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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 59
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 59 |
Background:
Been away from BIAB products for a long time.
I own the 2009 version supplied on an external hard disk...
"entire Band-in-a-Box and RealBand EverythingPAK on this portable USB 2.5" hard drive"
I also have Powertracks Po Audio 9 CD and theRoland VSC CD.
Goal:
Connect my M-Audio Axiom 49 keyboard controller and create some tracks for a project.
The Questions:
1 - If I remember right I did thie years ago, on another Windows PC, using PowerTracks and the Roland Virtual Sound Card.
Is that still the way to go?
2 - If I upgrade BIAB I see the VST DAW Plugin... but that requires more software like Cakewalk or some other DAW... right?
3 - I could upgrade to the latest PowerTracks but I'm confused if PowerTracks is a full fledged DAW. Is PowerTracks a true, fullly functional DAW by todays standards? If not what DAW should I consider.
4 - Will the PowerTracks ProAudio 9 CD and the Roland VSC CD software install on my Windows 10 PC or must I upgrade for this project.
Thanks for any help. I've just been away so long I'm just like a newbie :-)
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,567
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,567 |
Background:
Been away from BIAB products for a long time.
I own the 2009 version supplied on an external hard disk...
"entire Band-in-a-Box and RealBand EverythingPAK on this portable USB 2.5" hard drive"
I also have Powertracks Po Audio 9 CD and theRoland VSC CD.
Goal:
Connect my M-Audio Axiom 49 keyboard controller and create some tracks for a project.
The Questions:
1 - If I remember right I did thie years ago, on another Windows PC, using PowerTracks and the Roland Virtual Sound Card.
Is that still the way to go?
2 - If I upgrade BIAB I see the VST DAW Plugin... but that requires more software like Cakewalk or some other DAW... right?
3 - I could upgrade to the latest PowerTracks but I'm confused if PowerTracks is a full fledged DAW. Is PowerTracks a true, fullly functional DAW by todays standards? If not what DAW should I consider.
4 - Will the PowerTracks ProAudio 9 CD and the Roland VSC CD software install on my Windows 10 PC or must I upgrade for this project.
Thanks for any help. I've just been away so long I'm just like a newbie :-)
I'll answer you questions the best that I can: 1- Yes. That is one way to go. 2- Yes, but if you use Realband you don't need the VST 3- I do not know as I have never used Powertrack Pro. 4- Maybe but I don't know. You would have to contact Roland and PGMusic to be sure. If you upgrade to the latest BiaB you will also get Realband. Realband is a DAW. For many here on the forums it is the only DAW they use. You will not need the VST version if you use Realband. Personally if I were you I would upgrade.
Back in my day the only time we started panic buying was when the bartender shouted "last call"!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,511
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,511 |
For #3 I’m not sure anyone would call PowerTracks a ‘full fledged DAW’ by today’s standards. RealBand is closer and was developed from it.
About what DAW to consider, if price is a concern, try Cakewalk and Reaper.
Ideally, download demos and try them all. Buy the one that you feel matches your workflow and seems most intuitive for you.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,633
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,633 |
Will.
its a difficult question to answer unless you go into much more detail of your budget and needs.
even though i use biab/rb/reaper combo to create songs , as an old powertraks user i think powertraks is a steal of a deal for a daw.
as your an old ptraks user i think you can upgrade to latest version for the princely sum of 29 buks...a steal imho.
check with pg sales. imho haveing used lots of daws both powertraks and realband are great daws.
but so too is reaper imho. its 60 buks. also there are lots of free daws like cake and traction etc.
all very very nice.
there are many other ways to go viz pg products.. see the pg sales page for the various options/upgrades etc.
from under 100 buks to several hundred buks for all the real traks etc.
imho if all george martin and the lads had was powertraks
with its 48 traks they would still produce worldwide hits.
we are spoilt today for options...lol
best/ymmv
oldmuso
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 07/27/21 07:56 AM.
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.)
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,551
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,551 |
'Virtual' Sound Canvas is likely not going to work anymore. (Question 1 & 4 of OP)
At least not the one PGMusic supplied in years gone by.
There are others out there, and Sonar/Cakewalk comes with a nice one that *can work in other DAWS. Some people have installed Sonar/Cakewalk just to have the synth, and that's not a terrible option so far, given it's free.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 59
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 59 |
So, just to be clear...
a. the new BIAB comes with Real Band DAW... so I will not need an extra program like Cakewalk... right?
b. Also, will BIAB with Real Band record me playing the M=Audio Axion 49 midi controller... so I don't have to first record my playing into PowerTracks?
c. And, if so, will it record my keybord in real time while I'm listening to the other tracks?
Thanks again for the help.
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: May 2000
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Well, if recording MIDI from the controller, yes, for sure. Vouching for RB here.
If you have RB, you already have Powertracks and then some ..
Is RB a DAW? Well yes, it does most of what other DAWs do, and some things others can't, but it has its own rules/workflows.
If you are not already use to another DAW, you'll be fine.
I find that quite often, I don't really 'need' the other DAWs I have, RB does what I need, just a different workflow.
If trying to record Audio from a controller, you are going to have to learn Routing in any DAW.
The benefit of having Cakewalk (which is free BTW), is that you now also have the TTS-1 synth, which RB and other DAWS can use.
Peter Gannon (the 'PG' in PGMusic) made a 'No Brainer' post on obtaining this synth (recommending getting CW just to have it) so you can have a decent 'default synth'.
So I'm guessing a lot of the staff use it as a default synth also, but this is just conjecture on my part.
I have a few hardware synths with GM patch options, so I feel fine without it so far, but that's just me.
Basically, yes, if you have Realband, you do not need Powertracks at all (Realband development/updates happen before PT historically; PT gets the upgrades RB already has later in the year) .. again in recent history anyway.
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.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
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Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
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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®.
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Happy New Year!
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Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
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