I need help with a pretty basic issue using BIAB for Windows 2014 (380). This issue shows up in two related ways. (I THINK it's the same issue.)
1. How do I make my MIDI controller produce sounds based on my VSTs in BIAB. (I'm using an M-Audio Keystation 49es.) My MIDI through channel is 7, and I can choose standard MIDI patches on the Channel setup page, but I want to use plug-ins instead. How do I do that.
2. In my songs' individual tracks, I can choose a plug-in and the sound is properly produced when I play a song. However, if I use my mouse on the graphical piano keyboard, I just get General MIDI patch sounds. That graphic keyboard should use the plug-in, shouldn't it? If so, how do I do that?
My controller is a USB type and just comes through one of the USB ports. I should add that all my other software works just as I would like it to. (I also have an audio interface which I use for other things like guitar and voice.)
Now here's where I reveal some newby-ness: I could not get the keyboard to work in BIAB except by using whatever is assigned to the MIDI through channel. I have nothing else in the chain. Is there another way to get sound out of my controller in BIAB, perhaps?
So your keyboard travels to the PC by USB cable, correct? If that's the case, I'm not sure how it gets the MIDI or audio from the keyboard to the PC. What kind of keyboard?
In my case, I have both MIDI & audio cables going to my PC from keyboard so I can record either data type. I'm not sure for you if your keyboard can pass both MIDI and audio through that USB cable.
Hi Lew, this could be a shot in the dark but, you said that your midi thru channel is on channel 7, on BIB that channel is assigned to guitar by default. Channel 5 is the one shown as the thru one. Not sure if this has anything to do with it, but I'm sure pretty soon someone knowledgeable in these matter would jump right in and educate both of us.
1. How do I make my MIDI controller produce sounds based on my VSTs in BIAB. (I'm using an M-Audio Keystation 49es.) My MIDI through channel is 7, and I can choose standard MIDI patches on the Channel setup page, but I want to use plug-ins instead. How do I do that.
The Default MIDI channel for the Thru track in BB is 5.
Hit Prefs -> Channels and see what your Thru channel really is.
I just leave my MIDI controllers sending on ALL channels, easiest way to go, BB sorts it out, you should try that.
pquote] 2. In my songs' individual tracks, I can choose a plug-in and the sound is properly produced when I play a song. However, if I use my mouse on the graphical piano keyboard, I just get General MIDI patch sounds. That graphic keyboard should use the plug-in, shouldn't it? If so, how do I do that? [/quote]
I don't thibk that the onscreen keyboards can access anything other than the GM bank. Same goes for the Notation View, PianoRoll and Chord Builder sounds. After all, at that point in time we aren't really expected to be performing via those, the GM sounds are provided for reference when Editing, etc.
So your keyboard travels to the PC by USB cable, correct? If that's the case, I'm not sure how it gets the MIDI or audio from the keyboard to the PC. What kind of keyboard?
In my case, I have both MIDI & audio cables going to my PC from keyboard so I can record either data type. I'm not sure for you if your keyboard can pass both MIDI and audio through that USB cable.
The keyboard is a simple M-Audio Keystation 49es. It doesn't send any audio data to the PC; just MIDI data.
Hi Lew, this could be a shot in the dark but, you said that your midi thru channel is on channel 7, on BIB that channel is assigned to guitar by default. Channel 5 is the one shown as the thru one. Not sure if this has anything to do with it, but I'm sure pretty soon someone knowledgeable in these matter would jump right in and educate both of us.
Mike B.
Hey Mike,
I often reassign my channels (for particular reasons I won't go into here), but in this particular case, even reverting back to default settings didn't change things.
Regarding the first issue, indeed, that's how I knew what channel thru was set to. But even setting it to the default doesn't change anything. I would have thought that setting my plug-in's channel to whatever I have my BIAB thru channel to would cause the keyboard to use the plug-in's sound, but it doesn't. But you raise an issue I'd like to pursue: How do I set my controller to send on all channels?
I think you're right that the onscreen keyboards can only access the GM bank, and I certainly don't want to perform using that! But it would be nice to use that to sample a plug-in's sounds before rendering to WAV or something like that. But it's not a huge deal. Thanks for the info!
My controller is a USB type and just comes through one of the USB ports. I should add that all my other software works just as I would like it to. (I also have an audio interface which I use for other things like guitar and voice.)
Lew
Lew
Can you tell us more about the controller (make, model)?
Are any other applications that use the MIDI data running simultaneously? If so, could they be using the resource.
Have you set BiaB to use the correct MIDI Controller in the MIDI / Audio Drivers setup?
BIAB & RB2024 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
I own and use the same keyboard, M-Audio 49e, also have the big bad M-Audio Keystation Pro 88.
The 49e works fine with BB etc. here.
Firat thing to realize is, that with Band in a Box, any USB device typically must be plugged into the computer's USB port and recognized by the system BEFORE starting up Band in a Box program.
BB can't "find" it on the fly once the program is open, so if you plug the USB in then, you won't get a connection.
This keyboard performs a full self-reset whenever the thing is powered up, but every once in a while, it may get confused during a session and the cure for that is to unpower the unit and wait about 10 - 20 secs and then power it back up again.
There can also be a situation where Controllers get hosed:
The 49e can Reset All Controllers by going into "Advanced" mode and pressing the C# key adjacent to the keyboard's C3 key. Good idea to do that if unsure about where the controller's internal settings might be.
Make sure that your keystation is set to USB mode as described on page 10 of the large size (not the small filesize) user manual.
Sure. The controller is an M-Audio Keystation 49es. It's pretty basic. Certainly BIAB is set to use it because I CAN input from the keyboard to BIAB; the only issue is that I can't get it to use my plug-ins when I do. Among those, I would like to use my NI Kontakt 5 instruments. And, as I mentioned, I can use the NI sounds when playing a BIAB song on individual tracks; and I can play my keyboard in BIAB hearing the GM stuff on my PC. The only thing I can't do is have my real time keyboard input use the NI plug-ins.
The other question you asked (Are any other applications that use the MIDI data running simultaneously? If so, could they be using the resource.) is an interesting proposal. I know plug-ins are designed to work with the host software (BIAB in this case), but what if Kontakt was doing something to disrupt BIAB's ability to use the former's sounds when given a MIDI stream from my keyboard. I am not suggesting Kontakt is doing anything wrong, but maybe there's a Kontakt setting I need to adjust. I have played with the Kontakt instruments' MIDI channels, but I'll look for something else.
That was it. I had that checked off before, but something else was not right, so in fiddling around, I must have re-checked it.
One of the other things that I learned is that I can't get any sound just playing the keyboard; BIAB must be playing, which is a bit surprising, but OK.
Thank you, and thanks to everyone else for the great help!
One of the other things that I learned is that I can't get any sound just playing the keyboard; BIAB must be playing, which is a bit surprising, but OK.
You might want to recheck that in accordance with what I wrote above.
I only have had to hit Play button the first time during a session, then hit Stop, and from there on can play my keyboard via the Thru channel regardless of whether BB is actually playin or not.
I tested that. As you wonderfully suggested, I have the "Route MIDI Thru to MIDI Driver" UNchecked. I hear nothing from that until I start a song in BIAB; then it plays fine. But when I hit stop, the MIDI through no longer produces sound.
It *may* be he Pianoteq, I don't have that one here.
So check it with the Coyote WT, which does indeed work as I described here.
Meanwhile, I'll try to change settings around at my end and see if there isn't one that duplicates what happens at your end, which might be a solve for you, if I can find a command that affects things in that way.
Lew, in either this or your other thread (WASAPI driver), did you tell us what operating system you are using?
The Coyote WT mentioned by Mac comes free with BIAB and is intended to be used on a 64-bit system that will no longer run what used to be provided, the Roland VSC. The Coyote WT may indeed work on a 32-bit installation, I don't know. But if for some reason it does not, the Coyote Forte is by the same company and runs on either 32 or 64-bit Windows, and sounds a whole lot better (but it costs around $50).
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
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."
Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!
The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!
There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.
If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.
We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
But it would be nice to use that to sample a plug-in's sounds before rendering to WAV or something like that. But it's not a huge deal. Thanks for the info!
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean