ORIGINAL: alvie
Anyone as try Songsmith from Microsoft research ?

It is based on the BIAB engine.

Yes, PG Music actually developed the program for microsoft. They even sell add-on paks for Songsmith that are virtually identical to their BIAB counterparts. ;)

I will also say that I am a longtime BIAB user and the latest 2010 version totally RAWKS! I love the RealTracks & RealDrums functionality. I think of BIAB 2010 as having instant access to my own personal studio session musicians.
Just like going into a recording studio and hiring some professional session cats and handing them some lead sheets for that new song that you just composed and then they go to town and laydown that killer track. Same thing with BIAB, you layout your leadsheet (type in the style, Key, time signature, tempo, chord changes, intro, outro, intrumentation, etc......) and have your in the box session cats laydown that next track. If you don't like it, you can go back and make changes. Maybe the style is wrong, the tempo too slow, some chord changes or maybe you want that bass player to play in another style. The options are limitless and you only get out of it what you put in. The more knowledgable & creative you are with the program the better and more realistic the end results will be. I always end up exporting my MIDI & RealTracks individually and importing them into SONAR for further recording and mixing. BIAB & SONAR do make a great combo for creating, mixing & finalizing projects.

ORIGINAL: Billy Buck
I will also say that I am a longtime BIAB user and the latest 2010 version totally RAWKS! I love the RealTracks & RealDrums functionality. I think of BIAB 2010 as having instant

What 2010 version? I have the latest and that's 2009, no? Or are you a beta tester?

Scott

--
Scott R. Garrigus - Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series. Get Sonar 8 Power - Today! Go to: http://www.garrigus.com/ - http://www.musictechshop.com/ - http://www.cooltechshop.com/

Publisher of DigiFreq - free music technology newsletter. Win a free SoundTech Vocal Trainer Package, go to: http://www.digifreq.com/digifreq/

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jazaddict - Thanks - BTW the bass is real - I play both bass and guitar, but the keys and drums are BIAB. Many times I will use EZ Drummer's clips and the keys end up being the only remaining artifact from BIAB. But it is the starting point for just about all of my stuff.
<<TS>>

Anyone who wants to criticize PG Music for misleading folks about pushing a button to get great music is free to do so

I don't think anyone here did any such thing, but it's always a good thing if people don't expect more than they get, based on assumption.

It is a great tool, but not perfect or definitive. That Mysong (not Songcraft) kinda blows it out of the water in some aspects.

That does not detract from its value to me in any way. I'd sorely miss it.

ORIGINAL: garrigus
What 2010 version? I have the latest and that's 2009, no? Or are you a beta tester?

I meant the 2009 BIAB. Although, I am sure the 2010 version will be here soon enough come November.
I got the Ultra (inlcudes all the RealTrack & RealDrum audio files) upgrade that comes already pre-installed on a nifty thin 2.5 USB external HD. It is quite convenient than having to install 10's of GB's worth of data from DVD's and use up valuable space on my internal HD's and it did not cost than much extra either.

Ever since I've been using BIAB (c. ten years) I've seen almost daily criticism on various forums (not least on the Yahoo BIAB Group when a newbie joins) that its output is 'lame', 'cheesy', etc. etc. These comments invariably come from newcomers who don't know the difference between MIDI data and the sounds a MIDI-compatible piece of equipment can make. I output it to a Roland Fantom X6 and BOSS Dr-880, and the sounds are just luvverly and realistic thank you very much, with BIAB's part in the proceedings being just excellent.

As a guitarist I use BIAB to help with mainly keyboard, strings and brass parts which I then import into Sonar for amending as the mood/song suits. Also, auditioning its different styles is a real boon in composing as it very often suggests new avenues that I wouldn't have thought of on my own. It's a must-have product in my view, despite its bias towards country and jazz.

I think Scott was kidding about Billy Buck's '2010 version' of BIAB. Anyway, if PG Music follows its recent pattern, there may be a 2009.5 release this summer, and then the 2010 release in December 2009. Beta testing takes place in November.

I output it to a Roland Fantom X6 and BOSS Dr-880, and the sounds are just luvverly and realistic thank you very much, with BIAB's part in the proceedings being just excellent.

I output it to just about every synth I own. Getting a great sound should not be an issue for the average Sonar user.

But the sound quality was not my reason for nitpicking: it was the quality of chords chosen in progressions. Mike Mc_Cue has one of those Flash gadgets on his site that lets you pick 'nice' chords in a progression, and I was doing some research on automating that, and give it a memory and a database of nice ones etc. when I came across that Mysong.

I just think that specific part of BiaB could see some improvement, 's all.

The first real programmable toolbox with a bit more abstraction than C, that lets me do the same as what I use BiaB for, but through code, and I'm probably instantly hooked, never to look back, because that would suit me even better. Currently investigating a Java toolbox that's supposed to be getting close to that ideal.

ORIGINAL: Billy Buck
I got the Ultra (inlcudes all the RealTrack & RealDrum audio files) upgrade that comes already pre-installed on a nifty thin 2.5 USB external HD. It is quite convenient than having to install 10's of GB's worth of data from DVD's and use up valuable space on my internal HD's and it did not cost than much extra either.

Yep, same here, except I got the Ultra Audiophile edition. I too really love that it comes on a separate drive and doesn't require full installation. I think PG Music is doing a great job with its products. BIAB is a must-have in my opinion because its not just an accompaniment program. It can be used for song ideas, music education, quick background music for video work, etc. It has so many different features, I don't know how they keep coming up with new stuff each year.

The only thing that I think could use some updating is the interface...

Scott

--
Scott R. Garrigus - Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series. Get Sonar 8 Power - Today! Go to: http://www.garrigus.com/ - http://www.musictechshop.com/ - http://www.cooltechshop.com/

Publisher of DigiFreq - free music technology newsletter. Win a free SoundTech Vocal Trainer Package, go to: http://www.digifreq.com/digifreq/

Publisher of NewTechReview - free consumer technology newsletter. Win a free i2i Stream Wireless Music Pack, go to: http://www.newtechreview.com/newtechreview/

http://forum.cakewalk.com/tt.asp?forumid=39

if anybody cares