A keyboard tech in Norfolk turned me on to BIAB in 1995. Started using it on a restaurant piano bar gig six nights a week right away. It's been great to see the program evolve over the years. Later, Ray

I helped out a broke Computer Science grad student by purchasing some of his junk.

A Yamaha DX-11 keyboard and a box of computer disks, the old large floppies as well as the newer small plastic cased single density floppies.

In the box was a very early version of BiaB along with some disks in which the student had already stored some created songs.

There was BiaB for that weird version of Windows that came first before Win95 and there was also a set of disks that were an even older version that I think ran on Atari but never used.

Once I installed BB and figured out how to get it running, I do remember that I spent the rest of the evening, about three or four hours, just jamming along with some of the Jazz offerings of the time...


--Mac

How did you get introduced to BIAB?
A salesman in Sam Ash recommended it. I had been using a hardware unit, the Yamaha QY10, and was looking to upgrade. He convinced me that software was the better way to go (he was right).

What year/version was it?
About 1993. BIAB Version 4.

What kind of computer did you have at the time?
PCs that I built (then as now).

Was it a successful experience right away??
Absolutely. I was used to programming songs from the Yamaha. This was similar, but better. I also already knew music theory and was an experienced computer programmer (and comp sci professor).

Have you changed your gear to accommodate BIAB in any way?
Yes. I build my computers and select all peripherals based on their performance with BIAB and SONAR.

Has BIAB influenced how/why you play music?
Yes, dramatically. It gave my composing a large boost.

Have you used it mostly for practice, performance, recording, instruction, other?
All of these. My CD, "Brazilian Wish", has nine songs composed in BIAB that I took into a major studio with only minor arranging alterations. I recently recorded another CD with my percussionist (his album) and we did eight more of my songs, again all composed in BIAB. We first worked together with BIAB to fit my chords and melodies to his ideas for Latin percussion, which I could audition in RealDrums. By the time we hit the studio, we knew the sounds we wanted. I am often hired to do horn arrangements for other people's CDs, and I use BIAB to transcribe their songs, then experiment writing hooks and horn lines before I record them.

Any other observations not listed here?
I can play almost any wind instrument, but almost no rhythm instruments. BIAB immediately gave me what I was missing to be able to compose and hear my songs without having to find a keyboard player or guitarist. It's a life and career-changing program.

Mac wasn't it windows 3.1 before '95 came out ?
I was doing a google for music software and was lead here. I downloaded the trial version & the rest is history.
I've learnt sooooooo much from biab

somehow i received an old pg music flyer that had been stashed in my computer desk for months. in cleaning up one day i chanced to open it. it featured version 8 (by this time it had evolved to v10) and i was impressed with its many features. i remember thinking it was a difficult read due to its lack of white space but i read the unconditional 30-day money back guarantee and decided to order, what could i lose? within a few days the package came and, within ten minutes of installing, i had created my first original composition. needless to say, i was sold. a stroke left me mute and paralyzed but band-in-a-box has made it possible for me to continue to make music for which i am eternally grateful to peter gannon and the entire staff at pg music.

I saw a small ad in either Electronics Musician or Keyboard magazine. This was for version 1 and it was on the PC. I had an Atari 1040/ST at the time.

I got the first version available for Atari, and started writing styles as soon as that option was introduced. Peter Gannon called and offered to help me convert the styles to IBM (that's what we called the PC in those days). By then BiaB was still a DOS program on the PC, and I bought a 386 PC and the DOS version of BiaB. Because I hated DOS, I would write styles on the Atari and put them on a disk formatted on the PC to transfer them. As soon as version 1 for Windows arrived, I started writing styles on the PC instead of the Atari.

A year or so later I bought a Mac (OS6) and BiaB/Mac so I could sell to the Mac people.

I already had a few synth modules and keyboards so I used the MIDI port.

I primarily use BiaB to do the 'mule work' of writing backing tracks for my duo (I had been doing all the work on Master Tracks Pro since about 1985), exporting as a MIDI file and then adding the song specific parts in MTPro. I also write aftermarket styles for BiaB, check out the mp3 demos at http://www.nortonmusic.com/styledemo.html

I wrote the original styles on version 4 (3 instrument) because I wanted something that PG Music didn't offer. And I'm still writing styles for the program.

How has it changed my life?

I started a second "moonlighting" business, I learned how to run a mail-order business, when the internet came along, I learned how to write HTML to make web sites, and writing styles for BiaB gave me a practical application for the music arranging that I took in school.

I've also made a lot of BiaB friends, many of whom are also my customers.

Thanks Peter Gannon for enriching my life.

Notes

I this it was about 2007 I got the program but put it aside for a year or so. I was totally bewildered on how it worked but knew it did something great.
We use it now for backing track of both PD gospels and our own work.
I'm learning slowly. Every now and then I'll search for a midi file, many of which are either piano or organ and not that well done.
BIAB makes a real difference in a song.
Wyndham

I saw it in a store. I bought it along with a keyboard. Never looked back. Use it for a while everyday most of the time. Well except for recently, but it was hard to stay awake in the hospital and they would let me bring in the Bose and the keyboard and computer. (Just kidding, like I wanted to even turn over.....) Well I'm back at it.

How did you get introduced to BIAB?

A friend had it and as I was looking into starting up as a 'One Man Band' it seemed to fit the bill for backings

What year/version was it?

Must have been Version 1.0 for DOS in 1988/89. Came on a 360kb floppy. In fact I've still got it somewhere but it won't run on quad-cores and the like as it needed the Roland MPU 401 ISA card and breakout box.

What kind of computer did you have at the time?

I had an IBM PC clone at the time with two 1,2Mb floppies and a 30Mb hard disk. A Roland MPU 401 sufficed for midi control.

was it a successful experience right away??

I would have to say yes. In those early days you only got Drums and bass, but it was better than nothing.

Have you changed your gear to accommodate BIAB in any way?

Not especially for BIAB. Upgrades came to support other software with more extensive power needs.

Has BIAB influenced how/why you play music?

Not at all. As BIAB has grown it now does more of what I wished for years ago!

have you used it mostly for practice, performance, recording, instruction, other?

All of those.

any other observations not listed here?

BIAB is one of the most invaluable programs I own. I upgrade every time there is a new version - couldn't be with out it.

Kevin

How did you get introduced to BIAB?

I started recording years ago with a Cassette based 4 track from Clarion, then bought a floppy disk version of Cakewalk home studio. It was a lot of work just to get a couple tracks down right. I bought an early version of Cakewalk Music creator 1.0 , and also N-Trackstudio. Cakewalk seemed to struggle with my built in sound card, and N-Ttrack crashed my system constantly. I stumbled on BiaB on the internet while searching for DAW programs that did not cost a bunch, it was more than i wanted to spend at the time. I registered over at Audiominds and I kept hearing mac talk about Powertracks, and BiaB, so I looked it up again. I ended up buying PT version 10, but really did not use it much, even though it was stable, it did not have VSTi support yet. So i struggled onward with a new version of cakewalk MC 2003. One day i bought BiaB on a whim, and at first did not use it much, but really did like it. I just did not understand it fully.

What year/version was it?

I originally bought version 2007

What kind of computer did you have at the time?

A home built PC I still use it today, it has been a workhorse! The biggest upgrade came in a M-Audio card 24/96 delta from guitar center.

was it a successful experience right away??

Not really, i did not like the basic GM sounds, and adding a number of synths was not a part of it. But when i finally got a DAW working flawlessly i began to see the advantage using of BiaB as a creation tool to feed that DAW.

Have you changed your gear to accommodate BIAB in any way?

No not really. I have really began to use RB more these days, but BiaB remains a valuable tool.

Has BIAB influenced how/why you play music?

When i started it was to make original songs and also to redo a few covers for my enjoyment, But now i am making full sets of music and playing for others, something i did not think i would ever really do again since my youth. I could do that without RB, and BiaB, but they make it simple and easy. Something very valuable as Pat said above, with life's time restraints.

have you used it mostly for practice, performance, recording, instruction, other?

All the above, BiaB, and therefore RB as well are invaluable to me, and I thank PG for continuing to supply a tool that so many love. I have suggested it to a few online music friends, and now they own and use it.

any other observations not listed here?

I want to thank the folks again at PG, for the great programs, but also the people here on the forum. You guys and Gals are really very decent, kind and helpful folks. It is nice to come to a place where you can help, and be helped without a hassle. Rharv, Pat Marr, Silvertones, Macster, John Conley, Matt, Noel, and on and on with the solid people. Thanks again, and Keep it up! I gotta say especially a big thanks to Mac, i almost gave up on this process, but he has helped me beyond words, both in his technical knowledge, and his big hearted desire to help you solve a problem, but mostly for just good solid advice that points you in the right direction. PT, RB, BiaB, and MTS are my softwares of choice, and everyone of them were a Mac suggestion at some point. Finding the right tools took the fight out of the process, and put the joy back in. Thanks friend, Rob

How did you get introduced to BIAB?

After many many searches for backing tracks on the internet one search brought me to this very forum. I asked a couple of questions and I believe it was Mac (go figure) who said he thought BIAB just might be just what I was looking for. Thanks again Mac!

After a long spell of just getting away from playing music I had the urge to get back in

What year/version was it?

I am thinking it was in 2004 and of course the current version at that time.

What kind of computer did you have at the time?

Old HP laptop that the company let me keep when I retired that same year. Hardly any memory and of course very slow processor.

Was it a successful experience right away?

A resounding yes! I downloaded the free trial version, worked out a few tunes as was thinking this is just what I am looking for, but didn't that Mac guy tell me that only a day or so ago. Of course I could not save my first arrangements using the trial version but I was hooked from day one.

Have you changed your gear to accommodate BIAB in any way?

Yes but just because of the software requiring more memory and speed.

Has BIAB influenced how/why you play music?

Yes it enabled me to do just what I wanted to do and that is work solo gigs.

Have you used it mostly for practice, performance, recording, instruction, other?

In the order of use . . .

#1. Performance
#2. Arranging/Practice
#3. Recording although very little as I only record samples for my website.

Any other observations not listed here?

Only wished I had met BIAB earlier in my life as not only is the product just what I was looking for but it has even made me a better all-round musician.

I first learned of BIAB in a music mag of some sort. My first version was either 7 or 8, (or maybe even 6). Up until that time I’d been using a “rhythm machine” of some sort, Boss or Yamaha, for practice. It sucked pretty bad.

My first computer was a Dell with a whopping 266MHZ processor and really big 2GB hard drive running Win 95. Top of the line at the time. I think I bought one more after that, and I’ve been building my own since then, with the exception of one other one which was a gift. I taught my son how to build them and he built the one I’m currently using as a Christmas gift last year. It’s pretty sweet.

I really liked BIAB right off the bat. It was far more advanced than what I’d been using, but it was very limited for bluegrass music because of the incorrect time values in the bluegrass styles. It treated bluegrass as a 16th note based music, when virtually ALL of the sheet music for bluegrass and fiddle tunes are written in 8th notes. I’m running BIAB 2009.5 and it still treats them the same way. According to the upgrade list for BIAB 2010, they have tried to address that, but I can’t afford the upgrade since I lost my job, so I’m not sure.

I've tried to recruit friends into using BIAB over the years, but once they saw the incorrect time values for fiddle tunes and bluegrass, they weren’t interested.

I haven’t changed my setup or “gear” to accommodate BIAB. I use it almost strictly for practice, with the exception of using it to program chord progressions for songs I’ve written so I’ll remember them.

It’s a powerful tool, and I’d highly recommend it to any musician, even though the verdict is still out for me concerning fiddle tunes, bluegrass, traditional, New Acoustic, Dawg music, “Jazzgrass” and any other up tempo acoustic music. 8th notes are 8th notes, regardless of the tempo.

...

A good drummer can make/break a lot of songs IMHO.
We go through the trouble here. Actually bought a drum set, even though neither Barry or I would call ourselves a drummer. We like the convenience of having it mic'd and ready to go, just need a drummer to show up (usually late) to record them.

And who cares if they take up 6-8 channels? We work with 32 channel mixer and 48 track DAW! That's the beauty of having that equipment; no worries on track count (so far anyway).

Some songs do call for electronic drums, some don't. They are all tools in the box.

My 2 cents . . . At this point in time in my life I would not trade BIAB Real Drums for any living drummer, but I for one am very fortunate to have gigged with a few pretty damn good drummers and would not trade even one of those gigs for computerized drums.

Later,

How did you get introduced to BIAB? My wife’s cousin was a computer software nut. Although he was a non musician he bought BIAB just to see what it did, he had that kind of curiosity.. He gave me his copy to try out, I liked it , I bought it.
What year/version was it? I think about 1995-version 5
What kind of computer did you have at the time? Pentium ll
Was it a successful experience right away? Yes. The program was much simpler then, and the sound and versatility was heads above those “organ rhythm machines”. Type in the chords, pick a style, and have a back-up band in 5 minutes or less.
Have you changed your gear to accommodate BIAB in any way? Yes, I upgraded BIAB a few times then built an equivalent Pent lll, and bought a Roland SCC1 sound card. Back then that card made my system sing. Later after a few more upgrades I bought a Roland SD8820 that provided even more sound and flexibility.I still have the SD8820.(at that time I started purchasing PTPA ver 3.5) Then I bought my current, used Pent lV and dropped 3-120 gb HD’s into it. Also, picked up a used Layla 20 and a Roland VS880. I would set up the song in BIAB and send it to PTPA. I would sync the PTPA to the Roland to get separate tracks, and write and arrange my material and re-record it. Then send I would send it back to PTPA to burn it.
Has BIAB influenced how/why you play music? Yes, it provided a backup band that gave me a base from which to expand my ad lib playing. It also gave me the confidence to feature my own material.
Have you used it mostly for practice, performance, recording, instruction, other? I mostly use BIAB for vocal practice. Years back when I had more time I would do a lot of writing and recording. What I do now is type our swing band vocal arrangement into BIAB and burn it to disc. I then play it in the car and sing along with it while I am on the road. Over the past few years I have been caught up in work, consequently I haven’t kept up with using either BIAB/PTPA to full capability even though I have kept up with the new releases.
Any other observations not listed here? I Although not a long time forum user, I have been a long time BIAB user and forum “lurker”. When I have time I first check my emails then the forum before anything else. I would like to thank BIAB for providing an excellent product and great customer relations, and this forum’s members for their prompt and unselfish assistance in using the products.

My older brother had the 1st version of biab. it was on one of those floppy 5" or so discs....he carted a desktop to gigs and used a separate keyboard for the sounds...We thought technology was so advanced then:)

Really, those basic MIDI concepts, like using a separate keyboard for sounds haven't really changed much. Soft synths are pretty cool, but I bet many more professional musicians still use an external synth when performing.

I do remember those days though

"You mean we can have that exact arpeggio start the song with the perfect tempo every time??"
:noddin&smilin:

(80's dance scene; yeah I was there)
get off my lawn!

Without listing all of the questions, mainly because it would be difficult to answer some of 'em through either lack of exact memory, IE date, and lack of experience.
I first saw a cardboard box on the shelf of a local music and musical instrument shop, (Store) when I went in for some new strings for the guitar I was trying to learn how to play. That was a few years before I bought a PC and started learning how to use one of them. I asked what the heck is this Band in a box thing? expecting to see some new fangled bit of hardware. The guy in the shop explained it was software for computers, I immediately lost interest and bought my strings. Technologically, I was a bit behind, even though I was repairing basic electronic control systems on machinery at work.
My first PC was an E Machines, with not a lot of RAM, an 80 GB hard drive, and the year was 2004 so a 2.7GHZ single core processor. At that time I knew nothing about computers, but wanted to learn and see what a computer could do for me musically.
my first software, musical that is, was Notations 2 by Magix software. That got me interested, so bought both the two notational and possibly the most expensive software available in 2006, Sibelius, and Finale.
A year later is when I finally got Band in a box.
How do I use it, well mainly as an on going teaching myself music aid, though other things did take over, like playing cornet in an award winning brass band and learning how to get better at playing that, so somehow BIAB has taken a back seat. However I recently dropped from playing in the band, mainly to get my life back I suppose, so I am slowly getting back into music for fun rather than music to win prizes. BIAB should become more of a front runner now.

It was 1993... I just sprung over 2 grand for a new "state of the art" IBM clone as they used to call it. It was a 486 with 2mb ram and a 250mb HD. I was running Windows 3.1... I used to love it when I'd start up my system and got the DOS prompt, where I would type "win" and Windows would start up. Back then most software came from other people... there wasn't very much talk about pirate stuff. I had the newest BB version along with Powertracks that were given to me on a couple of 3.5 floppys. I also had I think, 2 more floppys with the styles. Getting this software pushed me to get a Roland Rap-10 sound card - $300. It also made me go out and pay $300.00 for another 2mb of ram. Once I made a recording on my Yahama 4 track recorder (yep... bought one of those too because of BB) I would blow family and friends away with the professional sound they heard from my cassettes.

I seemed to slowly get away from doing my computer music stuff because of trying to work 2 jobs... music 6 nights a week and a day job 5 days a week. This schedule really didn't leave a lot of time for anything else. However, that being said, I gave up the music job a few years ago and really didn't think I would miss it. A year and a half ago I stumbled on to this site, started listening to the demos and getting answers to all the questions I had pertaining to BB/RB, took a deep breath and ordered the whole shabang. One of the best investments I've ever made. Once I started using BB I realized that I really did miss the music job... not the clubs... just the music. BB has put the interest back in to it. Now my family and friends are blown away when they hear my CD's... heh. How times have changed.

Bobby

I saw it on eBay listed by a music store. Then I came here and lurked. I searched the web for everything anyone had to say about it. Got version 2008 for Christmas but I didn't use it much except to write a few songs. After I upgraded to 2009 I had more time to start really enjoying it. I had zero experience in computer recording. I tried another DAW but it was so complicated. Then came Realband - a perfect match for BIAB - and lots of help from kind folks here.

From my first guitar teacher.

Ironically, he hasn't used it since and I've been giving $$$$$$ to PGMusic all these years.