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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2003
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Hi,
it's been a while since I've used BIAB, but I've just recently upgraded my laptop, & decided to also upgrade BIAB & use the Real Tracks.
I've discovered Bandstand has been discontinued, & I'm not overly impressed with Coyote.
I used to use soundfonts, & fortunately for me my old Live Synth Pro player seems to work ok with Win7.
I've downloaded a Demo of SampleLord, so far it appears to work reasonably well, does anyone have any experience with it??
It's a lot more sophisticated than my Live Synth Pro player.
best wishes
rikki
BIAB 2025
Korg PA5X
Yamaha sx900
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Rikki, There are a few free soundfont players around the internet. The one that I use is SFZ player. It's available from Cakewalk at... http://www.cakewalk.com/support/project5/sfz.aspxTo be honest, if you are upgrading to BIAB with Realtracks, I suspect that you won't be using too many MIDI files. I used to use Edirol for playing my MIDI through but these days I rarely use midi for any instrument other than piano and strings (I often use soundfonts for these via sfz). I'd go for the BIAB version that gives you the most Realtracks you can afford. Regards, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Hi,
it's been a while since I've used BIAB, but I've just recently upgraded my laptop, & decided to also upgrade BIAB & use the Real Tracks.
I've discovered Bandstand has been discontinued, & I'm not overly impressed with Coyote.
Personnally, I like the Coyote Forte Dxi softsynth. But then I like cheap beer and don't need call drinks. Guess i'm just lucky. But actually what Noel said, I tend to use a lot more RTs and a lot less Midi these days. 
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Rikki, I just want to clarify that you said "Coyote" but did not specify which one. You may be referring to the Coyote Wavetable that is supplied to be able to get sounds in Windows 7 64-bit. However, Coyote Forte is a different product and sounds far better.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi Noel,
I used to use SFZ with my Win XP laptop. Worked really well.
My new Win7 laptop & SFZ don't get on too well. haahaa
The notes sort of start to hang on, especially in the DXI version.
I've updated to the latest vers. BIAB 10.5 , maybe I'll try reloading sfz back in.
I've had a few problems with not being able to load some of the old software I used to use.
I luv the speed of my new dell win 7, but I liked XP better, all my software worked. haahaa.
As for the Real Tracks, I have them all. They're brilliant.
I am planning on maybe trying to convert some of my arranger keyboard styles across to BIAB.
Not the rock or country stuff ( BIAB real tracks sound better ) just some of the ones BIAB is missing.
I'll need midi sounds for those.
Last edited by rikkisbears; 09/28/10 08:56 PM.
best wishes
rikki
BIAB 2025
Korg PA5X
Yamaha sx900
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi Jazzman & Matt,
I've downloaded Coyote Forte DXI, certainly sounds better than the wavetable version that came with my BIAB. Also appears to work really well with my Win7.
Question though, does it have more drum kits than just the Standard Kit?
I noticed something in the literature that you can actually play one's own giga samples instead of some of the ones included.
Have you ever tried it?
Last edited by rikkisbears; 09/28/10 08:48 PM.
best wishes
rikki
BIAB 2025
Korg PA5X
Yamaha sx900
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi riskibears,
With SFZ, make sure that you download the latest version from Cakewalk. There were changes a couple of months back and that might mean that it works better in Win 7.
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I think Coyote is one kit, but it takes gig format samples so with a little effort i am sure there are other possibilities.
Me personally i use the TTS that comes with Cakewalk MC5, and Sampletank, and i can get just about any sound i want.
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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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I downloaded the free SFZ - but have no clue how to use it.... can't find any help files...???
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Hi dmrodes, Here's a link that might help. (I searched for "sfz player tutorial".) I haven't tried sfz player with BIAB. I use BIAB to arrange the music and then I save it as a midi file. I load the midi file into Sonar home studio and use sfz player there. http://www.soundbrewer.com/pages.php?pageid=20Regards, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,616
Expert
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Check out VST SynthFont at http://www.synthfont.com/It works fine from BIAB or RB and the site has links to plenty of soundfonts. R Coyote Forte has several drum kits - Standard, Brush and Orchestral
Last edited by Rachael; 09/29/10 08:32 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 46
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Rikki, After I inherited a Windows 7 laptop from my husband, I tried out my old copy of Bandstand which I had otherwise stopped using. To my pleasant surprise it does a lot better on my "new" computer than it ever did before. I just run it standalone with virtual cables (Midi Yoke works, Mide Maple doesn't). I have a vague memory of some folks having problems with BIAB and the VST/DXI versions and I think there are tips somewhere on this site. You can get a copy on e-bay right now for $50. I found NI's registration procedure a little cumbersome, but since Bandstand is now a legacy product, there doesn't seem to be any limit on the number of installs. If you do get Bandstand, be sure to get the Quickloid preset that's still available on NI's website. Run that first thing when you open up the program. It takes a few minutes but it's worth it. Otherwise, Bandstand takes "forever" to load the sounds for each song. Here's a link for the Quickload preset: http://www.nativeinstruments.de/forum/showthread.php?t=47160Susan
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2003
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Hi Susan,
you're lucky . I've had some real hassles getting some of my old xp software to work with Win7 on my Dell.
I eventually managed to get Midi Yoke to work after reading an article on what to do. It wouldn't load without altering some settings prior to loading. It's working in 32 bit mode which is better than nothing.
Because of that I can now also use Brainspawn Forte host for loading multiple vsti's & dxi's. ( Great for my reatime aranger software One Man Band.) Works with BIAB also when I'm using midi tracks, but midi/ audio combinations is too much of a hassle.
Never thought to check ebay. I'll go check it out , thank you.
best wishes
rikki
BIAB 2025
Korg PA5X
Yamaha sx900
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thanks Rachel.
I used to use the full soundfont player in xp. Never tried the vst version. Might be worth a revisit.
Thanks for the info on Coyote drums.
best wishes
rikki
BIAB 2025
Korg PA5X
Yamaha sx900
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi Rob,
thank you for the info on TTS.
I ended up buying Music Creator , for the sake of $35, I thought I'd give it a go. Can always do with an additional sequencer.
TTS reminds me a bit of my old HyperCanvas ( which won't load into my Win 7).
TTS sounds great with some of my old Roland midi file I've tested. Probably won't require too much tweaking ,( if any).
Even if I end up finding a better option for BIAB, it's still going to be handy for my midifiles.
I'm now ending up with TOO many options. Before I didn't have any . haahaa
Thank you so much everyone.
best wishes
rikki
BIAB 2025
Korg PA5X
Yamaha sx900
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Expert
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Quote:
I noticed something in the literature that you can actually play one's own giga samples instead of some of the ones included.
Have you ever tried it?
I played around with substituting giga samples in Forte. The biggest issue is volume differences. Most samples I substituted were much lower in volume. The process is easy - edit the AvailableInstruments.txt file in the ForteDXi directory to point to your sample. I usually just copy my sample to the Soundbanks directory but can be anywhere as long as you point Forte to the right place. This is covered in the Forte help.
R
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thanks Rachel,
maybe the volume differences could be edited out in my sample conversion software??
May check into it.
I'm a bit more familiar with soundfonts than with giga samples.
I've got a couple of really good giga banks ( xg & gm ), so trying to get them working with forte could be worthwhile for me.
Thanks again.
best wishes
Rikki
best wishes
rikki
BIAB 2025
Korg PA5X
Yamaha sx900
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Expert
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Unless you're going to use some of the Forte sounds, try the VST SynthFont I mentioned earlier. It can handle Soundfonts and Giga samples as well as other formats.
I remembered another problem...
I had some Soundfonts that I had to convert to .gig to get Forte to recognize. A couple of sounds had some 'pops' when using with Forte. It probably was the conversion (Awave) process but I had to scratch the idea. If you don't have to convert, you're much better off.
R
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thanks Rachel,
I downloaded Synthfont vst.
Unless I'm missing something, it appears I have to download a soundfont in each of the tracks I want to use?
Mine are all in GM Banks, anything up to 200 to 300 mb's, which would mean I couldn't afford to load a bank in each of the tracks required.
Is it actually designed for loading single instrument fonts, or else maybe it's not working correctly in my win7, which wouldn't suprise me greatly . haahaa
best wishes
rikki
BIAB 2025
Korg PA5X
Yamaha sx900
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi,
update on the softsynths that appear to be working ok with my Win7 dell Laptop & BIAB.
I ended up purchasing Forte DXI after Rachel confirmed I can use my own Giga samples.
I eventually figured it out. If some of my replacement samples sound better than the onboard ones, then brilliant, if not, Forte DXI sounds pretty good as is.
I also purchased Cakewalk 5 to get Cakewalk TTS-1 synth. Totally different sound. Whether or not I end up using it with BIAB I'll wait & see. It does a really good job on some of my old Roland midifiles. Plus, I ended up with an additional sequencer.
Another program I looked at was Sample Lord for loading soundfonts giga files etc. Works perfectly as a Standalone which will come in very handy for my One Man Band arranger software ( so I bought it), but didn't work too well as a vsti in BIAB. Takes the CPU to it's limits, and I ended with the intruments sort of droning on. Doesn't work well in Cakewalk either.
I tried all 3 versions of SFZ player (sfz+, dxi & vst, and SFZ) With all 3 I got an error, " not enough memory to load font".
My old LiveSynth Pro soundfont player still seems to be working ok, even though I can't use a couple of the functions, it's still useable. The SFZ + players would have suited better , if they'd worked.
I'm new to Win7, so maybe some of my settings are causing hassles with some of the programs, who knows. Anyway, I've now got some options. When mixed in with Real Tracks all of them sound good.
Thanks again
best wishes
rikki
BIAB 2025
Korg PA5X
Yamaha sx900
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