Would you have an idea to successively play two different VSTi on the same MIDI track (the Melody track in this case)?
Here is my problem:
I have Band-in-a-Box 2020, so with only 7 tracks (excluding audio).
As the default VSTi for my MIDI tracks, I'm using VSTSynthFont64 with Compifont.sf2, a General MIDI (GM) soundfont that sounds much better than Coyote DXi.
So I can continue to benefit from two advantages of a VSTi General MIDI with Band-in-a-Box:
- the choice of an instrument in "Select a GM patch" automatically selects the corresponding instrument in the VSTi bank without my needing to go through a specific VSTi plugin for this instrument;
- if I want to play two different instruments successively on the same MIDI track (in this case the Melody track), I can do so in "Bar Settings" with "Patch Changes".
However, if the sounds of Compifont.sf2 are better than those of Coyote DXi, the sax sounds of Compifont.sf2 remain very poor.
So when I want a sax on my Melody track, I choose for this track a particular VSTi plugin (among the free ones: Iowa Sax, DVS Saxophone, …)
The problem is that, unless I'm mistaken, the "Patch Changes" function of "Bar settings" can only control a VSTi General MIDI: it does not allow, for the same track, to control either two different mono VSTi, nor a VSTi including several instruments but not General MIDI.
So if I only have one MIDI track left for the melody, I don't know how to chain two different saxophones on this same track, for example an alto sax and a tenor sax, without using Compifont.
Hence my question: Do you have any idea how to turnaround this limit and play successively two different VSTi or two sounds from a non-General MIDI VSTi on the same MIDI track?
....As the default VSTi for my MIDI tracks, I'm using VSTSynthFont64 with Compifont.sf2, a General MIDI (GM) soundfont that sounds much better than Coyote DXi..
I have Band-in-a-Box 2020, so with only 7 tracks (excluding audio)." >
< "The problem is that, unless I'm mistaken, the "Patch Changes" function of "Bar settings" can only control a VSTi General MIDI: it does not allow, for the same track, to control either two different mono VSTi, nor a VSTi including several instruments but not General MIDI." >
< "So if I only have one MIDI track left for the melody, I don't know how to chain two different saxophones on this same track, for example an alto sax and a tenor sax, without using Compifont.
Hence my question: Do you have any idea how to turnaround this limit and play successively two different VSTi or two sounds from a non-General MIDI VSTi on the same MIDI track?" >
Yes. BIAB has features that allow this to be done solely within the BIAB program. BIAB can construct two (or more) sounds from a non-general MIDI VSTi onto a single BIAB Mixer Track regardless of the original track status being MIDI or RealTrack.
Yes, that could be a solution...but it's not very user-friendly: it forces me to open another software for a single song, Realband doesn't work like Band-in-a-box, and Realband isn't not really an ergonomic program! I will continue to look for a solution in Band-in-Box. Thank you nevertheless
It's my turn not to well understand what you're showing me .
But I think that's not it:
I'm not trying to switch from one instrument from Compifont.sf2 (or CoyoteForte.sf2...) to another when this soundfont is played through the VSTSynthFont64 plugin (VSTSynthFont64.dll).
I am trying to change the VSTi plugin itself in the middle of the Melody track: for example I want that the melody track play the alto sax of Iowa Alto Sax (Iowa Alto Saw - 64.dll) during bars 1 to 16, then the tenor sax of DSK Saxophones (DSK Saxophones.dll) during bars 17 to 32.
Thank you for confirming that this is not possible in Band-in-a-Box 2020.
So, to have added tracks in Band-in-a-Box since the 2022 version is a great idea !
I will buy Band-in-a-Box 2022 or later ... as soon as I can
If you purchase the 2022 Pro PAK, you can install it over top of your previous Band-in-a-Box and then it will access all of the RealTracks that you had before. If you have any questions about your upgrade options please contact us directly through either live chat on our website or email sales@pgmusic.com.
A temporary workaround would be to have two different copies of your Band-in-a-Box song with one having your first VST on your track and the other your second VST. Then export your tracks from both copies of the song and edit them together in a DAW program.
OK thanks, but how to do that with Band-in-a-box 2020 ?
I do not see this possibility within "Bar settings" : I can only change a patch within a GM bank, not to switch from a VSTi to another ...
Although there's eight tracks in the BIAB Mixer, these tracks can be filled and still used over and over by bouncing. Because these tracks are digital, there's no discernible degradation of the audio like there is with bouncing an analog signal.
My proposal is similar to the other proposals given but without the inconvenience or requirement of external software or hardware and with no restriction or limitation like is found using RealBand or any external DAW. This can be done solely in BIAB and the capability has been available since audio tracks were added into the Mixer.
Of all the earlier suggested solutions, each proposal is a variation of converting the MIDI tracks to audio. Even if you have used all 8 BIAB Mixer Tracks, you can add instruments using Bar Settings for Patch Changes on MIDI Tracks and every track in the BIAB Mixer can have up to 10 different RealTracks on it. To change to another VSTi, it's possible to Bounce existing tracks to free up tracks for adding additional instruments. This can be done without losing any existing original track by freezing and saving a SGU project file at each stage of changing the instrumentation of the BIAB Mixer.
Again, your specific issue has two different problems. First, no available tracks and the second, two different VSTi's can't operate on the same track.
a. The seven track limit with six tracks in use, plus the unused Audio Track to complete the 8 channel BIAB Mixer. b. Placing two VSTi's onto a single BIAB Track to capture both VSTi's 'sound'. ________
The solution:
BIAB can capture the 'sound' (audio) of the First VSTi.
Capturing the sound of the first VSTi allows you the use of the Audio Track.
Converting the first VSTi instrument track to audio frees that MIDI track to then change to another VSTi for that track.
Simply follow Moultipass's instructions and use Bar Settings for Mute and Return to Normal to have each track play the appropriate bars.
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!
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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.
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!
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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.
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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.
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