Over the years I have always used the same method. Input the chords in BIAB. Get a decent version of the backing tracks. Render the tracks individually into .wav files. Open Reaper, import the .wav tracks and work with them there.
So I was looking at the top left of the BIAB screen and trying to see which button to press to start this process.
I saw the DAW pluggin button and pressed it but nothing special happened. So I watched a YouTube video on the BIAB plugin and followed along with Reaper.
I must say I was left scratching my head. Why in the world would I want to install a BIAB plugin inside Reaper so that I can start Reaper and create BIAB tracks inside Repear????
Huh? BIAB is dripping with 1000's of features. Does it make any sense to create BIAB tracks inside Reaper when I obviously will lose most of the BIAB features in doing so?
What is the whole point of this BIAB plugin? What am I missing?
How difficult is it to do what I just did and have always done? Create the tracks in BIAB and then import them into your DAW?
A BIAB user for more than 30 years (if you can believe it) !
Band-in-a-Box DAW mode was introduced before the Band-in-a-Box plugin.
DAW mode shrinks the size of the Band-in-a-Box window and forces the Band-in-a-Box window to always be the top screen. The smaller size and always on top window make it easier for both Band-in-a-Box and a DAW window to both be open at the same time so a user can easily drag tracks from Band-in-a-Box and drop the tracks in the DAW.
The DAW plugin can reside inside a DAW and perform some Band-in-a-Box tasks. The plugin allows a user to open a SGU file while inside the DAW. This can be useful when you want to create additional tracks or audition alternative mixes.
Some will say DAW mode is obsolete because a user can use the plugin. I disagree because the DAW mode allows a user to utilize all the features of Band-in-a-Box while the plugin does not have all the features of the program.
Band-in-a-Box DAW mode was introduced before the Band-in-a-Box plugin.
DAW mode shrinks the size of the Band-in-a-Box window and forces the Band-in-a-Box window to always be the top screen. The smaller size and always on top window make it easier for both Band-in-a-Box and a DAW window to both be open at the same time so a user can easily drag tracks from Band-in-a-Box and drop the tracks in the DAW.
The DAW plugin can reside inside a DAW and perform some Band-in-a-Box tasks. The plugin allows a user to open a SGU file while inside the DAW. This can be useful when you want to create additional tracks or audition alternative mixes.
Some will say DAW mode is obsolete because a user can use the plugin. I disagree because the DAW mode allows a user to utilize all the features of Band-in-a-Box while the plugin does not have all the features of the program.
OK thanks Jim. I'm having some success now with that DAW icon in the top left corner. I didn't know I was supposed to drag the tracks right into Reaper. I just did it now with three tracks successfully. It does save a bit of of time.
But I wouldn't use the BIAB plugin inside Reaper to create BIAB tracks. Is it going to offer me all of BIAB styles and RealTracks/Drums and basically all of the other BIAB features?
A BIAB user for more than 30 years (if you can believe it) !
If you have Reaper you have you have the easiest solution, no DAW Plug-In Mode, no rendering, do dragging: Open SGU in Reaper In Biab freeze tracks In Biab Save SGU In Reaper Open SGU
Also: New GUI script Set-SGU-MGU-single-frozen-track-or-section-to-import-to-selected-track-GUI.zip This allows you to set the current SGU you are working on in Biab and instantly import any frozen track or section, so each time I generate a new bit or freeze a different track I Ctrl+ S Biab first then click the Import SGU in Reaper:
Also: New GUI script Set-SGU-MGU-single-frozen-track-or-section-to-import-to-selected-track-GUI.zip This allows you to set the current SGU you are working on in Biab and instantly import any frozen track or section, so each time I generate a new bit or freeze a different track I Ctrl+ S Biab first then click the Import SGU in Reaper:
Hi Muso thanks for writing here and telling me about your scripts! I started the process and got to the part where it said 'edit'. Then I stopped. This is not easy to set up!
And I'm not really sure what it will accomplish in the end that is better than just using the DAW inside BIAB?
A BIAB user for more than 30 years (if you can believe it) !
The default RT RD path is C:\ and default file type is wma, if you use these already you don't need to Edit. if you have the tracks on another drive like F: set it to the drive: default_tracks_dir = "F:\\bb\\RealTracks\\" the default file type is wma if you are using wma set it to: file_type = ".wma" if you are using wav set it to: file_type = ".wav" then use Ctrl+S to save script and run, it will browse for the SGU MGU.. you can cancel out and close the script then run it from the Action box, just search for SGU and it will show, select it then click Run.
Code
default_tracks_dir = "C:\\bb\\RealTracks\\" --(for Win use \\, for Mac use / :default directory for RealTracks wav files
default_drums_dir = "C:\\bb\\Drums\\" --(for Win use \\, for Mac use / :default directory for RealDrums wav files
file_type = ".wma" --{".wma",".wav",".m4a",".aiff",".flac",".mp3",".wv",".ogg"}
The default RT RD path is C:\ and default file type is wma, if you use these already you don't need to Edit. if you have the tracks on another drive like F: set it to the drive: default_tracks_dir = "F:\\bb\\RealTracks\\" the default file type is wma ...
But you haven't said what the script in Reaper is expecting to find? Are you supposed to have completed your song in BIAB so it's ready to go in Reaper? Is your script basically going to import the BIAB song file? Or will it import .wav files or what?
What is the script looking for, where is it looking and what will it do exactly?
A BIAB user for more than 30 years (if you can believe it) !
If you have Reaper you have you have the easiest solution, no DAW Plug-In Mode, no rendering, do dragging: Open SGU in Reaper In Biab freeze tracks In Biab Save SGU In Reaper Open SGU
Where do you have your RealTracks and Drums ? are you using wma or wav ? wav files come with the Audiophile Edition. If you right click on a media item > Source Properties it will tell you where the file is it's looking for. Also Action > Peaks: Build any missing peaks
Where do you have your RealTracks and Drums ? are you using wma or wav ? wav files come with the Audiophile Edition. If you right click on a media item > Source Properties it will tell you where the file is it's looking for. Also Action > Peaks: Build any missing peaks
You can set in Preferences (Ctrl+P)
My RealTrack are here: d:\Music\BIAB\RealTracks\ My Drums are here: d:\Music\BIAB\Drums\
Your instructions don't mention anything about wav or wma files. They just talk about SGU files, which is how BIAB saves my files.
Sorry but it seems you are assuming many things before your script will work properly.
Again, right now all I have to do is save my BIAB file. Export each track (I choose .wav), and then in Reaper just drag these .wav files right into new tracks. BINGO! Very simple. I mean how much simpler can you get than that?
A BIAB user for more than 30 years (if you can believe it) !
"Very simple. I mean how much simpler can you get than that?" 100 times more simpler and quicker.
I assume if you don't have the Audiophile Edition of Biab it will be wma so in the script: default_tracks_dir = "D:\\Music\\BIAB\\RealTracks\\" --(for Win use \\, for Mac use / :default directory for RealTracks wav files default_drums_dir = "D:\\Music\\BIAB\\Drums\\" --(for Win use \\, for Mac use / :default directory for RealDrums wav files file_type = ".wma"
If you are using wma you will need Reaper v6.57 or later.
"Very simple. I mean how much simpler can you get than that?" 100 times more simpler and quicker.
I assume if you don't have the Audiophile Edition of Biab it will be wma so in the script: default_tracks_dir = "D:\\Music\\BIAB\\RealTracks\\" --(for Win use \\, for Mac use / :default directory for RealTracks wav files default_drums_dir = "D:\\Music\\BIAB\\Drums\\" --(for Win use \\, for Mac use / :default directory for RealDrums wav files file_type = ".wma"
If you are using wma you will need Reaper v6.57 or later.
OK thanks Muso, I've got it working now. I'll have to try it out on a bunch of files in the next little while and see how much time I save with it. I commend you on all the work you put in to make this script! Congrats!
A BIAB user for more than 30 years (if you can believe it) !
I'm glad you got it working ! With the soloist track sections you can lengthen them to add notes that you can't do with a consolidated wav file that you render in Biab. You can also do that with the Drums track to get the exact track you need, then it can be made instantly into Stems. You can instantly change FX <> Direct Input keeping the same riffs. You can add new sections to any track with the other 2 scripts Script: Import single frozen track or section SGU MGU to selected track.lua or the easiest way with the GUI script Script: Set SGU MGU single frozen track or section to import to selected track GUI.lua with the GUI script you just copy all the files in the zip to the Scripts folder then load: Script: Set SGU MGU single frozen track or section to import to selected track GUI.lua
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: 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.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 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.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 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 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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!
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.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.
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