RapidComposer beta is now in actual vst form in vst-32/64 & vst3-32/64
it will now take audio tracks as well as midi giving BB as many audio and midi tracks as you like.
It will fit any midi to the Biab chord track.
It will get the chords from Biab by saving BB Chord Output to midi.
This is a great tool to have with Biab but the sync still needs fixing in Biab for it to work correctly (it syncs playing from the start of the song but not from within the song, hopefully that will be fixed soon).
The Light Edition should take audio tracks and that is usually around $50 during in regular sales.
http://www.musicdevelopments.com/news.html
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v3 Beta Feedback And Discussion (Bugs, Features, Suggestions)

New Melody Editor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xwuSm3XLsQ

Hi Pipeline!

"as many audio tracks" - But they have to conform to the actual finished composition, they will not respond to new chord changes.

Interesting find / workaround regardless! Yep, sync part...
I was playing around yesterday sending chord track through loopmidi to another software midi arranger, similar idea to yours, to expand track count... to get the 7 BIAB tracks + more midi tracks, playing together in sync. Unfortunately it was not a successful journey. Still ended up with separate Midi tracks + Real tracks and piecing them together in DAW.

I believe the only right way to do this is to open up BIAB mixer for more RT or MIDI tracks, so it syncs everything in real time (tempos, etc.) to chord grid of BIAB.

If asked me today, probably #1 feature request for BIAB would be opening mixer to more channels (RT+MIDI). Maybe it will happen, who knows. If it does not happen with next year update, I will definitely look into RapidComposer VST, if devs fix the sync.

Thank you for sharing!

I have been asking for PGM to open up all 16 channels for years.

Mario,
I think 24 track (Midi or RT) is a better number
That way you can set 16 channels for MIDI and still have your 8 for RT's. Or any other combination...

If that is not on near future plans, Pipeline's find might be an answer for the midi part of track count. (If devs fix sync)

As pipeline wrote, the RapidComposer is "usually around $50 during in regular sales". I rather pay $50 more for BIAB if PG opens that mixer up

I find it a bit frustrating jumping from one program to another to glue / try things to sound together. I mean at the end of the game, it is still the DAW... but when making "bones" of the tune, I would like to stay in single software (BIAB).

One MIDI port handles 16 channels, thus 24 can't be accomplished. It has to be 32 channels, i.e. 2 ports. Each BiaB would be on a channel, either as MIDI or RTs. The user would be able to designate each track as audio or MIDI, very similar to a DAW.

I believe we are on the same wavelength, just using different numbers.

Year ago it was explained that Biab uses midi channels for much more than simple track count. Everything Biab does is controlled internally by midi. This was when Biab only had one midi port now of course, Biab has several. Does that make a difference, who knows. Again we're requesting things and speculating with no clue at all about the mysterious and proprietary "secret sauce" that makes Biab work.

And to keep beating that poor old dead horse, track count was a primary reason for the creation of Real Band. 48 tracks, just sayin.

Bob

Bob, you are right that I don't know the "secret sauce"that makes BiaB work. Only the programmers know that.

Also BiaB and RB are two different programs and each one does somethings better than the other one.

You said "to keep beating that poor old dead horse". Who said it was dead? From this layman's point of view, right or wrong, it appears as BiaB is locked into old code that has had many band aids placed on it over the years. FWIW I think that it needs a complete rewrite. YMMV

I too have been asking for 10 years for more tracks and trying to find workarounds but at the end of the day I think It's just meant to be a 5 piece band for auto accompaniment.
The new RapidComposer VST is about the best option so far as it will do way more things with midi than can be done in Biab.
When you change chords/scales in it that midi will just fit the new chord/scale.

Brrrr...

I am sure (and hopeful) more expanding mixer tracks can be accomplished...within BIAB. Programming acrobatics, probably, but it is not a rocket science.

Rewrite, yes sure that could be a fun project most likely not in near future. However, a cleanup, sorting menus and tuning things that are already in place might be very beneficial to future PGmusic followers.

PS. I would gladly sacrifice 40+ new program features for a Mixer that would have more tracks in BIAB (kindly note, I mention BIAB, not RB)

From a programmer's point of view, I think BIAB has to open up a second MIDI port. Mario and Bob gave some of the explanations. The existing port already can have all 16 channels in use, depending on whether you use harmony and whether you specify the guitar strings on separate channels. Then, as all song files for 30 years conform to this specification, there is compatibility to think about.

With RapidComposerVST you can send midi out to the host or send it to a soundfont. I think they will do the same as VSTSynthFont let you set the midi to vsti as well as a soundfont.

Playing devil's advocate here.

Is everyone aware both the Melody AND Soloist tracks can independently store user data for 16 midi channels? So Band-in-a-Box users have 32 independent midi channels available for their use in a song project beside whatever midi data already exists in the other tracks.

Envision both the Melody and Soloist tracks as user midi ports. PG Music calls this feature Melody/Soloist Sequencer Mode. Sequencer Mode even has an icon button.

To turn on, or enable Sequencer Mode, set either the Melody track type, Soloist track type or both track types to "Multi (16) Channel" or use the button. The Biab user manual covers the Melody/Soloist Sequencer Mode in chapter 10 starting on page 321.

Thanks Jim, I tried them but it seems once you set the track to Multichannel via the Sequencer button they both send the multichannel midi to the Default Synth.
So I can't load something like MiniHost or KV Element on the Melody and Soloist track and route the midi channels out to individual VST Instruments as it only seems to send the one channel out to the track VST Instrument.
Maybe I'm too stressed out with it all to get my head around it
I've spent too many years finding workarounds for old 90's software.
With the RapidComposer VST it just all works wonderfully (Back To The Future).
That's why I said about the small simple VST that sends transport controls from your DAW to the Biab app, it's so simple and Biab can stay how it is (but add the bar 2 bar regen) and this will hook it up to a modern DAW and you will have all the features of Biab that the BiabVST don't have like play from RAM and the other million features n functions.
The BiabVST will be for those that have never learnt Biab or never wanted to learn Biab and want a simple basic easy to use VST to generate up extra tracks for their DAW recorded session.
There are just so many old limitations in Biab like fake time signatures and 255 bar limit. Unless there is a profound million dollar redo you just need to accept it as it is.
With a simple transport sending VST, the BiabVST and RapidComposerVST that would go a long way.