Bob - I appreciate that you posted this. It looked really interesting. And it STILL might be a good piano to have.
Mario - did you download the piano (3.5 GB) and try it?
No I did not. I have a number of really good pianos. With the hassle with the installer and not knowing if the piano would work with the free version, the one I didn't even see on the installer, I said the hell with it.
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
I am not one to let a plugin install kick my a$$. To get this working I had to install to default locations. It permits you to change install locations, but that stopped me earlier today. Next there are 3 files which have to be installed. These are identified in the attached image. The program wants to install up to 60 unique plugins (30 free, 30 not free but demos for 15 days). But you can tell it NO. Just install the one single file that is required in the instructions. That is the only one needed!
First impression - it is very bright! Will have to listen and compare to others favorites.
I just listened - several times - to the examples played in Dan's video link (two up) of top 5. I liked the Yamaha Grand by Keyzone the best, until I heard the Monastery Grand.
Really fine.
BIAB 2024 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 6.5 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6; Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus Studio 192, Presonus Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors
I downloaded and tried it out. I sounds ok but as Mario said how many pianos does one need. I likened pianos to compressors and EQs somehow one ends up with heaps of them are rarely uses any of them. Usually end up using the one that sounds best to yourself and are comfortable using.
When it comes to loading Melda Productions stuff it is a bit strange. I used to use quite a few of their plugins but these days tend to use IZotope instead. I used them that often I paid the US$49 for the “Free Bundle”. So adding the piano was relatively simple. Would I buy it? No.
Tony
HP i7-4770 16GB 1TB SSD, Win 10 Home, Focusrite 2i2 3rd Gen, Launchkey 61, Maton CW80, Telecaster, Ovation Elite TX, Yamaha Pacifica 612 BB 2022(912) RB 2022(2), CakeWalk, Reaper 6, Audacity, Melodyne 5 Editor, Izotope Music Production Suite 4.1
I spent some good time doing an A/B comparison of the Monastery Grand up against my Favorite Piano, Pianoteq v5.
As a result, I have decided to keep the Monastery Grand (MG) in the rotations at this time. It has a big bright sound that compared favorable with Pianoteq. Both have a large ability to tweek and I found a sweet spot with the MG quickly. Only time will see with gets more play but for the price (free) this pretty sweet. Ya, the install was a bit rough and the size of the MG is huge vrs the Painoteq (which is a synth), but can't argue with the final results.
By the way, the third piano in my rotation is the EZKeys Grand. This new addition bumped EightyEight Ensemble from Sonovox (at least for the time being).
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
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