Here’s a no-brainer ....install Cakewalk and the TTS-1 64 bit synth (free)
With the release of the 64 bit version of Band-in-a-Box, you now have access to all the 64 bit synths and plugins out there.
And many of them are available for free.
For example, there is a great MIDI GM synth available, the Roland TTS-1. This is available free from Cakewalk by BandLab. You install the free version of Cakewalk, and this installs the TTS-1, which is then available to any program that supports 64bit DXi, like Band-in-a-Box 64. After you’ve installed Cakewalk, inside Band-in-a-Box 64 bit, choose the TTS-1 from the list of available synths (accessed by pressing the DXi/VST button inside the main menu- options - midi driver dialog).
There are 3 benefits to installing and using the TTS-1 and Cakewalk.
1. Great sound with Band-in-a-Box - likely better than any MIDI sound you’ve heard before with Band-in-a-Box. The TTS-1 is from Roland and has great sounds, and based on the famous Sound Canvas sounds. That means the sounds are balanced to sound great with existing MIDI styles in Band-in-a-Box, because we’ve always made our styles using the Roland Sound Canvas.
2. Better CPU Performance. The TTS-1 has lower overhead than many synths. It is especially useful if you have lots of programs and processes running, because it doesn’t use much CPU.
3. Cakewalk is a fabulous DAW, considered by many to be the best DAW available. Getting it for free is a no-brainer.
I have had better performance using TTS-1, and it generally sounds better to me {Electric Pianos/Fingered Bass/Standard Drums}. I also like the interface better than the VSTSynthFont64...
I liked and use sonar some, but thought is was not as intuitive as studio one by presonus. But now I like bandlab cakewalk even less too cluttered and crazy. I do like TT-S though.
Lenovo Win 10 16 gig ram, Mac mini with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2024, Realband, Reaper, Harrison Mixbus 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app, Komplete 49 key controller.
That's a strong endorsement but completely justified in my biased opinion.
Not mentioned is you will need to create a free account with BandLab. Once you have a BandLab account you can download and install the BandLab Assistant. BandLab Assistant acts as a user interface with the BandLab website and as a file upload / download manager for BandLab products.
The Cakewalk by BandLab (CbB) installation includes the Roland TTS-1 by default. However, CbB also includes some bonus material under the BandLab Assistant add-ons tab.
The bonus material includes the Cakewalk Studio VST Instrument Suite which includes electric bass, a drum kit, electric piano and strings. These will work inside CbB and 64 bit Band-in-a-Box.
I have not tried the drum replacer but (I think) what it does is replace poorly recorded drum sounds with drum audio samples.
The Melodyne is the very restricted trial version available from the Melodyne website. My advice is don't select it. Be aware you can not use Window's Control Panel to uninstall the trial version.
Theme editor allows you to customize the look of the CbB interface.
I've added some screenshots below to give you an overview of the BandLab Assistant and CbB interface with a loaded MIDI file.[b][/b]
Last edited by Jim Fogle; 12/21/1812:32 PM. Reason: Clarifications
I don't use BIAB that much. I do most of my work in RealBand. How can I use TTS-1 in RealBand. Where do I find it. I currently use jbridge for 64bit plugins. Mike
I don't use BIAB that much. I do most of my work in RealBand. How can I use TTS-1 in RealBand. Where do I find it. I currently use jbridge for 64bit plugins. Mike
Mike,
The 32-bit version of TTS-1 needs to be installed for it to be picked up by Realband. Because jbridge only works with VSTs, and TTS-1 is a DXi, it is not capable of acting as a bridge between TTS-1 and Realband.
Since I haven't installed Cakewalk by Bandlab, I am unaware if there is an option to install the 32-bit version of TTS-1. Hopefully someone who reads this and who has the Bandlab version of the program will chime in.
I don't use BIAB that much. I do most of my work in RealBand. How can I use TTS-1 in RealBand. Where do I find it. I currently use jbridge for 64bit plugins. Mike
Mike,
The 32-bit version of TTS-1 needs to be installed for it to be picked up by Realband. Because jbridge only works with VSTs, and TTS-1 is a DXi, it is not capable of acting as a bridge between TTS-1 and Realband.
Since I haven't installed Cakewalk by Bandlab, I am unaware if there is an option to install the 32-bit version of TTS-1. Hopefully someone who reads this and who has the Bandlab version of the program will chime in.
Cakewalk by BandLab does not offer or provide a 32 bit version of anything including the TTS-1.
TTS-1 32 bit does exist though. The TTS-1 was originally released as an accessory for Sonar (professional grade daw products) and Cakewalk (consumer grade daw and other products) in 2004. If you can find an older Cakewalk or Sonar product for sale (check Craigslist or eBay) at the right price it might be worth buying and installing just for the content. +++ HERE +++ is an example I think is reasonable.
Cakewalk Music Creator was a consumer grade daw that PG Music sold for many years. I've had Music Creator 2, 3, 4 and 6 and paid $49 each for the boxed version. If you like the daw, it's nice to have a printed manual on hand. All versions of Music Creator were 32 bit.
Thank you very much Peter, and Merry Christmas to you and yours.
The TTS-1 seems to be exactly what I've been looking for; a decent quality VSTi I can use in BiaB. I have Kontakt and many Libraries, but I wanted something simple to test arrangements before I export them to my DAW.
One little glitch with it is the primary kick drum will not respond to velocity, it's locked at 127 making it way too loud in most cases. When you first use it in Biab, a box pops up asking do you want to change the default bass drum to number 36. Say yes. Or, the TTS-1 does allow you to go into the various drum kits and edit them so you can replace that offending kick with another one yourself but the one Biab uses as the new default sounds pretty good.
The risk is that once you try Cakewalk by Bandlab and make it work as it should with the BIAB plug-in, Real Band will become well... how to put it... useless? Pointless? Oblivious? Obsolete?
I still use Real band as a midi file player, using the Coyote engine, but after hearing the same midi files played with Cakewalk and the TTS-1 engine, I'm really not looking forward to go back, to be completely honest.
As a DAW, Cakewalk is simply light years ahead from Real Band, and I just don't see any justification for the PG Music team to invest in more R&D for it just to play catch-up with the rest of the DAW market.
Before Cakewalk by Bandlab, I've been using the free version of a DAW called Tracktion, now in v. 7.0, where the its next evolution's called Waveform v. 9.0 at the moment. Another very powerful DAW with a bit different UI paradigm than the others, but with a workflow just as good as any other, although it's required to "get the hang of it".
I have recently installed BIAB Ultra on the HD supplied. Since it is 32 bit by default, how difficult is it to change the settings to 64 bit. I have Cakewalk by Bandlab already?
I have recently installed BIAB Ultra on the HD supplied. Since it is 32 bit by default, how difficult is it to change the settings to 64 bit. I have Cakewalk by Bandlab already?
Bernie
All you need to do is load the bbw64.exe instead of the bbw.exe file. You can make a shortcut to the bbw64.exe to make it easier. These files are located in your \bb folder.
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