Registered: 09/27/06
Posts: 2221
Loc: Victoria, BC
When you've been in business for more than 30 years, there sure is a lot of throw-back resources to be had!
Like this New Features video for Band-in-a-Box® 7!
Some of the New Features added with Band-in-a-Box® 7 included: -Automatic Soloing -Soloist Maker -Style Changes and Any Bar -MIDI Chord recognition -Loop Notation Screen -Favorite Songs Window ..and more!
Tip: Within the Band-in-a-Box® Help window, choose Features and you will see a separate list of new features released with every version of Band-in-a-Box from 7-2020!
_________________________
Callie Marketing Representative PG Music Inc.
This was one version before my first version. I started with version 8 ProPak, but when version 9 came out, I went with the MegaPak (which at the time was what today would be the "UltraPak", and haven't looked back as I've upgraded to every version since.
_________________________
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7-10750H Win11Pro 32GB 2x1TB SSD/2TB SATA Desktop-ASUS-I7-3770 Win10Pro 32GB 3x2TB SATA
Just out of curiosity, what year are we talking here?
_________________________ Isn't it odd how the word for abbreviation is such a long one... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BBox 2022 Audiophile, Mac Pro Intel, OSX 10.6.8, 800x600 (TV VGA)
Yowza! Some of you really have been here for a long time, then, to actually remember that release
_________________________ Isn't it odd how the word for abbreviation is such a long one... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BBox 2022 Audiophile, Mac Pro Intel, OSX 10.6.8, 800x600 (TV VGA)
Registered: 07/12/00
Posts: 24997
Loc: Hudson Valley & Lake George NY
I began with version 4, and I don't think I'm the longest owner here (as a customer).
Also, don't forget, there was a user forum here for several years before the current one began in the summer of 2000. All prior posts and post counts were lost.
_________________________
BIAB 2023 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 6 Pro, Swam horns, Audition 3, Notion 6; Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus Studio 192, Presonus Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & A5X monitors
...don't forget, there was a user forum here for several years before the current one began in the summer of 2000.
I never even knew that!
_________________________ Isn't it odd how the word for abbreviation is such a long one... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BBox 2022 Audiophile, Mac Pro Intel, OSX 10.6.8, 800x600 (TV VGA)
Registered: 07/12/00
Posts: 24997
Loc: Hudson Valley & Lake George NY
It would have been fun to look at the early history. I forget what year it started but I began writing websites in 1994 so it was probably around then.
_________________________
BIAB 2023 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 6 Pro, Swam horns, Audition 3, Notion 6; Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus Studio 192, Presonus Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & A5X monitors
Registered: 07/12/00
Posts: 24997
Loc: Hudson Valley & Lake George NY
I used to use that frequently, Steve, when someone would ask a question requiring research. For example, what version introduced RealTracks? My memory will get me close, then the Internet Archive gets me quickly to the exact place. However, I noticed a year ago that the PG Music sites were no longer there! I reported it to PG Music, no response.
I'll look again using your link.
EDIT: Yep, got this:
Sorry.
This URL has been excluded from the Wayback Machine.
Edited by Matt Finley (06/15/2010:28 AM)
_________________________
BIAB 2023 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 6 Pro, Swam horns, Audition 3, Notion 6; Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus Studio 192, Presonus Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & A5X monitors
Registered: 03/11/04
Posts: 963
Loc: Pietersburg, South Africa
My use of BIAB goes right back to version 1 which came on stiffy/floppy drives and was in a box which I got at a music store. The internet was quite basic in those days and mostly consisted of dial-up access and Bulletin Boards so I would not have been aware of PG Music's web site. I think we only had sixteen styles as well.
That version I have backed up onto an archive drive. I cannot run it as it requires a hardware interface to run and I do not have any computers old enough to install my old MPU-401 into. Virtual DOS machines do not work either so the software will never be installed again. In the old days it was a way of getting drums and bass before carrying on the sequencing in Cakewalk Pro. A lot of the songs I could get away with just drums, bass, live guitar and my vocals. But of course in the following years extra instruments were added.
Registered: 09/21/01
Posts: 1891
Loc: Essex England
i first bought BIAB on floppies and the earliest file i have was done in 1997. i got PowerTracks free and from then worked out the sequence i still use. Rough out in BIAB and then edit in PowerTracks - now RealBand.
Yes it was all midi and for playing out live we used a Roland SC7 and a yamaha file player. and before the yamaha file player we used a laptop running the DOS version of powertracks. windows was 3.1 and the soft synth i used was the Roland VSC1.
we used bass, drums piano and horns to back our duo of two guitars and singers. brass parts i often entered with edtable notation then harmonised to create a complete brass section. can't help thinking that the workarounds we used on the very simple early version of the program gave us an understanding of what could be done and how to do it that new purchasers faced with a much more powerful (but complicated) version of BIAB are missing.
the last century suddenly feels so far away......................
Registered: 06/05/12
Posts: 16887
Loc: Melbourne, Australia
I'm not sure if I should own up to this, but I started with Atari, however, a lot of water went under the bridge in the meantime. (Still got the disks, haven't got the Atari...)
Attachments
Post attachments only available when logged in
I do remember knowing about the program in the 90's, even had a try at its chord entering interface in the music store... where I was to buy one of them keyboards which could do that instantly (plus BBox not on the Mac yet at that point), so I never really paid any more attention to it at the time. But then two things happened in a short span - it came for my precious Mac platform, and so did the Realtracks - and the rest is... well, now you're stuck with me
p.s. I have to wonder, about those tasty floppies - red or white to go with, what you reckon??
Edited by Icelander (06/17/2005:25 PM) Edit Reason: Afterthought
_________________________ Isn't it odd how the word for abbreviation is such a long one... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BBox 2022 Audiophile, Mac Pro Intel, OSX 10.6.8, 800x600 (TV VGA)
Registered: 07/12/00
Posts: 24997
Loc: Hudson Valley & Lake George NY
Yes, I bought BIAB in a Sam Ash music store in New York City on the recommendation of the salesperson, after inquiring if there was a newer version of what I was using, a Yamaha QY10.
_________________________
BIAB 2023 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 6 Pro, Swam horns, Audition 3, Notion 6; Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus Studio 192, Presonus Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & A5X monitors
Review - Band-in-a-Box® 2023 for Windows is Overflowing with Features!
Dennis posted his very thorough Band-in-a-Box® review recently, where he dives into some of the new features added with version 2023: Sound-Guy's Band-in-a-Box Review
Read his thoughts on the Download & Install Manager, partial track regeneration, Playable RealTracks, Audio Editing, the addition of SynthMaster, the VST DAW Plugin, and more!
"Band-in-a-Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is, without negative connotation, a monster of a program. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. No DAW can do some of the things BIAB does, while BIAB can do a lot that DAWs do."
Band-in-a-Box® Tutorials for Low-vision and Blind Program Users
Our friends at EyesFree_Tutorials have just released their Band-in-a-Box Tutorials, Bundle 2!
Created for low-vision and blind program users, this collection of Band-in-a-Box for Windows tutorials includes 31 audio instruction files and 19 music files for practice, plus help documents. Specific topics include "ABACA, let's make a song form," "Recording melody and lead-in," "Playing and editing: part markers; the handy clipboard. The play function. Search and replace," and more!
Learn more about their new tutorials, and connect with Roy & Gudrun to order the Band-in-a-Box Tutorials, Bundle 2 here.
Looking for answers to your questions about Band-in-a-Box? From "How do I ____?" to "What do I ____?" to "What is ____?" and more, you'll find your answers when you ask ChatPG!
We will be constantly updating the resources for this powerful addition to our website based on suggestions & feedback, as well as all of the questions that have been asked by program users and website visitors.
Videos! Get To Know XPro Styles PAK 5 & Xtra Styles PAK 16 for Band-in-a-Box® 2023
XPro Styles PAK 5 adds 75 new RealStyles for rock, pop, jazz, funk, and country, and 25 styles based around MIDI SuperTracks that utilize the SynthMaster plugin!
Here's just a taste of what XPro Styles PAK 5 has in store: electronic Latin funk, spacey dancehall grooves, soulful Americana ballads, heavy house beats, vibin' cool jazz, rollicking country train beats, playful pop country jams, gritty blues rock, modern disco funk, moody synthwave, subdued bossa nova, lo-fi jazz, and many more! Pick up XPro Styles PAK 5 today!
What are XPro Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2023 (or higher). Each PAK includes over 100 styles!
XPro Styles PAKs aren't exclusive to Pro users, there's a huge range of RealStyles available for everyone - even Audiophile customers! That's right, XPro Styles PAKs can be used with ANYBand-in-a-Box® 2023 package!
Xtra Styles PAK 16 includes an absolute plethora of styles... 200 to be exact! 50 new styles each for Jazz, Country, Rock & Pop, and Praise & Worship!
Take a gander at what you can expect to find: modern disco funk, exciting gospel shout, busy jazz fusion, soulful R&B ballads, various Americana styles, modern pop country, blistering heavy metal, uplifting worship rock, lo-fi hip hop, a plethora of progressive rock, old-timey autoharp, modern surf rock, and many more!
What are Xtra Styles PAKs?
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2023 (or higher). With over 2,600 styles included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-16, the possibilities are endless!
Xtra Styles PAK 16 requires the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® version 2023. They won't work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the 2023 UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition..
How do I know if I have XPro Styles PAKs or Xtra Styles PAKs?
You can find out in Band-in-a-Box® by clicking the "Add-ons" button in the StylePicker. Show me how.
Just Released - XPro PAK 5 & Xtra Styles PAK 16 for Band-in-a-Box® 2023!
We're back with 300 new RealStyles included in XPro Styles PAK 5 & Xtra Styles PAK 16!
XPro Styles PAK 5 adds 75 new RealStyles for rock, pop, jazz, funk, and country, and 25 styles based around MIDI SuperTracks that utilize the SynthMaster plugin!
Xtra Styles PAK 16 includes an absolute plethora of styles... 200 to be exact! 50 new styles each for Jazz, Country, Rock & Pop, and Praise & Worship!
Amp up your Band-in-a-Box® 2023 experience when you add XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs!
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.