RealTracks and live performances.
Last edited by Charlie Fogle; 02/27/20 05:04 AM.
BIAB 2025:RB 2025, 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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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Another point to make is that a lot of folks assume the words "Style" and "RealTrack" are the same thing (I guess since the RealTrack is often "in the style of".
RealTracks are individual audio tracks that have been pre-recorded, from which BIAB is able to extract the appropriate snippets that match your chord progression (whether it was recorded for the actual chord you want, or is close to the chord you want, or is transposed from a nearby chord - for example, the RealTrack may have a D chord and and E chord recorder, but not an E-flat, in which case BIAB will transpose up the D chord half a step to get the E-flat).
RealStyles are merely a collection of RealTracks to represent instruments and riffs that fit well together as a somewhat cohesive band. MIDI styles work differently, but the concept is similar. The cool part is that you can start with a style and substitute any or all of the styles tracks with different RealTracks to get a different sound. You can even then save that new grouping as your own stylename, for use later on.
PGMusic sells packages of RealTracks, which as has been explained, includes the style files that contain those RealTracks. But if the other instruments are not part of the pack of RealTracks, you would have to either purchase them separately, or already have them in your configuration - for example, if you have the UltraPak, then you pretty much have all the other RealTracks needed to fill out the style.
If you have N/A instruments in the style, it just means you didn't purchase them (either by buying the UltraPak or the Audiophile Pak, or by purchasing the individual packs needed to complete that style). It doesn't keep you from using the RealTracks you purchased; it just means that if you use a style for which you don't have all the RealTracks, you'll just need to substitute other RealTracks you do have for those particular instruments. But the RealTrack you did purchase will play properly. Clearly, if you do substitutions, it won't sound like the demo of the original style anymore.
I don't think PGMusic ever intended to pull the wool over anyone's eyes; I suspect it is just an issue of miscommunication/misunderstanding. It's been this way for a long time, and Andrew has indicated that they will take a look at how they word the RealTrack purchase page.
That being said, PGMusic also sells style paks (the XTRA styles pak). Some folks have gotten confused here as well, thinking that they will get all the underlying RealTracks represented by those styles, but the web page clearly says you need to already have those underlying RealTracks (either by having purchased the Ultra/AudiophilePak or individual RealTrack Paks) to be able to use the styles.
The style files are just a packaging file with pointers to the needed RealTracks, but not the RealTracks themselves.
Clear as mud?
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA BB2025/UMC404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/MixBus/Notion/Finale/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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wilsonts,
First of all, thank you for returning to this thread, continuing to ask questions and taking time to read and consider all responses. I have enjoyed participating in this conversation immensely. It has been an educational experience for me too.
I believe midi is just as valid a source for creating live performance backing tracks as RealTracks. In fact some will insist midi is more suitable because of the precise editing capability and sound engine choices. But, this conversation is about RealTracks.
If you are going to use RealTracks to create backing tracks the most efficient way is to have all of them available for use, that's just the truth. Having anything less leads to user frustration. That's why I see forum members suggest to potential buyers, Pro and Mega PAK users upgrade to the UltraPAK or higher. You need all the RealTracks to be able to produce all the audio backing tracks you want.
Side question, why does the Pro and Mega PAKs exist then? In my opinion for three reasons. One to offer a lower cost entry level product for new users without removing any functions or features. Second to offer products educators can use in a classroom setting. Third to offer a product suitable for music teachers to create audio tracks for students to use to practice their instrument. Notice you changed how you want to use Band-in-a-Box because you changed what you want to do with the output Band-in-a-Box produces. Your goal changed from creating practice songs to producing backing tracks for live performance.
Does that make the midi styles redundant or useless? No. Have you listened to the sound quality of a professional sound module or keyboard? You can use a soft synth like Kontakt, SampleTank but you have to learn how to use the tools.
There's more but that's it for tonight. What do you think so far?
Jim Fogle - 2025 BiaB (Build 1128) RB (Build 5) - Ultra+ PAK DAWs: Cakewalk Sonar - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8 Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home
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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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Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
Join the conversation on our forum.
Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll also keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
From overviews of new features and walkthroughs of the 202 new RealTracks, to highlights of XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAKs 18, the 2025 49-PAK, and in-depth tutorials — you’ll find everything you need to explore what’s new in Band-in-a-Box® 2025.
Reference this forum post for One-Stop Shopping of our Band-in-a-Box® 2025 Mac Videos — we’ll be adding more videos as they’re released!
Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac is here, packed with major new features and an incredible collection of available new content! This includes 202 RealTracks (in Sets 449-467), plus 20 bonus Unreleased RealTracks in the 2025 49-PAK. There are new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 4, two new sets of “RealDrums Stems,” XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAK 19, and more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac with savings of up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special—available until July 31, 2025! Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
2025 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
We've packed our Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK with some incredible Add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is automatically included with most Band-in-a-Box® for Mac 2025 packages, but for even more Add-ons (including 20 Unreleased RealTracks!) upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49. You can see the full lists of items in each package, and listen to demos here.
If you have any questions, feel free to connect with us directly—we’re here to help!
Band-in-a-Box 2025 Italian Version is Here!
Cari amici
È stata aggerate la versione in Italiano del programma più amato dagli appassionati di musica, il nostro Band-in-a-Box.
Questo è il link alla nuova versione 2025.
Di seguito i link per scaricare il pacchetti di lingua italiana aggiornati per Band-in-a-Box e RealBand, anche per chi avesse già comprato la nuova versione in inglese.
Band-in-a-Box 2025 - Italiano
RealBand 2025 - Italiano
Band-in-a-Box 2025 French Version is Here!
Bonjour à tous,
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 pour Windows est disponible en Français.
Le téléchargement se fait à partir du site PG Music
Pour ceux qui auraient déjà acheté la version 2025 de Band-in-a-Box (et qui donc ont une version anglaise), il est possible de "franciser" cette version avec les patchs suivants:
BIAB 2025 - francisation
RealBand 2025 - francisation
Voilà, enjoy!
Band-in-a-Box 2025 German Version is Here!
Update Your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 to Build 1128 for Windows Today!
Already using Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Windows®? Download Build 1128 now from our Support Page to enjoy the latest enhancements and improvements from our team.
Stay up to date—get the latest update now!
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