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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hello,

I have band in a box 2012 ultra plus pak, and pretty happy with it, seems quite a mature product, loads of realtracks and styles that I can choose from.

Other than the just realeased realtracks and new midi sets with band in a box ultra pak 2013 is there anything else that really blows you away?

I have looked at the new features list but can't see anything really.

I just feel that I have more than enough realtracks already to choose from, though I realise that opinions can vary on this.

Is there anything else in 13 that really stands out as a great feature?

Thanks for any advice.
Martin

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It all depends on what you do and how you do it. Do you ever post your songs on the internet like Soundcloud or Dropbox? Ever print to a PDF? If so there's some cool stuff with that.

A big one to me is Sampletank with PG's new Hi-Q instruments. Those load from the Biab instrument buttons and don't require you to configure ST to play. Very cool. If you want to use any of the huge library of IKM sounds with ST then you do have to configure ST first. But, if you never use midi synths and only use the RT's then this won't matter to you.

Second is the new A,B,C,D song sections. Very cool, this is something that's been asked about for years.

Another big thing to some people are the reverb defaults. All tracks including RD's load with some reverb on them but people who like to work with raw tracks and mix and master later don't like that. They want all the tracks dry so there's a default option for that. Again, maybe that matters to you, maybe not.

If you've read the new features doc and nothing jumps out at you then you're set for now.

Bob


Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Hi Martin,
I'd recommend watching the video for BiaB 2013 video, it shows you the new features, and plays some of the RealTracks.

http://www.pgmusic.com/bbwin.demos.htm

Remember that there was a 2012.5 update as well, which had 101 RealTracks on it. So that's a total of 202 new RealTracks. It depends what style of music you are playing, but there are lots of great blues/rock/jazz/country players in the newest RealTracks.

As for the new features, here are the ones that I use the mos for BiaB 2013 (compared to BiaB 2012) :

Hi-Q MIDI sounds: The piano in particular is real nice and better than our existing sounds. Also nice strings (about 20 sounds total)

MIDI SuperTracks (like RealTracks, except for MIDI)... added in 2012. They are most effective for piano (when combined with the Hi-Q Piano sound), and work at any tempo/key, and you can edit them.

Horn Section RealTracks. We added 202 RealTracks since 2012, but the Horn RealTracks are something new, that work in Jazz, Blues and Rock tunes. Horns also work with other styles, like Bolero http://soundcloud.com/tobinthegull/band-in-a-box-bolero-with-r-b

Artist Performance Tracks: Mainly Jazz, also Celtic

Pick "best" soloist RealTracks: This new dialog shows you the best soloists that match the genre, tempo, feel of your song. The list is displayed from best to worst. For example, if you have a Jazz Ballad style loaded (tempo 60), the list will show jazz Soloists that will work well at a tempo of 60 at the top of the list, and something like a fast, Heavy Metal Guitar Soloist at the bottom of the list.

Favorite RealTracks, Favorite RealDrums list to quickly access your recently chosen RealTracks.


... all these features are demo'd on the video.
http://www.pgmusic.com/bbwin.demos.htm


Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
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Quote:

Another big thing to some people are the reverb defaults. All tracks including RD's load with some reverb on them but people who like to work with raw tracks and mix and master later don't like that. They want all the tracks dry so there's a default option for that.




Bob,

If this is pertinent to my post here about "Why all the reverb",

http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=388108&an=0&page=0#Post388108

......then please elaborate.

I know some folks are "reverb sluts", but I'm not one of them. It should be minimal to non-existent for basic tracks.

But my problem only occured after the 363 patch.

Reverb is something that should have to be added, if wanted, ... not something you should have to "take away".

Last edited by bobcflatpicker; 12/05/12 04:10 PM.
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Bob,

Reverb level selection can be made in Preferences > RealTracks or the option unchecked until you need to "Return to Factory Settings". I have unchecked it for now but will revisit later. The standard level of reverb setting for GM Synths is 40 on a 0 to 127 scale and perhaps 30% should be used here as a default.

Thanks for posting information.

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The first time ever Horn Section by itself would have done it for me. But Memphis Horns style R&B/Blues and Big Band styles are really important to me. Maybe not so much for others.

Best,
Jim

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A good reason is that your update pays the salaries of the people who work at PG Music and that helps them stay in business and keep up with the evolution of computer operating systems so that our favorite software app doesn't become a dinosaur some day.

Notes


Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Quote:

A good reason is that your update pays the salaries of the people who work at PG Music and that helps them stay in business and keep up with the evolution of computer operating systems so that our favorite software app doesn't become a dinosaur some day.

Notes




Thanks for replies everybody.

Notes, I notice your signature and the midi styles you offer. Are they somewhat similiar to PG's new midi styles?

Thanks
martin57

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