I record my guitar as an audio track into a BIAB song by plugging it directly into my computer. BIAB let’s me add reverberation and I can add some effects like echo using a stomp box hooked up in between. What I can’t get is distortion or even crunch. Running the sound through the overdrive channel on my guitar amp first, produces too much volume for BIAB to handle. Has anyone come up with a good way to do this? Thanks.
Thanks MarioD. How do you hook them up to get the distorted sound into BIAB?
You would use it as an effect after you recorded your guitar. I don't do these kind of things in BiaB, I do them in my DAW, so someone else will have to give you step by step instructions.
The fitness trainer asked me, "What kind of a squat are you accustomed to doing?" I said, "Diddly."
64 bit Win 11 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
i record in RB as its a lot easier to my way of working. but if you have amplitube (it comes with BIAB)use the fx insert to choose amplitube as your plugin which you can do with the mixer in BIAB. record your guitar first then open amplitube which comes with an interface where you can choose which pedals to add. there's a tube screamer or similar, delay and chorus. you can also choose amp and cabinet simulations.
from my days as a guitarist, i'd suggest you add the distortion first then the time based effects like echo, delay and chorus later - there are pedals to do that in amplitube - rather than as BIAB fx up front.
I believe if you look you should find that you have Amplitude in with BB. It is essentially a guitar sim. I've never really used in in BB..... I do have it in my DAW, Sonar, and it lets you apply all sorts of different amplifier models and pedals to the sound, and the one I have has different cabinet and speaker models too.
You can use that to make a clean guitar into practically anything you want.
If that doesn't work for you for a variety of reasons, you can google search ACME BAR GIG and get their free amp sim for guitar.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add 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.
Depending on your recording setup, also - you could record amp signal and direct signal simultaneously. That way you can always add a vst amp later. Be mindful of potential phase issues though. If you want only one source I'd advice using the amp signal.
Wow! So that’s what Plugins are! Silly me. The echo, flanger and tremolo sound fine. Distortion isn’t as good as my amp can produce but it’s workable. Thanks you all for educating me.
Wow! So that’s what Plugins are! Silly me. The echo, flanger and tremolo sound fine. Distortion isn’t as good as my amp can produce but it’s workable. Thanks you all for educating me.
You might want to try some of the free distortion plug-ins I mentioned earlier.
The fitness trainer asked me, "What kind of a squat are you accustomed to doing?" I said, "Diddly."
64 bit Win 11 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
ok, i think this is how you do it. amplitube comes with biab as a vst. do you already use vst plugins? you access them the same way you do any plug in BIAB or RB. IN RB click on the fx button next to the solo or mute buttons on the track in the tracks window, or on the fx button at the top of the channel/track strip for the relevant track in the mixer. In BIAB go to the plugins tab of the mixer and each track has two lines - the name of the track/instrument and another with a drop down menu above it.
sorry if you know this already. in both cases the fx plugin window opens and you choose the plugin you want. however, you will probably have to add amplitube as a vstplug in.
scroll to the bottom of the list and select add vst plugin and then you will find a windows explorer window opens for you to find the plugin. if your installation is the same as mine you'll need to navigate to your main local drive (usually c for most of us), select programfiles[86] and then scroll down to find the vstplugins folder which being alphabetical is one of the last ones! open it up and select amplitube.dll
amplitube should then open up in the plugins window. you then select pedals, amps and cabinets
there are some presets but some of us have had difficulty getting them to load - try selecting the browser button in the top row and see if you have any - the names are fairly descriptive and they will populate the plugin to give you an idea of how it works.
if you haven't got any presets creating a patch is no more difficult than programming a multi fx pedal.
select stomp A and then go down to the bottom - there are spaces on the fake wooden floor with selector arrows. press the down arrow to cycle through available pedals. then if you need to add another pedal move to the next space along.
once you've done the pedals, choose the amp and then the cabinet. you then get a rack to set up which allows you to add more digital fx there and then but pedals, amp and cabinet are enough for me.
there's all sorts of magic with vsts - there are special files for the pedals, amps etc but they are hidden away and amplitube.dll finds them with no effort on your part. good luck and come back if you have a problem.
play around have fun! once you've added amplitube it will always be there in your drop down fx menu but you'll have to add it separately to BIAB and RB.
FWIW I find myself using Fretted Synth stuff quite often. Freeamp Full and Helian Bass make things quick and easy .. but have a lot of granularity available
Note that all versions of freeamp were different. Some seem to play nicer on a given system than others .. trade off for the cost I guess. I've only tinkered with the Freeamp and Helian Bass tools .. there's a lot more on this page.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
Here are some ideas; 1: Record your amp by putting a microphone in front of it. You would also need an audio interface or at least an adaptor to connect the mic to your computer. Before I started using an dedicated interface I had a small Behringer 5 channel mixer connected to my sound card input. That worked. 2: If your amp has some type of line out jack you could put a DI box with an attenuater switch in between. Live Wire Solutions SPDI has worked for me. Or use a Behringer GDI21 which has great reviews. 3: There are many decent digital FX pedals that do a decent job of amp, over drive and distortion emulation. My current choice has been Zoom G1 Four on the Fender Deluxe Reverb setting. The output on the G1 Four is a single mono or stereo output. I can record straight to my sound card (although I often don't) with a simple cable and an adaptor at one end. 4: Record direct as you have been and use any one of the many and often free plugins such as: SimulAnalog (various plugins) Voxengo Boogex Silver Spikes Ruby Tube Acme Bar Gigs Whisper Tube Blue Cat Audio BC Free Amp (2 thumbs up for this one) MSaturator by Melda Productions (can adjust 2nd and 4th harmonics) Amplitube 3 or 4.
Not sure if this works inside BIAB but the free Voxengo Boogex (or other amp emulator or even distortion/overdrive FX) followed by the free Voxengo Stereo Touch on the Guitar Cabinet preset actually works/sounds great.
Hi AlistairLC I have also been looking at the same thing. I had heaps of trouble getting anything out of Amplitube but that’s just me. I downloaded Native Instruments and their Guitar rig is worth a look. Most of the effects you can only use for 30 minutes at a time (unless you purchase) and then reload but there are plenty freebies than create plenty of distortion and other effects. On the up side there are plenty of other instruments to play around with. Cheers
BIAB 2022 UltraPAK Xtra packs 1,2,3,4,5,6,13 2019 and 2018 49pak Asus Zen Book UX533F 1TB ssd Windows10 pro, 16g i7 64bit Allen and Heath Z10fx mixer Alesis V25 controller
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
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 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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 Windows or for Mac.
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.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: 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 because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 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 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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!
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.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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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