this is my fault for not keeping up with changes but i have 2024 latest patch and want to audition styles. the old style picker used to have two options - use the chords of the song or load the demo. the new stylepicker only seems to allow me to use the chirds of the song. i want to play demos how do i do it? wading through the manual i now have more sympathy with new users
If you go into Stylepicker, you'll find a "Demo" button above the list of styles (#1 on the image below). Also, by clicking on the "+" (#2) that's on the right side of the Demo button, you can access a setting (#3) that will allow you to set BIAB so that double-clicking on the style will play the demo.
thanks Noel - trial and error is getting me ther after your advice but i must sya this is a bit clunkier than the old system - is the old stylepicker still available?
Trial and error will always get you there in the end! It's what I use, too. The old Stylepicker is no longer an option. If you have any other issues, please don't hesitate to ask! --Noel
"clunkier than the old system" I am sorry Bob, but I disagree with you 100%. People fail to learn and adopt to more efficient ways, instead asking to keep obsolete methods, which makes program bloated with with unneeded complexity and redundancy, scaring new comers...and then complain about bugs.
Instead of bashing fantastic new feature, I recommended spending 20-40 minutes with it. Here are three items of new way that I am aware of that makes new method not whole: An option to "ghost" play, meaning without affecting original. Option to preserve original tempo. Undo coupled with Undo history. You can easily overcome all these by making a copy of original project and working with a copy. I do hope PGM will address these.
New method benefits: No mousing or scrolling through different menus & jailed pop up dialogs, waiting for memory generations that will not place the style unless you exit and repeat. With new method, unlike old picker you can navigate through the whole project and hear exactly what and how it will sound at a particular place, with your chording , preserving settings and VST instruments you have in your project. You are free to edit project while MTP (Multi Picker Library) is open and switch between the two. You can swap out RT's and other content on the fly without closing MTP. You can quicky audition dozens of styles on the fly with your chordsheet which took 10 times longer with previous way.
I think humans can't keep track of 5000 of anything. Marbles, Kittens, or even BIAB styles. Just too many things.
Perhaps PG Music can switch the approach on styles . Instead of the ever increasing number of a particular style (lets say samba), try the following Offer a single samba style then afford users some control how each musician in the "band" plays that particular stye. There may be some need for a couple more but perhaps less than the 187 that currently exist in biab. (Disclaimer - i have no idea how many samba styles there but there are many)
There are examples of this approach to software based session players. I've used a couple of them. They are quite powerful.
biab2025(Mac) Latest Build Mac OS (Latest) Apple Mac Mini M2 pro 32GB Ram Logic Pro 11.2.2 Irwin Vice Grip Fencing Pliers
mrgeeze, That would be a candidate for wishlist. For what it worth, I don't believe I ever used full set of musicians that was offered in a premade style. I would always swap out at least half or more. Styles are just a starting point. With new MTPL (Multipicker Library) and near instant generation it became extremely easy to swap or add tracks on the fly and hear how they sound in context. I made a video few weeks back to show how I use new tools. I will add it here, since it in many ways relates to OP and your posts. I hope it gives you and others some ideas of possibilities new workflow has to offer.
i take youur point Rusty but then you and i differ quite a lot in what we want. i've been using BIAB since the 90s to create backing tracks and as i've said in the past the idea is to replicate the kind of small electric and acoustic bands i used to play with.
BIAB does that admirably almost straight out of the box, and like real life if i want to fire the bass player a replacement is easy enough to find.
Hence what i need is really quite simple. In the old days of midi only i found that moving to PowerTracks made editing and replacing parts easy although that really was clunky. It involved generating a standard midi file as the base track and any extras or replacements meant revisitng BIAB, generating another standard midi file, opening PT and copying the new part to the clipboard to paste into the base track. So much easier now but as my needs are quite simple the amount of editing and changing i neeed to do is quite limited. For my purposes the new stylepicker is more complex than the old one and that results in the extra functionality you find so effective.
Power users such as yourself will find it useful. However, as i've said in the past trying to graft DAW functionality onto BIAB has created a powerful but complicated piece of software. Starting off in BIAB and then doing the heavy lifting in RB or another DAW is the way many of us go and it means that we don't need the grafted on functions that complicate BIAB.
The new functions aren't ones I actually need - BIAB and RB are the ideal solution for my music needs and i haven't yet found anything I need that i can't do. Extra functionality in BIAB does mean a lot to Power Users but makes the program a little more complicated for base users like me but i realise 'clunky' sounds pejorative and my approach to PG Music products is anything but.
I just bought a new car and whereas in the old days i had volume and tuning knobs and push button presets for the four stations I listen to on AM/FM, i now have fifty or so digital stations and a menu that's quite complicated to tune in and save the stations I want. My grandchildren treat that as normal and a breeze and while in the past they've come to me for advice on PCs and software I'm getting increasingly out of date. Compared to pressing a button and turning a knob to get what i want the digital radio is 'clunky' as far as i'm concerned!
.................................................. However, as i've said in the past trying to graft DAW functionality onto BIAB has created a powerful but complicated piece of software. Starting off in BIAB and then doing the heavy lifting in RB or another DAW is the way many of us go and it means that we don't need the grafted on functions that complicate BIAB. .................................
I agree with Bob on this point.
I believe that the answer for both camps is to leave BiaB as a backing track generator for those whom transfer the tracks to a DAW and for PGM to incorporate all of the BiaB functions into RB for those whom want the all in one package. YMMV
PS - I do like the new Multipicker Library.
It takes courage for a man to admit his wife was wrong.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Bob, I can understand that people get used to certain methods, I do. I just don't agree with the "clunky" part about MTP. You have to spend some time with it to realize that it has a much smoother & faster workflow getting from A>B than previous methods.
Mario: "I believe that the answer for both camps is to leave BiaB as a backing track generator" In a way I agree. With exception that existing features that are still a bit raw should be finished and known issues addressed.
I'd like to watch your video, but I get an error message when I click on it.
Me too:
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
Working now. It might have been a temporary problem with YouTube.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
If I'm not mistaken, the Style Picker can be launched by two different methods:
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
David, You are welcome. I am glad at least you are willing to give it a shot
P.S. It seems most (music) software developers stride to ease workflow with each release. PGM did just that with non modal MTP and several other improvements in 2024. So people have more time to make music instead of poking in hidden menus. I hope more people will try new method(s) to see the potential & benefits it has to offer.
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.
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)
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!
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!
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!
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!
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 Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 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 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!
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.
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