Muso, This thread is not about "big sample orchestral libs, and fancy vsti's" - I would be the first to agree with you that these have never worked in BIAB in the past and likely don't work now, but that is a different topic.
BIAB needs something to play GM and the Coyote Wavetable which BIAB installs is simply unacceptable. So if that is what you use, I suspect you never listen to midi in BIAB.
Windows 10 (64bit) M-Audio Fast Track Pro, Band in a Box 2025, Cubase 14, Cakewalk and far too many VST plugins that I probably don't need or will ever use
MusicStudent actually i listen to midi a LOT. best. muso.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
This is on HOLD for me. I am waiting for what has been suggested in another thread in regards to my free version of SythFontVST which I was perfectly happy with thru BIAB2020
Quote:
I chatted with support. It seems that it is coming back to BIAB (or at least the version that was in 2020 if you had that). I was told, and if I understood correctly it is probably will be resolved in the next build. So hold your wallets at least till next patch to see where things are going with that.
I asked rep to clarify this on forum, so there is no confusion.
Nothing against Halion SE besides the fact that the free version has no sounds. But I was happy with what I had and didn't feel it necessary to look for something else.
Since 2021 and its little default Synth problems, I've tried a few. First of course the Sforzando, the Coyote and then the TTS. And I finally went with the Halion Sonic, which does everything wonderfully well and without any hassle. And suddenly, I started listening to a lot of Midi, SuperTrack midi, and really, it's much nicer than I imagined. I stayed on my big collection of RT so I completely discover this production with great pleasure.
To summarize, I had Sonic for some time but I did not know at all that he could serve as GM in Biab plugins. So thank you to this forum which opened my eyes to this possibility and a few others.
musicstudent. firstly let me say i only want the very best for you and our fellow pg users. we are all in the same boat. so lets debate . THE ROOT ISSUE FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL IS : PG USERS WANT IN BIAB VERY TASTY SOUNDS TO BE GENERATED FROM MIDI TRAKS. CORRECT ?? non pg users want the same as daw plug ins.
believe it or not , people, includeing myself BEFORE REALTRAKS came on the scene, wanted the SAME, etc. the ISSUE has been around for donkeys years way back to the all midi biab days early on. pg have known about the issue for ages. loads of user posts over the years re "tasty sounds". loads of frustration, not pg's fault. the fault lay with computer architectures. AND remember , back in those days the computers were way less powerfull than today. i can remember mucking around on an atari st. lol. as the computers became more powerfull , RT's were introduced. this was very responsible of pg imho. (and i suspect RT's were introduced, because of the big demand for better tastier sounds. a brilliant marketing move imho.)
my goodness , i was asking pg way way back for better tastier sounds. i wanted the same as your goodself. however i realised, at that time, trying to cram all the sounds of a multi thousand dollar synth rig set up , in software was asking a bit much. at that time, often people used external midi modules outputting sounds from midi into line mixers/consoles etc , and often onto tape multitraks etc etc. drove people nuts often. people today still spend minor trust fund amounts on hardware synths that i would love but can never afford due to other family needs. like eating lol.
so, what to do ?? in a thread recently , if you notice simon (from pg, and he can correct me if i am wrong) commented that most pg users use the features provided by biab. THUS ITS APPARENT TO ME THAT IF PG COULD FURNISH US WITH TASTY SOUNDS BUILT INTO BIAB THEY WOULD. i dont think they are being mean in not doing so. from reading threads , it seems their concern is being able to accommodate all types of users , includeing ones with low power pc rigs. not everyone is running xeons/threadrippers/i9's. some people are running old pc's.
i'm just trying to put it all in perspective musicstudent, and i KNOW its frustrating. (yes i know all about the coyote sounds. thats why mainly i use plug ins for midi traks in a daw.)
but perhaps if you told everyone what tasty sounds your looking for , it might help narrow things down. is it special fx ? , synths ?, orchestral sounds ? more unique drum sounds ? nature sounds ? what sounds ?
and of course there are loads of free plug ins on the net.
best. muso.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
Muso, With all due respect, you are making this way too complicated and going way beyond the current topic and at the same time peaching to the choir. I am afraid my quires here are being misunderstood due to the mixing of multiple threads - my bad. It all started here: https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=629423#Post629423 and I should have never started this separate thread.
Quote:
I just want the same GM soft synth in BIAB2021 that I had one weeks ago in BIAB 2020.
I you're right about your initial request of getting the same GM soft synth in BIAB2021 that I had two weeks ago in BIAB 2020: I have no idea why the latest 2021 install took out a VSTi, that sounds very weird to me.
I also think the Muso has a very valid point in that you are not going to get pristine sounds using any GM sound source, however this may not be the thread to explain it.
Muso, your workflow is virtually like mine for the identical reasons.
I think my wife has started to show the first signs of dementia. She said she can't remember what she ever saw in me!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
musicstudent. i didnt see your other thread. apologies. it might be a daft question, but, out of curiosity, what do your default preferences show in biab ? coyote ? could you do a screenshot of prefs ? i'm really not trying to be an arguing idiot. and i will defer to mario, immho the midi king.
mario. yep you and i have the same procedure. see if you agree with the following mario.
i feel this whole problem of users needing decent gm sounds rises up from time to time , cos pg built so many neat midi editing and other features in biab. eg features like the event editor, notation and piano roll etc etc. and many others. and they were just trying to keep users happy etc etc.
but then along came the powerfull vsti plug ins. so some users are tempted to start plugging the often powerfull plugins into biab, without maybe realising there IS a resource impact. thus some crash threads ive seen over the years on these and other user recording forums. which is why ive argued in biab wishlist for certain user protection schemes be built into biab and rb. i mean there are glorious plug ins out there. BUT they need processing cycles. and they are doing a lot in the background often. which might impact biab RT generations. because they are takeing the midi data in and synthesising sound output.
(btw thanks for the kramer comments.)
merry xmas to you both. muso.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
If you want full control over GM (program / bank change) and good->better sounds I think there are only two software products that will do that as VST that you can get creative with.(except for older, pretty much outdated TTS1 and Roland soundcanvas)
VSTSynthfont, which came with 2020- and hopefully returns for free, at least for the users who had it. It is great because it has small footprint, many tweakable parameters. Accepts full SF2 banks in a single or multiple files. You can get GM compatible SF2 banks at 20 megs or 10 gb... paid or free. Or even build your own.
Halion Sonic. Good, solid set of sounds, especially in full version, nice interface. Downside is tricky to get your sounds in. Almost no 3rd party libriraies. With full Halion I believe you can do it (use your own SF2 banks), but not very intuitively.
There is one other, If I am not mistaken by falconsoft (that does program/bank changes) but not as tweakable and flexible as the two above and development stopped about 10 years ago.
mario. yep you and i have the same procedure. see if you agree with the following mario.
i feel this whole problem of users needing decent gm sounds rises up from time to time , cos pg built so many neat midi editing and other features in biab. eg features like the event editor, notation and piano roll etc etc. and many others. and they were just trying to keep users happy etc etc.
but then along came the powerfull vsti plug ins. so some users are tempted to start plugging the often powerfull plugins into biab, without maybe realising there IS a resource impact. thus some crash threads ive seen over the years on these and other user recording forums. which is why ive argued in biab wishlist for certain user protection schemes be built into biab and rb. i mean there are glorious plug ins out there. BUT they need processing cycles. and they are doing a lot in the background often. which might impact biab RT generations. because they are takeing the midi data in and synthesising sound output.
(btw thanks for the kramer comments.)
merry xmas to you both. muso.
I agree, although I think we should start another thread and not hijack this one.
I think my wife has started to show the first signs of dementia. She said she can't remember what she ever saw in me!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Well look what came back with the current build released today. If you look close the "sounds" are the original Coyote Forte Dxi which are the GM sounds I have used for the past 2 decades. Maybe that helps explain why I was upset. These may not be the very best GM available but they are the very best that I care to have. And just to close the loop here. I have deleted Halion Sonic SE.
So I go to delete the free HelionSE - low and behold there is a ton of content installed which looks like sounds that I never found or saw when I installed it.
Just an FYI to thoroughly confuse any others who come this way.
Yea - welcome to the world of BLOAT (and it's not just Steinberg either)
Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
so is this https://www.steinberg.net/vst-instruments/halion/se/ a no go to use as a general midi vst in BIAB or any other DAW? Sounds confusing, who says there's no sounds, who says it sounds great.. can't make heads or tails....
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
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.
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows 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)
Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
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)
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.