It saddens me to say that the newer plugin hasn't cleared up my problem of not hearing my BIAB midi tracks in Reaper or Cakewalk. The sounds are there but just can't be heard. There's just one audio track in my song (drums) and that can be heard. Obviously I'm still not getting some setting right. I'll post another screen shot in a bit.
/Bobby
Bobby, if I read you correctly you want to hear your BiaB MIDI while in the VSTi, correct. If I may ask why?
The BiaB GM is at the lower end of the sound rankings. IIRC you have better sounds in both Reaper and Cakewalk and possibly some other softsynths.
My workflow is to bring all of the MIDI tracks into my DAW then assign a MIDI sound source to each track. It is more time consuming but I end up with much better ear candy using this technique. You may want to try this. YMMV
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
Hi Simon... and all... I don't want folks thinking that I have abandoned my thread. It's just that I have been too busy all day to sit down with the music. I will have more time tomorrow and will get back to you then.
Thanks in advance for all your help... very appreciated.
No worries Bobby! Once you're back at it tomorrow could you clarify for us whether you're trying to play the MIDI straight out of the BB plugin, or whether you've dragged the MIDI into the DAW?
What I do is compose my song in BIAB. I then go into Reaper or Cakewalk and insert a "virtual instrument on new track" I choose the PG Music plugin. This creates a track in Reaper called "BIAB DAW VST3." I open the song I composed in BIAB within the plugin. When it loads I then "generate" the song in the plugin, and it does it*. All the tracks are midi in this case - except the "real drums."
I then drag all the tracks into Reaper using the "All" button on the plugin. I have dropped them ON the first track that was created when I first inserted the plugin. It didn't work.
I have dragged all the tracks using the "All" button on the plugin and put them UNDER the track that was created when I first inserted the plugin. Tracks set up nicely and the meters are moving, including the track that was created when I first inserted the plugin, but no sound. I've made sure that all "record monitoring" buttons are set to "on."
I've tried bringing in one track at a time (as if that's going to make any difference) and end up with the same results.
If I bring the tracks into Reaper as wav files, everything works fine. But I do know that a midi track has a different set of rules than an audio track.
I should say that I'm having the same issue in Cakewalk as well. The only difference is that when I drag all the tracks from the plugin into Cakewalk, 30... yes, 30 tracks are created. Dunno what's going on there.
So I know it is something that I'm not seeing, doing, or probably even understanding.
I'm hoping that I've been able to explain myself in a somewhat coherent way. If not, let me know what I missed and I'll get back to you.
If I bring the tracks into Reaper as wav files, everything works fine. But I do know that a midi track has a different set of rules than an audio track.
But I assume you don't know what those rules are? A midi file dragged into reaper will have no sound. You need to assign a VST to the Reaper track in order for the midi to play a virtual instrument. Like midi in any DAW.
But that is the easy stuff. Are you telling us you have not crashed the BIAB-VST- 4.2.8 in Reaper? You must be doing something right.
It saddens me to say that the newer plugin hasn't cleared up my problem of not hearing my BIAB midi tracks in Reaper or Cakewalk. The sounds are there but just can't be heard. There's just one audio track in my song (drums) and that can be heard. Obviously I'm still not getting some setting right. I'll post another screen shot in a bit.
/Bobby
Bobby, if I read you correctly you want to hear your BiaB MIDI while in the VSTi, correct. If I may ask why?
The BiaB GM is at the lower end of the sound rankings. IIRC you have better sounds in both Reaper and Cakewalk and possibly some other softsynths.
My workflow is to bring all of the MIDI tracks into my DAW then assign a MIDI sound source to each track. It is more time consuming but I end up with much better ear candy using this technique. You may want to try this. YMMV
Hi Mario...
I THINK I understand what you're saying... but probably not lol I'll give it a try to see if I understand it.
I compose my song in BIAB and then bring it into Reaper or Cakewalk. Mostly, I'm using it for the bass and drum tracks, and the rest I do with plugins like SampleTank 4.
One of the reasons why I like to use midi on some songs is that I'm still not, after all these years, an accomplished keyboard player. Therefore, if there's a part that I need to put into the song, and if the song's tempo is too fast for my keyboard abilities I can slow the whole song down. Doing this gives me more of a chance of getting it right. Once done, I reset the original tempo and voila... I don't think I can do this with RealTracks as they're audio. Of course,I would much rather be always using RealTracks, and I do for a lot of stuff. Their sounds cannot be beat, hands down.
I know that the whole solution to this is for me to learn how to play the keyboard. But at my age, I really don't see that happening.
A midi file dragged into reaper will have no sound. You need to assign a VST to the Reaper track in order for the midi to play a virtual instrument. Like midi in any DAW.
That is correct. BIAB automatically assigns a plugin and an instrument to MIDI tracks, while most DAWs don't. Without an instrument or plugin, it will play nothing. The BIAB plugin itself doesn't respond to MIDI notes, so it will not play any sound that way either.
Originally Posted By: MusicStudent
But that is the easy stuff. Are you telling us you have not crashed the BIAB-VST- 4.2.8 in Reaper? You must be doing something right.
So far I have not crashed 4.2.8 or any of the previous 4.x versions in Reaper, so I guess I'm performing some sort of voodoo. The only issue I've personally had was in Performer Lite 13, which refused to validate the VST3 (which it also wouldn't validate some of the 3.x versions for me either) - VST2 was fine though.
Well, I'm thinking that I may be starting to understand what is being explained to me.
When I insert a BIAB plugin track into Reaper, I will see all the midi notes that were played in the original BIAB song. But I won't hear them. I have to assign an instrument to that track in order to hear those notes being played. Am I getting warm?
For sure I'll be playing around with it again tomorrow.
As for crashing the newest version of Reaper... yep... I've been doing it while trying to use the new PG plugin. Many times. I've also crashed Cakewalk with it. Many times. For me, using the plugin is like a box of chocolates... I never know what I'm gonna get.
Thanks for all your patience with me... I'm much obliged to you guys.
Almost forgot to wish you all a very happy new year!!!
It is another very quiet new year's eve around here. The Covid virus is spreading like wildfire in my neck of the woods and so we're under lock down again.
.................. When I insert a BIAB plugin track into Reaper, I will see all the midi notes that were played in the original BIAB song. But I won't hear them. I have to assign an instrument to that track in order to hear those notes being played. Am I getting warm?
.....................
/Bobby
Not warm but spot on. That is exactly what you have to do.
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
Is it possibly time to mark this in the first post as Resolved? The post title might imply to some that the problem here is caused by BIAB, when it's more of an education issue. Granted, the plug-in contributed, but that is being worked on.
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
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
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.