Upgrade Manual

Chapter 4: RealTracks™ 19
Chapter 4: RealTracks
™
What are RealTracks?
With the previous release of Band-in-a-Box, we added RealDrums. Now we’ve added three additional “Real”
instruments, including RealPedalSteel, RealAcousticGuitar, and RealSax soloing (tenor sax). These tracks
replace the MIDI track for that instrument, and can be controlled just like the MIDI instrument (volume changes,
muting etc.). Best of all, they follow the chord progression that you have entered, so that you hear an authentic
audio accompaniment to your song. These are not “samples,” but are full recordings, lasting from 1 to 8 bars at
a time, playing along in perfect sync with the other Band-in-a-Box tracks. RealTracks can be built in to the
style, and would replace the Bass, Guitar, Piano, or Strings part, or they can be generated to the Soloist (or
Melody) track using the Soloist feature.
There is a RealTracks button on the toolbar. The RealTracks Settings dialog lets you control the
RealTracks.
There are 2 ways that you can use RealTracks with Band-in-a-Box.
1. RealStyles. These are Band-in-a-Box styles (.STY) that have at least one RealTrack. For example the
style called “=GeorgeP.sty” is a RealStyle because it uses RealPedalSteel for the Strings part, as well as
other instruments (MIDI bass, MIDI piano, MIDI guitar, RealDrums).
Technical note: You can add a RealTrack to an existing style in the StyleMaker, using [Misc] [More]
“Assign RealTracks to style.” The RealTracks gets generated on one of the Band-in-a-Box style tracks
(Piano, Guitar, or Strings).
2. RealSoloists. These are Soloists that are generated on the Soloist track, by pressing the Soloist button
on the main screen. Soloists 361-363 are using the RealTracks. Tip: You can quickly go to Soloist 362
by typing 362 and pressing “Go To #” or using the Favorites if you’ve previously chosen this soloist.
We include 3 RealTracks with Band-in-a-Box 2008
1. RealPedalSteel. This is suitable for Country/SoftPop ballads with an even 8
th
feel, at a tempo of about
85. It can be used in styles (on the Strings part) or as a Soloist. It can be used in a style or as a stand-
alone soloist.
2. RealAcousticGuitar. This is also suitable for slow ballads, tempo about 85. It features a strumming
Acoustic Guitar, and can be used as a Soloist (#362) or in a style (on the Guitar part).
3. RealSax. This is laid-back tenor sax Jazz soloing, medium tempo. It is used as a Soloist. Technical
note: It would be possible to make a style that has sax soloing, it wouldn’t be that useful musically.
Using RealTracks in Styles.
For this discussion, we will assume that we are using RealPedalSteel, in the style “=GeorgeP.sty.”