It appears that Sforzando is a VSTi and RealBand requires a DXi.
DXi sound engines such as Coyote WT are registered with Windows during installation. Registration is how RealBand knows the utility exists and the location.
Sforzando does not register with Windows during installation so RealBand does not recognize the program.
Using RealBand 2019 build 3, I set an empty track to midi, clicked the track fx, selected the add VSTi option, navigated to Program Files\Plogue\sforzando\VST and selected the "sforzando VST_x86.dll" file and it loaded fine. You have to select the x86 file because RealBand remains a 32 bit program at this time.
haen't tried it but does that mean that BIAB uses sforzando automatically when you select the appropriate midi patch but when you open a BIAB file in RB it doesn't work?
just tried it and can't get a midi supertrack to play. i can see it has information but no sound is produced. i get a messgae like 'ok to add ?????????.tgs but press ok and nothign happens
i have added the sforzando ok but it shows the instrument as empty
tried all sorts of combinations but the only thing i haven't tried is deselecting 'route all midi to default dxi' which is the hypercanvas
did that and the supertrack played - but the edirol showed up as the default player. loaded the sforzando and its silent again.
how do i get most midi tracks to play with the edirol then supertracks as they are supposed to with the high q patches?
What version of RealBand are you using? You can verify by looking at the bottom of the splash screen while the program opens or selecting Help > About. The latest is RealBand 2019, build 3
A TGS file error means the program is searching for 1K Multimedia files for Amplitude or SampleTank2. PG Music provided a copy of SampleTank 2 back when SampleTank was 32 bit and had a free player available for download. When SampleTank 3 was introduced the player was 64 bit and no longer compatible with PG Music products so PG Music switched to the 32 bit version of Sforzando. Sforzando uses SFZ and SF2 soundfonts.
Does the yellow message in the image below look about the same as the message you saw?
I'm using the very latest version of RB. the message was I think green and said ok to load something or other patch etc tgs which looked like RB was doing the right thing
midi info appeared but it was silent
in the past I've found that its usually me doing something simple wrongly
by the way all other tracks were real tracks and could it be that i'd converted all tracks to ordinary tracks as opposed to BIAB? the midi info was there just couldn't play with the high q patch.
do I need to load the sforzando in a different way? I can get it loaded - as per the screen shot - but instead of the midi supertrack being loaded the instrument box says no instrument
I have build 3, RB 2019 and when I loaded a style with a MIDI Supertrack in it, the song's generation defaulted to my default VSTi/DXi (in this case Coyote WT).
What I did was then
1. right-click on the MIDI Supertrack
2. click on the "Open VSTi/DXi Synth Panel Configuration" (upper image)
3. next I loaded Sforzando in the top slot (#1 on lower image)
4. followed the #2, 3, 4, 5 to load a PG Music Hi-Q sound
thanks Noel - my issue is adding a Midi supertrack to an existing RB project.
all the other tracks are realtracks and i have been adding realtracks with no problem and hoped i coudl do the same with midi supertracks.
i know if I want to add a normal midi track in RB I have to change the style to one I want that has a midi part. the problem i have is that i need to know which midi style to change the style to - i can't audition midi tracks like realtracks (maybe that's too much to ask!)
with the option to add a midi supertrack i get to see all the midi supertracks i could use but they remain silent once generated.
ideally i'd like to see the supertracks available, click generate and hear them play when i return to the tracks window - but whilst the information is visible no sound is produced. i got the track to play using the edirol but that defeats the object of having high q sounds - unless i can choose the right instrument in sforzando? that would mean memorising the patch the supertrack claims to use. the tgs message seemed to suggest everything was working ok but i just couldn't get the track to make a sound with sforzando loaded but i will try your suggestion as above and see if i can select an instrument in sforzando
Under "Options | Preferences | 6-MIDI | MIDI Devices", do you have the option "Reroute MIDI playback through default VSTi/DXi" selected? In addition, do you have a default VSTi/DXi selected?
yes i do - see the post above but if i uncheck it what do the rest of the midi tracks that i like do for a soft synth - do i have to assign the edirol to each track and the sforzando to the track i want the high q patch on?
You do midi two ways in BIAB. 1.Assign one synth for all midi tracks. This is the DEFAULT. 2. Assign individual midi synths to each track by unchecking the DEFAULT syth.
RealBand does not need a midi style to sample a midi instrument. The program can use whatever style that is already loaded. However, the program does need a chord chart that can be used as a guide to generate tracks.
As a side note, when a Band-in-a-Box song or melody file is opened in RealBand, RealBand normally reserves the first eight tracks for Band-in-a-Box midi tracks and loads RealTracks starting with track nine. See first screen shot.
This default behavior can be changed by right clicking on any track icon to open a sub menu. Select "Track" then "Make all BB tracks regular tracks" and all tracks become audio tracks. The sub menu also has a selection to "Make first 8 tracks BB tracks" if you want the first eight tracks to revert to Band-in-a-Box midi tracks. See second screen shot.
Right click on any unused track icon to bring up the sub menu. Select "Track Type: Audio Stereo" and change the selection to "MIDI". The unused track will change to a midi track. See third screen shot.
Once a track is set for MIDI right click on the track icon to open the sub menu. The sub menu now has many midi related options and settings, including loading a Hi-Q Instrument. See fourth screen shot.
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.