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RealBand
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 812
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OP
Expert
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 812 |
Greetings,
I'm just very curious as to why you would use Real Band instead of Band in a Box?? I admit to being very lazy when it comes to trying RB. And I'm so comfortable with BIAB, and I then import that into my DAW.
Thanks,
Ed
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RealBand
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,641
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RB is my DAW .. and it does quite a bit of what BiaB does.. one program, keeps me efficient.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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RealBand
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,847
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Hi, Ed - RealBand lets you use a number of BIAB features directly from within RealBand (which you can't do with other DAWs). You can highlight a group of bars and set a BIAB style, and RB will generate the parts just like in BIAB, but with greater granularity. For example, I can generate a whole song, then just select a couple of bars to regenerate. RealBand also lets me use RealDrums and RealTracks (based on the chord grid which is very similar to the one in BIAB). RB doesn't do BIAB solos, but you can start in BIAB and bring one into RealBand from BIAB. RB will open existing BIAB files natively (but regenerates it). Plus you get a total of 48 MIDI or mono audio or stereo audio tracks. MIDI tracks can be assigned to different sound sources (unlike BIAB). If you happen to also have the latest version of PowerTracks (which is a lot like RealBand without the BIAB features), you can also use the TC-Helicon harmonizer (it's a licensing issue, which is why you need PowerTracks). RealBand also includes the Audio Chord Wizard, so you can generate both a chord progression, as well as a tempo map. I've taken some acoustic song recordings (that I ripped from CD) that didn't have drums and added RealDrums to it. With the chord progression, you can also add RealTracks solos or accompaniment, as well. So, with RealBand, you can generate a BIAB accompaniment, add a vocal or two or three, some RealTracks, some Realdrums, play your guitar, add VST or DX effects to each track, use multiple supported DXi's or VSTi's, set the levels for each individual track, set the stereo pan for each individual track, convert MIDI tracks to audio tracks that can then have effects applied, easily copy/paste entire or parts of tracks to the same track or other tracks, etc, etc. But RB is really designed for creating tracks you want to mix down to WAV or MP3. BIAB is better for auto-accompaniment or live performance. RB is ultimately going to give you a static performance each time. But basically PGMusic took the best of PowerTracks (PGMusic's DAW) and BIAB and nicely merged those features into a single interface. Plus 50 more new features.  Hope that helped a little.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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RealBand
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Posts: 38,502 |
Quote:
Greetings,
I'm just very curious as to why you would use Real Band instead of Band in a Box??
Not an "instead of" either/or situation: I use RB in conjunction with BiaB most of the time.
Songs started in BiaB that are destined to become full-fledged recordings get D&D exported from BB to RB where I can take advantage of having all those additional available tracks, the ability to address multiple MIDI devices simultaneously, multiple and separate instances of audio plugins, the full mixer, full editing facilities, plus the ability to be able to go ahead and generate a new RealTrack here and there if called for.
Dunno why some folks insist on trying to see one program as a replacement for the other, or why they try to do it all in one or the other, the fear of the learning curve perhaps...
--Mac
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RealBand
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
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I have about 175 songs in Real Band. They are all audio tracks either created by RT, recording, or rendering. All songs are roughed out in BIAB.I use about 9 tracks average for a song.
1. Real Drums
2. Solo Inst.
3. Bass-I record
4. RT acoustic guitar
5. RT acoustic guitar
6. RT electric guitar
7. Piano
8. Strings
9. Kick Drum--rendered from custom styles
The only MIDI track I save from BIAB is the Piano and then I'll render that to an Audio Track.
Sometimes there may be more or less tracks however I try to keep the core of my "Band" the same thinking like a "Real Band"
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RealBand
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,696
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,696 |
I sketch in BIAB and get the most Midi support tracks from the BIAB style sheet. Then export the mgu file to RB where I find it easier to try out various RT's without having to lose any midi tracks behind in BIAB as a consequence. I save the RB file and as John said I can regenerate at my leisure with greater accuracy. I also use PT with the RB Seq file because PT allows me to open several audio edit windows at once for synching up multiple harmony tracks for instance, or making sure multiple track edits are not clipping other tracks.
Those three programs are all I need and past a certain point working in BIAB can become labor intensive in and as of itself.
Ian
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RealBand
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 484
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 484 |
Hi J,
"For example, I can generate a whole song, then just select a couple of bars to regenerate."
So, what you are saying is if there is something in the composition I don't particularly like I can export the BIAB file into RB and select the measures I would like to change and it would only regenerate that highlighted section of measures only?
I, like Edward, have been lazy or should I say perhaps overwhelmed by all the features that I have not been able to spend much time outside of the BIAB program at this stage. Also, you mentioned Power Tracks. Forgive my ignorance here too. I believe I read someplace in all the literature about BIAB/RB 2010 that PT is included. Is that so? I may just be getting the terms confused with Real Tracks.
Thanks,
RickeG
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RealBand
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 253
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 253 |
I'm toying with the idea of using realband as a live performance d.a.w. I do a lot of pop songs and when I perform as a single its really nice to use ptw and just save all of the backing tracks as a wave file on track 1, and then on track 2, have the lyrics and chords. that way I can use the juke box and have a folder with a lot of tunes....but then the flexibility of having the ability to open biab files too (which is my preferred format for the jazz standards I play in my act) and put them in the jukebox folder. that seems like a really cool deal:)
...........Jeff......
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RealBand
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,847
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,847 |
Hi, RickeG - Quote:
So, what you are saying is if there is something in the composition I don't particularly like I can export the BIAB file into RB and select the measures I would like to change and it would only regenerate that highlighted section of measures only?
In a word, Yes.
Quote:
Also, you mentioned Power Tracks. Forgive my ignorance here too. I believe I read someplace in all the literature about BIAB/RB 2010 that PT is included.
PowerTracks is NOT included with BIAB/RB, but is a separate (but not expensive) purchase ($49 for new purchase; $29 upgrade if you have a previous version).
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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RealBand
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,641
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,641 |
Note that Powertracks is the program RB is based on. So if you have RB, purchasing PT would be a lot of redundancy. There are very few reasons to purchase it if you already own RB.
Those few reasons-
the Harmonizer
multiple edit windows
slightly less computer load during operation.
The list of what RB has that PT doesn't is much larger.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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RealBand
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 18
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 18 |
I find RB more stable for live perf. It doesn't slam my processor nearly as hard and when I pull up a track its already there waiting, no generation time. Also with the possibility of BIAB locking up during generation from overloading my processor, I can't afford to have those kinds of sounds coming from my system at a gig. There is another thread on that particular problem.
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RealBand
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 812
Expert
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OP
Expert
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 812 |
Thanks so much for all your responses!! I've just learned a bunch of new stuff. Now it's time for me to reinstall RB and give it a whirl.
Ed
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RealBand
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,641
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,641 |
Good Luck and have fun.
As you know, there is lots of help here if you have any issues.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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