Hi folks,
I've recently purchase a license for Reaper and really like the way BIAB 2021 seamlessly integrates.
I find that I prefer the overall sound that I get in Reaper to the same file in RealBand.
I am very new to Reaper but have noticed that, when I drag a soloist Real Track it doesn't work.
I have found a work around whereby I save the soloist track to a *.wav file and add this in Reaper.
I was just wondering if there was a better way to achieve this?
Many thanks in advance

Hello Mark, you are likely using a MIDI instrument on the Soloist track. In Reaper, you need to load a DXi synth to the Reaper track for it to play any MIDI notes. For example, there are Coyote Wavetable Synth and Cakewalk TTS-1. These two DXi synths work well both in Band-in-a-Box and on Reaper tracks.

Many thanks Chantelle
All the best

Something doesn't sound right here. Or perhaps things are continuing to change on me.

The BIAB-VST will automatically convert the midi data on each track to a .wav file when you generate. You than have an option to drag either the midi data or the .wav data into Reaper. The BIAB-VST gives you both. You just have to read the button to drag in order to get what you want. No need to install GM synths into Reaper.

Hi...
The soloist that I'm using is #1241 Piano, Electric, Soloist SmoothJazzPoppy delay Ev16...
WHich I believe is a real track?
In reaper, it doesn't appear as a real track.
Is it something to do with the fact that this track is frozen in BIAB?
Thanks in advance

I don't believe that being frozen in BIAB would effect it once it is in the BIAB-VST. So you are saying you made the .mgx file in BIAB then saved it. Then Opened it with the BIAB-VST? Then find all the tracks work properly for dragging into Reaper, except the Soloist track? Let me check that specific workflow and this RT on the Soloist track.

Thank you very much for your assistance, MusicStudent...
Pardon my ignorance... what is an .mgx file?
the file is saved as *.sgu
I'm off out now so I won't be able to respond for several hours, but I really appreciate you taking the time to help.

I did a quick check and confirmed the soloist RT is no different than the other tracks. Once made in BIAB and then opened in the VST they all were able to be dragged over into Reaper.

Opps, but I forgot to use the #1241 Piano, Electric, Soloist SmoothJazzPoppy delay Ev16. Let me try this again with another file.

OK, I did it all over again with the correct RT and no diff. All works fine here. No surprise. BTW, I have V3.4.5 of the BIAB VST

Mark, could you upload your SGU here so we can take a look?

If you click on "Switch to Full Reply Screen" you'll see an option below the Post window for the File Manager. You can choose and add files to this forum thread from there.

Hi Simon
I will certainly do that... I am at work for the next 9 hours so it will be when I return home...
I'm confused by MusicStudent's reference to the term ".mgx file"
I can see no way to save my .sgu file as an .mgx file.
Could that be the problem?
Thanks for you help.

Sorry for confusion. This should clear it up. Compliments from Matt:

There is a really good set of FAQ entries for PG Music products. Click on Support at the top of this page.

Here's your answer, from the FAQ:

http://www.pgmusic.com/techfaq28.htm#85

A lot of them are remnants from early versions. The two to know are .SGU and .MGU. When you enter only chords, it's .SGU. When you then add a melody, it gets saved as .MGU.

That's not a RT! Yellow is midi! Also you have not generated any of the audio. And your tempo does not match the Reaper file. Are you new at this?

Hi MusicStudent
Yes.. very new.
It's not a Realtrack in Reaper but it is in BIAB
Please see the attached screenshot

Wow, that is weird.

So here is what I get in Reaper. Looks like your piano is only playing for a portion of the song. Let me take a look at this file in BIAB to see what is going on.

This one stumps me. I confirm the RT in BIAB. I see it is also just a very short section of Audio in the middle of the song and it is frozen. I see no bar markers to limit where it plays. So did you edit the audio in BIAB?

Otherwise, I am glad we have Simon on the tread. He gets paid to look at these oddities. Let see what he thinks.

In the meantime... Thanks very much for taking the time to help.

I have an idea to pursue, but I need to know if the short segment that the Soloist Piano played was by your design or just another part of the problem. Did you do something to make the soloist play only a short section in the middle of the song? e.g., did you use the actual Soloist Feature and intentionally tell the soloist to play only a few bars??

THe soloist is automatically generated but I have play only the second chorus

OK...
Tried again... there's an icon on the right of the BIAB window (WAV)
I dragged that into Reaper and... it works!
Not sure if that is how its supposed to happen...

Glad you found the .wav file button.

I am calling this a bug and have passed it on to the developers.

I am able to reproduce this strange behavior in seven steps.

1) Create a new song in BIAB
2) Use the Soloist Feature to add a RT (it will appear on the soloist track)
3) Generate and play all tracks.
4) Freeze the Soloist track
5) Save the file.

6) open the file in BIAB-VST
7) You will see that the Soloist track is now Midi. The rendered Audio for this track is from the midi. The RT on the soloist is gone.

Many thanks MusicStudent
Really appreciate your advice and assistance
For the time being I will continue to render the soloist in BIAB

Wow, I did not know that. Thanks for clarifying.