Band In A Box Ultrapak 2009 5 For Mac
This must be the most unused forum on this site, but here goes. I'm a long time user of BIAB. I use it almost exclusively for practice.
I have a large number of 'old time' jazz songs. I mute the melody and play the accompaniment through a 15 watt Beringer amp. The sound is pretty decent, but I've never played it in public (I've thought about doing some busking, however). But the latest 2014 BIAB has gotten too updated for my taste.
They've added an instrument selection area with extra controls that is more of an annoyance than a 'feature' - I'm having to find some of the simple commands that the new 'feature' displaces. I will probably reload 2013 and not upgrade again.
First of all I have to say, I'm not directly involved with PG Music, the makers of Band-in-a-Box, but I am and have been writing aftermarket style 'disks' and fakebook 'disks' since 1992 (when they were really on a physical disk). Personally, I think BiaB is the ultimate practice tool for improvisation. I've done some styles for other 'auto accompaniment' hardware and software products, and the BiaB 'engine' produces the most musical end product. Not that it's perfect, just much better than the competition. Someone mentioned sounds. BiaB has both MIDI and Loop (Real Track) styles. I use them both, but prefer the MIDI because they are more editable.
Band In A Box Ultrapak 2009 5 For Mac Free Download
PG Music Band-in-a-Box UltraPlus PAK is the ultimate auto-accompaniment collection for composers and musicians of any skill level. In addition to Band-in-a-Box 2009.5 for Mac OS X, It includes: all 66 RealTracks sets, all 26 RealDrums sets, all 77 Styles sets, all 18 Soloist sets, and all 8 Melodist sets.
However if you are going to use the synth on your computer's sound card to play the MIDI sounds, they are not going to sound great. Still, good enough for practice.
Almost any song, any key, any tempo, and one of thousands of styles. So if you want to play Giant Steps as a jazz waltz or a salsa, you can. BiaB has a lot of features, and not everybody is going to use all of them. I basically use it as an auto-accompaniment program to practice improvisations with, and as a tool to help me write MIDI backing tracks for my duo (See for instructions and information).
It has a notation editor, but it's limited in function, my old Encore is better, but on the other hand, it's a great convenience. You can enter a horn or string line and BiaB will harmonize it via the rules I learned from Berklee saving a lot of what I call 'mule work'. If using MIDI styles you can export this all to a regular notation program or a MIDI sequencer and tidy things up just fine. Again, it saves a lot of work. I think every musician should have (1) A MIDI sequencer or DAW with MIDI (2) Band-in-a-Box and (3) a decent notation program. First of all I have to say, I'm not directly involved with PG Music, the makers of Band-in-a-Box, but I am and have been writing aftermarket style 'disks' and fakebook 'disks' since 1992 (when they were really on a physical disk).
Personally, I think BiaB is the ultimate practice tool for improvisation. I've done some styles for other 'auto accompaniment' hardware and software products, and the BiaB 'engine' produces the most musical end product. Not that it's perfect, just much better than the competition.
Someone mentioned sounds. BiaB has both MIDI and Loop (Real Track) styles. I use them both, but prefer the MIDI because they are more editable. However if you are going to use the synth on your computer's sound card to play the MIDI sounds, they are not going to sound great.
Still, good enough for practice. Almost any song, any key, any tempo, and one of thousands of styles. So if you want to play Giant Steps as a jazz waltz or a salsa, you can. BiaB has a lot of features, and not everybody is going to use all of them. I basically use it as an auto-accompaniment program to practice improvisations with, and as a tool to help me write MIDI backing tracks for my duo (See for instructions and information).
It has a notation editor, but it's limited in function, my old Encore is better, but on the other hand, it's a great convenience. You can enter a horn or string line and BiaB will harmonize it via the rules I learned from Berklee saving a lot of what I call 'mule work'. If using MIDI styles you can export this all to a regular notation program or a MIDI sequencer and tidy things up just fine. Again, it saves a lot of work.
I think every musician should have (1) A MIDI sequencer or DAW with MIDI (2) Band-in-a-Box and (3) a decent notation program. Notes I like Band in a Box, and have used it for many years, but I now use iReal Pro instead. It's easier to use, cheaper, and IMHO the jazz 'band' sounds better. Better feel, better time, etc. But it is more limited, and if you are willing to work (and deal with a really crappy interface) you can make BiaB do what you want it to do.
Unfortunately, I don't think there is a Windows version of this program, but iReal Pro is perfect for practicing tunes. I also like to export to MIDI files, import into my DAW and edit the parts. This allows me to play some parts (like during the head), and use the auto-accompaniment for others, or mix-and-match (my bass line, auto's drums and keys, for example). Bob, it does my old heart good to see you mention Encore - I was the programmer on that software for 4 years, and many people have told me that it was the most intuitive notation program they ever used. Unfortunately, it (and Passport Designs) died. Let's hope that Sibelius doesn't encounter a similar fate.
I like Band in a Box, and have used it for many years, but I now use iReal Pro instead. It's easier to use, cheaper, and IMHO the jazz 'band' sounds better.
Better feel, better time, etc. But it is more limited, and if you are willing to work (and deal with a really crappy interface) you can make BiaB do what you want it to do. Unfortunately, I don't think there is a Windows version of this program, but iReal Pro is perfect for practicing tunes. I also like to export to MIDI files, import into my DAW and edit the parts. This allows me to play some parts (like during the head), and use the auto-accompaniment for others, or mix-and-match (my bass line, auto's drums and keys, for example). Bob, it does my old heart good to see you mention Encore - I was the programmer on that software for 4 years, and many people have told me that it was the most intuitive notation program they ever used. Unfortunately, it (and Passport Designs) died.
Let's hope that Sibelius doesn't encounter a similar fate. If you aren't happy, you should email PGMusic about it. They are very much interested in feedback on their products, and if you didn't like 2014, they will probably even refund your purchase as well. I think every version of the program has gotten better.
They finally moved the Woodshed feature to a button, which I wanted them to do way back in 2010 version of the program. The addition of 'RealTracks' is really what makes this program worth it.
If you aren't using RealTracks, then you aren't experiencing the full potential of the program. I'm looking forward to a Mac version of BinaB 2014. The new interface looks pretty cool I think. This must be the most unused forum on this site, but here goes. I'm a long time user of BIAB.
I use it almost exclusively for practice. I have a large number of 'old time' jazz songs. I mute the melody and play the accompaniment through a 15 watt Beringer amp. The sound is pretty decent, but I've never played it in public (I've thought about doing some busking, however). But the latest 2014 BIAB has gotten too updated for my taste.
They've added an instrument selection area with extra controls that is more of an annoyance than a 'feature' - I'm having to find some of the simple commands that the new 'feature' displaces. I will probably reload 2013 and not upgrade again. The jazz 'band' in iReal Pro isn't even in the same country as what Band in a Box has. How can you even say it has a better feel? IReal Pro, to me, sounds like Band in a Box from the late 1990s.
It cost $7.99 (Android) with thousands of free tracks. Obviously it is not on an equal comparison level with BIAB at $669.00 (2014 Windows audiophile edition) but it is fantastic for the ease-of-use and simplicity, especially since the rebuild with added instruments and features. If you don't like the way the iReal Pro tune is written, the editor is very easy. I change chords, add repeats, add intros, etc all the time. Takes a couple seconds. I just spoke to the developer.
There will be another big free upgrade in the next week or two. I use both (and other software.) Just saying iReal is a quick, simple and killer tool for sheddin' when you don't want to waste a lot of time sittin' at the computer. I'm with Notes.
And BTW, thanks for that link on your site, it's a great service. You didn't have to go to all of the trouble putting that together. I've had BIAB since it was bundled in a soundcard package, on floppies, I got back around '93.
I've spent countless hours sitting in front of the computer screen working out one tune after another. It's flexibility in tempos is a real advantage. It's variety of styles you can use on the same tune, a cure for boredom and routine. It's been a real boon in preparing for rehearsals and performances that have improvised solos included in the music. The jazz band in iReal Pro sounds way closer, in terms of feel, to guys I play with than BiaB does. That makes a difference to me.
IMHO of course. The 'feel' of the band is only as good or as bad as the styles written for it. There are thousands of styles written for BiaB, most are from PG Music, and many hundred are available at by myself, Roy Hawkesford and Sherry Mayrent.
You can't truthfully say the band in iReal sounds better unless you have auditioned all the available styles for BiaB. And of course, better is a matter of opinion. Plus I started with BiaB back in the Atari/IBM-DOS/Motorola-Mac days and it has grown from a toy-ish little program to something light years ahead of its humble beginnings. There are still improvements I'd like to see implemented in the app, many of which are on my wish list at PG Music.
Many of my old wishes have already been granted. PG is receptive to customer feedback. What I like about BiaB is that even though the interface may be clunky at times, and even though it does have its limitations, I can input the chord changes to virtually any song, play it at any tempo and/or any key, loop part of it, and choose any style from many thousands that cover all genres of popular music including jazz, smooth jazz, rock, funk, pop, dance, reggae, soca, salsa, merengue, samba, etc., etc. If using the MIDI styles I can even change instruments and do things like assign piano voices to the entire big band and get one heck of a pianist player. Of course, what is best for one is not necessarily best for another. There is more than one right way to do this thing we call music.
Insights and incites by Notes. I'm with Notes. And BTW, thanks for that link on your site, it's a great service. You didn't have to go to all of the trouble putting that together. You're welcome. I posted a few things on the BiaB forum, and got so many questions as to how I made the tracks that I decided to do up a page rather than to answer again and again. Then people asked how I used them on stage, so I re-wrote the page adding that.
I have a few purely non-commercial information pages on my site. It's my way of paying back the people who extended a helping hand to me.
I take the advice they gave, add my own discoveries, mix with other people's help, and pass it on to those who are not quite as far along this never-ending path that I'm on. It's the best way I know of to thank those ahead of me on this same path. Bob, it does my old heart good to see you mention Encore - I was the programmer on that software for 4 years, and many people have told me that it was the most intuitive notation program they ever used. Unfortunately, it (and Passport Designs) died. Let's hope that Sibelius doesn't encounter a similar fate.
Encore has been reborn by the person who bought out GVox and is renaming it Passport Designs (although it is a different company). I've been using Encore for years and it suites my needs just fine. My needs are mostly head charts with chord names and an occasional longer score if the arrangement doesn't suit a head chart. Entry is fairly easy, the output looks nice, and there are a nice variety of tools in the toolboxes. It's too bad the old Passport sold out, but then I can't say as I blame them.
If Microsoft or Apple came to my door with a wad of cash in their hands, I'd probably listen. I also started on Passport and really liked it. Of course, it was in comparison to doing everything with pencil, ink and paper, but even looking back, I believe it was a really well designed program. Unfortunately, it wasn't fool proof and I had a major disaster with a large recording project which relied on full concert band parts being transposed and it didn't happen the way it should have. When the parts were distributed and played, there were too many transposing errors that it rendered about four arrangements unplayable.
VERY costly error. I believe it was partly my own oversight - frankly I never did find out the problem - but the program just didn't handle it when compared with Sibelius, which I've now been using for a number of years. Still, I liked Encore enough that, if it gVox had've kept upgrading it, who knows but that I might still be using it. Didn't happen, though. What I like about BiaB is the fact that it is not completely predictable.
I know that as a style maker, I can enter 4 or 5 patterns that only appear in a certain situations (like the V7 of a ii V7 I progression) and assign different probability weights to each pattern, so the most generic one appears most often, and the surprise one may only come once in a great while. The middle ones coming in varying degrees of frequency. The same goes for many other musical circumstances. So if the style writer is working hard, certain patterns will only appear in musically appropriate situations. And with 400 or so patterns available for the writer, there is plenty that can be put into it. Now the styles tend to be generic, and some people have a problem with that.
I did a 'Don't Be Cruel' style at the request of one of my first good customers back in the 1990s. The problem is, every time that song-specific guitar lick comes around, it shouts 'Don't Be Cruel' so the style is not very versatile. It's good for one song well, and perhaps another. I've written styles for a couple of other auto-accompaniment apps (non-disclosure work for hire) and of the few that I've written for, BiaB has the most musically appropriate output. I think it's the ultimate practice tool. And if you export to a DAW/Sequencer, you can turn the very good BiaB songs into something that would make a pro-level backing track.
Insights and incites by Notes.
RealCombos in the UltraPAK 'RealCombos' are a band of RealTracks in the same style. For example, the Jazz Swing 140 RealCombo includes 5 Real Instruments (Bass, Piano, Guitar, Sax, and Drums) that play at a medium swing 140 bpm tempo. RealCombos can be played at ANY tempo, but sound best near the listed tempo (which they were originally recorded at).