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I am new to Band In A Box and have been using VSTs for sound. However, when I change styles, it does not maintain the sounds of the VSTs; consequently, I have to reload the VSTs and the patches again. I am considering buying a Yamaha TX81Z, and I am hoping someone (especially if there is someone that is already or in the past has used a TX81Z with Band In The Box) can give me answers to the following questions:
1. I do not want to buy a TX81Z if I am going to have the same problem with having to reload patches when I change to another style. Does using a hardware synth help in this regard?
2. I noticed in the MIDI/Audio Drivers Setup under Synthesizer/Sound Card that there are quite a few Yamaha synths listed. I know that the TX81Z does have a GM soundbank. Which Yamaha synths (if any) would work with the TX81Z?
Thanks.
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I am new to Band In A Box and have been using VSTs for sound. However, when I change styles, it does not maintain the sounds of the VSTs; consequently, I have to reload the VSTs and the patches again. I am considering buying a Yamaha TX81Z, and I am hoping someone (especially if there is someone that is already or in the past has used a TX81Z with Band In The Box) can give me answers to the following questions:
1. I do not want to buy a TX81Z if I am going to have the same problem with having to reload patches when I change to another style. Does using a hardware synth help in this regard?
2. I noticed in the MIDI/Audio Drivers Setup under Synthesizer/Sound Card that there are quite a few Yamaha synths listed. I know that the TX81Z does have a GM soundbank. Which Yamaha synths (if any) would work with the TX81Z?
I do very little in BiaB as most all of my work I do in my DAW.
Me, it's not about how many times you fail, it's about how many times you get back up.
Cop, that's not how field sobriety tests work.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Thanks for your response.
You're right - there isn't a bank for it. I probably read somewhere that there are GM sounds in the TX81Z, and I assumed an entire bank was devoted to GM.
Could you check though if, when you assign certain presets to the parts (bass, solo, etc.), that the presets stay the same, even when you change styles? I really would appreciate it!
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Thanks for your response.
You're right - there isn't a bank for it. I probably read somewhere that there are GM sounds in the TX81Z, and I assumed an entire bank was devoted to GM.
Could you check though if, when you assign certain presets to the parts (bass, solo, etc.), that the presets stay the same, even when you change styles? I really would appreciate it! Like I said I do very little work in BiaB and one of the things that I never have done is to use an external synth with it. I tried to get BiaB to see the TX81Z but I did not have any luck in doing so. I believe others are using external synths with BiaB so maybe they can chime in and help me. I have to go now and I may not be around tomorrow but if no one can help me I will google and/or spend a lot more time trying to get things working.
Me, it's not about how many times you fail, it's about how many times you get back up.
Cop, that's not how field sobriety tests work.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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terriandralph,
Welcome to the forum and to Band-in-a-Box!
Styles defines what instruments, tempo, key signature, feel and (optional) midi patterns are loaded into a song project. The only way to keep styles from not loading instruments is to use one of the four BLANK utility styles however BLANK styles do not have midi patterns.
In other words, every time you load a style the style is telling Band-in-a-Box to load a new instrument set.
Jim Fogle - 2024 BiaB (1111) RB (5) Ultra+ PAK DAWs: Cakewalk by BandLab (CbB) - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8 Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home
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I guess what I'm getting at is: if I get the TX81Z, how will it react with Band In A Box? Will it:
1. Even work at all (MarioD's unsuccessful attempt at making it work has me worried)
2. The TX81Z does not have a GM bank, but since it does have quite a few GM sounds, will I be able to create a midi map that will work with all of the styles as the ones listed in the Synthesizer/Sound Cards list?
I would like to be able to go through different styles in Band In A Box and hear what the styles sound like through the TX81Z the way it would happen with the synths already listed in Band In A Box, but I'm concerned that all I will get will be random presets for the different instruments (bass, guitar, etc.)
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The basic answer to your TX81 question is yes it will work with BIAB and RB. I use several "hard" synths with my PG products: I use a Yamaha Motif XS, a Yamaha DX7II, a Yamaha TX802, a Roland Fantom XR, and an Oberheim Matrix 1000. In fact, using a midi patch bay, I can use several of these at the same time in the same song. So yes, the 81Z will work.
A couple of things to note:
1. The 81Z is not GM compliant but that's not a problem as you'll be plugging in the patches you want initially anyhow.
2. Here's a biggie: You will need a patch map for the 81Z with all of the sounds detailed. You can get these either here on the PG site, on the official Yamaha site, on the Cakewalk site or many other places.
3. Next biggie and addresses your "save" question: In BIAB, click on the FILE header in the upper right hand corner, scroll down to SAVE SPECIAL. Go to SAVE SONG WITH PATCHES AND HARMONIES, click on SAVE ALL SETTINGS WITH SONGS. Then click save at the bottom to exit.
4. Then after you've put your song together and selected patches in BIAB, save the song clicking on the SAVE AS icon not the SAVE icon. This will save the assigned patches. After saving this way, you can click on the regular SAVE icon for all future changes to that song. Just remember to use SAVE AS for the first time a song is saved.
Keep in mind, the external synths or VSTi's for that matter are for midi data. As long as the track has midi data in it you should be go to go. However, if the track has audio data you won't be able to use the 81Z unless you delete the audio and plug in or play in some midi data.
Start out simple, you can use the 81Z on any track that is colored yellow or grayed, the green tracks are audio RealTracks.
Jeff
Win11, Intel i7 7700K 4.2Ghz, 32Gb RAM, 2x1Tb HD, 500Gb NVMe, BIAB/RB 2024, MOTU 828MK3 audio, MOTU Midi Express, Yamaha Montage 7, DX7II, TX802, Motif XS Rack, Roland Fantom XR Rack, Oberheim Matrix 1000, VoiceLive3 Extreme, Kontakt 6, SampleTank 4.3
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I would look for a used Ketron SD2
It has an excellent GM Sound bank. Used ones come up on ebay and reverb about as often as a used TX81z does.
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Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
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Without actually being able to test it, as long as you have a patch map created for the Yamaha which represents all 128 GM (and possibly an additional 128 GM2) sounds mapped to sounds on the Yamaha, you should not have to change anything between songs. If BIAB doesn't already have a patch map, you might be able to find a Cakewalk Sonar patch map that's easily converted to BIAB format.
That being said, I would make sure your Yamaha is returnable before buying it, in case it doesn't meet your needs.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA BB2024/UMC404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/MixBus/Notion/Finale/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com
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.......................
1. Even work at all (MarioD's unsuccessful attempt at making it work has me worried)
.............................
Like I said I am new to this part of BiaB, that is no experience at all, so not getting it to work is do to my lack of knowledge. As I said others are using hard synths with BiaB so that is possible, I just don't know how to do that.
Me, it's not about how many times you fail, it's about how many times you get back up.
Cop, that's not how field sobriety tests work.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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The X81Z will work with BIAB just like any other MIDI compatible hardware. It does not have usb connectivity and requires a MIDI to USB interface.
However, it would not be a very good choice for BIAB for several reasons. It does not have a GM mode and it has only 8 note polyphony. In performance mode, it becomes multitimbral, but the 8 note polyphony is shared. Theoretically, 8 sounds can be programmed, but each would be monophonic. Drums would also be a difficult task. The best BIAB useage would be as a MIDI sound source for only one BIAB channel such as bass, piano, etc.
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No worries MarioD - even though you weren't able to get your TX81Z to work with BIAB, I really appreciate you taking the time to give it a try.
Last edited by terriandralph; 06/19/19 05:21 AM.
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Thanks for the suggestion Notes Norton, but there is an underlying reason I'm looking at the TX81Z - it is microtunable. I would go for practically any hardware synth with a GM bank, as long as it's microtunable.
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Thanks for all the information MountainSide - it's encouraging news.
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My apologies Notes Norton - I don't know about the SD2 in particular, but I just found out that quite a few Solton synths are capable of microtuning. Thanks for the suggestion!
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...
3. Next biggie and addresses your "save" question: In BIAB, click on the FILE header in the upper right hand corner, scroll down to SAVE SPECIAL.
...
Just to avoid confusion for the O/P (and me  ), should that be 'in the upper left-hand corner', or is that control on a different form?
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
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To the OP, I just looked up that Yamaha synth. It's the hardware version of the old DX11 which was the newer version of the classic old DX7. This is not suitable with Biab at all, it does not have a full instrument bank. It has DX7 patches which were good back in the 80's for classic electronic keyboard sounds and some synth basses. It's an 8 voice, 4 oscillator synth. 8 voices means 8 notes at any one instant in time so one guitar or piano chord can easily use up 5 or 6 voices by itself. That leaves basically nothing for drums, bass, strings, a melody lead, whatever.
Any modern cheap synth has a minimum of 64 voices and most are 256.
To answer your literal question, yes it will work in Biab but what are you expecting out of it, what do you want this for?
Now if you know this already and want to use this for an authentic classic sound for leads or whatever then understand Biab only has one midi port. That means you can only load up one synth at a time. If you want to use multiple synths where one handles all the other instruments and you want this Yamaha for other things then you need to look into Real Band. RB is a normal DAW with multiple input ports so you can use a whole bunch of synths at once plus it also has most Biab functions.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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My situation is kind of strange, in that I don't intend to use the sounds of the TX81Z as my final product, but more as my "scratch pad". The main instruments I need to hear are bass, melody, and piano (the latter probably only requires only three voices or so). For the drums I can use a VST if necessary.
My main problem is that I want to hear the microtuned instruments with a variety of different styles, and if I use VSTs, I have to reload the VST and the preset every time I change styles. My plan is that when I find a style I like with the TX81Z I can then change the sounds to VSTs in my final draft.
I have the opportunity to buy a used TX81Z for $100, but I don't even want to spend $100 if it won't work well with BIAB. If it can be setup to play various styles with generic sounding patches but I don't have to change the presets every time I change the style, I think I could live with that.
Last edited by terriandralph; 06/19/19 11:48 AM.
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MountainSide,
When I’m looking to get a patch map for the TX81Z, am I basically looking for presets in the TX81Z that will substitute for GM patches (for example, a TX81Z bass patch substituting for a similar sounding GM patch, a TX81Z piano patch substituting for a similar sounding GM patch, etc.), so that when I change styles, I will always have an ensemble that sounds somewhat similar to what I would hear if it was done with GM patches?
Last edited by terriandralph; 06/19/19 12:30 PM.
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If you want a general purpose, scratchpad, midi sound module then take a look at the $60 Midiplus MiniEngine sound module +++ Amazon +++ It is general midi compatible so it will work with Band-in-a-Box pretty much right out of the box. The S-Engine USB sound module costs $97 but has more connections +++ 2nd Amazon +++ Both use the E-MU 8030 based sound engine with 64 voice polyphony.
Jim Fogle - 2024 BiaB (1111) RB (5) Ultra+ PAK DAWs: Cakewalk by BandLab (CbB) - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8 Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home
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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.
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Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!
The Newest RealBand 2024 Update is Here!
The newest RealBand 2024 Build 5 update is now available!
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.
This free update is available to all RealBand 2024 users. To learn more about this update and download it, head to www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#20245
The Band-in-a-Box® Flash Drive Backup Option
Today (April 5) is National Flash Drive Day!
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!
Learn more about this free update for Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1111
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 Review: 4.75 out of 5 Stars!
If you're looking for a in-depth review of the newest Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows version, you'll definitely find it with Sound-Guy's latest review, Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows Review: Incredible new capabilities to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs.
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!
Congratulations to the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!
We've just announced the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!
There are 45 winners, each receiving a Band-in-a-Box 2024 UltraPAK! Read the official announcement to see if you've won.
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.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed!
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