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OP
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Hi
I've been looking at buying a package that will enable me to make backing tracks for my duo, which consists of me on acoustic guitar and vocals and my wife playing percussion.
We play mainly ballads and soft rock and blues in restaurants and bars.
I've been impressed by reading reviews and listening to examples and want to get started soon. But I've come to a brick wall..
The buying process is completely baffling me. I'm reading about 'Real This' and 'Real That' and the packages seem to have different elements that make no reference to what they are or contain.
The website seems to almost deliberately confuse people like me who visit to gain a foothold on the whole concept.
Sorry to start on a negative, but I really need some help on where to start.
Can I just buy the 'basic' package and add the other elements when I find a need for them or are some available on first purchase only..?
I'm really not someone who can easily grasp new technology, so please keep it simple. I started to lose the plot after the VHS versus Betamax era...!
If anyone can guide me to the starting line, I'd be grateful.
Cheers
Graham
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Hi Graham and welcome to one of the most friendly sites on the web. I am a long time users of Band-in-a-Box (BiaB) and I agree with you in that the packages PGMusic sells is very confusing. The main thing to remember is that the main engine is the same in all packages; thus the least expensive Pro has the same BiaB engine as the most expensive. The difference is in the amount of styles, both MIDI and Realtracks, as well as the number of Super MIDI tracks. This page shows what is available in each package, just scroll down; this assumes you have a PC, if not look at the Mac packages: https://www.pgmusic.com/bbwin.packages.htmI suggest you get the biggest package that you can afford. If possible I personally suggest getting the Ultrapak. This will give you everything that is included with BiaB. Also it is cheaper to purchase this then to purchase a less expensive package then purchasing extra Realtracks and Realdrums. Also with the PC version you get RealBand, a DAW, for free. This may or may not interest you right now but I may come in handy later. If you haven't already go over to the showcase forum and listen to some of the music that has been generated by BiaB. I hope this helps
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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Hi as well Graham,
MarioD's advice is sound. The UltraPAK is generally the best bang for the buck, as it's quite literally possible to add on thousands of dollars of add-ons with individual RealTracks purchases; however, if you don't want throw down right away, there are upgrade options. The Pro version is a good start for $129, and you can choose to add on a couple RealTracks sets in the future, or upgrade to the whole UltraPAK down the road.
Feel free to phone or chat with us about it if you like! We can be reached Monday to Friday from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, Saturdays from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Pacific time zone. Our sales lines are 1-800-268-6272 or 1-250-475-2874, or you can use our Live Help system by clicking on the green "Live Help" button in the upper right of our site.
I work here
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For definitions' sake:
(I'm assuming you know what midi is).
Midi styles are groupings of midi instruments that generate arrangements according to the chords you enter (as well as other info you supply, like key, tempo, certain rhythmical elements, etc.) in a particular style/genre/feel.
REAL tracks and REAL drums are actual recordings of actual musicians playing actual instruments. Not sampled instruments...real playing by top-drawer studio musicians. These tracks are arranged in a bunch of Styles that work well together to form a "band", or you can combine them in other ways to make your own "band". The chords (and other info you provide) call up segments of much longer recordings and have those recordings follow your chords, tempo, key, and other elements. That's the short version.
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Joined: Sep 2020
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 17 |
Hi Graham and welcome to one of the most friendly sites on the web. I am a long time users of Band-in-a-Box (BiaB) and I agree with you in that the packages PGMusic sells is very confusing. The main thing to remember is that the main engine is the same in all packages; thus the least expensive Pro has the same BiaB engine as the most expensive. The difference is in the amount of styles, both MIDI and Realtracks, as well as the number of Super MIDI tracks. This page shows what is available in each package, just scroll down; this assumes you have a PC, if not look at the Mac packages: https://www.pgmusic.com/bbwin.packages.htmI suggest you get the biggest package that you can afford. If possible I personally suggest getting the Ultrapak. This will give you everything that is included with BiaB. Also it is cheaper to purchase this then to purchase a less expensive package then purchasing extra Realtracks and Realdrums. Also with the PC version you get RealBand, a DAW, for free. This may or may not interest you right now but I may come in handy later. If you haven't already go over to the showcase forum and listen to some of the music that has been generated by BiaB. I hope this helps Hi Mario and thanks for the warm welcome. Having read numerous threads here, I think you're right, I get the feeling of a very supportive community. I had read the info in the link you provided and I think that's where my problem started..! But I've studied things a bit more and I'm a little more comfortable with the set up now. Thanks for the info on RealBand and which pack to buy. I have a few more questions which I'll post soon...
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Sep 2020
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OP
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Hi as well Graham,
MarioD's advice is sound. The UltraPAK is generally the best bang for the buck, as it's quite literally possible to add on thousands of dollars of add-ons with individual RealTracks purchases; however, if you don't want throw down right away, there are upgrade options. The Pro version is a good start for $129, and you can choose to add on a couple RealTracks sets in the future, or upgrade to the whole UltraPAK down the road.
Feel free to phone or chat with us about it if you like! We can be reached Monday to Friday from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, Saturdays from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Pacific time zone. Our sales lines are 1-800-268-6272 or 1-250-475-2874, or you can use our Live Help system by clicking on the green "Live Help" button in the upper right of our site. Hi Simon and thanks very much for the offer of phone help. I'll be calling you this week.. Graham
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,987
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,987 |
Just to echo the thoughts above. I used to use BIAB for exactly the same purpose as you. Now it's just a hobby. However, I do suggest you buy the biggest possible package you can afford. I didn't but soon realised i had to upgrade. Not because the smaller packages are no good, but because the bigger packages open up even more creative avenues.
You get all the midi styles with the basic package (I think) but the quantum leap is the RealTracks which are as described above live recordings of actual musicians but which play exactly following the chords, tempo and key your select.
Buying piecemeal is not good value. I will never use most of the jazz styles and realtracks but I do use country, folk and pop. Its better value to buy everything - even if it includes things you think you'll never use - rather than buying bits. You will never run out of the music you need - even borrowing from styles you thought you don't want like me.
and once you are on the BIAB train its easy to keep up to date with the christmas sale which is a cheap way of buying the program engine upgrade and a host of new realtracks. and don't forget PG Music offers easy payments. Just one or two gigs will pay for all the backing tracks you will ever need.
quick word of advice about creating backing tracks. rough out your song in BIAB. then for detailed editing and tweaking open the song in RealBand. You can easily edit individual instrument tracks, regenerate solos and change timing and key if you want to.
jump in and start. if you get stuck ask the forum. that's why we're here. i started with BIAB when it was on floppy discs and so its been easier to keep up as it grows. from scratch in 2020 it might look like a steep learning curve to take full advantage of what BIAB and RB have to offer but if you look at some of the help videos i bet you can produce a simple backing track almost as soon as you start. then add solos and any bells whistles you need.
do it and you'll never regret it!
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Beginners Forum
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Enthusiast
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OP
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For definitions' sake:
(I'm assuming you know what midi is).
Midi styles are groupings of midi instruments that generate arrangements according to the chords you enter (as well as other info you supply, like key, tempo, certain rhythmical elements, etc.) in a particular style/genre/feel.
REAL tracks and REAL drums are actual recordings of actual musicians playing actual instruments. Not sampled instruments...real playing by top-drawer studio musicians. These tracks are arranged in a bunch of Styles that work well together to form a "band", or you can combine them in other ways to make your own "band". The chords (and other info you provide) call up segments of much longer recordings and have those recordings follow your chords, tempo, key, and other elements. That's the short version.
Hi Tangmo and thanks, that has helped a lot. Yes, I'm familiar with the MIDI concept. Am I right in thinking that Real Tracks can also be transposed into any key..? That would be really useful as I often use a different key to the original song. Cheers Graham
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Yes, Realtracks can be used with any key signature.
One thing to remember is that the style genre is not set in stone. In other words a jazz style can work in a country song and visa-versa. It can be fun to take say a ballad and use a Latin track for the background. I things like that all of the time.
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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Journeyman
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"Am I right in thinking that Real Tracks can also be transposed into any key..?"
Yes ... you key in the 'original chords' first then you simply change the key to whatever you need and BIAB/RB does the work.
I audition different keys until my voice can handle the the whole song range.
It is AMAZINGLY easy.
I'm doing allright for Country Trash ....
I used to care, but things have changed (Bob Dylan)
BIAB 2022W + RB
M-Audio FastTrack C600, Rode NT2-A
Digitech VoiceLive 4
Epiphone Sheraton, Ibanez 12str, Washburn 6str, Cort 6Str Nylon
Yanagisawa Tenor Sax
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Hi Graham
I consider myself to be an 'average' user, not into many of the clever tricks that BB can do.
I'm a Soloist guitarist and use BB to make backing tracks that would be otherwise unavailable or to arrange a tune in a personal arrangement.
Click on the SoundCloud link to give yourself an idea of what it can do.
BTW - I have Ultra pack so have the max possible RTs and RDs. I seldom work with midi as, for me, its too darned complicated and I'm an old fashioned Analogue sort of guy at heart. lol.
HTH
Ian
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...I'm an old fashioned Analogue sort of guy at heart. lol.
HTH
Ian And yet you prefer using the groundbreaking proprietary technology of audio phrases under control of a MIDI layout driven by an AI algorithm. Not so old fashioned.
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
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...I'm an old fashioned Analogue sort of guy at heart. lol.
HTH
Ian And yet you prefer using the groundbreaking proprietary technology of audio phrases under control of a MIDI layout driven by an AI algorithm. Not so old fashioned. Yup, an oxymoron for sure. However my excuse is that BB does all the work for me. Its like my car - since I got it, I've never lifted the bonnet (hood to you). I start it up and it just goes. BB is just like that. Thank goodness.
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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
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Welcome... You will like this once you get past the confusion.
My advice to folks is to buy as far up the version list as you can afford. You're getting more styles and more real tracks. To me, the real tracks are the secret sauce to this whole thing. I have a purpose for midi but.... I don't use it unless I have no other choice. It often sounds too fake or stiff or whatever you want to call it. I just prefer not to use it. I make exceptions for drums, bass, and piano when I need a custom part that I will be playing through a synth with samples.
Anyway, the real tracks are extremely realistic sounding because they are real players. I don't know how all that black magic works, I just know it works extremely well. I've had people who play fiddle or steel, for example, ask me who I have playing on my song. One guy who runs a studio up North commented that he could hear the rosin on the fiddle bow and strings and asked me how I did that.
By buying further up the version list, you get more styles that are mostly or completely real tracks including the drums, and you won't be disappointed.
Pop into the song showcase or into a few of the user's web pages including mine and have a listen. 99.9% of my instrumentation is the real tracks.....composed in Band in a box, rendered in real Band and mixed in Sonar. I play most of my own guitars and occasionally the keyboard too. But everything else is PG products at work.
Look at the version, evaluate the real styles in it.... and make your decision based on what you need.
Go to the BiaB windows version page.... click on PACKAGES.... click on the various packages and use the hyperlinks to open up the list of styles and other things. It's easy to find out what you are getting in each. The main thing you need to remember is to look at the styles, and see how many are in the version you are considering and how may are in each of the genre's you are interested in. Buy based on that and you can't go too far wrong. Don't worry about the terminology at this point. Listen to the demos in there.
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 10/01/20 09:12 AM.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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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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