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1) if I upgrade to Biab 2010...in order to get Real Tracks...does that version contain ALL the Styles I have now (in v2007)...??? I.e., will I lose anything...???



You won't lose a thing. All is gain. If you choose to install the new one right overtop of the old one, even the songs you have already created will still be in the folders where you had them. All styles you had will still be there, plus plenty more.

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2) Does Real Tracks (which I'm assuming is audio in some format...like Real Drums) also write MIDI, so that I can use my existing pianos (from Native Instruments)...???



No. But the good news here is that you will not need to do that. The RealPianos are just that, real piano players playing real pianos. Why try to change that into artificial MIDI pianos? You have to experience the difference to truly understand it here. Given all that, you would still have the thousands of MIDI based styles and MIDI based pianists available also. You can mix and match MIDI and RealTracks at will within a song, too, so you could have RealGuitars mixed with MIDI Pianos if you like.

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3) In simply using Styles themselves...(w/o Real Tracks)...the only thing I've ever been able to do is to just preview different Styles...to hear what the various pianos sound like in my compositions. Am I missing some important function of the program, for example, Soloist...??? I.e., is there something else I could be doing to get the fills & flourishes in between the chordings...???



This question is kind of wide open in the sense that we don't really know what type of "fills and flourishes" you are thinking of, nor the genre, etc. But there are indeed ways to embellish things within BiaB, to a certain degree. I think that with the RealTracks, you may find that is a nonproblem, though. it is a different set of circumstances entirely.

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4) (sorry...I know I said 3, but...)...is there a video tutorial on Real Tracks I could watch so I don't have to bother you guys...??? (guys like Mac have spent half their careers helping me in here...for which I am eternally grateful...(thanks, Mac) but I shouldn't necessarily be taking up everybodys time, either).



There are videos and also streaming audio of RealTracks demos available on this website. See the Tutorials part of the Support pages for starters. There are also the "New Release" videos, too.

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4-1/2) For BiaB 2007 itself...is there a video tutorial that explains what I asked in question 3...???



There are plenty of tutorial videos now, don't just watch the ones for your particular version, as the ones that came before your version also contain much valuable information that would also apply in your particular version as well.

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4-3/4) who the heck is Miles Black...???



Miles has been associated with PGMusic for a long time. Creator of quite a few of the piano styles, MIDI first, now RealTracks also, and has been the main contributor to the PGMusic Piano series such as the Master Jazz, etc.

From the RealTracks Picker Memo on Miles Black:

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Miles Black began his professional music career in 1980 (at age 14) in Victoria, British Columbia. Since relocating to Vancouver, Miles has achieved prominence as an arranger, producer, composer, session musician, guitarist, bassist, saxophonist, songwriter, musical theatre director, music therapist and college level music instructor. He has performed on countless albums, and has played with many music greats around the world, notably with the Juno-nominated fusion band Skywalk and the Oliver Gannon Quartet. His CD releases include solo piano, duos, the Miles Black Trio and the Miles Black Quartet, including many of his own compositions. He also writes songs with lyricist/vocalist Glenda and they have released the CD "Another Day."

Miles is co-leader with Tom Keenlyside of the Modern Jazz quartet Altered Laws. Their album "Metaphora" was nominated for a 2008 Juno Award as Best Contemporary Jazz Album.

Since 1991, Miles has been performing and producing music content for PG Music programs including the Pianist Series of programs, the Oscar Peterson Multimedia CD-ROM, and many Band-in-a-Box add-ons. That association continues with his work as both performer and producer for RealTracks.

Get the latest news and information about Miles Black online at http://www.milesblack.com.





My friend, Band in a Box 2010 is lightyears in front of the version you are currently using.


--Mac

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