It's beginning to feel like I'm spending more time trying to get stuff to work than I am making music. Very frustrating to be sure.
Here's the latest head scratcher:
I've done a song in BIAB made up of 4 MIDI instruments and 1 audio instrument. (realdrums) Everything is sounding great.
My next move is to bring the song into my DAW - Reaper - with the PG plugin. It all goes in where it should. However, I can't hear any of the MIDI tracks - only the audio track (realdrums) The meters are all moving in the MIDI tracks, I can record in the MIDI tracks but I just can't hear anything. This problem is the same in Cakewalk and RealBand. I can bring Sample Tank 4 into Reaper and Cakewalk and it records and sounds as it should, and I can hear and edit the MIDI notes I have created.
The plugin can playback MIDI so that is why you see the meters move. However, by default the plugin MIDI soft synth is disabled so the sounds the plugin generates will not conflict with the sounds the DAW MIDI soft synth generates.
Go to File > Preferences > DAW Settings then scroll down. Enable the Embedded Synth.
It seems that my BIAB plugin doesn't have the option you show me in your picture... the "enable the Embedded Synth" option isn't showing in my version of the BIAB plugin.
Hi bobbyt9999, what version of the plugin are you running? In the new versions it is written at the bottom left of the plugin. Alternatively you could go to File | About, and the version number will also display there.
Bobby, version 4 is part of the 2022 release and is not available separately.
I understand not wanting to upgrade since you have 2021.
Perhaps the 2022 program only upgrade will work for you. I asked Sales early exactly what is in the program only upgrade and was told it is Band-in-a-Box, RealBand and the Plugin. However, I would verify that before agreeing to purchase.
Traditionally the program only upgrade is available only during the release sale.
I understand what your saying Bobby. However, in PG Music's defense, the plugin relies on Band-in-a-Box running as a background task to perform many of it's functions. RealBand also relies on Band-in-a-Box running as a background task to perform it's functions related to Band-in-a-Box features. That's why Band-in-a-Box, RealBand and the plugin are all released at the same time.
Opps... Sorry, Jim... I posted before I read your last post.
I'm going to check out the upgrade options. But I still don't think it's very fair to have to pay for the plugin.
Thanks for all your help regarding this matter. So much appreciated!!!
/Bobby
I'm not trying to start a war but other companies do the same thing. When Kontakt upgrades you must buy it to get the VST. Kontakt's free updates include VST's updates, just like PGM does with their free updates.
The bumper sticker said "I'm a veterinarian, therefore I can drive like an animal". Suddenly I realized how many proctologists are on the road.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Hi Mario... No fear, there's not gonna be any wars starting. I'm usually a pretty easy going old fella
If you noticed, I took down the rant that I posted because at the time I was understanding that I was going to need to pay $179USD in order to get the newer plugin. Thankfully Jim pointed out that I could just upgrade the program, plugin included, for $49USD - $56CAD. So, my bad for jumping the gun too quickly.
It saddens me to say that the newer plugin hasn't cleared up my problem of not hearing my BIAB midi tracks in Reaper or Cakewalk. The sounds are there but just can't be heard. There's just one audio track in my song (drums) and that can be heard. Obviously I'm still not getting some setting right. I'll post another screen shot in a bit.
I hope you will discover some of the features introduced this year like motifs and micro-chords help make the program upgrade a worthy purchase. I'm glad to see the program upgrade includes RealBand and the plugin.
Hi Jim... yeah, I'm sure there's a lot of stuff in the 2022 version that I'm going to love. To be honest, I really don't mind the $49 charge to upgrade at all. I'm sure that it's well worth it.
BIAB-VST 3.0 was working in Reaper, but has been broken with V4.0. We are waiting on a fix. I pointed that out earlier today in this tread. So you were warned.
I can now see that a fix to version 4 is needed and I take comfort in knowing that it's in the process of being fixed. Now, when I bring my BIAB song into Reaper or Cakewalk, I open the BIAB file in the plugin, and then generate the song within the plugin, it just abruptly shuts down either Reaper or Cakewalk.
And yes, you were very correct when you say that I you forewarned me that version 4 has a few bugs. I can be a very impulsive buyer sometimes. I see something and I just HAVE to have it without doing even any basic researching on it.
Bobby, is it after dragging the MIDI into Reaper that the audio didn't play? If so, that is normal. Reaper doesn't automatically assign an instrument or plugin to a track, so the MIDI has nothing to play through. You mentioned that adding Sampletank caused it to work, right? That's what you'd need to do for each track.
As for version 4.0.0 not working in Reaper, the developers are aware of the issues and are looking into them.
It saddens me to say that the newer plugin hasn't cleared up my problem of not hearing my BIAB midi tracks in Reaper or Cakewalk. The sounds are there but just can't be heard. There's just one audio track in my song (drums) and that can be heard. Obviously I'm still not getting some setting right. I'll post another screen shot in a bit.
/Bobby
Bobby, if I read you correctly you want to hear your BiaB MIDI while in the VSTi, correct. If I may ask why?
The BiaB GM is at the lower end of the sound rankings. IIRC you have better sounds in both Reaper and Cakewalk and possibly some other softsynths.
My workflow is to bring all of the MIDI tracks into my DAW then assign a MIDI sound source to each track. It is more time consuming but I end up with much better ear candy using this technique. You may want to try this. YMMV
The bumper sticker said "I'm a veterinarian, therefore I can drive like an animal". Suddenly I realized how many proctologists are on the road.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Hi Simon... and all... I don't want folks thinking that I have abandoned my thread. It's just that I have been too busy all day to sit down with the music. I will have more time tomorrow and will get back to you then.
Thanks in advance for all your help... very appreciated.
No worries Bobby! Once you're back at it tomorrow could you clarify for us whether you're trying to play the MIDI straight out of the BB plugin, or whether you've dragged the MIDI into the DAW?
What I do is compose my song in BIAB. I then go into Reaper or Cakewalk and insert a "virtual instrument on new track" I choose the PG Music plugin. This creates a track in Reaper called "BIAB DAW VST3." I open the song I composed in BIAB within the plugin. When it loads I then "generate" the song in the plugin, and it does it*. All the tracks are midi in this case - except the "real drums."
I then drag all the tracks into Reaper using the "All" button on the plugin. I have dropped them ON the first track that was created when I first inserted the plugin. It didn't work.
I have dragged all the tracks using the "All" button on the plugin and put them UNDER the track that was created when I first inserted the plugin. Tracks set up nicely and the meters are moving, including the track that was created when I first inserted the plugin, but no sound. I've made sure that all "record monitoring" buttons are set to "on."
I've tried bringing in one track at a time (as if that's going to make any difference) and end up with the same results.
If I bring the tracks into Reaper as wav files, everything works fine. But I do know that a midi track has a different set of rules than an audio track.
I should say that I'm having the same issue in Cakewalk as well. The only difference is that when I drag all the tracks from the plugin into Cakewalk, 30... yes, 30 tracks are created. Dunno what's going on there.
So I know it is something that I'm not seeing, doing, or probably even understanding.
I'm hoping that I've been able to explain myself in a somewhat coherent way. If not, let me know what I missed and I'll get back to you.
If I bring the tracks into Reaper as wav files, everything works fine. But I do know that a midi track has a different set of rules than an audio track.
But I assume you don't know what those rules are? A midi file dragged into reaper will have no sound. You need to assign a VST to the Reaper track in order for the midi to play a virtual instrument. Like midi in any DAW.
But that is the easy stuff. Are you telling us you have not crashed the BIAB-VST- 4.2.8 in Reaper? You must be doing something right.
It saddens me to say that the newer plugin hasn't cleared up my problem of not hearing my BIAB midi tracks in Reaper or Cakewalk. The sounds are there but just can't be heard. There's just one audio track in my song (drums) and that can be heard. Obviously I'm still not getting some setting right. I'll post another screen shot in a bit.
/Bobby
Bobby, if I read you correctly you want to hear your BiaB MIDI while in the VSTi, correct. If I may ask why?
The BiaB GM is at the lower end of the sound rankings. IIRC you have better sounds in both Reaper and Cakewalk and possibly some other softsynths.
My workflow is to bring all of the MIDI tracks into my DAW then assign a MIDI sound source to each track. It is more time consuming but I end up with much better ear candy using this technique. You may want to try this. YMMV
Hi Mario...
I THINK I understand what you're saying... but probably not lol I'll give it a try to see if I understand it.
I compose my song in BIAB and then bring it into Reaper or Cakewalk. Mostly, I'm using it for the bass and drum tracks, and the rest I do with plugins like SampleTank 4.
One of the reasons why I like to use midi on some songs is that I'm still not, after all these years, an accomplished keyboard player. Therefore, if there's a part that I need to put into the song, and if the song's tempo is too fast for my keyboard abilities I can slow the whole song down. Doing this gives me more of a chance of getting it right. Once done, I reset the original tempo and voila... I don't think I can do this with RealTracks as they're audio. Of course,I would much rather be always using RealTracks, and I do for a lot of stuff. Their sounds cannot be beat, hands down.
I know that the whole solution to this is for me to learn how to play the keyboard. But at my age, I really don't see that happening.
A midi file dragged into reaper will have no sound. You need to assign a VST to the Reaper track in order for the midi to play a virtual instrument. Like midi in any DAW.
That is correct. BIAB automatically assigns a plugin and an instrument to MIDI tracks, while most DAWs don't. Without an instrument or plugin, it will play nothing. The BIAB plugin itself doesn't respond to MIDI notes, so it will not play any sound that way either.
Originally Posted By: MusicStudent
But that is the easy stuff. Are you telling us you have not crashed the BIAB-VST- 4.2.8 in Reaper? You must be doing something right.
So far I have not crashed 4.2.8 or any of the previous 4.x versions in Reaper, so I guess I'm performing some sort of voodoo. The only issue I've personally had was in Performer Lite 13, which refused to validate the VST3 (which it also wouldn't validate some of the 3.x versions for me either) - VST2 was fine though.
Well, I'm thinking that I may be starting to understand what is being explained to me.
When I insert a BIAB plugin track into Reaper, I will see all the midi notes that were played in the original BIAB song. But I won't hear them. I have to assign an instrument to that track in order to hear those notes being played. Am I getting warm?
For sure I'll be playing around with it again tomorrow.
As for crashing the newest version of Reaper... yep... I've been doing it while trying to use the new PG plugin. Many times. I've also crashed Cakewalk with it. Many times. For me, using the plugin is like a box of chocolates... I never know what I'm gonna get.
Thanks for all your patience with me... I'm much obliged to you guys.
Almost forgot to wish you all a very happy new year!!!
It is another very quiet new year's eve around here. The Covid virus is spreading like wildfire in my neck of the woods and so we're under lock down again.
.................. When I insert a BIAB plugin track into Reaper, I will see all the midi notes that were played in the original BIAB song. But I won't hear them. I have to assign an instrument to that track in order to hear those notes being played. Am I getting warm?
.....................
/Bobby
Not warm but spot on. That is exactly what you have to do.
The bumper sticker said "I'm a veterinarian, therefore I can drive like an animal". Suddenly I realized how many proctologists are on the road.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Is it possibly time to mark this in the first post as Resolved? The post title might imply to some that the problem here is caused by BIAB, when it's more of an education issue. Granted, the plug-in contributed, but that is being worked on.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
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!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
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.
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.
You must be doing something right.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean