Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Styles and RealTracks Wishlist
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 85
K
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
K
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 85
I am probably one of the original BIAB owners. I still have the early versions that came with complete printed Manuals! And, I always buy your yearly updates. But you folks need a revolution in Styles. I have listened to all the Demo's of your 2019 new styles and I can characterize the batch as "cornball" even by 1880's musical standards. I have enough Campfire, Waltzes, Jigs, covered-wagon Folk, tired Blues, ancient Country, etc. - the dead old styles you have been recycling for years. What I need is Styles that are selling on today's radio - it should be simple to do - monitor the Top Pop stuff on iTunes for the past couple years - (and I am not talking about Rap or Hip Hop). You need music styles that are current and hot.
I am guessing that your User/Buyer base is most people 55 and above. You are not going to grow your market share with what you have been rehashing for the past 20 years. You need a total refresh if you are going to attract younger people to your product.
On the positive side, I did get the Mac 2019 Ultra Pal and the technical improvements are outstanding. The 64-bit loads (if that is what is causing it) more than twice as fast and the ability to imbed VST's in Logic or ProTool is a serious time saver. All your technical updates the past 8 years have been amazing. But now it's time to join the music world that is happening today. Seriously, listen to what is selling now and give us that. I really never want to buy another Rockabilly (et. al) Style again. You beat these things to death. Now that I have a 64-bit platform to work with I can absolutely say that unless you change directions this will be the last Styles update I buy.

Last edited by kevinlamb; 10/16/19 10:02 AM.
Styles and RealTracks Wishlist
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 96
D
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
D
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 96
Plus 1


Don L. Turner

BIAB Audiophile 2021
Studio One 4
Styles and RealTracks Wishlist
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 881
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 881
Originally Posted By: kevinlamb
I can absolutely say that unless you change directions this will be the last Styles update I buy.


By.......


i5 3.20GHz, 32gb RAM, 1tb SSD OS, 12tb HDD, 4gb gForce vid card, 32" monitor, Audient id44, Win10 x64, BiaB/RB 2023, Reaper 6,IK Multimedia Total Studio 3.5 MAX, Waves 10
Styles and RealTracks Wishlist
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,095
C
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
C
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,095
Interesting take on Styles Kevin. Interesting but not unique nor original. Joe, another forum member, posts over in another thread, that the same as you, he isn't going to update again until PGMusic cave's to his demands. Joe wants PGMusic staff to create a custom Style list with only the Styles he uses or likes. How can they possibly pull that off? I doubt they've ever heard Joe perform his music or the subset community of 'straight jazz' aficionados he assures PGMusic are out there in BIAB land that don't use the program for the single reason they don't have a custom Style list. There's another thread about BIAB not being worthy for some to upgrade because BIAB/RB isn't convenient to their particular workflow.

There seems to be a constant stream of threads for another button to automatically perform a favorite workflow function or for BIAB to be more like this or that favorite DAW someone uses. This includes a member starting a petition for PGMusic to sell their company to Yamaha Corporation. Nothing wrong with this and usually over time, much wanted features are added and deficiencies are corrected. But that doesn't directly address your issue. In the case of your issue, I think it's more that it hasn't happened than it is a question of can it happen with BIAB and it's current database of audio recordings and Styles.

The first of several flaws I see in your recommendation to PGMusic is when you say, "What I need is Styles that are selling on today's radio - it should be simple to do - monitor the Top Pop stuff on iTunes for the past couple years - (and I am not talking about Rap or Hip Hop). You need music styles that are current and hot."

1. "What I need... " This is similar to Joe's remarks above. It's a useless and unnecessary comment that will get you nowhere.
2. "I am not talking about Rap or Hip Hop" Why in the world would one skip a portion of the music industry that generates more than 10 billion dollars each year per NBC news?

Before you even get to the capability to include midi into projects for "today's current and hot hits", PGMusic' BIAB software has more than 6,900 Styles available with their program. BIAB has more than 2,700 instruments and approximately 3,000 hours of recorded audio. Each and every one of those styles is completely modifiable, one can add, detract or exchange instruments. In addition, to modify any of these styles, it's easy to create their own from scratch. It's also possible to audition all these styles and very likely to find useable components for "Today's Hits".

Using midi, live playing and/or pre-recorded audio and mixed with appropriate BIAB styles, loops and instruments, the instrumentation of any of today's style of current songs can be replicated. Today's instrumentation is comprised mostly from samples, loops, VSTi's and layer after layer of "in the box" instruments. BIAB accepts third party synths, has 808 loops, can play samples. In short, all the elements to create a contemporary, current, hot 'today's hit' is there. That means that it is also possible to create an original song that meets the criteria and elements of today's music instrumentation. The key is learning how to access, select and manipulate the data contained in BIAB software. Specific riffs and other unique elements not contained in the BIAB database, can easily be supplied by either live playing or inserting specific pre-recorded audio or midi. That an older, retired guy that doesn't listen to this type of music hasn't produced a song doesn't mean it can't be done. It only means someone hasn't done it yet.


Last edited by Charlie Fogle; 10/21/19 09:20 AM.

BIAB Ultra Pak+ 2024:RB 2024, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
Styles and RealTracks Wishlist
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 559
J
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
J
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 559
Current radio hits. Who listens to that stuff? Give us more oldies. I could use a few more rhumbas.

Styles and RealTracks Wishlist
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 96
D
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
D
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 96
It's truly unfortunate that I can't edit or delete my earlier post. For clarification, I plus 1'ed the idea of radio-ready styles, not the issue of never buying another upgrade.


Don L. Turner

BIAB Audiophile 2021
Studio One 4
Styles and RealTracks Wishlist
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 20,781
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 20,781
Originally Posted By: J. Larry
Current radio hits. Who listens to that stuff? Give us more oldies. I could use a few more rhumbas.


I hear you BUT if adding more current MIDI and RTs attracts more customers for PGMusic then I'm all for it. Plus remember that you can cross genres. In other words a country style may work in a jazz song and visa-vera, a style is not in concrete.

So +1 from me.

Last edited by MarioD; 10/23/19 06:18 AM.

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
Styles and RealTracks Wishlist
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,258
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,258
totally agree J Larry

Last edited by furry; 10/28/19 01:31 AM.
Styles and RealTracks Wishlist
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,687
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,687
Originally Posted By: kevinlamb
I have listened to all the Demo's of your 2019 new styles and I can characterize the batch as "cornball" even by 1880's musical standards


But the 1880's was such a creative musical decade, that new revolutionary parlor pump organ was a real game changer...

Seriously, just my opinion, that market is completely locked up by Ableton Live. Everybody and I mean every pro and wannabe modern music producer uses Ableton and barely knows Biab exists. Biab has it's niche and I completely agree that old classic jazz, blues, country, folk etc niche will start dying out but the overall music scene is vast. That niche could still be viable 20 or 30 years from now.

To try to have Biab compete with Ableton with EDM, modern pop and hip hop with the completely computer generated looped and chopped up samples sounds like a losing proposition to me.

There are YT vids that show exactly how some big name producers create their stuff. I like to watch some of that because of questions like this. How can Biab become a part of that and right now I don't see how that can happen. Charlie makes good points but I don't think he's really checked out that scene either. Ableton is literally the king, queen and Caesar of modern top 40 music. Hard to compete with that.

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.
Styles and RealTracks Wishlist
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 437
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 437
I always buy the updates, so, because I have everything, Im mostly looking forward to get
the most modern sounding styles and instruments.
The loops and synth pads of The Great OZ, and backing vocal, and Kummers orchestra sounds, gives something to add, and have fun with.
But I think it could be so nice to see BB´s take on "Styles that are selling on today's radio".
Its not to compete with Ableton, but why shouldn´t BB give us a taste of that ?
Stratos

Styles and RealTracks Wishlist
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 756
Journeyman
Online Content
Journeyman
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 756
At the risk of offending, I'm gonna jump in here with my $.02 because I've been mulling this point over for a quite a while now.

Up to about a year ago or so, I would have 110 percent agreed with OP, as well as many others who have expressed similar sentiments over the past handful of years I've owned BiaB and have often lurked, and at times participated in these forums.

As someone who had originally purchased BiaB for learning and practicing guitar and bass, I was perfectly content with the RTs and styles on tap. Yes, I felt like a lot of them were very dated and "vanilla," but that did not bother me much, as they were perfectly sufficient for my needs.

Then, about a couple of years ago I started developing much more of an interest in music production techniques, software and plugins. I started experimenting with all sorts of effects and MIDI VSTs and realized that every single thing you need to make 100 percent modern music and top hits with can be fully accomplished with RTs, RDs, MIDI tracks, and MIDI supertracks once you drag the raw materials into a full fledged DAW and apply FX, compression, and the myriad of techniques used nowadays in music production.

I cannot stress enough how much effects are already added to modern loops that are sold in the latest sample packs that give them that shiny sheen and movement which is entirely lacking from almost all BiaB tracks.

And this is a GOOD thing. Because you yourself can decide what, when, and how you apply your effects to various tracks.

I remember the first time I loaded W.A. Production's "The King" onto the Realdrums and bass realtrack in BiaB. I was absolutely FLOORED how much those tracks suddenly leapt to life with just a wee bit of tweaking! Then you have re-amping, gates, but-crushers, slicers, glitch FX and a million other things.

As an example, I'll just post a link to a track of mine that, IMO, sounds as modern as you like. Every single sound and note was derived from RTs and RDs with not a MIDI note in sight.

Now I'm not saying that I think the song is particularly good. As I said, I don't really user BiaB to produce songs, but I recorded this for one of the Xtra-style Pak contests way before I started delving into music production in general. Furthermore, I totally screwed up the gain staging, as well as a bunch of other mixing and mastering elements, but I'm fairly confident it sounds pretty damn contemporary nonetheless (and I'd be happy to hear what y'all think!).

The song: https://soundcloud.com/user-423212678/labor-day-pt-ii-1


Band-in-a-Box 2021 PlusPAK w 2019 Bonus Pak. Custom Build Desktop PC W/ Windows 10 Home 64-bit. CPU: Intel Core i5-9600k @ 3.7GHz (6 core x 6 threads) RAM: 16GB DDR4. Storage 238GB SSD + 2.7 TB HDD. GPU: ZOTAC NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB
Styles and RealTracks Wishlist
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 11,384
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 11,384
Damn Deacon you done good with this one. A really nice mix, modern percussion/beats and smart catchy lyrics.


Dan, BIAB2024, SoundCloud Win11, i7(12thGen), 32GB, 1TB SSD(M.2 NVMe SSD), 2TB Libraries, 1 TB(WD-Black), 2TB SSD(M.2 NVMe SSD)Data, Motu Audio Express, Keystation 61, SL88 Studio, Reaper

Styles and RealTracks Wishlist
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 756
Journeyman
Online Content
Journeyman
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 756
Originally Posted By: MusicStudent
Damn Deacon you done good with this one. A really nice mix, modern percussion/beats and smart catchy lyrics.


Thanks Dan! Much appreciated :-)


Band-in-a-Box 2021 PlusPAK w 2019 Bonus Pak. Custom Build Desktop PC W/ Windows 10 Home 64-bit. CPU: Intel Core i5-9600k @ 3.7GHz (6 core x 6 threads) RAM: 16GB DDR4. Storage 238GB SSD + 2.7 TB HDD. GPU: ZOTAC NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB
Styles and RealTracks Wishlist
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,122
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,122
DeaconBlues09,

Very good example of what can be done when you apply some imagination. You did good!

Thanks for posting this. One of the things I like about RealTracks is many are available with processing to match styles and unprocessed as direct inputs. That gives us the capability to process them as we want to.


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
Styles and RealTracks Wishlist
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 18,352
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 18,352
A wider variety of musical styles can really only assist to enhance the product.

The underlying suggestion for broader style coverage is supported.
+1


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
Styles and RealTracks Wishlist
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 60
M
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
M
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 60
This, x1,000,000,000,000

Seriously.

Artist suggestions:

Bruno Mars
Harry Styles
Phoebe Bridgers
boygenius
Justin Bieber
Lizzy McAlpine
Kacey Musgraves
girl in red
Cavetown
Ed Sheeran
Hozier
Billie Eilish & Finneas
SYML

Just to name a very small few!

Last edited by major7th; 10/04/23 10:25 PM.
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!

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!

Learn more about this free update for PowerTracks Pro Audio & download it at www.pgmusic.com/support_windows_pt.htm#2024_5

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!

Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics81,581
Posts734,680
Members38,499
Most Online2,537
Jan 19th, 2020
Newest Members
Tusar Sarkar, RTW, wtsy365, DerFlex, xabialonso259@gmai
38,499 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 200
DC Ron 108
dcuny 88
WaoBand 75
Today's Birthdays
AlberMaxSax, Lloyd Morris
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5