There are over 20 new features in 2009.5 for Windows

• Classic RealStyles styles made. This is a new category in the StylePicker, and it contains new styles that are intended to be commonly used RealTracks. They are divided into genres. So you can go to Classic RealStyles – Jazz to easily find RealStyles for Jazz Swing, Bossa etc.
• Guitar RealCharts have been improved. The new guitar RealTracks have more accurate guitar display/tab/notation for the corresponding RealTracks.
• The Verify function in the RealTracks assign dialog has been enhanced. It checks your installation to find if RealTracks are properly installed, or any files are missing.
  The Verify button in the RealTracks Settings dialog has extra features now:
  1. It checks the Bt0 status of the RealTracks st2, compared to the Bt0 found in the RealTracks folder.
  2. It issues error messages if a st2 is found, but not the RealTracks folder.
  3. Issues a message if xt2 not found (for a chording RealTracks).
• Developer mode for RealDrums enhanced. (Note: This feature is only for those people developing their own RealDrums files). If the file c:\bbNumberedDeveloperFiles.txt exists, the DrumAudioResults.txt with information get numbered and written to c:\bb\Results folder.  (Note: you need to create a c:\bb\Results folder first). 
• RealTracks are enhanced. These features are present in the new RealTracks that are released with 2009.5:
  - Smoother playing of piano parts over slash chords.
  - Support for some more complex slash chords like C7/E played by piano
  - RealTracks feature to only play certain riffs in certain keys. This feature happens automatically on certain RealTracks, no settings are needed.

• Band-in-a-Box 2009.5 Requirements

  Windows® 98 / ME / NT / 2000 / XP / Vista / Windows 7

  • Memory (RAM): Minimum 128MB.
  • Hard Disk space: Minimum 400 MB. More space is required for RealDrums, about 100 MB per set and RealTracks require about 800 MB per set.
  • PC Sound Card or MIDI module.
  RealCharts for piano are auto hand-split now. RealTracks (and MIDI style) piano parts that are on the piano track will appear with hands-split (right hand in green, left hand in red) on the big piano window, and in notation. There is a setting for this on the Notation-Options dialog.
• Audio Smooth looping added. Now the audio track loops smoothly, including using it with the conductor.  Frozen songs now loop smoothly and are usable with the conductor.
• Any missing RealTracks/RealDrums are listed. When a song is loaded, played or saved, a yellow hint message will appear if any RealTracks or RealDrums are missing, listing the files that are missing.
• The SongList dialog now lists if any RealDrums or RealTracks were not found, in a separate column ('d' and 't' indicates missing RealDrums or RealTracks).
  Note: If you want to disable this feature, you can put in this file: c:\bb\AlsoReadStylesWithSongListBuildUp_False.txt (contents irrelevant)
• Chord Options dialog now has a “Clear All” button that erases all Rests/Shots/Pushes/Pedal Bass from a song.
• Audible 'Audio Glitches' in some RealTracks were removed.
  
• Added Songs with RealTracks on Drums (and no drum part) get a drum count-in. For example, _BG_BAND.STY
• If a ChordSheet/ notation transpose is in effect, a Transpose ‘yellow hint’ message will appear on boot up as a reminder.
• Audio Base tempo reminder message.  If saving a song, and the Audio Base tempo is different than the Song Tempo, a warning message will show, asking you to confirm that you want to save it like this.
• Feature that starts a new line on a part marker (section) has been enhanced.
  Section starts a new line feature now does it for 2 bar sections too.  Previously a section with only 2 bars wouldn’t start a new line, now it does.
   -F5 bar settings Notation - on a new line now works for chord sections.
   -Notation starts a new line on a part marker (like the chord sheet). (This can be disabled for a song or globally.)
• Option added for Melody -Guitar rechannel, to include events already on guitar channel.
• When launching the Audio Chord Wizard, a preserve part markers question doesn't appear now if there are no chords in the song.
• Message added when no style demo found in RealTracks dialog.
• Many more demos are shown in the RealTracks dialog.
• And more…

Band-in-a-Box 2009.5 for MacIntel is here! This exciting new version of Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh is designed for MacIntel, and boasts major new features like RealDrums, RealTracks and the Audio Chord Wizard! Learn More...

There are over 20 new features in 2009.5 for Macintosh

• Audio Chord Wizard Enhancements.  The Audio Chord Wizard is the amazing feature that automatically figures out the chords from MP3 files (or other audio files like WAV, WMA, and audio CD etc.).  Using the Audio Chord Wizard is a great way to learn and practice popular songs, as you play along and see the chords.
• We’ve added a Lead Sheet window that shows the chords for the whole song on a single screen.
• This allows you to click on a bar on the lead sheet to jump to that area of the song.
• And you can mark sections of the song using part markers, and the sections begin on a new line with a line space between, so are clearly seen.  So you can then also learn the form of the song, as you can see the various intro/verse/chorus/break sections at a glance, or quickly jump to the break simply by double clicking on that part of the lead sheet.
• Other improvements include chord editing, and more.
• Classic RealStyles styles made. This is a new category in the StylePicker, and it contains new styles that are intended to be commonly used RealTracks. They are divided into genres. So you can go to Classic RealStyles – Jazz to easily find RealStyles for Jazz Swing, Bossa etc.
• Guitar RealCharts have been improved. The new guitar RealTracks have more accurate guitar display/tab/notation for the corresponding RealTracks.
• RealTracks are enhanced. These features are present in the new RealTracks that are released with 2009.5:
  • Smoother playing of piano parts over slash chords.
  • Support for some more complex slash chords like C7/E played by piano.
  • RealTracks feature to only play certain riffs in certain keys. This feature happens automatically on certain RealTracks, no settings are needed.
• Any missing RealTracks/RealDrums are listed. When a song is loaded, played or saved, a yellow hint message will appear if any RealTracks or RealDrums are missing, listing the files that are missing.
• Chord Options dialog now has a “Clear All” button that erases all Rests/Shots/Pushes/Pedal Bass from a song.
• Audible 'Audio Glitches' in some RealTracks were removed.
• Added Songs with RealTracks on Drums (and no drum part) get a drum count-in. For example, _BG_BAND.STY
• If a ChordSheet/ notation transpose is in effect, a Transpose ‘yellow hint’ message will appear on boot up as a reminder.
• Option added for Melody -Guitar rechannel, to include events already on guitar channel.
• Message added when no style demo found in RealTracks dialog
• Many more demos are shown in RealTracks dialog.
• And more…

Note: Band-in-a-Box 12 for PowerPC Users is available here..

• RealTracks Sets for Band-in-a-Box and RealBand
• RealDrums Sets for Band-in-a-Box and RealBand
• Essential Phrases and Riffs for Band-in-a-Box
• Styles Sets for Band-in-a-Box and RealBand
• Artist Soloist Series for Band-in-a-Box
• Soloist Sets for Band-in-a-Box
• Master Swingin' Jazz Piano Solos for Band-in-a-Box
• Melodist Sets for Band-in-a-Box
• MIDI Fakebooks for Band-in-a-Box
• Video Tutorial PAK for Band-in-a-Box