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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi all:

I understand that we as users of BIAB can load the demo songs from RealTracks and they form a great starting point for creating a song. It is also clear to me that one is not supposed to use the "melody" from that song "as is" since that would not be legal. Lastly, I understand that chords and chord progressions can't be copyrighted (correct me if I'm wrong). So my question is as follows...

1) If I Regenerate the song I hear a slightly different melody from the original one that came from the demo. Is that sufficient to be different so that we can use it somehow? Not that I would do only this, but I want to understand what the actual "limit" of what the legal terms mean.

2) What actually "is" the melody? Is that always a single particular instrument like the guitar or the piano? Sometimes the melody seems to be formed by two different guitars, or a guitar and a piano working together. If I remove that identifiable melody I'm left with drums, base, and perhaps something else, but the melody is generally gone. Is that what is required so that we can use that song as a base?

3) What if I only remove the One guitar which seems like it plays the main melody and leave the second guitar and the rest of the song alone? Is that sufficient to be considered different?

I'm not trying to write commercial songs, just songs to share with my friends. But, I do want to understand what exactly constitutes what I can and can't do with this software.

I guess what I'm really asking is "What can I create using RealTracks so that I don't publish or distribute anything that PGMusic doesn't like?"

Any clarifications will be extremely helpful.
[i][/i]

Last edited by huertaaj; 01/17/22 05:19 PM.

Dell Laptop Core I7, 16 GB Ram, Windows 10/64, Studio One 5 Pro with Komplete 13 and lots of VST plugins, BIAB UltraPak 2022 Build 914
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The Band-in-a-Box Demo Songs are under PG Music Inc. copyright. They are meant to be used as creative examples of how to use various add-ons that come with the software. So for making your own music you can load a Style or RealTrack into your song and consider it your song. But you cannot load a Demo then call it your song.


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Chantelle
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a great question... and a great answer...

Sometimes a PG demo(SGU) can imply a melody... I listen, and automatically hear a melody in my head...

my advice... Just make up a different progression/arrangement, and do YOUR OWN thing...


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"I'm not trying to write commercial songs, just songs to share with my friends."
If you send them the link to the demo song of the PG website.
https://www.pgmusic.com/xtrastyles.php?pak=all&os=win#rock-pop-10

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I'm not interested in using or sharing BIAB demo songs without modification. I just want to understand HOW MUCH they need to be modified and what that really means.

For example the .STY named _CMPFBHS.STY (Campfire, Hank Strummed) has only one track with no melody. If I like that set of chords and want to leave them as is, would that be illegal? Even if I press Regenerate, it sounds the same. I obviously would not want to use that style "as is" because I could easily (and would) add a melody using another instrument in my DAW. But, there are other styles that apparently have no melody, just a bunch of chords being played and it is difficult to determine which one is the actual melody (if there is one).

So my question is more about understanding the situation, more from an academic point of view, just for the sake of clarifying, not figuring out how to cheat or be lazy.

Last edited by huertaaj; 01/24/22 06:17 AM.

Dell Laptop Core I7, 16 GB Ram, Windows 10/64, Studio One 5 Pro with Komplete 13 and lots of VST plugins, BIAB UltraPak 2022 Build 914
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"I understand that chords and chord progressions can't be copyrighted "
I think you have answered you own question. I send songs all the time using the demo chords.

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Henry Clarke: Revolutionize Your Band-in-Box® Tracks with Regenerating Function

One of the new features added with Band-in-Box® 2024 is the Tracks Window, which will look familiar if you've worked with other DAWs.

Henry Clarke explains why he loves the Re-generation function within the Tracks Window in their video Revolutionize Your Band-in-Box® Tracks with Regenerating Function.

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Band-in-a-Box® 2024 German for Windows is Here!

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 für Windows Deutsch ist verfügbar!

Wir waren fleißig und haben über 50 neue Funktionen und eine erstaunliche Sammlung neuer Inhalte hinzugefügt, darunter 222 RealTracks, neue RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, "Songs with Vocals" Artist Performance Sets, abspielbare RealTracks Set 3, abspielbare RealDrums Set 2, zwei neue Sets von "RealDrums Stems", XPro Styles PAK 6, Xtra Styles PAK 17 und mehr!

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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

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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!

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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.

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