When i am looking for a style i often come up numerous possibilties. Is there a way that you can create a temporary list of the potential syles as you you explore so you can make a final pick from that group of potentials .
This might work for you. Under the 'Other' button there is an option to show only recently used styles, however, you will receive a larger list of results, not just the styles you explored for your current song:
BIAB & RB2025 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
I have also been looking for this, it would be a very useful feature, it is strange it's not already in there.
If it is not to many I guess that one could use the favourites but that means to erase all current favourites and put them back later (not very useful).
Yes, this is a challenge. I think that Jim (OP Jim) is looking for something on the fly, that would not affect Favorites or even creating a new user category, but he can try what Jim (Fogle) suggests and see.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
... a shortlist of candidate styles. ... ditto for candidate RealTracks, actually. Writing them down shortlist is so 70s.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
It would be good if 'Recently used styles' included a 'last used' timestamp value that could be sorted by. That would probably resolve the issue that the O/P is experiencing.
In fact, it would be better still if the Style Picker itself had this feature. One could quickly find a style that they had used yesterday, last week, etc. I'm heading over to the Wish List.
BIAB & RB2025 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
I have also been looking for this, it would be a very useful feature, it is strange it's not already in there.
If it is not to many I guess that one could use the favourites but that means to erase all current favourites and put them back later (not very useful).
The Favorites and Recently as well as the User category will list up to 150 at a time.
You can avoid losing the current favorites by saving the list as Set File and there's no limit to how many set files can be saved.
You can create a temporary list of potential styles for multiple searches as you explore and choose from any group of existing sets.
Recently used styles can be saved using a 'last used' timestamp value as the file title and that will display sorted by beginning letter or number.
Lately there has been much discussion on the limitations of the Style Picker across a few different threads. A common theme seems to be that information overload hinders workflow.
Initially, the idea of drinking from a firehose came to mind, but then I realized that when doing so your thirst will actually be quenched. I find that after 20 or so minutes of scrolling thru and auditioning an overwhelming list of styles, that I simply give up and live with an approximatation of what I really want, thereby, never really end up "quenching my thirst".
I think a temporary list of potential styles (or something like it) is a great step in the right direction, but it must be intuitive, easy to use and not bog down your work flow. +1 on this idea.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 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.
I find that after 20 or so minutes of scrolling thru and auditioning an overwhelming list of styles, that I simply give up and live with an approximatation of what I really want, thereby, never really end up "quenching my thirst".
Same here. IMO a good start would be categories that categorise and filters that filter. For example, if I select or search for bluegrass - then I only want to see bluegrass. It really should be a no brainer. Most of the categories and filters just give you a bunch of "almost" related matches buried in a sea of completely non related items.
Here is a response from PG . ............................................................. Hello,
You can create your own category by right clicking a Style, choosing Select/Create user category, then creating a category. Once created, you can right click a Style and add this Style to the category for easy use in the future. Thank you, Nicholas PG Music Inc.
Music Trax states in another thread, "There’s a great documentary about a handful of Nashville musicians that have basically been the same studio musicians on 90% of the songs coming out of Nashville."
The reference here is major label studios and smaller label studios and even the busier independent studios in major music like New York, LA, Atlanta, Detroit, Memphis, and Nashville have a short list of go-to session musicians that are normally first call for recording sessions. In BIAB, this is your 'favorite' band (Style) in the StylePicker.
If a recording session in Nashville, Atlanta or LA calls for a specific, unusual instrument, or musician, In BIAB, this would be your 'Recently Used' band (Style) in the StylePicker as you search from a larger database outside your normal favorites.
Major Labels in these major recording markets get their session and specialists from the musicians union in their market or from the musicians union if they have to go outside their normal market for talent.
For instance, Nashville has " Nashville Musicians AFM Local" In BIAB, this is the full StylePicker.
So if a label in Nashville specializes in Bluegrass, they would likely create a database of bluegrass talent from the Nashville Musicians AFM Local. In BIAB, this is your 'User Category"
No Record Label commercial recording studio starts every recording project by searching through the local union book with 10-20 thousand listings.
For instance, if you're a bluegrass artist using BIAB, over time, go through the entire StylePicker finding and selecting bluegrass styles. Save the list as your personal 'User Category'. Append and save new Styles as you come across them.
Perhaps you have 10,165 styles in StylePicker and over time, you find 5,122 bluegrass styles. You can now start each project with a specific master list of bluegrass bands (Styles). Over time, as you develop more specific bands and favorite go-to bands (styles) you can reduce your exhaustive searches that are taking longer than 20 minutes for each project and reduce that down to less than 2 minutes.
There's no indication anyone posting has developed any type of style management system and are starting every search "drinking from a firehose" at full pressure and crippling creativity.
I believe PG Music designed these search methods to specifically manage searches that are repetitive so there's one genre or preferred master category and subsequent lists to reduce searches in incremental search totals where users can quickly find the styles best suited for their normal recording needs.
This method is noted by the User Category' is only accessed from the StylePicker. Therefore, a user can transform the StylePicker into a personal master list.
Both the 'Recently Used' and 'Favorite' list are available in StylePicker and the SGU Master Chord sheet. Style selections can be directly from these lists without leaving the Chord Sheet page.
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.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac 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.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
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