BIAB is not a DAW. You can't delete a track. They are always there. The selected style will define whether an instrument is on the track or not. From there, you can substitute instruments or mute instruments. If you remove a RealTracks instrument, I believe you are just going to end up with whatever the underlying MIDI instrument was.
Floyd probably has the best answer; just substitute the silence for the track you wish to, well silence.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA
How would anyone know that you have to load silence instead of using erase? Its yet another, another, another, another, counter intuitive weird going on.
I checked the manual and the erase track is not even mentioned, yet you can get it if you right click on the track in the mixer, or in the GUI buttons
This is yet another basic function which is weird and unexplained
The user guide (and I haven't tried this yet) says "Erase Track removes either the MIDI data or RealTracks audio from the track."
So after you do that, do you freeze the track, so that data doesn't get regenerated? Remember, unless frozen, BIAB will regenerate all tracks (except melody and soloist) any time a change is made based on either the underlying style or the overlaid track (such as substituting a RealTrack for style-defined track).
From what I'm reading, erase track just erases the data. The track is still there, it just doesn't have any data on it, but I suspect that the data is getting regenerated from the underlying style. Have you tried freezing it with the data erased?
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA
Well I typed in "Erase Track" into the help index and got no entry for this menu item.
The choosing silence tip works - but is highly counter intuitive. Now I know that it exists, I shall use this. For me this solved the problem in a convoluted way but it is a solution. I just pity a beginner who expects things to work, that's all.
When I try the common sense route - ie. assuming that erase track actually means erase track. I get two pop ups, the first states "OK to erase Real Track?" and the second "OK to erase MIDI?". I click yes to both and nothing happens.
I also notice that if you have not played the song then nothing happens - also counterintuitive
This seems like junk programming to me, I would never have allowed this to go public if I were designing it (and I have designed applications in the past)
When I try the common sense route - ie. assuming that erase track actually means erase track. I get two pop ups, the first states "OK to erase Real Track?" and the second "OK to erase MIDI?". I click yes to both and nothing happens.
Cannot duplicate -> erases here just as expected ...
I just played with it using "_BLZ_MNH" (the leading underscore is part of the style name, which indicates a RealStyle).
I think I see what you are getting at, but it does work as expected.
If you generate the arrangement using this style, you will hear the harmonica. If you "erase" the track, you aren't actually removing the track, you are just removing the audio and/or MIDI data on the track. If you hit play after doing that (not Regenerate), then the harmonica will be gone.
I suspect the problem you are having is that the track still displays as if the harmonica were there. I'm guessing you want nothing showing in that track and it should turn white (not green). The problem is that the track is defined in the style you selected. All you've done is removed the audio/MIDI data, but the track is still there. And the user manual actually states that's what happens.
If you regenerate the track (either by explicitly regenerating, or by making other changes to your arrangement, such as adding/changing chords, then the harmonica comes back, because that's what's supposed to happen in BIAB, since the harmonica is part of the style definition.
If you don't want the harmonica to sound, then just erase the track as you did and then freeze it. You will get a warning that the track is empty, just go with it. Then when you regenerate, it will not bring back the harmonica because it's frozen.
When you substituted the "silence" RealTrack, that is the same as substituting any RealTrack, and that track regenerated, but since it's silent, you don't hear anything anyway, but the track still gets regenerated.
But yes, you will still see the harmonica listed as an instrument, whether it is playing or not, because that's how BIAB works. You won't hear it, though. That may not be how you want it to work, but it's how it works.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA
Hello John, here I am hearing the sound, unless I mute it, it also return if I restart. The function should be called something else if it does not erase the track, hide track, unload or something better than that. Showing track names should only happen if the track is loaded. Imo Thanks for the input
ZeroZero - if you are hearing the harmonica, then something else is wrong, because it does work as at least two people on this thread have stated.
Noel's solution is probably your best answer, because it removes the harmonica track from the style. I just tested it and it works. After saving it, be sure to reload the style to clear what you currently see on the screen.
Of course, when you load the newly saved style, at the top of the screen you will see the word "Strings" in that slot, but it will be white (just like the "Piano" track already is in this style), but will contain no music data. The instruments shown are based on what is defined in the style. So you will still see the word Piano and Strings in those slots (even though there is no data there).
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA
Although you have a solution, I would like to offer another alternative.
The ALT F2 feature (or File > Save Song with Patches & Harmony) allows you to turn instruments / tracks "On" or "Off" for each song. If you uncheck the track, the instrument shows up white (rather than green, yellow or blue) in the mixer and is silent.
It's similar using F5 to mute the track but essentially eliminates the track from the song.
I use BIAB 2013 so it may be different in newer releases
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643) Windows 10 (1909)
This is indeed a clever trick that is not readily apparent from the BIAB screen. This fix has also been suggested when someone requested how to preserve the Mixer's Mute status of a track (i.e., you can mute a track, save the song, reload the song, and the track is not muted). For that problem, I generally set the volume to zero, which IS preserved in the save. But the checkbox method accomplishes the same.
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
I have used it for years - originally to mute everything except bass and drums, but more recently to just remove tracks I didn't need. Not sure where I found it - probably not the help file
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643) Windows 10 (1909)
I've occasionally had this problem, and found that the song has somehow been saved to audio. If that's the case, switching the audio off does the trick.
Well I have the same problem. I imported a soloist MIDI file. It didn't work so I want to get rid of it. Not mute it. Not hide it. DELETE it so that I can choose another MIDI file in the old one's stead.
There should be a way to do this, otherwise you have a permanently damaged file, which doesn't make sense.
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X 12 Core Processor. 3.79 GHZ; RAM = 32.00 GB; 64 Bit Operating System; Windows 10; Focusrite 8i18 External Card; Real Band; Band in a Box; Coyote Forte Wave Table; Oxygen 49 MIDI Controller
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!
Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.
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.