PG Music Home Forums PG Music Product Forums Band-in-a-Box for Windows How to get the best software-based MIDI sounds from BIAB

On Matt Finley's excellent advice, I am posting a new topic on the question in the title, "How to get the best software-based MIDI sounds from BIAB".

I am even lower than newbie on knowing about MIDI and sounds, but currently I am using the Coyote WT plugin supplied by BIAB to render MIDI sounds strictly within the BIAB program. After reading and posting and searching I have discovered that there may not be a simple plug and play alternative to this plugin and Coyote Forte does not work in BIAB64. MusicStudent is planning to make a video on methods but Matt suggested starting this new thread.

For me I am looking for a software option. I am only using BIAB at this point as a stand alone application and at this time I am not using it with a DAW (Reaper is what I have but rarely use at this point). I am not concerned about price. I do not anticipate wanting to manipulate any sounds. I simply am looking for the best "play-back" sound quality for MIDI tracks within BIAB64 2022.

Thanks in advance especially to all those who have already contributed!

Obviously you can load all the relevant plugins on each instrument, for example EZBass on the bass, EZKeys on the piano, etc. But as I realized that Halion Sonic is multitimbral (like Coyote or Plogue, DXI) and that we can leave the GM permanently in the options, this is the solution I use and I find the sounds very correct . So far I have not found better.

HI
Are you using a WIN system or a MAC system?

Win, but it is also possible in Mac.

Wouldn’t you know it, but there is another new thread about this you should read, in the Wishlist Forum. It starts with ‘PG Music Built-in HQ’.

I do just now notice the pinned topic in this forum by Mr. PG "Here’s a no-brainer ....install Cakewalk and the TTS-1 64 bit" that suggests TTS-1 64.

Community thoughts? Even if one doesn't use the DAW, this might be an easy 1 step solution.

The TTS-1 is an excellent GM sound source. Note since you indicated that you are a novice in MIDI I would start by only looking at GM sound sources.

Another excellent GM source are soundfonts (SF2). VirtualMIDISynth is an excellent SF2 player:

https://coolsoft.altervista.org/en/virtualmidisynth

There are a ton of different SF2s available. An advantage is you change sounds in a SF2 buy using an editor:

https://belnln.colorfulkitchen.co/free-soundfont-editor/

For example if you don't like the sound of a sax you can change it with a new sax sound.

Note that there are a number of excellent soundfont players and librarians available.

I just wanted to show you another option. There are others options available, I just don't have any experience with them.

I hope this helps.

Thank you MarioD. I have discovered that I do have VirtualMIDIsynth_2.12.2 on my system (from a previous installation of Jjazzlab MIDI backing track tool before I upgraded to using BIAB). The soundfont it is using is JJazzLab-SoundFont.sf2, which after much reading, I now see is optimized to use with the Jjazzlab application. I unchecked using Coyote and switched to this VirtualMIDIsynth in the MIDI output driver box and noticed an obvious increase in sound quality and stereo field or sonic space.

After much time with Wikipedia and the web, I now realize that one can download other Soundfonts and load them into the VirtualMIDIsynth to obtain other versions of sounds. An adventure!

Do you or the community have any recommendations for the soundfonts that you have found particularly good?

I do just now notice the pinned topic in this forum by Mr. PG "Here’s a no-brainer ....install Cakewalk and the TTS-1 64 bit" that suggests TTS-1 64.

Community thoughts? Even if one doesn't use the DAW, this might be an easy 1 step solution.


I'm a regular Cakewalk user, and have been for decades... I love the usefullness & sound of TTS-1... I would highly recommend downloading Cakewalk by Bandlab (for free) just to get TTS-1 64... It works great in BIAB, plus you get a world class, DAW with tons of other very useful PUs & content.

I believe there good reasons that sticky thread has stuck around for so long...

After reading this information, I downloaded Virtualmidisynth and Timbres of Heaven SF.
Now I can't figure out how to apply them in BIAB and RBand.
Any help would be appreciated.

Vintage

Me too! BIAB will not load the .dll. Says it is not a VST2?

Would be nice to figure this one out. We may need our own thread.

I don't know, but this may be of some help in a general sense...

From the manual...


Output to Software Synthesizers (DXi and VSTi)

Software synthesizers allow Band-in-a-Box to play high quality sounds directly through your computer sound card, without requiring any external MIDI hardware. Most new software synthesizers are released as "plug-ins," so they will work in a standard way with many programs. Connecting Band-in-a-Box to the software synth as a plug-in provides several advantages over the previous method of connecting as a MIDI driver. The plug-in allows Band-in-a-Box to merge/sync in any existing audio file (vocals etc.) with the synth output. You can also directly render your performance to a .WAV file using the plug-in. Sampler-based synths allow you to assemble a huge, customized library of instrument samples to use with Band-in-a-Box.

Check the Use VSTi/DXi Synth checkbox to enable VSTi/DXi playback. While using VSTi or DXi, all playback information is routed to the VSTi/DXi, including the option to route the THRU part from your MIDI keyboard to the VSTi/DXi synth.

[Note: To use this option, you must have a polyphonic DXi synthesizer installed on your computer, such as the CoyoteWT. It will also be most convenient if your DXi synthesizer can use General MIDI or GM2 patches.]

The current DXi or VSTi synth name is displayed in the [VSTi/DXi Synth] button. You can change the synth by pressing this button and selecting a synth from the list.

Support for 64-bit VST Plugins using jBridge

You can use your 64-bit VST plugins and VSTi instruments with Band-in-a-Box, using jBridge. Since Band-in-a-Box has built-in support for jBridge, you just use your plugins as you normally would, by selecting 32- or 64-bit plugins within Band-in-a-Box. (Note: jBridge is a third-party product.)

To use 64-bit plugins with Band-in-a-Box, you:

1. Get and install jBridge,

2. Select and use your 64- or 32-bit plugins within Band-in-a-Box, without any further setup or configuration!

VSTSynthFont64

The 64-bit version of Band-in-a-Box allows you to use use the VSTSynthFont64 as the General MIDI (GM) synth. To use it, press the [VSTi/DXi Synth] button. Then select the VST SynthFont64 from the list.

Note: If VSTSynthFont64 is not listed, close the dialog and go to the Mixer. Then click on a plugin in the Plugins tab and select Plugins Settings from the menu. When the Plugins Options dialog opens, press the [Add Plugins] button, select + Scan for VSTPlugins in a Specific Directory from the menu, and select C:\bb\Data\Libx64.

OK, this is a surprize and the only thing I did not know.:


I have this and it is my go-to. But never knew where I got it or how to advise others to use it. But if it comes with BIAB there is no need for anything else. It will play all the soundfont files inlcuding Timbers from Heaven.sf2 and Coyote Forte.sf2. there is a paid update version for $15 but you don't need to update.

From my limited experience, all I did to get the VirtualMIDIsynth to work was to simply install it. It then showed up in the BIAB MIDI output driver dialog box and can be chosen while unchecking Use VSTi. Then if you go to your start menu and launch VirtualMIDIsynth, it gives you a very simple dialog to add any soundfont files you have.

Geeze is it possible I have helped someone?!?!!?

Sounds easy, right? But in typical band in a box fashion it just did not work for me.

Oh man, sorry MusicStudent.

Well I have spent my afternoon fussing around with MIDI and the VirtualMIDIsynth. I have loaded in three soundfonts (one at a time)(JJazzLab-SoundFont.sf2, FluidR3_GM.sf2, and Timbres Of Heaven (XGM) 3.94.sf2) and they are all radically different in volume, stereo space and of course especially timbre. The guitars always sound like electric pianos to my ears. This has been a very interesting adventure.

I have also downloaded Cakewalk and the included TTS-1 64 run as a VSTi and then again it seemed just like another flavor, but the MIDI tracks were still very identifiable as MIDI type sounds.

It makes me appreciate the quality of the RealTracks. I know there are advantages to using MIDI, but I find the sonic quality of the RealTracks to be thrilling and when I play against them I just melt into the music.

It has been so interesting to learn from you all; I am really enjoying this adventure.

Worked first try for me!

Thank you bloc-head for the info.

Vintage

If you take the stock MIDI tracks and put them in the best MIDI sound source they will, in most cases, still sound, as you say, "MIDI type sounds". To get the most out of them you have to add some continuous controller (CC) data. In other words you have to emulate the sound you are after via CCs, pitch bends, and the mod wheel. For example take a MIDI track sax. To make it more realistic you must add pitch bends, vibrato, volume, etc and play it like a sax, i.e. no polyphony, stay within the sax's range, etc. You will either need a MIDI controller of some kind or add them via manual input. A MIDI controller keyboard with sliders and knobs is the best option IMHO.

Try some of the Super MIDI tracks (what a dumb name IMHO) with some better sounds. Try the pianos and organs first, you may be surprised,

Better than "RealMIDI", which would have been the logical choice.

I found these comments really helpful in telling me what's what. That is the kind of perspective and knowledge I didn't have. It's all beginning to come into focus. And I am honing in on what I want with the program. Thanks so much.