"Using Your Portable Studio" published in 1996, is a 300 page manual about home recording by award winning producer Peter McIan. The book is a technical, hands-on book to using professional studio multi track recording techniques on a consumer 4 Track recorder in a home studio environment. Only the content dealing with the limitations and physics of recording with physical tape and tape recorders are obsolete.
This is a book about sound and how to capture it cleanly. One has read 225 pages into the book before there's ever an instruction to hit the 'record' button. There are chapters on set ups for recording drums, bass, guitar and vocals. A chapter on microphones.
After 216 pages of theory presented in lay terms, Mr. McIan begins a chapter that gives step by step instructions how to record and mixdown sixteen instruments using a four track portable home studio machine. Each with it's own EQ, panning and special effects. The book is still in print because it's still relevant today to the home recordist even if they use a DAW with unlimited tracks.
Why? First, because there are still tens of thousands stand alone analog and digital recorders being used by home recording enthusiasts today. There are still tens of thousands of studios using mixing consoles recording into dedicated hard disk recorders whether they are stand alone devices or computer based DAW's. This manual is useful to home recording enthusiasts that use current devices such as the Zoom H4n or similar. The Similar Tascam digital recorders like the DR-05 and more so, actual dedicated home studio recording devices like the DP004,006,008,02,03,Dp24/32 and their newest release, the Model 24. This manual is relevant to owners of units such as the Zoom L12, L20 and the Zoom series of hybrid recorders R8, R16 and R24. It's also applicable to brands by Roland, Korg and older units by Tascam and Zoom.
It's a book about channels, tracks, hard wired busses, Fx busses, subgroups, inserts, sends and returns. It's about sub mixes, premixes and bouncing while capturing the absolute quietest audio signal or combinations of signals as possible. It's about getting the most out of routing and mixing.
The best part. It's available on sites like Amazon and Barnes and nobles for as little as $2.90 USD. Regardless of your recording medium of choice, there's a lot of useful information in this book for everybody.
For those who are completely 'in the box' users of BIAB, this manual is for you too. BIAB works quite well and easily as an 8 channel one input (mono or stereo) digital multi track recorder. The principles of submixing, premixing and bouncing work marvelously with BIAB. In fact, because it's digital, the signal and quality exceed anything possible with original tape based portable studios. It is surprisingly easy to quickly mix and export a song of 70 instruments on dozens of tracks to a high quality radio ready stereo mix.
Manufacturers like Teac, Tascam, Korg, Yamaha and Roland used to spend a lot of money educating their audiences through seminars, videos, handouts and teacher programs. +++ HERE +++ is a link to download the Yamaha Sound Reinforcement manual. The manual provides a comprehensive guide to using a mixer. While directed at live sound all the information is true for mixing too.
I've gotta have this. Off to Amazon. You know, I've never really sat down with the guitar and recorder for the purpose of tweaking the guitar sound. Oh, I'm constantly tweaking the sound through the amp, as part of regular practice and rehearsal, but never thought of making the recorder an integral part of that process. Hope that's not putting it too hazy. I'm on a high today. I traded in my Les Paul for a PRS standard 22 and cash. Guitar Center. What a great sound master that Paul Smith is!
Charlie let me borrow his book. I liked it so much I decided I gotta have this. Charlie's book is soft bound. I lucked up. I found a used library copy that is hard bound.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll also keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
From overviews of new features and walkthroughs of the 202 new RealTracks, to highlights of XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAKs 18, the 2025 49-PAK, and in-depth tutorials — you’ll find everything you need to explore what’s new in Band-in-a-Box® 2025.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac is here, packed with major new features and an incredible collection of available new content! This includes 202 RealTracks (in Sets 449-467), plus 20 bonus Unreleased RealTracks in the 2025 49-PAK. There are new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 4, two new sets of “RealDrums Stems,” XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAK 19, and more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac with savings of up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special—available until July 31, 2025! Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
2025 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
We've packed our Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK with some incredible Add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is automatically included with most Band-in-a-Box® for Mac 2025 packages, but for even more Add-ons (including 20 Unreleased RealTracks!) upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49. You can see the full lists of items in each package, and listen to demos here.
If you have any questions, feel free to connect with us directly—we’re here to help!
Cari amici
È stata aggerate la versione in Italiano del programma più amato dagli appassionati di musica, il nostro Band-in-a-Box.
Questo è il link alla nuova versione 2025.
Di seguito i link per scaricare il pacchetti di lingua italiana aggiornati per Band-in-a-Box e RealBand, anche per chi avesse già comprato la nuova versione in inglese.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 pour Windows est disponible en Français.
Le téléchargement se fait à partir du site PG Music
Pour ceux qui auraient déjà acheté la version 2025 de Band-in-a-Box (et qui donc ont une version anglaise), il est possible de "franciser" cette version avec les patchs suivants:
Band-in-a-Box 2025 für Windows Deutsch ist verfügbar!
Die deutsche Version Band-in-a-Box® 2025 für Windows ist ab sofort verfügbar!
Alle die bereits die englische Version von Band-in-a-Box und RealBand 2024 installiert haben, finden hier die Installationsdateien für das Sprachenupdate:
Update Your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 to Build 1128 for Windows Today!
Already using Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Windows®? Download Build 1128 now from our Support Page to enjoy the latest enhancements and improvements from our team.
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