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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2009
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OP
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There used to be many more users with many more daily posts but now it can go for days without a post. You look at other forums and they have not gone down like the PG ones. I just made suggestions here: The Future, How Far Away Is It ? to try and bring a whole new audience to the BBPlugin/BBPlugin Standalone. Rather than expecting new users to come down to an old limited way of doing things with a steep learning curve of Biab, from the total ease of their DAW . It would have to be a good thing wouldn't it ? to try and bring modern generation of DAW only users to the BBPlugin once it's all working better how it should, better than Biab main app even. To have it's own professional modern website and new name to get away from the stigma attached to it: "Band In A Box, "old program for old people"". A new modern website, with it's own name, it doesn't take much to make something more modern:  Get well away from the old stigma: 
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 745
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 745 |
I post when there is a discussion I am interested in.
There are a LOT of posts dealing with coding that I have no interest in.
Hence, limited posting.
...Deb
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2009
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OP
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Posts: 3,110 |
Studio One is a DAW if that's what you use. Everything needs to be coded Biab, Studio One that's how you have them. If I code a script for Reaper or a Autohotkey script I code that freely for users, they don't need to do the coding.
You have so many functions and features in Biab now that you use that came about by me "coding" things and showing them working and that they can be implemented into Biab/BBPlugin/BBPlugin Standalone. You also have scripting in Studio One for a reason (so guys like me can make up scripts for users to get Biab chords to and from Studio One).
If I wasn't here posting there is SO many features in Biab and a Plugin you simply would not have.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 745
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 745 |
I've been using BIAB for over 10 years. It has worked fine for me all that time.
And the original comment was about why less people are posting. In my case, I ignore posts I have have no interest in and rarely start a new thread unless I run into something I need clarification on. (Or to wish someone happy birthday.) Hence, less posts from me.
700 plus posts in 10 years is not a whole lot - just consider me a normal user. Nothing fancy.
...Deb
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 19
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 19 |
When BIAB fist came out it was a pretty unique piece of software. I don't think there was any other software on the market where you can enter chords and get a full backing track with a few clicks. The only other thing that could do something similar, to my knowledge, were the home keyboards of the 80s with an "Auto Comp" feature (like old Yamaha PSR keyboards).
Back then BIAB was a great practice tool (and I believe marketed as such) for guitarists mainly but could also be used to quickly sketch an idea out. I don't think anyone used it for any final production. I think that stigma remains today, that BIAB is a practice tool or sketch pad for ideas.
In modern times, where basically anyone with a little bit of interest can have a small project studio in their bedroom running a pro DAW with tons of astonishing plugins, BIAB compares poorly to its competition on several points. The younger crowd puts a lot more weight on applications needing to be streamlined, offer quick and intuitive workflow, have an attractive GUI and play nicely with other studio software and components. I find BIAB lacking in all of the above. Add to that the popularity of products such as those from Toontrack et al. which ticks all of those boxes and BIAB is sadly outplayed.
I am a working musician and composer and run a small project studio. I use BIAB for practice and on occasion to generate piano and bass MIDI for inspiration that I import into my DAW. I don't use realtracks.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I am sorry Chicago i disagree. I do appreciate your view, and i am sure that in your workflow those things are true for you. But for me with over 30 years of using recording software. i have used BiaB for 20 years now i don't care how fancy slick and streamlined it is i just want it to work. It flat out does. Does it do everything perfectly No!. Toontracks products are plugins. You can not take those plugins and create a 5 piece backing track, unless you place them in a host DAW. EZDrummer will make a drum track, EZbass will make a bass track, same with the rest, BiaB will make all 4 or 5 or 6 in seconds with out a host. Even if all you want is midi to fire up the toontracks plugins it is useful.
Sorry but those programs pale in comparison. I will say it could use a face lift to some degree, but with the depth of programs multifaceted approach to what it was created for, it works great. I have talk to young people who at first glance thought BiaB was old fashioned and complicated. They did not want to use it. Then i demonstrated how i put a band track together and they were WOW that is crazy. Then they gave it a closer look. Every year this program adds some cool tools, I am sure that will continue. It is and will be useful as part of the tool box. Realtracks, and RealDrums are great, but not the end all for every situation. I use them for some projects, sometimes i drag the midi track, sometimes i play the track myself.
We all have different needs. I am not knocking yours. I just disagree with blanket statements like "The younger crowd puts a lot more weight on applications needing to be streamlined, offer quick and intuitive workflow, have an attractive GUI and play nicely with other studio software and components." BiaB does play nicely with others you can create and drag what ever you want and it is not hard to do. Does it fit everyones needs? No, but it has been around since the early 90s and is still going strong. I have talked to several people who use it in small project studios that get a ton of mileage out of it. So i say if it works for you at least to a small point then great. Use the tools that work for you.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
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Posts: 22 |
I recently upgraded to Ultra and seriously you really do need it to have BIAB.
I think so far as younger people go the price is going to be a bit steep for them
Perhaps consider a version that focuses on rock,folk,folkrock,newage,grunge,country qnd pop
but doesn't come with the other "old folks" styles(but can be purchased separately)
It would have all the real drums and real tracks necessary for those styles it comes with.
Maybe that could reduce the cost to be more attractive to new artists...
Just a thought
Last edited by Doggie; 07/21/23 10:37 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2009
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OP
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I've been using BIAB for over 10 years. It has worked fine for me all that time....
Both Studio One and BIAB is working exactly as I would like it to do. Why use Studio One ??? when you have POWER||TRACKS PRO AUDIO it's worked fine for 30 years all that time.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,138
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i started using BIAB on floppies. at the time when i went into a famous london store that dealt with digital music prodfuction, BIAB was the only product they had that produced complete backing tracks. cubase, cakewalk etc were around but nothing like BIAB.
those of us that wanted to produce music were the exception rather than the rule. now every teenager wants to produce music in their bedroom like their idols.
totally different market with diffent outlook and tastes.
BIAB purchasers originally come from the musician market........now many software purchasers come from the fan market. and their musical tastes maybe don't include jazz and country. or celtic. or folk. but to call that "old folks" styles may have a grain of truth but doesn't define BIAB's market.
and i agree with Rob Helms that if people looked in greater detail they'd appreciate BIAB. but it does take work and effort. but if it was any easier it would be less capable.
BIAB and RB are great and limitless. the BIAB interface is crowded and the learning curve is steep. but as a friend of mine used to say 'if this is the sort of thing you like you'll like this sort of thing'.
Last edited by Bob Calver; 07/23/23 12:31 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2001
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and have you noticed the number of posts recently where users really don't know what midi is? a gap that didn't exist when BIAB started. 'what's midi and why do i need it?'shows the starting point is not what it was when most long term BIAB users set out.
Last edited by Bob Calver; 07/23/23 12:38 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 745
Journeyman
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Journeyman
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Why not? Studio one fits my needs and interfaces easily with my other Presonus equipment.
Nothing wrong with "PowerTracks Pro" that you mentioned, I like what I have.
...Deb
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
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......................
and i agree with Rob Helms that if people looked in greater detail they'd appreciate BIAB. but it does take work and effort. but if it was any easier it would be less capable.
................... Bob, I agree that if people looked deeper into Biab they would appreciate it more, but I disagree with the "but if it was any easier it would be less capable" statement. Says who? With PGMusic's convoluted menus and terminology it can be hard for a beginner to get interested in BiaB. Year after year there are many questions on what each package contains, i.e. Pro is an entry level package here but all other companies Pro is the top of the line package. How many cut and paste options do we need? Why are there two print menus? Etc etc. IMHO the menus, BiaB, and packaging needs to be updated and streamlined. For example my DAW, Studio One Pro, is extremely easy to use and in fact I started using it without reading any documentation. As I got comfortable with it I started to dig deeper into it. BiaB should be that easy. Don't get me wrong. Virtually all of my songs start in BiaB and as you probably know most all are MIDI. I get out of BiaB ASAP because it is much easier for me to do my MIDI and audio editing in Studio One Pro. YMMV
I'm in a fitness protection program. I'm been hiding from exercise.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,138
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partly agree with you Mario, but making a song in BIAB is not really any more complicated than when I first started. choose a key, tap in a time, enter the chords and choose a style. you then have a song. and at that point i move over to RB because it is easier and simpler to use. the 'problem' - if you can call it that - is the extra capability BIAB has introduced over the years because it seems people want a 'one box solution'.
'i want to do so and so' which is not obvious someone posts and Charlie or Jim Fogle posts a detailed description oh how to do it. (i'm impressed always by how much they know BIAB inside out and just what the program can do.) but it's usually quite complicated compared with doing the same thing in RB.
that's why i said BIAB is now so hard to get to grips with. there are no buttons i can think of that don't do something useful and the complexity is due to the addons users have requested.
you get out asap and go to studio 1. i go to RB. why create utility tracks in BIAB when you have as many as you want in RB where all tracks really are equal? but people wanted it.
giving people what they want is why BIAB is the way it is. so we're back at square one - responding to customer requirements!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2020
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For example my DAW, Studio One Pro, is extremely easy to use and in fact I started using it without reading any documentation. As I got comfortable with it I started to dig deeper into it. BiaB should be that easy.
+1 and spot on. My experience is similar: a. Some difficulty in climbing the BiaB learning curve, yet it's power is self-evident b. No problem in learning the intuitive and clean design of Studio One and is also powerful Here is my concern. As a technocrat and one who casually follows innovation, it is likely that a company in this business space may "sense blood in the water" and produce a product that will directly and successfully compete with BiaB. I hope this doesn't happen as I have come to respect PG Music and its flagship product in a big way. However, the entry bar to enter this business space has recently been lowered in a major way. It is no longer required to retain a large department of coders and suffer with development times measured in years. I recently viewed a technical video that demonstrates how ChatGPT can actually write computer code that can exceed the quality produced by seasoned professional computer programmers. This is hugely significant.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 2025 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Why not? Studio one fits my needs and interfaces easily with my other Presonus equipment.
Nothing wrong with "PowerTracks Pro" that you mentioned, I like what I have.
...Deb
Why? Reaper fits my needs for scripting to show how coding Biab/BBPlugin/RealBand/PowerTracks can be made better, heaven forbid if we try to do that without getting cancelled. Are these things I have shown using Reaper been implemented into or being implemented into Biab/BBPlugin to make things easier for users like you just like Studio One does ? YES. Nothing wrong with Studio One except the is no information on it's scripting and won't play wma files otherwise I would be using it also to demonstrate.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Posts: 3,110
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...For example my DAW, Studio One Pro, is extremely easy to use and in fact I started using it without reading any documentation. As I got comfortable with it I started to dig deeper into it. BiaB should be that easy. That is my whole purpose of being here to make the PG products better, regardless of all the attacks. I list their short comings BUT come up with ideas and solutions that I go to a lot of trouble to work out and show.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- 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)
- Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- 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)
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Video: New User Interface (GUI)
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
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