I read several 'music magazines' and I don't recall seeing a PG Music ad in several years. I do occasionally see the ad for Norton Music ad-on styles. This ad is unchanged for maybe 20 years, but as small as it is, it works. It got me to call.
Perhaps this is what the OP saw?
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
just saw the ad in Electronic Musician...and I see what the OP means...the ad has a very dated look, especially compared to the more modern ads in the mag. but I guess I fail to see point of this thread.
if that ad is working for PG (or if they think it is) and they honestly do not see the difference between their ad and the ads around it (Focal, Novation, Spectrasonics, Glyph, Academy of Art University and Williams) I doubt any amount of forum conversation would change that!
I just hope they continue to do well enough to keep delivering updates to this amazing software!!
BTW, Electronic Musician is only $1.99/issue on my tablet so I subscribed tonight! Thanks Scott!
The ad is surprisingly bad. There’s way too much info. It doesn’t make you want to read it. It does the opposite.
It’s almost like looking at a page from a tech file. Let’s face it, no one wants to read a page from a tech manual unless you absolutely have to in order to find some info on how fix something.
The purpose of a one page ad is to get someone to check out your web site. Not try to tell them everything about your product.
PG should hire a professional music advertising company to redo the ads and the web site.
All the praise crowds out the most important info, namely, real instruments low price at entry, and 30 day fund return policy, as well as Realband being a DAW and included free of charge. Maybe just a colour change to highlight the important info and a subtle light blue or green for the unformatted comments. I wouldn't try to copy what is defined as good by the other guys otherwise you go under in the sameness. I wouldn't change the image too much either, maybe just replace the instruments with musicians playing them to emphasise the real tracks. All in all it aint that bad considering that retro is in at the moment. In the ever changing sofware world it's maybe a plus to be old fashioned. Let's face it, most advertising is crap these days so if you stand out by being good it's ok, and if you stand out by being bad, then that's also ok.
Just consider that Gibson haven't changed the ES335 or the Les Paul much and Martin still plugs the DH28 as the basis of their designs, so modern aint everything.
First of all I think OP's post was with good intention.
Second of all, I see Peter Gannon's post as polite, caring and appropriate.
Third of all I really think it comes down to a matter of taste.
Advertising is an art as well as a science, and even the best can't really tell you if an ad will pull or not. That's because different things appeal to different people.
If any one of us knows what will pull the best for any particular audience, he/she should go into the consulting business and make enough money to retire in a month or so.
Obviously, the original ad is to show that users love BIAB. I don't think there is much wrong with it -- but once you see other approaches, then maybe you say "it could be better".
Advertising is an art as well as a science, and even the best can't really tell you if an ad will pull or not. That's because different things appeal to different people.
"(Parenthesis) See Stan Freberg, Comedic Genius, Advertising Executive, Sadly Deceased (Close Parenthesis)".
(Only true fans will get the reference)
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA
))) Obviously, the original ad is to show that users love BIAB.
Correct. It is intended as a simple ad, with a small message. The message is in the center, and it is the small paragraph that tells you what BiaB is. The other message is that customers love it, and it sounds like musicians.
People here who have commented that they thought they were supposed to read the entire background are a surprise to us. But it would be worth us redoing the colors and contrast of the various areas to clarify things.
))) All the praise crowds out the most important info, namely, real instruments low price at entry, and 30 day fund return policy, as well as Realband being a DAW and included free of charge. Maybe just a colour change to highlight the important info and a subtle light blue or green for the unformatted comments.
Good point. Thanks Chris. At previous times, we had a fainter background color, and that worked better. So we can change that.
The purpose of the background quotes are not to be read, but just to be background wallpaper. Lots of ads do that, including modern ones that have used top ad agencies.
Peter, since you are listening here I thought I'd toss out a few suggestions...
- use a word cloud instead of this very old technique of Pagemaker wrapping - never break lines of text across a large graphic in the middle of a page; wrap the text into columns instead - use a LOT more white space (I know we always love to fill our ads but usually less if better) - as you acknowledged, if you are using a ton of text as "wallpaper" then fade it way back - seriously consider upgrading your logo; I know you probably hate to hear it but it looks so very dated with the 3d text and clipart instruments
Overall the ad suffers from a very basic lack of "design" and it can be a challenge to nail down exactly what that means! But if you look at the ads around yours (Focal, Novation, Spectrasonics, Glyph, Academy of Art University and Williams) in just this one issue of Electronic Musician you will notice how much good solid "design" can improve an ad.
I can honestly say the software you have created is the most amazing program I have ever seen! That is not hype/fanboy talk...it is true! But I can also honestly tell you I was very reluctant to initially purchase it because of the impression I got from your marketing materials. The folks here on the forum finally convinced me to go ahead and buy it and now you have a customer for life! But I cannot help but wonder how many potential customers you are missing out on because they see your marketing and never bother to further qualify your products.
I know lots of people, especially hard-core fans, are quick to jump in and make excuses like "it is retro" and "if it ain't broke..." but if I was you I would have to seriously consider whether BIAB is successful because of your image or in spite of it!
Thanks for posting the link to the current ad. I don't read Electronic Musician. Their content has little value to me, as opposed to, say, Sound on Sound, and Recording.
And I did read every quote in that ad when I first saw it, if for no other reason than it includes a glowing comment from me: "Wow, this changes everything!". It's fun, sort of like a picture puzzle!
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 for the helpful info and tips! Much appreciated.
Floyd, that ad looks great! Thanks
For logo redesign, yes I'm all for that, but don't have any leads on good logo designers. Of course we can begin to look for that but if anyone happens to have some leads for us, please let me know.
This is a little off-topic, but does fit in the "marketing" aspect to this thread.
One idea I was thinking of to help promote BiaB would be "video testimonials" that we could put on the main web page (and youtube of course). These could be from customers, who tell their own story of what they are doing in music generally, and how Band-in-a-Box and whatever other programs are helping them with that. It could also help the customer in getting promo for their own projects. Just an idea at this stage, and any feedback is appreciated.
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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