Band-in-a-Box
Mac OS X 10.4 or later
Band-in- a-Box is a commercial music-making software from PG Music Inc. for Windows, Mac OS and iPhone OS. The strength of the program lies in the semi-automatic accompaniment a soloist. Using the program finds therefore amplified by jazz musicians to train the improvisation. Likewise, Band-in- a-Box for composing and arranging are used. There are also notes functions are available.
The current version is 2012th In Germany the distribution assumes the M3C Systemtechnik GmbH in Berlin.
Functionality and product features
Band-in- a-Box is able, by means of integrated Begleitautomatismen to generate a complete package for the predetermined chorus from the specified chord symbols, the desired music style and, optionally, the time signature. Although discharges or even entire instrumental solos are desired possible. The result can be looped and played back via MIDI or issued as a lead sheet. In addition, there are other export functions, such as for MIDI and audio formats ( Wave/MP3 ).
There are many genres such as jazz, pop, country, blues, classical, Latin, Rock to choose from. For the computer - based generated solos different musical styles and instrument sounds are available.
Meanwhile, includes Band-in- a-Box, various virtual instruments ( RealTracks called ) for a better sound when playing the backing tracks. The RealTracks modules contain recordings of professional studio musicians. Sequencer functions are integrated under the name Real Band in the program.
In disproportionate to the range is criticized by many as outdated and crowded graphical user interface of the software.
History
The company PG Music was founded in 1988 by the program author Dr. Peter Gannon. The first version of Band-in- a-Box released in 1990 for Atari ST. Since then, the automatisms that contribute to harmonization and the possibilities of music processing have been steadily expanded.
In the early years, the use was limited to MIDI sounds and instruments. As of 1999, the program added possibilities of recording and editing of digital audio. In 2006, real drums, a sampling -based technology that primarily allows a more authentic sound character and a very human -sounding drums and percussion by Join over MIDI appeared. 2007 was followed by the so-called RealTracks, which widened the arrangements established by Real Drums fidelity and " humanization " on melodic instruments. Due to the new sound library, the software takes a quite a few gigabytes, which is why Band-in- a-Box comes in part directly on portable hard drives. The collection of instruments sets and music pieces will be continuously expanded. In the same year as the Audio Chord Wizard RealTracks was published. It analyzes imported audio files and tries to determine from whose chord sequence.
Since 2010 there is a method implemented in the music notation program Finale Band-in- a-Box plugin. In the course of Band-in- a-Box has been made compatible with the sounds of Garritan Personal Orchestra.
Dissemination and application areas
Band-in- a-Box has particularly widespread in jazz musicians, in addition, it is used as a teaching material to arrange, compose, record, produce, automatically generate background music, automatic harmonizing existing melodies, as well as to generate solos.
So far, Band-in- a-Box top dog in his field. Long as there was no comparable software with such musical intelligence, what Band-in- a-Box made the only program of its kind and thus conceded him a special position. 2007, however, the Ludwig program was published, which, although functionally behind Band-in- a-Box remains, but so far it is closest. Tonica Fugata specializes in composing fugues and also occupied so that a market niche in the " auto- composition". Both newcomers so far are available only for Windows, so it still is in Band-in- a-Box is the only available composition program for the Mac.