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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11 |
Hi all,
New here. I have been writing songs for a lot of years and want to record some. I am hoping that the $129 pro version will have enough bells n whistles to do some simple folk/rock/blues type stuff?
I have not bought yet. Also...if you upgrade eventually to the next level do you pay full price or less the amount of the lower version?
I'm a so so guitar strummer, songwriter, in a worship band for church, Love most music. Love my 12 string guitar too...lol.
Have a good day everybody!
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 393
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 393 |
Welcome, GildfordMusician. The basic program is the same in all the versions, the difference is the amount of included styles and real tracks. BIAB can produce midi or audio tracks - the ability to produce audio tracks is dependent on having the real tracks (including the so-called real drums). The higher packages include more real tracks and real styles. The Pro version is kind of a bare bones package without many styles or real tracks. You're probably better off to get the highest level package you can possibly afford. PG Music does generally offer upgrade prices, but you'll end up spending less if you buy higher level package to start with generally. They do also I believe still offer 30 day money back policy, if you'd like to try the program for 30 days.
good luck
Macbook Pro 2018
2.6 GHz 6-core Intel Core i7, 16 GB RAM
OS Monterey
BIAB for Mac 2022
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Joined: May 2000
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There are upgrade prices, so upgrading to a higher version is not 'full price'. PGMusic is known to accommodate upgrades very fairly. However, many of us here (who learned the hard way) suggest getting the highest level you can afford initially as it saves more $$ in the long run. Yes, you could create 'simple folk/rock/blues type stuff' with Pro, but once you have Ultra you realize how nice it is to have all the extra realtracks for variety. Pro will get you hooked enough to want more.  /I see babarton posted much the same right ahead of me, so I guess I'm just confirming his advice.
Last edited by rharv; 07/04/19 05:54 AM.
Make your sound your own!
.. I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,287
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,287 |
To hear demos of the RealTracks & RealDrums that are included with the Pro version, visit https://www.pgmusic.com/bbwin.packages.pro.htm#procombos - you may find that these are exactly what you're looking for!
Callie
Marketing Representative
PG Music Inc.
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Joined: Apr 2013
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Welcome to the forum. The Pro version will definitely get you started and it's a great place to start if you have no prior experience with Band-in-a-Box because of the 30 day money back guarantee if you find it's not for you. For guitar players and songwriters, unless you also use midi a lot, you'll quickly find you'll want to upgrade to another package. All of the versions have the same core program but differ in additional content and other add-ons. Several of the add-ons are programs for learning and practicing guitar. For songwriting, the more styles you have, the more ideas you can generate and compose demos of.
Future upgrades are discounted for either staying with the same version or upgrading to a higher version.
For many years, BIAB was a midi only program and many thousands of songs have been written and performed using the program. As a songwriter and if you prepare demos only as demos that will be used to take your song into a studio and it will be rerecorded from scratch, the Pro version is all you will ever need. Midi files are easily created in several different ways and there are also tens of thousands of free and commercially created midi files available for you to use or to create a huge data base of BIAB midi Styles as templates for your songwriting. Money you might spend on upgrading to a more featured version of BIAB may be better spent on a high quality external synth or a software VST program to provide high quality, better sounds for your midi files.
Using RealTracks offer many benefits you will find useful. RealTracks are real musicians playing music that will play over any chord progression, in any key and at most tempos. PG Music has bundled many of these instruments together to create RealStyles which are Styles the instruments function well together as a band. There are literally thousands of hours of recorded audio of these musicians playing their instruments at a studio quality level of performance.
The three ways I think RealTracks will help you:
1. You can't play a particular instrument.
2. You can play a particular instrument but a BIAB session player can play it better.
3. You can play a particular instrument but it's inconvenient for a reason you prefer not to play.
At some point you may realize you can create your own backing tracks, demos or even a commercial release using BIAB with quality midi sounds and Realtracks. When that happens, you should upgrade to the highest version of the program you can afford.
Hope you decide to get the program and maybe post some of your originals here on the forum for us to enjoy.
BIAB Ultra Pak+ 2024:RB 2024, 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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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11 |
Thanks for the feedback guys!
I'm a so so guitar strummer, songwriter, in a worship band for church, Love most music. Love my 12 string guitar too...lol.
Have a good day everybody!
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11 |
Callie...Thank you! I think there is quite a bit of variety there for a newbie! Not being such a quick learner on techie stuff like this...it'll be more than enough to get me going.
I'm a so so guitar strummer, songwriter, in a worship band for church, Love most music. Love my 12 string guitar too...lol.
Have a good day everybody!
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 9,322
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Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 9,322 |
Yeah... I recall one time I bought one of the versions of BB and realized it wasn't the version I thought I had ordered. I called support and they confirmed that the things I needed were in the next version up the ladder. They suggested that if I would pay the difference between the one I bought and the one I really needed, they could get the upgraded version out the door to me that very day.
And that's exactly what I did. The upgraded version came on a hard drive and the cost difference was about $25 if I remember that right.
I've always found their support and customer care to be exemplary and well above what was expected. They know how to take care of their customers.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Jul 2019
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Newbie
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Newbie
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Downloading now....uhhh...this is a Loooooonnnnnng download...lol.
So...they do payments that start in a month and no interest charged for the payment program....super easy to do! 4 payments...and the wife was balking till she saw that...lol.
I'm a so so guitar strummer, songwriter, in a worship band for church, Love most music. Love my 12 string guitar too...lol.
Have a good day everybody!
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,987
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,987 |
Good advice above. When I first upgraded to 2018 I didn't buy the 'full' package but soon realised I would really benefit from the wider choice of RealTracks. PG allowed me to upgrade by simply paying the difference which was great.
My only whinge is that although I buy everything I never use jazz styles or things like Klezmer - just rock, pop, bluegrass, country and folk but you can't really pick and choose upgrades by genre.
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You can buy by genre, sort-of, but i think it’s not economical to do so. Much better to upgrade by package.
Several here including me have been astounded by some of the PG Music styles, especially the newer style paks, when a RealTrack is successfully used from a genre we would never have thought to try. It’s not obvious at all. Having all the genres is a huge advantage. And i never know who is going to hire me to work on a song outside of my normal genres.
BIAB 2024 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 6.5 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6; Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus Studio 192, Presonus Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors
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Journeyman
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Journeyman
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My take has always been to ignore the styles names. Just consider then as 3/4, 4/4, or 12/8; swing or even; 1/8 or 1/16.
Then based on the tempo, audition for yourself. Often tempo isn't even a factor - sometimes it is great to drop the tempo and see if it works. I have also moved straight rock to a latin style with a lot of success.
Unless you are really insistent on creating a realistic cover version, experiment - you'll be surprised at the results
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643)
Windows 10 (1909)
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One of the things I always try to remember to do, is try RTs that were NOT part of the original style. I have some cool stuff (to me anyway) that combines things like Grunge and Bluegrass and Funk. Chances are few have used that particular combination, but doing so taught me to make the effort to experiment with RTs I normally may have ignored. Grunge drums, bluegrass banjo/mandolin, and Funk bass .. I still play it once in a while to reinforce the message. I think it may even have Mason guitar solo RT for a section .. point is, experimenting often makes you realize stuff you didn't think you will use is suddenly seen in a whole different light. I'll see if I can find the link to the reference above; may not fit your taste (which is why I haven't found a real life use yet, I suspect a pretty limited taste palate would enjoy this like I do) but it shows how the many seemingly unrelated RTs can indeed play together nice. found it http://masteringmatters.com/stuff/UrbnM1bc.mp3Sure it's weird, but they all play together
Make your sound your own!
.. I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 9,322
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Downloading now....uhhh...this is a Loooooonnnnnng download...lol.
So...they do payments that start in a month and no interest charged for the payment program....super easy to do! 4 payments...and the wife was balking till she saw that...lol. And that right there is why I'm willing to wait on FedEx to deliver the package. It's a 2 day wait. And at the internet speeds I have the package would get here long before the DL ever finished.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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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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Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!
The Newest RealBand 2024 Update is Here!
The newest RealBand 2024 Build 5 update is now available!
Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.
This free update is available to all RealBand 2024 users. To learn more about this update and download it, head to www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#20245
The Band-in-a-Box® Flash Drive Backup Option
Today (April 5) is National Flash Drive Day!
Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!
For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.
Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.
Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!
Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.
Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!
With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!
Learn more about this free update for Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1111
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 Review: 4.75 out of 5 Stars!
If you're looking for a in-depth review of the newest Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows version, you'll definitely find it with Sound-Guy's latest review, Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows Review: Incredible new capabilities to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs.
A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."
"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."
"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."
Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!
The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!
There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.
If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.
We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!
Congratulations to the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!
We've just announced the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!
There are 45 winners, each receiving a Band-in-a-Box 2024 UltraPAK! Read the official announcement to see if you've won.
Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed!
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