Good day everyone, This is primarily for PG Music, but anyone can answer if you can give me some details.
I have a friend who is an aspiring singer/songwriter. He's done backing tracks and backing vocals for his father, who puts together contemporary Christian music. Neither has used Band In A Box before, to my knowledge. I'd like to get the son to try out BIAB. However, I'm not sure about what makes up a Real Combo. It says there are 850 real tracks in 350 'bands' or combos. Are these real tracks fixed per 'band', or can they be moved around, take the bass line from one and put it another, as we do with regular Real Tracks?
I mean, for someone who has never used BIAB, laying out over $460 for the UltraPak may be a bit much. Obviously, I haven't needed a 'Demo package' for years, but does PG Music even offer a 15 or 30-day trial anymore? I think they used to, but that was some time ago, and memory isn't what it used to be, so maybe they didn't even back in the day.
Anyone who started out with the MegaPak and then later on upgraded to the UltraPak, and I'm talking within the last three or four years. Can you tell me what you thought and whether or not you would recommend going straight to the UltraPak? Finally, if he decides that he likes BIAB, can he upgrade from MegaPak to UltraPak next time we have updates, etc.?
Thanks in advance, everyone!
Gary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
Hi Gary. This one can be confusing. It's been over a decade that I have used the audiophile version, so I don't know the answer. I do believe one can update from a level to a higher level package the next year for less than full price, and there is always a rather full web page giving these options. I've also seen cases where someone bought the Pro package and contacted Support to update soon after. About the trial version, that is not done; instead they offer the 30-day money back guarantee.
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
Thanks Matt! I hope all is going well for you. Any new albums in the works?
Gary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
Sadly it isn't a dumb question. PG Music's packages have often caused confusion, so many people end up asking it. I still sometimes struggle to be certain what's included in some packs and what's not.
There's significantly more in the UltraPAK than the MegaPAK ( (++ comparison ++) ). The best advice is usually to get the biggest you're prepared to afford, but that's quite a lot of money (though good value, too, I think). As Matt says, often an entry-ish initial buy and an upgrade can work out cheaper. I think most long term users have the UltraPAK.
(OmniPAK includes, I think, everything that PGM sell).
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. Kawai MP6, Korg M50, Ui24R, Saffire Pro 40. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11; Win8.1: Scarletts BIAB2022 UltraPAK, Reaper, a bunch of stuff.
My advice to the new users, especially the young users.
Save your money. Just spend 130 bucks buy a BiaB Pro version. Plus a few XPro Styles Add-on Paks (50 bucks each).
The XPro Styles are tailored to work along with BiaB Pro version, of which doesn't have full RealTracks and MIDI content.
However, BiaB Pro version has the full features as Mega, Ultra, Ultra+ versions.
Also, in BiaB, as long as the Time Signatures are matching, the Feels (ev8, sw8, ev16, sw16) are matching, and the Tempos are close (plus minus 10 bmp), all RealTracks and MIDIs can be used interchangably, regardless of which band they were recorded from.
Spend your first year working hard, learning all the important features of BiaB.
After one year, if you feel BiaB is your thing, then skip Mega and Ultra, go straight to Ultra+, and buy those Xtra Styles Add-on Paks (50 bucks each, a total of 15 of them).
Yes, you are looking at close to $1,500 to spend. But it's worth it.
Ultra+ version is basically Ultra version plus a $100 Songs & Lessons Pak, of which contains Master Solos Series, Riffs & Phrases Series, Fakebook Songs, etc, which is massively powerful to professional music production.
Unless you have unlimited disk space, there's no need to go with the 2 TB size Audiophile version.
In summary: Buy Pro, save money. Go to YouTube, learn it to the full extent. Wait for a year, spend all your money buying the Ultra+ Pak and the sexy Add-ons. You won't be regreted.
A Canadian music producer, singer songwriter, composer, and professional guitarist.
The Ultra and Audiophile packages contain one hundred percent of the package content. The Mega package contains about one third of the available package content and the Pro package contains about one tenth of the available package content. I used the advertised number of audio hours to come up with these percentages.
Content like RealTracks, MultiStyles, Artist Performances, MIDISuperTracks and so on are collected and bundled into sets with each set sold separately. The Ultra and Audiophile packages include all the sets currently released. It costs less to purchase the Ultra PAK than it does to purchase all of the individual sets.
It is important to realize every individual piece has an identification number. As an example RealTrack set number 429 is composed of three Johnny Hiland guitar RealTracks numbered 4187, 4188 and 4189.
The Pro and Mega packages take individual pieces of content from the sets and matches them together to create a band or combo. As an example PG Music may start with RealTrack #4188; "Guitar,Electric,Soloist,CountryBalladSlowJohnny Ev16 065" and pair it with RealTrack #910; "Piano,Electric,Rhythm,SmoothBallad Ev16 065" from set 73, a bass RealTrack from another set, acoustic guitar RealTrack from another set and a RealDrum track to create a five piece band. Then PG Music creates a demo style using the five piece band. In many respects PG Music is doing the same thing most Band-in-a-Box users do everyday, create a band and make a song!
As MusicVillian mentioned the Band-in-a-Box and RealBand programs are the same no matter what package is purchased. I agree with him that the Pro PAK is a great starter package. The Pro PAK offers a little bit of every kind of content PG Music publishes. You can use that content to learn how the Band-in-a-Box program works and what it has to offer. I stayed with the Pro PAK for two years to concentrate on learning all the program nuances before upgrading to the Ultra PAK to acquire all the additional content. Having limited content in the beginning allowed me to concentrate on learning the program. If I had access to all the content in the beginning I likely would have spent more time auditioning content instead of learning the program. Sometimes it's nice to have some restraint.
As I stated, *I* have the current UltraPak. I will take under advisement the input here (which is why I asked for it), but I think that maybe the MegaPak is probably going to be the better solution, but I need to sit down with my friend, demo BIAB for him and help him make his own decision, or even if he wants to buy BIAB (Personally, I think EVERY musician should have this great program) or not.
Thanks, everyone, and please, continue to leave your input.
Gary
Last edited by Gary Curran; 04/11/2309:41 AM.
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
It might be worth noting that it is cheaper to purchase the Pro version and then upgrade to a higher version (like UltraPak) than it is to purchase the higher version from the get go. It's not strongly advertised, but true.
It might be worth noting that it is cheaper to purchase the Pro version and then upgrade to a higher version (like UltraPak) than it is to purchase the higher version from the get go. It's not strongly advertised, but true.
+1. This page of Joanne Cooper is probably the best place for a first purchase.
User Video: Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box®
The Bob Doyle Media YouTube channel is known for demonstrating how you can creatively incorporate AI into your projects - from your song projects to avatar building to face swapping, and more!
His latest video, Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box, he explains in detail how you can use the Melodist feature in Band-in-a-Box with ACE Studio. Follow along as he goes from "nothing" to "something" with his Band-in-a-Box MIDI Melodist track, using ACE Studio to turn it into a vocal track (or tracks, you'll see) by adding lyrics for those notes that will trigger some amazing AI vocals!
Wir waren fleißig und haben über 50 neue Funktionen und eine erstaunliche Sammlung neuer Inhalte hinzugefügt, darunter 222 RealTracks, neue RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, "Songs with Vocals" Artist Performance Sets, abspielbare RealTracks Set 3, abspielbare RealDrums Set 2, zwei neue Sets von "RealDrums Stems", XPro Styles PAK 6, Xtra Styles PAK 17 und mehr!
Add updated printing options, enhanced tracks settings, smoother use of MGU and SGU (BB files) within PowerTracks, and more with the latest PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 update!
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.
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!
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."
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