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realbooksoftware.com?

kevinmoore73

kevinmoore73

Jun 18, 2007
1,359
10
Cleveland, OH
#1
Has anyone heard of this Blake Milton guy or had any experience with the real book software he's selling at realbooksoftware.com? The product sounds interesting, but the web site has a really shady used-car salesman feel to it. The part about the recordings is really vague, too.

I tried searching the web and talkbass for information about this guy and his DVD, but came up empty. I'm guessing the old adage, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is, applies here.
 
#5
BlakeM said:
In this case it is actually everything it claims to be.
Click to expand...

Well, since have your attention, I have a few questions.

You claim that it, "Includes Original Audio Recordings". Please describe these recordings. Original to whom? The original artist recording? If so, how many of these recordings are on the DVD? Your site says it contains "pretty much" all of them. Define "pretty much". Also, what format are they in? Are they the complete songs or just the head/melody for each?
 
#6
Did someone chop my earlier post?
Not sure why someone would interpret me responding to a post as being spam.
I posted on this forum because Kevin had questions about the product. It is also relevant because the Bass Clef version is part of the product.

About the audios. Famous artist recordings. Full recordings means full recordings - not just the head. They are MP3s. I say pretty much since there are a handful of songs that are in the RealBook that were never recorded - Nimbus/Ron McClure, 12/4 Duplicities, Ay Arriba!, Stu Balcomb, etc

There is also a video up at the site that shows the program in operation and you can see the audio being played.
http://www.RealBookSoftware.com

Again, I strongly recommend getting this. There is nothing like it out there. Being able to have charts and recordings is huge. Can you imagine what size your music collection would have to be if you had all of those charts represented - or how much time it would take you to amass such a collection.

Currently the price is 49.95 - extremely cheap considering! I'm being told that I'm selling it too cheap and that I need to raise the price - I haven't done that because I want deserving players to own a copy. The testimonials on the site are real but represent only a fraction of the "fan mail" I have gotten for this program.

I hope this answers your questions. Beyond that, I know you won't be disappointed or 'surprised' by the program - Instead, I know you will find it worth every penny and glad you jumped on the opportunity.
Thanks,
Blake
 
#8
BlakeM said:
I hope this answers your questions. Beyond that, I know you won't be disappointed or 'surprised' by the program - Instead, I know you will find it worth every penny and glad you jumped on the opportunity.
Click to expand...

One more question. How does the registration process work? Does the "registration number" used to register get generated on my name or other information, or is it generated using some aspect of my hardware? I ask because I'm planning to buy a new computer in a few months and would like to use the same key. If my name or other personal information is used to generate the number, that will work fine. If the software identifies my hardware, that means I can't use it when I get my new computer.

Please advise.
 
#15
Not explosion yet, but (more on that later)...

I will say that all of the claimed info is there, the Real Book Scans in clefs and keys, The MP3s for the songs and the BIAB and Midi files and they are all accessable and work on my old machine.
The MP3 recordings of the tunes are there and sound good, but have not integrated with the reader as of yet. Having the original recordings of all those tunes just might be worth the purchase price alone, I have a huge collection and this has filled some significant holes.
The BIAB files of the RB1 are also cool with correct changes and chord voicings, mostly correct feels plus the melody lines, which are sometimes a bitch to get right. Again almost worth the sales price.
As a learning and teaching tool it really delivers the goods, both my wife and I play & teach and have already used what is working to both our own benefit and our students.
Sorry if that sounds sales pitchy but I am in no way affiliated with the seller of this item, really.

...I would not declare my installation completely successful at this point I have not had the time to devote to just the install, hopefully tomorrow I can get it all in there and working. I'm not that much of a geek and someone more savvy might not have as many problems--otoh this is not exactly a plug and play thing like the advert implies. But then again the problems I am having are probably due to the computer and hardware I am working with and my less than expert skills. I don't think someone with a more current computer would have as many problems. This thing has been as much work as I recall setting up ProTools on my old Dell......
That said my one real gripe is the condition of the disc that was delivered, it looks like something previewed I would get from NETFLIX or Blockbuster not a 'new disc' I purchased.
 
#16
Hey Brad,
Thanks for providing everyone the info about the product.
Sorry to hear yours came in roughed up by the post office. Every disc shipped out is brand new. So what happens between it leaving and arriving is in the hands of USPS.

Also an important piece of info relevant to this thread.
Version 2.0 just got released this last Monday.
Among the objectives of the new version was a quicker and easier installation phase. It makes a huge difference. No more computer geek skills, just a bassist putting in the disk, installing and then enjoying the program.

For info on the product in general go to
http://www.RealBookSoftware.com

For info on the version 2.0 update go to
Invalid Link Removed

Thanks Brad and everyone else in this thread.
Blake
 
#19
BlakeM said:
Hey Brad,
Thanks for providing everyone the info about the product.
Sorry to hear yours came in roughed up by the post office. Every disc shipped out is brand new. So what happens between it leaving and arriving is in the hands of USPS.
Sorry Bro I ain't gonna let you slide on this point, no way that disc was new
Also an important piece of info relevant to this thread.
Version 2.0 just got released this last Monday.
Among the objectives of the new version was a quicker and easier installation phase. It makes a huge difference. No more computer geek skills, just a bassist putting in the disk, installing and then enjoying the program.

For info on the product in general go to
http://www.RealBookSoftware.com

For info on the version 2.0 update go to
Invalid Link Removed
Thanks Brad and everyone else in this thread.
Blake
Click to expand...

So even though I just bought this with existing known problems you expect me to happily pony up another 15 bucks for the 2.0 version that shipped the day after you sent mine? We're both Texans and musicians but the decorum of this forum prevents my colorful answer.
Maybe now is a good time for the explosion:hiding:
 
#20
Brad, you misunderstand.
All software undergoes version updates, added features and improvements. Known existing problems? Not at all.
Enhanced features and improvements. Absolutely.

There is no change in the content. All of the charts recordings, MIDIs BIAB etc are the same.
Just improvements in other functional aspects (including the installation phase)

You are welcome to stay at the version you are at and I will gladly offer support for it. The update release and your order is simply a matter of timing. Those purchasing the program after the update was released are paying the higher price.

I'll say again. All discs are brand new. Odd to think that there would even be "used" discs, and even more strange, why would they be shipped instead of discarded if they were in less than new condition.

The post office does not hand cancel these packages. They are processed by machinery. Likely, the condition you are talking about is the result of that process. Probably an uncommon event, but we've all had experience with less than desireable postal service.

Kevin,
Yes, registration varies from system to system. But as I said, don't worry about it. You'll be taken care of.

Blake
 

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