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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 2
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 2 |
I was browsing around looking at Band in a Box and it seems like a neat program. But I want one where I can record myself and edit my recordings and supplement them.
I've been looking at this program here, which is PowerTracks. It seems to have three versions (Pro Audio, PowerPAK, and MultiPAK), and the differences are a greater variety of RealDrums to choose from and the fanciest package also has 1-2 MultiTracks.
I have a laptop, audio interface, SM57, and I aim to record my guitar through a Fender Mustang cheap-o modeler amp. Basically, just a simple bedroom setup.
I'm also considering mixing my guitar recordings with MIDI tracks (probably ported from notation software so I can write tracks like sheet music), so I'm wondering if this is a good option...
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,827
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,827 |
Powertracks is a very decent DAW. It will do what you want. Some will come along and bash it and tell you it is lacking but it will get it done. Another choice is to purchase band in a box, it comes with Real Band which is power tracks with band in a box generation capabilities built in it will allow you to create many tracks to go along with your projects. Having both band in a box and Realband is a powerful package. If you can afford it buy the ultra pack.
A simple option to get started is to buy the basic powertracks and then in December when the new release of band in a box comes out on sale buy the full package then. You will be familiar with the basic and and some experience under your belt.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 2
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 2 |
I was browsing around looking at Band in a Box and it seems like a neat program. But I want one where I can record myself and edit my recordings and supplement them. I've been looking at this program here, which is PowerTracks. It seems to have three versions (Pro Audio, PowerPAK, and MultiPAK), and the differences are a greater variety of RealDrums to https://vlc.onl/ choose from and the fanciest package also has 1-2 MultiTracks. I have a laptop, audio interface, SM57, and I aim to record my guitar through a Fender Mustang cheap-o modeler amp. Basically, just a simple bedroom setup. I'm also considering mixing my guitar recordings with MIDI tracks (probably ported from notation software so I can write tracks like sheet music), so I'm wondering if this is a good option... I got this,...
Last edited by okarimnvo; 10/09/23 04:25 AM.
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 85
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 85 |
PowerTracks as a bare daw seems completely unappealing to me, especially when you consider how much more powerful Reaper is and reaper is what $60 bucks. And if you're on Windows Cakewalk by Bandlab can still be nabbed free for now.
BIAB Mac 2026
Mac Studio 2022, 32gb, M1 Max, MacOS 26.3 (Tahoe)
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 6
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 6 |
@okarimnvo
I am a longtime user of PowerTracks Pro since v3.0 (I purchased it 1995). I stopped working with v2018.
I'd go for Reaper. Add JJazzLab for arranging/accompaniment.
Last edited by Babarosa; 10/15/23 08:17 AM. Reason: Too much blabla in my initial post.
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,674
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,674 |
All.
Re Reaper and Powertracks (ptw).
As an avid Reaper user from v0.99 i feel however i must come to the defence of ptw as i created a ton of songs using both reaps and ptw as my primary song creation tools for many many years ...
I used both 'together' for song creation for ages.
i'm posting this out of concern that a person new to music production contemplating a purchase of ptw might be put off…and i feel this would be a shame as i consider for a paltry cost of a few burgers…ptw is a super deal and offers a ton of value in its own right and features. As Rob said…ptw will get the job done.
but let me add that imho if ptw was the only tool available on the market that the great George Martin/beatwells would still create great songs....due to great talent.
I also want to see ptw to continue to be developed and grow and prosper as I feel alternatives are good for musicians.
some history…and i hope i come across as unbiased because i think both reaps and ptw are great in their own way.
In past eras using both reaps/ptw combo i was also sometimes using commercial studios/session players as the budget allowed.
In summary I was using the reaps/ptw combo to create guide song tracks I then took into commercial studios.
so the reaps/ptw combo saved me a ton of money re song development and testing out song concepts…as i only needed to use commercial facilities for the 'icing on the proverbial song cake'.
Now here are the interesting salient points.
..re ptw…some studios used to say to me 'my goodness it does what ?'....'for just peanuts ?'. They were often floored once I showed them ptw tricks and capabilities at a cost of a few cups of tea/coffee.
..re reaps. as above some studios were floored…but told me i was 'nuts' to think
'shareware'...would one day command a large world market share.
to say i was ridiculed in those early days of reaps is an understatement....lol.
but i stood my ground because i had a background in tech and thus i know a brilliant piece of software engineering when i see it as ive managed in a previous career some pretty demanding industry systems.
What I find highly amusing is…over time…those that ridiculed me in those early reaps years probably became users from what I see on the forums.
so let's wrap things up…YES reaps is a great product…but i wouldnt dismiss ptw out of hand. I still have a fondness for the ptw product and some very happy memories creating songs with ptw. which is why i now use ptw's big brother realband(rb).
(I now use the biab/rb/reaps combo.)
Now let me offer a comment re reaps.
What troubles me a tad is…yes the recent versions of reaps offer a dizzying array of features..BUT like anything there can be downsides as this can be a problem for folks new to creating songs due to the learning cycle.
a reason why i suggest new folks start with reaps around version 2.
(I did a ton of songs in version 2 reaps with ptw.)
Why version 2 you might ask ?
Why do I like version 2 a lot ?...simple..
..for me it was a simpler lighter weight and very nimble user daw environment.
..for me at the time it mirrored the big studio gear i was using.
..it's not just a multitrack recorder but also runs vst and the pg dx plugins i like.
plus a big bonus is audio edit features. plus like ptw it comes with its own suite of plugins/fx.
In closing imho for someone new to creating songs i feel the reaps version 2 plus ptw combo is still a valid solution. each one having its strengths and in ptw's case offering a plethora of midi and other useful features.
therefore imho it's not a question of ptw versus reaps.
also let me say putting things in perspective song producers of the distant past would have been in creation heaven to think for the princely sum of around 120 bucks they could get 2 daws ie the reaps/ptw combo.
So to anyone new i would suggest you at the very least go through the plethora of ptw features ... .and maybe consider the reaps version 2 plus ptw combo.
anyway pg offer a 30 day money back on its products so whats not to like ?
also one other thing i liked for many years about the reaps/ptw combo was while musos i knew were often wrestling with lots of usb dongles and other licence schemes…i was just creating songs. I dislike intrusive schemes of this nature.
I hope ive presented an interesting perspective on reaps and ptw.
Merry xmas to all.
om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 12/05/23 05:22 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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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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Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
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- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
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