|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 13
Newbie
|
OP
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 13 |
Firstly, a really BIG hello from me from the UK. After listening to numerous demo BB tracks, I have just bought the EverythingPak on the external hard drive (received a week ago) and am starting to work through the manual (whoohoo). So I'm delighted to join the community on this Forum.
Please can I have help with my first problem.
I have had a play and made my first test tune in BB and have loaded it into RealBand - it consists of 5 Audio tracks and 1 Midi track (the melody). I then right click on the Midi Track (as I want to patch in a string section) and go to Specific Vsti/Dxi synth for midi tracks and the drop down list appears of all my plug-ins. However, when I click on Cakewalk's Dimension Pro or Rapture on my list I get the error message "Sorry, real band cannot make the connection". Also, I CAN patch in SampleTank but think this is the cutdown version that comes in the BB package and not the SampleTank 2 XL full version that I also own.
Alternatively, I could use my Sonar X2 to patch in plugin sounds BUT I can't see a way of exporting the RealBand song into a multi-track format that would load correctly into my SONAR X2.
So at the moment I have a half finished song - I would really appreciate some pearls of wisdom from fellow members.
Many thanks in advance
Malcolm F Hill - writer and producer of beautifully relaxing ambient instrumental music.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,425
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,425 |
On your MIDI track in RB, click the little arrow on the left and select Edit DX then select your synth of choice in the top slot (this is important). The top slot is for the synth, the next three are for effects if desired.
Another route is to go to Options-Preferences-MIDI Devices and find the checkbox for 'reroute all MIDI to DXi synth' and then select your synth there. This will cause all MIDI tracks to use that synth as the default.
To get tracks to Sonar; click the little DAW icon at top to run RB in DAW mode, then you can load the tracks into a little spot that will allow drag/drop to sonar, or use the Render Audio/DXi button at top to export the tracks to separate files and then import them to Sonar.
Welcome to the Forum
Last edited by rharv; 09/14/13 03:56 AM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 13
Newbie
|
OP
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 13 |
Many thanks rharv - using your suggested methods, I have now managed to get all the tracks into my Sonar X2 DAW.
One strange thing though - the one MIDI track (the melody) now plays faster and finishes earlier in Sonar and therefore is not in sync with the 5 Audio tracks which ARE in sync. I would have thought that dragging and dropping a track should copy across an exact replica! Any help gratefully accepted.
Thanks again, Malcolm
Malcolm F Hill - writer and producer of beautifully relaxing ambient instrumental music.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,425
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,425 |
RB tempo should match Sonar tempo.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 13
Newbie
|
OP
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 13 |
Thanks again, rharv - I've now managed to get all the tracks working perfectly in sync in Sonar and it sounds amazing.
I've only been using BB and RB now for a few days but the software looks and sounds phenomenal. I really feel just like a young boy in a sweet shop - so many goodies and so much to choose from - even though I am over 60! Looking forward to discovering even more on my BB journey over the coming months etc. Will post my creations when totally finished.
Regards, Malcolm
Malcolm F Hill - writer and producer of beautifully relaxing ambient instrumental music.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,698
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,698 |
I work in a similar but perhaps slightly different manner.
I use BB, RB, and Sonar X1 in this manner.
I write and compose the music and lyrics in BB. I make sure I have the song exactly as I want it,,,, intro, structure and ending.
Close and save the song in Band in a Box.
Open Real Band and load the song from BB. It renders all the existing tracks as real tracks. I listen and evaluate if I like them or not. If yes, I export them track by track into a folder I set up for this song project on the desktop screen. If I don't like them, I select a new track (highlight it) and choose the appropriate track and render it.
I will render as many times as is needed to get the correct Real Track playing the part the way I need it played.
I also will render the "other" instruments such as steel, fiddle, dobro and whatever else I need.
I export all the tracks from RB to the folder. I also am sure to keep the BPM the same in BB/RB, and as I move to Sonar, the first thing I do is set the BPM to match.
I open X1 and after setting up the format of the project, I begin to import the tracks into Sonar audio tracks. Once there, I save it and then begin the editing and mastering process and this is where I add my own guitar tracks, mandolin tracks, and vocal tracks.
This method seems to work the best for me and I use it on all the songs on my music site.
NOTE: there is no single "right way" or "wrong way" to work with this software. Develop the method you like best, and use it consistently. Because, no matter which way you get there, if you use the same methods you will begin to learn the nuances and produce CONSISTENT results. The goal is to have each song sound good and as if it came from the same studio in the same year.
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 09/16/13 03:59 AM.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,425
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,425 |
I begin to import the tracks into Sonar audio tracks. Once there, I save it and then begin the editing and mastering process and this is where I add my own guitar tracks, mandolin tracks, and vocal tracks In my experience, I find it's better to stay in RB a little longer. If you can start recording your new personal tracks in RB it leaves the option open to change a Realtrack or two, or even extend the song and regenerate where needed. This flexibility comes in handy sometimes. I only move out of RB once I see a reason to. But I tend to stay there longer in the situation you described. Recording new tracks alongside Realtracks has not been an issue here.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,698
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,698 |
I normally audition the tracks in RB, to see if they are close enough for rock and roll....
If I get them into X1 (Sonar) and play them and don't like them, or they are not quite right, I will not hesitate to delete them and return to RB and render another track with the same RT or perhaps select a different RT to try.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Video: New User Interface (GUI)
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics85,562
Posts793,336
Members39,913
| |
Most Online25,754 Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|