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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hey everyone!
This is primarily for Peter and the team, but I'll take input from anyone and everyone.

I haven't really been playing much music recently, and I have some life-altering changes coming up here soon. I downloaded BIAB 2023 but wasn't going to download 2024 . . . until today when I got an advertising e-mail from PGMusic for an upgrade to 2024 and all the XtraPaks for a significant discount. I've been at the download for 7 hours and it might be finished by the time I wake up tomorrow. laugh

But, while I still have my older Korg PA800 keyboard, the sounds, particularly the GM sounds, are getting a bit long in tooth. There seems to be a lot of stuff in the new BIAB 2024 regarding software and stuff that I've not been using before, i.e., Sforzando, which I think is a GM synth (but I could be wrong).

What I'd like to see, and haven't seen anything in the video section under the Support tab, is a video that catches older users up with the latest features and stuff of BIAB that are included in the package, but aren't Band In A Box.

If anyone has particular threads that would be useful for highlighting some of the other programs/applications that are included in the pack and how good you think they are, etc., I'd love to hear about them so I can learn as I want to get back into music production.

Thanks in advance.

Gary


I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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Welcome back, Gary!

I don’t think I have worthy answers to share but just wanted someone to respond quickly to say Hi.

You mention Sforzando and BIAB 2023, but Sforzando has been around a few years so I wonder if you could clarify which version you are using. I learn the new features best by viewing each year’s video summarizing and illustrating new features.

We have been told support for VST3 is coming, which has the potential to open up a lot of possibilities for what you can do with BIAB not involving the features that come bundled with it.


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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Hey Matt,
Hope all is going well for you. As to Sforzando, I don't really use any software synths, which is what I guess that is. I would very much like to upgrade my keyboard, but I'm now on the fixed income and $6,000 for a new Korg PA5X and PaAS speaker system is a bit beyond my reach right now. So, I'm looking for other options. I mean, the GM sounds and other sounds of my 13 year old keyboard aren't *that* bad, but I'm looking for something newer, and I'm not sure if Sforzando is an answer to that. I just don't know. I've never used it, but in downloading the new 2024 Ultra version and XPacks (all of them) that I did last night (and this morning) puts the latest and greatest. Actually, I see that Sforzando is not included and that you have to download and install, so I've just downloaded the latest version. Again, never used it, so didn't know anything about it.

In watching some of the videos, I see a lot of changes from when I used the program more often, and I kind of feel like those new people I used to help guide along the way. blush

Anyway, I'll work through this, now that I have it all downloaded. I'll ask as necessary.

Gary


I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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Hi Gary

Nice to see you aroud here again.

The screen on my wife's PA80 packed up some while ago and we bought the PA900. The sounds are great actually and you'd have to look far to find better.
I have a lot of GM/GS options with my Roland E-60, an SC-88 Sound Canvas, the PA900 and some Roland Soft synths. Point is the quality of the sounds has not really got a lot better than they were 15 years ago. I have had access to the new Korgs and Roland keyboards but have not found them particularly inspiring sound quality wise.
They are using the synthesis options built in to the keyboards to tweak the sounds but unless you also do the same tweaking they will all sound the same.

These days while songwriting I find I prefer to play the actual instruments acoustically and record those sounds along with some BIAB tracks as needed. YMMV!!

Keep Well

Kevin smile

Last edited by Kevin Woolley; 09/03/24 10:31 AM.
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Kevin,
Thank you for your reply. I had to replace both the screen and the power supply on my PA800, the Korg-authorized repair parts supplier kept sending me used stuff, and it was obvious that it was used, and didn't work properly. I kept sending it back until I got new.. Well, that was the display, anyway.

One of the things that I want with the newer keyboards also are the built in styles. BIAB is awesome when I want to sit down and record a song, especially with Real Tracks, but when I just want to sit down and play, it's easier to use the Arranger feature for that.

In listening, at least online, to the difference between the PA4X and earlier and the new PA5X, it's really night and day for me. I always have thought that Yamaha put a lot of effects onto their sounds, which if you're playing out, is great because you don't have to. It makes a great singer/songwriter or duo keyboard in that regard, but I like the more neutrality of the Korg sounds. But, the PA5X, they did something to the sounds and it sounds amazing, but without the effects of the Yamaha.

But, for now, the PA800 is still working and it still blesses me, even if it's a bit long in tooth and missing a lot compared to the new keyboards.

Gary


I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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Band-in-a-Box 2024 Italian for Mac is Here!

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

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Band-in-a-Box® 2024 French for Mac® is Here!

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New! XPro Styles PAK 7 for Band-in-a-Box 2024 for Mac!

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Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Watch the XPro Styles PAK 7 Overview & Styles Demos video.

XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2024 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

New! Xtra Styles PAK 18 for Band-in-a-Box 2024 for Mac!

Xtra Styles PAK 18 for Band-in-a-Box version 2024 is here with 200 brand new styles to take for a spin!

Along with 50 new styles each for the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, we’ve put together a collection of styles using sounds from the SynthMaster plugin!

In this PAK you'll find: dubby reggae grooves, rootsy Americana, LA jazz pop, driving pop rock, mellow electronica, modern jazz fusion, spacey country ballads, Motown shuffles, energetic EDM, and plenty of synth heavy grooves! Xtra Style PAK 18 features these styles and many, many more!

Special Pricing! Until September 30, 2024, all the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 18 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea)! Expand your Band-in-a-Box 2024® library with Xtra Styles PAK 18! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 18 here.

Watch the Xtra Styles PAK 18 Overview & Styles Demos video.

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 18 requires the 2024 UltraPAK/UltraPAK+/Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

New! Xtra Styles PAK 18 for Band-in-a-Box 2024 for Windows!

Xtra Styles PAK 18 for Band-in-a-Box version 2024 is here with 200 brand new styles to take for a spin!

Along with 50 new styles each for the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, we’ve put together a collection of styles using sounds from the SynthMaster plugin!

In this PAK you'll find: dubby reggae grooves, rootsy Americana, LA jazz pop, driving pop rock, mellow electronica, modern jazz fusion, spacey country ballads, Motown shuffles, energetic EDM, and plenty of synth heavy grooves! Xtra Style PAK 18 features these styles and many, many more!

Special Pricing! Until September 30, 2024, all the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 18 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea)! Expand your Band-in-a-Box 2024® library with Xtra Styles PAK 18! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 18 here.

Watch the Xtra Styles PAK 18 Overview & Styles Demos video.

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 18 requires the 2024 UltraPAK/UltraPAK+/Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

New! XPro Styles PAK 7 for Band-in-a-Box 2024 for Windows!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 7 with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 50 RealTracks and RealDrums that are sure to delight!

With XPro Styles PAK 7 you can expect 25 rock & pop, 25 jazz, and 25 country styles, as well as 25 of this year's wildcard genre: Celtic!

Here's a small sampling of what XPro Styles PAK 7 has to offer: energetic rock jigs, New Orleans funk, lilting jazz waltzes, fast Celtic punk, uptempo train beats, gritty grunge, intense jazz rock, groovy EDM, soulful R&B, soft singer-songwriter pop, country blues rock, and many more!

Special Pricing! Until September 30, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 7 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea)! Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box 2024® with XPro Styles PAK 7! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Watch the XPro Styles PAK 7 Overview & Styles Demos video.

XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2024 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

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