Well, it also helps that my parents owned the main music store in the area, so I have been around the local guys since we were knee high.
They don't need BiaB because they play with other musicians. Except the retired ones, who like it for practice.
Fun fact, we use RB/PT a lot; simple, quick, and just works. Although Reaper and Pro Tools are available if needed. Most guys never ask what we use, they just want the results.And the room.
As for using the generation tools, yeah, we like to freak them out occasionally with a generated part.
Drummer is going to be late? No problem, we can fake it until he gets here.
Last edited by rharv; 10/25/2506:18 AM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
[quote=Gordon Scott I notice that some of the higher-end such keyboards get described as "Workstation", rather than "Arranger". I presume by that that they mean they do more than "just" the arranger function Some of them are very impressive, though of course take some mastering.
My usual method for deciding if something like that does what I want is to download the manual, search it with suitable keywods and read the relevant bits. That can be tedious/frustrating. [/quote] Yep, we have workstations, arrangers, high-end keyboards, mid-end keyboards and probably another category or two. And lot's of overlap amoungst them. As technology progresses, it will probably become even more overlapping.
I also download manuals which has proven to be useful. Another source of product data and commentary are the dedicated forums such as Keyboard Forums
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2025 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
Well, it also helps that my parents owned the main music store in the area, so I have been around the local guys since we were knee high.
So you've been around studio cats since a kid, cool. You must have a ton of stories.
I wonder what they'd have to say about mid to high-end keyboards on the market these days.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2025 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
When I used one, I would spend hours on a song. Take it to rehearsal/practice and play it for them.
They'd say "let me hear it again"
If they liked it we would play 'our' version of it. If we kept playing it after that, I would be tasked to make the workstation control the lights and such moving forward.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
Well I decided on the Pa5X-61 and it arrived today. All I can say is that I love this instrument.
I basically plugged it in, connected it to my digital interface, the menu came up, I selected the default Pop style, tapped the Chords button to display a pre-programmed chord progression, picked up my bass, and started jamming along to one of its many built-in progressions. Everything so far is well laid-out and easy to navigate. I didn't have to consult the quick start manual or the more detailed user manual at all. Before I knew it, 3 hours of fun had flown by.
This will replace my previous keyboard, also a Korg that had 88 keys but the Pa5X has an octave +/- button which works just fine.
The funny thing for me as a bass player is that this keyboard with it's real-time chord display will actually contribute to my knowledge of music theory. If I play a 3-note chord while a style is playing the rest of the band will instantly follow that new chord allowing you to arrange a song in real-time. Plus, when the screen is configured properly, it will display the chord you are playing. I already built a mini song fragment just by cycling from C to Cm to Csus4 to C even though I didn't know how to construct those chords 4 hours earlier. You just play 3 (or maybe 4 or more) notes and if it's a valid chord it will display it on the screen. Neat technology for sure.
Kudos to the musicians and engineers that designed this, in my mind they hit a home run.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2025 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
Well, ya went fro $400 to $4000 so I HOPE you like it. <grin>
I admit, I thought the original Roland you gave as an example also defined the budget range. I've eyed the Pa5x, but never pulled the trigger. Sounds like the arranging part works good for you, how are the sounds?
Can it also record your input with/without the arranger feature?
I had a couple W-30s as the my last workstations, sync'd at times. Since a laptop can do most of the job since then, I have done without, but lugging stuff around gets old (all in one is convenient). The sound may tip the scales, which is why I ask.
Yeah, I know listen to videos (compressed formats that had production involvement). Just wondering how it sounds when it's in front of you.
Last edited by rharv; 10/29/2504:22 PM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
Well, ya went fro $400 to $4000 so I HOPE you like it. <grin>
Yeah, I know listen to videos (compressed formats that had production involvement). Just wondering how it sounds when it's in front of you.
Oh yeah, I more than just like it and there's a mountain of features I've yet to explore and grow into. I can easily see this as my last keyboard. It's got a bunch of factory styles and the ones I've sampled sound good to my ear. Also the individual voices; pianos, strings, brass, percussion also sound high quality. This unit also has built-in mixers so if you don't like things you can mix onboard. And of course you can record to your DAW and EQ at will.
Keep in mind I don't wear or need hearing aids and the Pa5X does not contain speakers, so I'm routing its audio to my interface and then to a single JBL studio monitor. It has plenty of output capability but I want to reserve my other monitor for other audio. There may be times where I'll route both channels to each monitor but I did that rarely on my old Korg.
Another feature I've yet to explore is the style fader. I've seen in the YouTubes that you can allocate 2 different styles to a performance. And use the slide fader below the screen to fade from one style to the other. I'm thinking that each style's tempo would need to be an integer multiple of the other (if not identical) for the tempos to seamlessly align. I'm not aware of any other keyboard that can do this but I haven't done an exhaustive search. The large, multi-color screen, chord progressions and large quatity of styles/voices is what I prioritized. You're simply not going to get all this for $500.
Right now I see absolutely no limitations for my needs; it's professional grade.
Since this is an international forum there may be some here (like me) that find Korg's global footprint impressive, although I'm not sure why the US is not shown.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2025 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
$5200 at Sweetwater!!! I hope you love it for a long time.
BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).
$5200 at Sweetwater!!! I hope you love it for a long time.
The Korg design team must have had a ton of fun engineering this instrument. Much like how today's late model vehicles are a massive software program with 4 wheels and safety/comfort features, this instrument is an elegant piece of easy-to-navigate software, that is housed in a box with buttons, knobs and 61 responsive and weighted keys. The onboard storage must be measured in GBs. According to the quick-start manual the sounds are processed by an elaborate chain of effects including final effects for each of the Player and Keyboard Sounds. So it looks like they borrowed much from the DAW folks. This is definately not your grand daddy's keyboard!
And it does pay to shop around, you saw how much lower the price is at Amazon compared to Sweetwater.
My own creativity is the only limit of how well this will become integrated with my DAW, BiaB, my bass guitar and my Roland drum pad. One thing is for sure, my game just got upped
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2025 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: 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.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 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.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, 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, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
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.
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