I just bought Garritan JABB3 and I can't install it (via Options, MIDI/Driver Setup, ...) :
- If I want to associate the ARIA Player VST_x86.dll file (according to PG Music instructions: https://www.pgmusic.com/tutorial_garritan.htm), I have the following error message: "Not a valid VST Plugin. C:\Program Files(x86)\Common Files\VST2\Garritan\Aria Player VST_x86.dll is not a valid VST plugin. If it is a 32-bit VST plugin use the 32 bit version of Band-in-a-Box, or install jbridge ..." [img]https://1drv.ms/i/s!AlZhnWjETQollIkqbrJ9tz6vMKhTuw?e=DE3dMn[/img]
You should use the 64bit version with 64bit Band-in-a-Box 2019 or higher (bbw64.exe).
Quote:
If I try to associate the ARIA Player VST_x64.dll file, I get the following error message: "Band-in-a-Box Sounds. Your copy of PG Music Inc Band-in-a-Box Sounds is not activated. Saving instruments from this bank is disabled"
This is a bit strange. There is a 'Band-in-a-Box Sounds' (HiQ instruments) bank included with Band-in-a-Box that is used with Sforzando, and there isn't any activation required for this. Sforzando also uses the Aria audio engine (as does JABB) to play samples, so there must be some link there. Perhaps the Aria build that ships with JABB has detected the Band-in-a-Box sounds bank and expects all banks to be licensed in a specific way. Since you won't be using the Band-in-a-Box Sounds bank with JABB this is probably not an issue - does the message pop up more than once or otherwise cause any problem?
If it does cause a problem, as a test you could try uninstalling the HiQ Instrument (search for 'HiQ' or 'sforzando' in the Apps / Add/remove programs area of the Windows control panel.
I haven't yet tried to remove the Band-in-a-Box HiQ instruments to see if I can associate the ARIA Player after that, but for information I can already use the sounds of JABB ... via Sforzando!
And there may be another problem with the ARIA player or its installation because, apparently, it works less well than Sforzando: when I use JABB from a MIDI keyboard via the ARIA player in standalone mode, I have a high latency, whereas when I use JABB from the same MIDI keyboard via the Sforzando standalone mode, I have very low latency.
Maybe I should read the 65-page ARIA player manual first ;-)
P.S. : If I understand you correctly, the instructions on the page https://www.pgmusic.com/tutorial_garritan.htm are partly outdated : with BiaB 2020, I can, and even I must, use the ARIA Player VST_x64.dll file and not any more the ARIA Player VST_x86.dll file ?
Right, you don't HAVE to, you can use the 32bit plugin with bbw.exe if you want - bbw.exe (32-bit) is there in the bb folder if you need it. But I would recommend using the 64bit version, bbw64.exe.
Today I was able to associate the ARIA Player VST_x64.dll file with Band-in-a-Box without getting the error message "...Your copy of PG Music Inc Band-in-a-Box Sounds is not activated..." Don't ask me how ;-)
But I still have a problem with ARIA Player:
- When I choose ARIA Player as VSTi for Band-in-a-Box, and I choose an instrument via ARIA Player, I have no sound: neither with the JABB instruments, nor with the other VST instruments I have. While I still get the sounds of JABB if I choose Sforzando as VSTi for Band-in-a-Box. And I even get the sounds of JABB and others with ARIA Player open in Band-in-a-Box but used in standalone via the keyboard displayed on the screen !
- I uninstalled the HiQ Instruments delivered with Band-in-a-Box, and restarted my PC but the problem is still there: no sound from JABB or other instruments !
IIRC Garritan's JABB3 uses the mod wheel for volume so if your mod wheel is a zero then you will get no sound. Move the mod wheel and let us know it that is the solution to your problem.
Dad, how will I know when I've become an adult.
When your day is ruined because they rearranged the grocery store.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
IIRC Garritan's JABB3 uses the mod wheel for volume so if your mod wheel is a zero then you will get no sound. Move the mod wheel and let us know it that is the solution to your problem.
Yes, exactly as Mario indicates. That is the way I remember it. But that has to go back a decade or more.
It's been a while since I've tried JABB with BiaB, but I believe you need to load in the sounds in JABB on specific channels. In other words, you can't just press Play in Band-in-a-Box and expect it to work automatically. Find out which channels BiaB is using for the various instruments in Options | Preferences | Channels. For example by default the Bass track is on channel 2. In JABB, load a bass on channel 2 and then play a Band-in-a-Box MIDI style and see if you hear it...
What a sum of experience and knowledge are brought together in this forum!
Mario D, thank you for the idea of using the mod wheel: I didn't know it allows to change the volume of the ARIA Player! But here, this is not the solution to my problem.
For my case, the winner is Andrew! Indeed, to have the sound of an instrument via the ARIA Player, you must not only, in the Band in a Box mixer, select the ARIA Player as plugin for the chosen track, but then, in the window of the ARIA Player, indicate to which MIDI channel the selected instrument should be directed.
And this is not obvious, because the MIDI channel choice zone is not clearly indicated in the ARIA Player: it is in fact the small gray number on the far right of the line under the name of the instrument and you have to click on it to bring up the list of MIDI channels...
I just figured out that if you right-click on the SWAM instrument in the mixer, you get a MIDI event editor. You can insert a Control message (Expression) at the beginning of the tune (it has to have a value.) And save the song... This saves you from "jogging" the Expression slider in the SWAM interface.
One issue with using JABB in BIAB is how it deals with dynamics.
Instead of using note velocity, it uses CC1 or CC11 events.
I'm really new to biab, but so far I've been using bidule to 'snoop' all MIDI events coming into ARIA and insert a CC1 event in real time that is equal to the the note's on velocity (value 2).
Another perk to setting bidule as the default vsti synth, is that I can easily get my VST3 plugins into the game too.
Yet another bonus is the ability to manipulate the velocity curves of drum kits before they hit their respective plugin(s). I.E. Garritan JABB drum kits need more 'velocity' to cut through the mix. Cranking up the 'volume' for the kit isn't always enough.
As far as BIAB knows, it's talking to a single instance of the Bidule plugin. Inside bidule, I have a party going on, where I can mix and match sounds from any plugin I like.
Here I've got an instance hosting: Synthfont64 (VST2), Roland Sound Canvas Plugin (VST2), Two instances of HALion 7 (VST3), Groove Agent 5 (VST3), MIDI output to a hardware Fantom XR (MIDI output), Garritan/Plogue ARIA (For JABB3) with Velcoity to CC1 injection (VST2), Roland Zynology (VST3), East West Play (VST3)
I can easily route any channel to the plugin/channel of my choice using a special matrix, that can also save remote controllable presets.
One issue with using JABB in BIAB is how it deals with dynamics.
Instead of using note velocity, it uses CC1 or CC11 events.
I'm really new to biab, but so far I've been using bidule to 'snoop' all MIDI events coming into ARIA and insert a CC1 event in real time that is equal to the the note's on velocity (value 2).
Another perk to setting bidule as the default vsti synth, is that I can easily get my VST3 plugins into the game too.
Yet another bonus is the ability to manipulate the velocity curves of drum kits before they hit their respective plugin(s). I.E. Garritan JABB drum kits need more 'velocity' to cut through the mix. Cranking up the 'volume' for the kit isn't always enough.
As far as BIAB knows, it's talking to a single instance of the Bidule plugin. Inside bidule, I have a party going on, where I can mix and match sounds from any plugin I like.
Here I've got an instance hosting: Synthfont64 (VST2), Roland Sound Canvas Plugin (VST2), Two instances of HALion 7 (VST3), Groove Agent 5 (VST3), MIDI output to a hardware Fantom XR (MIDI output), Garritan/Plogue ARIA (For JABB3) with Velcoity to CC1 injection (VST2), Roland Zynology (VST3), East West Play (VST3)
I can easily route any channel to the plugin/channel of my choice using a special matrix, that can also save remote controllable presets.
At first glance it seemed very complicated, but as I dug into it some I see how it could be very helpful. I may have to give this a try.
My wife asked if I had seen the dog bowl. I told her I didn't even know he could.
Since posting to this thread, I did find an issue with bidule in BIAB that I had not noticed before. I'm pretty new to BIAB so I'm still much learning.
For some reason things I host in bidule will not 'render' or export tracks/songs into wav/mp3/etc.
I'm not sure why this isn't working with BIAB, as instant rendering/audio export/etc, does fine in bidule (both VST2 or VST3) with all my other DAWs. Might be something "I" am doing wrong. Could be a problem with bidule, or it might be with BIAB.
Until I can sort it out, my 'sidestep' for now is to just render tracks or songs in realtime with a recorder inside bidule itself. Costs some extra time but during exploratory stages of trying songs/styles with an endless pallet of sounds to choose from easily, I suppose the trade off is worth it.
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
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With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
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Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
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Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
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MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
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With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
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