Question 1 is whether going up in level of software (and level of money) ups the number of available styles.
That was prompted by my going through country styles for about 90 minutes, previewing trying to find one that fits what I want to accomplish. I didn't find anything close.
Details. I would like to work up a backing track for Tanya Tucker's "It's A Little Too Late". In the style screens, where you can type in the name of a song and get options, I typed in that song name and got a pulldown that literally showed me "Tanya Tucker - It's a Little Too Late." When I clicked through that I got a list of 226 styles, none of which were ANYTHING CLOSE to the groove of that song that some would call swing and some would call shuffle. (Can someone try to tell me just from the title what a style called "Ol' Dusty Trails" is supposed to sound like? How about "Country Wasteland"? Or "Perky Swinging Songwriter"? Who names these styles anyway?)
Just an FYI. Hank Williams has been dead since 1953. Why do so many style names have simply "Hank" in the title? A good portion of your userbase likely have no idea who he was, and with the lack of interest in actually learning about music to a depth where the younger generation would go back into the dusty crates and find his albums, why is he even relevant to a level where so many styles have his name in them? How about some styles like Clarkson? Underwood? Paisley? Brooks? We are 23 years into the 2000s now and it's time for some fresh meat.
Take a listen to that Tanya Tucker song and see if you can come up with a style even remotely close. I know at least 5 people are going to say "Make your own style." Well, if the drums are wrong, and I don't play drums, how exactly would I do that? I have no interest in making styles (and no knowledge how to go about it). That's why I pay for this stuff. I want to write tracks without it becoming my new science project. The cross referencing between a style search criteria and the result that get spit out are actually humorous. To wit:
I just put in "Do You Know The Way To San Jose" and told it to find a style. The first one in the list was "Hang Ten Vintage Surf Rock". Really?
This area of this software is really lacking.
Get me going on real tracks. Mason (64) shows up 280 times. Darin Favorite (57) 146 times. Brother Oliver Gannon 115 times. Piano is pretty much Lorber, Jarvis, Miles Black and Mike Rojas. Is it just financial? Those old names that have been there since I started with this thing (13 years now?), meaning they have long since been bought and paid for. Do fresher faces want to charge so much for their time that getting some new blood isn't even in the scope of possibility because it will cost money?
All of those people are outstanding musicians. That's not the point. It's a new generation and a new breed of music. Let's get up to date here. Personally I don't care about the little tweaks to visuals, fixing some minor buried bug (that may matter to somebody else), or anything outside of having better real tracks and more styles that are actually distinct and more useful for 2023 music. Brent Mason was and still is great. But we have 3 or 4 times more of him than anybody else available already and its time for new stuff. Keith Urban ever been approached? Brad Paisley? Tom Bukovac? Bryan Sutton?
> I would like to work up a backing track for Tanya Tucker's "It's A Little Too Late". Take a listen to that Tanya Tucker song and see if you can come up with a style even remotely close. > Brent Mason was and still is great. But we have 3 or 4 times more of him than anybody else available already and its time for new stuff.
The guitars on that original recording of Tanya Tucker “It’s a Little Too Late” we’re played by … Brent Mason - so chances are good for finding a BiaB country shuffle style with Brent Mason RealTracks that works well with that! - here’s a website where the guy teaches the lead to the tune https://countryguitarchops.com/product/little-too-late-guitar-lesson/
Is what I am looking for shuffle or is it swing? Or is it shwing? Or swuffle? Ask 21 people what that groove is called and you get a vote of 11-10.
Brent did indeed play on that track, 30 years ago, but his parts don't make it a style. Roger Murrah and Pat Terry made it in a specific style. Trust me, Dr. Gannon, I spent 90 minutes sampling styles and nothing was even close. Though the style picker gave me suggestions, none of them were within 5 miles (8 kilometers for you) of correct. When the search algorithm actually lists that song by that artist, and none of the styles are even close, why bother?
Now THIS, I just had to do. You may have to zoom.
226 styles come back under the name and artist. The first 7 are Celtic?? Please tell me the connection that Ol' Tanya, from Seminole Texas, 25 miles from the New Mexico border, has to Celtic music. By the time I took out the styles that were natively far too fast or natively far too slow (to where they would sound horrible done at the 148 or so the song in question is, and the styles (like Celtic) that have no connection, I ended up with about 40, and not one of them worked. At all. There shows to be 7,175 styles. Many of them are _STYLENAMEv1, v2 and v3, close to the same thing with some small tweak.
Some of those styles that come up in searches are actually comical. Can that search algorithm be tightened up some so looking for a swing or a shuffle doesn't give us a surf beat? And who names those styles? I keep waiting to see names like "One bad apple" or "Gum on my tennis shoe". The last version showed 5 style picker enhancements, but no mention of new styles.
My original post included this.
"I just put in "Do You Know The Way To San Jose" and told it to find a style. The first one in the list was "Hang Ten Vintage Surf Rock". Really?" Surf rock? From Bert Bacharach?
The web site you linked to, well, I'll just say that I am not paying 20 bucks to listen to a guitar lick that I, with the ear I have, was able to play after hearing it once. To be fair, there honestly isn't much I'd pay 20 bucks for.
I have made some assumptions about the lack of enlargement of the style and track samples options that were all largely financial. I am not going to ask you anything about that in public view but I would SO value a brief private conversation about it. (I keep coming back to) Brent Mason, and his 288 samples, is now old news. Tom Bukovac, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley... there are some strong country players out there who would provide a much welcomed breath of fresh air if they would provide samples that we can turn into solos, though none of them would do it for $50 and a case of beer. (Well, Tom might!) I can only speak for me, and I can imagine that many would agree but never say this out loud for the same reason they wouldn't try to get behind the curtain to try and see the wizard (Because NOBODY gets to see the wizard), I but have heard just about all I want from that list of guitar players dominated by about 6-8 names.
When I search for that song, I don’t see celtic listed first. I likely have more styles installed. I see _ambush _scoot _get_out _Cowherd __harness
none of which are celtic. Some of those are from add-on styles disks like xtra or xpro.
Anyway, if you want a shuffle, just type in the word shuffle in the filter that you do get, and those celtic styles,will disappear. You’ll see country shuffle styles like _roping, _cboogif, _boogbrt, _cswngmp, _cboogm3, _cboogm4, _conshps, _nworstx, oddstar
Lots of those sound good to me. Especially if you add a Brent Mason soloist like 1283, 4061, 2685, 1586, If you still don’t like the list, change the tempo from 145 to 130.
I need to clarify that I ran that search like you did and got the same results, but to take that screen scrape I sorted them by genre so they were together.
This is what sent me down the Tanya Tucker as recreated by Real Band rabbit hole. This is Brent Mason, Bryan Sutton and Tom Bukovac just hanging out and talking and that opening lick that Mason played came up.
The whole video is very entertaining but to hear the pertinent stuff go in to about 15 minutes.
< "Take a listen to that Tanya Tucker song and see if you can come up with a style even remotely close. I know at least 5 people are going to say "Make your own style." Well, if the drums are wrong, and I don't play drums, how exactly would I do that?" >
BOOGBRT.Sty is close. The drums are wrong in the Style but I downloaded a free midi version of the song and imported the drums from that file and that made it very close and Useable. According to what I read about the song, it's considered a two-step. The Style will need a pedal steel and fiddle added to be more accurate to the record.
I filtered by the song and 'Brent' in the search filter that presented 49 results from the 10,656 styles in my StylePicker. BOOGBRT.Sty was second down the list.
Eddie i get ya, but i had to chuckle a bit at the dialog. You want to create a Tanya Tucker Tune from over 30 years ago but don't want to use Its from players from that era. I don't think Keith Urban is going to be much help on that tune, since he was just a wee lad!.
Anyway, just had to rib you a little on that one, here's hoping your new neighbors in Pittsburg are not reading this!
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.
Old songs can always use a facelift. I am 4 songs into a project doing old songs in different grooves. My point about styles and solo samples for real tracks is that 288 guitar tracks are Brent Mason. Great player, but he is Brent Mason 288 times.
I will redo that TT song as country but with a little bit different arrangement. Old songs done in reggae, ska, metal, and boogie piano. I plan to "cosmic cowboy" that TT song up some.
As far as those Yinzers o'vair in Picksburg, I honestly think it's a great city. I have had a ton of fun o'vair, especially exploring the Strip District.
Eddie how’s it going on this project? Here’s a thought why use styles at all if your working in RB start with a chord sheet for the song. Add a simple piano or strummed guitar similar to the one in Tanya song. Then search for a drum pattern to fit the bill filter towards country. Once you have guitar piano and drums add a bass. Now all you need is to decide if you want pedal steel, fiddle etc. in other words pick RTs separately.
(Oops do tell him, I just showed him how to create a style.) save as a style and call it Tanya1
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
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