MIDI SuperTracks FAQ
Q. What are MIDI SuperTracks?
Starting with Band-in-a-Box 2012.5, we’ve enhanced the MIDI style generation, by adding a new engine that generates MIDI SuperTracks. Instead of MIDI styles based on C7 chord patterns that get repeated over every chord, the MIDI SuperTracks are based on actual playing by studio musicians. Play the SuperTracks using your MIDI synth, or favorite VST plug-ins to get a great sound using MIDI. With Band-in-a-Box 2012.5, we include 3 new MIDI SuperTracks sets (Pop/Country and Jazz) with piano, organ, and bass MIDI SuperTracks – 46 MIDI SuperTracks in all.
MIDI SuperTracks are MIDI tracks that can be added to a track or a style, and play like other MIDI tracks in a style. They are called “SuperTracks” because they are generated using a different engine than typical MIDI style tracks. Typical MIDI style tracks are generated from C7 patterns in the style, and repeat these patterns over any chord. MIDI SuperTracks use actual MIDI playing from musicians (similar to RealTracks in that regard), so are not based on patterns.
Q. Are MIDI SuperTracks available for all instruments?
We have released 46 MIDI SuperTracks so far (with version 2012.5), and they are for piano, bass, and synth pad/strings. So they aren't available for all instruments. You can mix n match them with other instruments in styles, either with MIDI drums, guitars, or RealTracks drums, guitar (or any instruments).
Q. Can you edit them like any MIDI track?
Yes, and this includes editing them within Band-in-a-Box, or exporting them as MIDI files to your DAW (Sonar, Logic etc.)
Q. Can I change instrument patches, or use a custom synth on these tracks?
Yes. For example, you can change the piano patch to a clav, or the acoustic bass to electric bass. Also, you can use any synth, or a soft synth (e.g. VST plugin on Windows) to hear the MIDI SuperTracks playing through your synth. Anything you can do with a standard MIDI track can be done with the MIDI SuperTracks.
Q. What styles are provided with the MIDI SuperTracks?
All of the styles that we release that have any MIDI SuperTracks are named starting with "M_" These styles have 1 or 2 MIDI SuperTracks, mixed in with other MIDI or RealTracks for other instruments. The Memo in the StylePicker will tell you if the style uses some or all MIDI SuperTracks.
For example M_JAZBAL is a Jazz Ballad style, with a MIDI SuperTracks for bass and piano. The drums for this style are RealDrums, or if you disable RealDrums you will hear a MIDI Drum style (as with previous MIDI styles). As noted, we don't have MIDI SuperTracks for drums. Another example is "M_BZ128P.sty Slow 12/8 Blues Solo Acoustic Piano 60 MST". This is a solo piano, so is entirely MIDI SuperTracks.
So most of the styles have 1 or 2 MIDI SuperTracks, mixed in with RealTracks or other MIDI tracks. Some of them are entirely MIDI SuperTracks - these would be bass and piano styles. If you want MIDI Drums, disable the RealDrums.
Q. Do the MIDI SuperTracks sound better than the older MIDI tracks?
Yes. The older MIDI tracks are based on C7 patterns, whereas the new ones use a completely different algorithm and engine, not based on C7, but based on actual playing by top studio musicians. Since you can also see (and print) notation, you can also learn from these tracks, as you see what studio musicians have played, rather than learning from a computer generated part. Also, the MIDI SuperTracks play differently in different keys, and over different chord types, not just transposing and mapping patterns like the old styles do.
Q. Where can I hear MIDI SuperTracks demos?
There are demos here
http://www.pgmusic.com/addons.supertracks.php?os=win and a video here (click on Band-in-a-Box 2012.5 video
http://www.pgmusic.com/bbwin.demos.htm )
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean