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Muso, if you joined in 2020, as your avatar shows, than honestly, I believe you are the first person I know from my time here that constantly pitches RB.
Last edited by Rustyspoon#; 02/09/26 09:06 PM.
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Rusty
If you go through the pg forums past threads you can read about real band users commenting they don't understand why some band in a box users struggle trying to do certain functions in band in a box that are a breeze in real band.
in this thread itself you have heard from various real band users suggesting real band has a good solution for the stated need of the user.
Go back through recent threads even and you will see various real band users commenting how they use real band in songs.
I'm just trying to be fair Rusty.
Om
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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Misha, I also pitch it! I have used it consistently for years. Using Reaper, Sonar, Mixbus, and Studio One pro along the way. I always come back to RB. One of the reasons many do not "Pitch" RB is that usually when they do they get jumped on for bringing it up. I am not accusing you of that but it happens and used to happen a lot. SO many that use it just keep quiet. If you look on a daily basis there are a lot of people on that forum right now 389 on BiaB thread, 38 on the Mac BiaB thread, 19 on the plugin thread, and 41 on the RB thread. That is the way it is every time i look so a reasonable amount here use it. 2nd most on the site. I know it is a bit different from how most DAWs are set up, but so are many others. In the last three years several very powerful upgrades have been added to RB and it does a lot of things very good. It as Muso said does stuff no other DAW does example RST generation and partial regen. fast and slick. No other DAW in the world does that not even with the BiaB plugin which after 7 years does not do Partial regen.
My point is that it makes a very powerful companion to BiaB. To your very important point above BiaB does record and does a fair job for those who do not need a lot just a vocal and maybe one instrument. A little refining may go a long way. One option is save the file open it in RB add a couple track mix and master right there in a traditional DAW environment and your done. I have my RB set up with a template where each track has the Harrison 32C channel strip on the first 8 tracks, and SSL master strip on the Master channel. So easy to dial in a very powerful mix.
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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FWIW - I think PGM is cut to thin with the number of products they are supporting, i.e VST3 plug-in, BiaB, RB, and Mac computers. I would love them to take BiaB and incorporate it into the VST3 plug-in and get it working correctly and take BiaB incorporate it into RB and get it working correctly. IMHO that would satisfy the all users and leave PGM with just two programs; RB for those whom want to record in BiaB and the plug-in for those whom use other DAWs.
Just my two cents
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64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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OM,
I am not sure what you are saying... Quick browse gave me a solid understanding that most users (except you) in RB discussions joined at least 10 years ago or prior to that. My argument was that I have not seen any recently joined people who praised that software. I will take some of it back as it seems, judging by your joining year (2020) you are an exception. However, 6 years is a lot of years without at least a handful of new "visible" supporters. As you've said, be fair.
----------------
Regardless of that, the conversation is about BIAB + recording audio into BIAB. It's not a discussion about RB.
as rharv said:
"This whole argument is workflow related."
That is true.
Once PGM properly integrates existing functions to Track View, the issue of sending people elsewhere for straight forward audio recording in BIAB will be gone.
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Point taken, however it will not be totally gone as BiaB is still limited to how many tracks one can record on. When people record many types of modern and even vintage music it requires multiple tracks to fit things like partial track recordings, comped vocals and guitar takes, loops to add certain sounds into it. i doubt BiaB will ever be a unlimited track recording studio. As Jim pointed out earlier that was never it's mission. Mario said "incorporate BiaB into the plugin and RB" It is already incorporated there. The plugin is BiaB light. It would imagine that it is literally impossible to incorporate all of BiaB into the plugin. Way too much code. As far as RB it has all of BiaB it needs. It needs a few modern refinements and it does exactly what it was designed to do. Assist BiaB when Users want a more open architecture to do traditional recording. Yes back to the point of this post. The tracks view needs a few of the upgrades to make it right for those who just want to add a couple tracks to their BiaB creation. +1000
As far as new people coming into RB how would we know 90% of the user base does not post here. Of the ones who do few post in RB do to the backlash we all received over the years. I have been using PTPA since 2003 ands then RB since 2008 And have a very deep understanding of what's under the hood. Year ago i did a head to head with Reaper and Sonar VS RB on a creation of a cover song from a internet midi file. Time to create, time to add "flavor tracks" (my take) and lyrics and mix to finished. RB more than held it's own. In my mind it won the contest. While Sonar and Reaper did a very nice job of a simple turn the midi into usable tracks. Neither had any advantage over RB when it came to processing midi with synths. Sonar might have had a very slight edge due to it having better build in synths but using back then sound fonts they all did equally well.
Why do i say RB won the battle? It had the ability to add RTs and RDs that added realism to the tracks and take it from a simple cover to a personal take on the song.
Misha i am not trying to argue the point as your view is valid in regard to adding tools to the tracks view it is just when someone dismisses RB as unimportant in the discussion i do not agree. JAOM has a long history recording and his points are relevant.
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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<< " however it will not be totally gone as BiaB is still limited to how many tracks one can record on. When people record many types of modern and even vintage music it requires multiple tracks to fit things like partial track recordings, comped vocals and guitar takes, loops to add certain sounds into it. i doubt BiaB will ever be a unlimited track recording studio" >>
BIAB functions as a very robust, digital multitrack recorder similar to Tascam, Zoom and other standalone hardware digital recorders. The same multitrack recording principles of those devices apply to BIAB Flagship program. BIAB has never suffered a lack of tracks to compete with any recording studio. BIAB can do everything you mention today and could as far back as 2014 when audio recording was added to the program.
BIAB 2026:RB 2026, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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My goal is to integrate my own bass tracks with real tracks. The live interaction of bass with real tracks makes them more "real". With my Motu interface and line out from amp I don't think there is any difference regarding whether recording in Biab or Sonar. Once recorded I can easily audition various real tracks or drums if I stay in Biab.
Another reason I like this is that I spend too much time searching for bass lines that don't fit the groove.
My 2 cents. I see your point. The real issue, to me, isn't the lack of features (automation features, audio clip manipulation, editing tools, take recording, routing, etc.), but the lack of stability and standardization in BIAB compared to other specialized software when it comes to recording and working with audio. Personally, I use Reaper, a program with many virtues, but first and foremost, a rock-solid program, ultra-efficient with system resources (the installer weighs an incredible 15 megabytes), and with a super intuitive user interface, as any DAW should be. BIAB also has many virtues (you won't find any other software that produces better quality tracks out there), but certainly, audio processing, robustness, or the user interface is not where it shines. It’s better to use each tool for what it was designed for; that said, you have nothing to lose by trying it for yourself.
Last edited by Cerio; 02/10/26 12:14 PM.
Latest BIAB version, latest build.
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Rob, I know your tender feelings toward RB. I don't interrupt any conversations on RB when it lives in it's own space. I never did. Regardless of our mirror opposite views on it , this discussion should focus on BIAB + recording Audio into BIAB. This subject is important to me personally, and I share frustration of OP and all those who want a straight forward, user friendly approach. I feel it is simply wrong to send people elsewhere instead of advocating to standardize this in BIAB. Which should be no brainer.
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Cerio,
While I share your sentiment on "It’s better to use each tool for what it was designed for", there are exceptions. This is one of those. Most responders share views based on their own workflows and don't consider that other users might not want to get involved in learning a whole new software to just get a few tracks of audio into BIAB the easy way - and be done. Would you, yourself would want to learn another software if all that you needed was to record your vocals or single instrument (1-8 tracks) on top of BIAB arrangement? I definitely would not.
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Would you, yourself would want to learn another software if all that you needed was to record your vocals or single instrument (1-8 tracks) on top of BIAB arrangement? I definitely would not. I spent MANY hours trying to make BIAB work for me, but I just gave up. I learned, like many others, to use BIAB just for what it is good for: generating backing tracks.
Latest BIAB version, latest build.
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Would you, yourself would want to learn another software if all that you needed was to record your vocals or single instrument (1-8 tracks) on top of BIAB arrangement? I definitely would not. I spent MANY hours trying to make BIAB work for me, but I just gave up. I learned, like many others, to use BIAB just for what it is good for: generating backing tracks. I guessing, you wanted a bit more than just getting a few tracks of audio recorded.
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Fwiw.
When the new tracks view in bb came out I communicated to PG all the neat features that I thought it should have.
all the usual audio and MIDI features.
The basic concept being one Central View to do most of one's work in creating a song thus saving the user flicking around between different views and menus and commands etc etc.
I also requested some global things like unique chord track Tempo track and lyric track marker track and various others.
I'm sure I'm not the only one making the above requests for more digital audio workstation features.
I wanted band in the Box users to be able to access lots of features that I currently enjoy in real band tracks View
And other views like bars View.
So don't jump on me.
I also wanted to ensure the band In The Box users didn't have to flick backwards and forwards to other music programs and maybe thus saving the band In The Box user spending money on other programs.
I've spent lots of time doing this to and fro over the years using Reaper real band and band in the box together with other programs.
We shall see what the future holds.
Om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 02/11/26 12:26 PM.
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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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
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