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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,148
Veteran
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OP
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,148 |
been playing since the 60s with various degrees of success. in electric bands and acoustic bands i played with live musicians in various line ups. some of the guys i played with were excellent, some average. but the stuff i still want to play -either recording for my own entertainment or as backing tracks for occasionallly playing out is much the same as in four or five piece bands.
i find that most of the time BIAB styles sound just like the bands i used to play in. sometimes i stray into RB to finish a track and add extra RTs.
but the individual instruments in BIAB sound similar to what the other guys played. bass, drums, guitar - they sound like my old band mates.
i've always upgraded BIAB but quite frankly most of the new 'features' don't apply to me. i like new RTs but i've got so many that i'm spoilt for choice. have i reached the saturation point?
would be interested to know how many BIAB users upgrade every year and whether the number is dropping. is the bulk of sales new users?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,787
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,787 |
Thus far I have upgraded the engine every year. Depending on my money situation I upgrade to the Ultra pac and purchase the extra stuff.
Waitress "How did you find your steak sir"?
Me "I just looked next to the potatoes and there it was"!
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: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,764
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,764 |
Bob, I don't know how one would determine the percentage of repeat customers vs new customers; I'd guess that would be internal and company-proprietary data.
However, I agree that most of the new features that come along don't apply to me either. I have too many RTs and RDs to effectively hunt through to find what I hear in my head. Interesting enough, for me this hasn't been all bad because it has forced me to compose much more on my physical keyboard than would otherwise be the case, thereby contributing to my overall music skills.
But I can say that I do upgrade every year for 2 basic reasons:
1. PGM is an innovative company and BiaB is a great product deserving of my continued business and favorable word-of-mouth. My loyalty has been earned.
2. I have hopes that future upgrades will have relevant improvements such as smart search, filtering and mapping capability to address the above mentioned "too many RTs problem". Perhaps this, and other features that musicians need, will be implemented in the coming months via AI solutions.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 2026 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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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,321
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,321 |
I upgrade every year because...
1) I find that a good number of new tools & additions significantly improve my workflow.
2) There is always some cool & surprising content that inspires me to create.
3)There are only a small number of companies that I believe deserve to be supported annually, PGM is one of them.
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As it was evident from the Rob H's Poll, most people who responded are in favor of optimizing workflow & existing features + fixing known issues and limitations, instead of introducing new items. After this year (2024) update, I support that philosophy. Would I upgrade if the 2025 would primarily focus on maintenance? Absolutely.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 892
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 892 |
upgrade every year.
Mostly because I want PG Music to stay in business.
biab2026(Mac) Latest Build
Mac OS (Latest)
Apple Mac Mini M2 pro 32GB Ram
Logic Pro (latest or pretty close)
Blue and White Sea Star
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 12
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 12 |
I have upgraded every year since 2013. I like to support companies that supply a good product at a fair price. Most companies pester you with email and texts forever after you order something. BIAB doesn't do that. I like the ability to make backing tracks which is my main use. I adment I don't use all the bells and whistles but I do like playing with some of them from time to time.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 583
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 583 |
I started with BIAB in it’s earliest years, upgrading each year. I did skip 2022 and ‘23 for some reason. Now, using 2024. Don’t use any of the latest bells and whistles. Not a song writer, or creator of original stuff. I play out live with BIAB straight from the chord/lyric screen on a laptop. Works great. All I need is a 4 or 5-piece rhythm section. I upgrade for new, or, improved styles and real tracks, working several times a week in retirement homes. I hope PG Music will be around for a long time to come.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 1
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 1 |
how 'bout that i to have some biab floppy's around somewhere (3.5 not the 5") you may have come in before me with the 5" floppy.
sounds like you got a nice rig for the senior circuit. where are you out of? i'm outside philly. i was in that biz from 1987 to 2013. made way more money in nursing /retirement communities than playing bars/parties as a sideman...
i stared using biab on those kinda gigs but performance /karaoke tracks were just tooooo easy pop in and re key if needed and just to work.
now i write musicals so making the rhythm sec in biab and then importing the midi tracks into Sibelius for orchestral treatments if needed. i like the human feel of biab over writing it all out in a piano roll in cubase. biab adds a human feel to the projects. tons of versatility with a system like this.
anyway, i digress, since i was busy playing guitar, a laptop didn't fit my work flow and had to many choices. i'd get all distracted wondering about a new way i could manipulate the software etc. OCD.
none of this digital tech existed when i started that circuit. karaoke tracks were on cassette tape which was never in tune and i play guitar on these gigs as well, so that sucked. then we got DAT tape which held pitch but ya had to line up your sets cause you had to physically fast forward that digital audio tape to search for a song and that took time. if i recall correctly, then came the CD and i could find songs really fast for the first time. finally enter, the ipod/zune! it was a gig rig in the palm of my hand. nowadays i'd use my phone for playback if i were still active.
there was one other bit that was coming into vogue as i was retiring from performance. using pitch to midi software or a good daw to extract midi from karaoke tracks and produce them in any key with no artifacts.
do you have any tracks posted? i'd like to hear what you're doin' with biab.
gary murway
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,787
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,787 |
............................
do you have any tracks posted? i'd like to hear what you're doin' with biab. The User Showcase forum has all of the BiaB customer's songs so head there to hear them: https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=50&page=1
Waitress "How did you find your steak sir"?
Me "I just looked next to the potatoes and there it was"!
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: Jul 2004
Posts: 58
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 58 |
I upgrade every year. I usually go with the UltraPak as I really don't like not having the full set of styles and RTs at my fingertips. My primary use is to create backing tracks with bass, drums, piano, and guitar. A real jazz quartet in the box is wonderful to have for my performances.
Bruce Hook - Soprano, Alto and Tenor Saxes
BIAB 2023 UltraPak | Intel i7 | Mackie ProFX10v3 Audio Interface | 1TB SSD | Reaper DAW
| Akai EWI 5000 | M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,148
Veteran
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OP
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,148 |
I think PG does deserve our support and I'll probably upgrade even though I don't need any new features. Interesting SaxaBruce seems to use BIAB the same way I do but for jazz not country folk and pop.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,650
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,650 |
Bob.
i love it that a small cdn company like pg has been successfull.
i always root for the underdog in a market sector.
happiness.
om
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs(90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 270
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 270 |
Bob,
Sounds like we could be twins separated at birth.
This sentence very much applies to me;
i've always upgraded BIAB but quite frankly most of the new 'features' don't apply to me. i like new RTs but i've got so many that i'm spoilt for choice. have i reached the saturation point?
Vintage
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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 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
Holiday Weekend Hours
It's Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada. Our Customer Service hours are:
Saturday, May 16: Closed
Sunday, May 17: Closed
Monday, May 18: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Regular hours resume Tuesday, May 19th!
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
Don't wait - order today!
Check out all the new features in the redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
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!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
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.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac 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)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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 PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
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 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available 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 Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
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.
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 as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
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