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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 94
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 94 |
If I don't use Band in a Box every day, I end up spending more time searching for how to accomplish a particular task than I do using it to create music. I can open a program like EZKey or EZDrummer which I haven't used in months and drag in an intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, est., change the chords and tempo and other parameters and have a rough layout for a song within minutes without ever having to look anything up.
Sure I can type in a few chords, select a style, and create a song in Band in a Box in a few minutes too, but I usually get bogged down looking for how to do something and end up search the manual or the internet for it. I eventually figure it out and get back on track, and like the results, since the RealTracks and midi styles are pretty awesome.
It seems like the real estate on the screen could be better utilized if it had panels for styles, chords, chord progressions est that could be dragged into a much smaller arrangement window, instead of the program feeling like a spreadsheet heavily relying on keyboard input and memorization of shortcut keys and menu items.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,045
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,045 |
+1 I agree (and many other users do to) that much more attention should be given to workflow.
Having said that, there have been significant improvements made in the past 2 years, especially in 2024. Specifically: non-modal workflow for certain often used tools, MTP (content) library - which is also non modal, and partial regeneration in Track View that doesn't require any dialogs. Just your selection and ears. Did you have time to explore these, or you have an older version?
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,876
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,876 |
+1
I also use EZ tools and they are very well designed. Same with Kontakt and izotope stuff. And none of these are very similar in their GUIs but because they are fairly well designed you can mostly figure them out without the manual. As for BIAB I have given up on the manual because it is like searching for a needle in a haystack. I come here and get help from this generous community. Also, I have learned to use BIAB for only the most basic things, like generating instrument tracks from RealTracks, and then move as quickly as I can to my DAW for production.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,594
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,594 |
+1. I've been using BIAB for more than 20 years and feel exactly the same.
Latest BIAB version, latest build.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 567
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 567 |
+1/ exactly
My latest experience is now when testing out the new stem separation in BIAB 2025.
Stem separation was fairly easy and straight forward as such but then when it comes to use it in BIAB to generate music against it I need to make a Time Map with ACW.
I have managed to do this before at times after spending hours on it and looking through the manual and guidance from the forum.
But this knowledge is nothing that sticks or that I remember now since I don’t use ACW in BIAB unless I really have to (and I don’t since I do most of my work outside BIAB in my DAW and other software).
So I tried to do the Time Mapping in ACW once again but gave up after one hour.
I just don’t want to spend any more time on it (it is done automatically or by one single operation in other software).
I know that I can figure it out again if I go back to my notes and check the guidance notes here on the forum but that will again take hours and I don’t want to be there.
The above is given just as an example.
The new stem separation seems to work fine but falls more or less flat since the next step in the workflow - to set the time map - is very frustrating and time consuming (at least for for me).
BIAB 2026, Studio One 7 Pro, Song Master Pro, Win11 Home. i7-9700K CPU, 32GB, ESI MAYA44eX, ZOOM UAC-2, Guitar Pro 8, Transcribe, (EZKeys2, EZD3, SD3, EZBass, EZMix3)
Amateur: fiddle, guitar, vocal, beginner on bass.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,800
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,800 |
+1/ exactly
My latest experience is now when testing out the new stem separation in BIAB 2025.
Stem separation was fairly easy and straight forward as such but then when it comes to use it in BIAB to generate music against it I need to make a Time Map with ACW.
I have managed to do this before at times after spending hours on it and looking through the manual and guidance from the forum.
But this knowledge is nothing that sticks or that I remember now since I don’t use ACW in BIAB unless I really have to (and I don’t since I do most of my work outside BIAB in my DAW and other software).
So I tried to do the Time Mapping in ACW once again but gave up after one hour.
I just don’t want to spend any more time on it (it is done automatically or by one single operation in other software).
I know that I can figure it out again if I go back to my notes and check the guidance notes here on the forum but that will again take hours and I don’t want to be there.
The above is given just as an example.
The new stem separation seems to work fine but falls more or less flat since the next step in the workflow - to set the time map - is very frustrating and time consuming (at least for for me). If there's an issue with syncing the stems in BIAB I found that it wasn't clear that the ACW in BIAB is a single track function. The ACW only works on the Audio Track. The Master stem is on the Audio Track and is used to sync with BIAB program. This action doesn't affect the split stems. The ACW requires the first bar of audio on the Audio Track to be determined and set by the user. This aligns the Master Track with BIAB Chord Sheet but none of the split stems are automatically aligned. Once the tempo map is created, all tracks follow the tempo map. The issue seems that the stems aren't aligned with the change made to the Master Track setting the first bar. When you first play the split stems in BIAB, they all are aligned. It's creating the ACW tempo map process of attempting to do a multitrack function on a single track tool where the misalignment occurs. The easy answer for Windows users is to split stems in RealBand. It is a total breeze because all of split tracks are aligned when imported and RB has the option to use the existing song when processing the ACW, so the tempo map will align all the tracks, BIAB and splits at once. RealBand can save the file as a Band in a Box file. If the user is only planning to use the isolated vocals, This can be done in BIAB. It's easy to sync any single track automatically with the Master Track when the Master Track is processed by the ACW and then remove the Master Track leaving just the isolated vocal track. This process works with any split stem track. I used vocals as an example.
BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 567
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 567 |
Thanks,
I may try it out later on.
(not sure I find it intuitively)
BIAB 2026, Studio One 7 Pro, Song Master Pro, Win11 Home. i7-9700K CPU, 32GB, ESI MAYA44eX, ZOOM UAC-2, Guitar Pro 8, Transcribe, (EZKeys2, EZD3, SD3, EZBass, EZMix3)
Amateur: fiddle, guitar, vocal, beginner on bass.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,020
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,020 |
A lot of people have been strongly recommending improvements to workflow. It seems that many functions could be simplified and / or improved. Some have been, but there are still incredibly complex menus et. al. to try and navigate.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 160
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 160 |
I've come to the conclusion this will never happen so I've given up on it. I love BIAB but it's just so unbearable to use. The only good (and necessary) thing that's happened in the last couple of years is partial regeneration, but this is still implemented badly for drums and still doesn't work on midi - two things that at the very least I was hoping to see for 2025.
The new multipicker is a mess, I rarely use it and wish they would revert to the layout 2023 pickers. Too many things never get addressed. With DAW chord tracks, Toontrack, Ujam etc - I think BIAB is getting closer to having had its day and slowly dropping off the radar.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,045
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,045 |
Lee,
New picker is not a mess,. In a year I tracked only 3 negative "complaints". One of them is yours. Something to think about. Generally, it's received very well. It's one of very few significant steps toward a better workflow in years. Partial Regeneration is one of them too.
I do agree that in general they did way too little to address workflow, bugs and UI, Which had very strong support among most users.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,045
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,045 |
Musicity.
Not entirely true. BIAB can now almost instantaneously generate and play. Starts playback - with direct tracks- to- project placement within 2-3 seconds after clicking on a style, same near instant playback goes when picking individual RTs also very fast when you need to regenerate to accept different chord / make other changes. It's not like that in that in the plugin....yet.
Partial Regeneration and full library access is also not available in the plugin. It's making progress but still a long way from home.
I think in 2024 they solved "speed" in BIAB, utilizing multi CPU cores which I thought would never be possible. Function and speed are there. Three things they are failing are is workflow (the subject of this thread), many older bugs do not get addressed and UI that could be much better. This is a general consensus. I am just voicing it.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,020
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,020 |
I've come to the conclusion this will never happen so I've given up on it. I love BIAB but it's just so unbearable to use. The only good (and necessary) thing that's happened in the last couple of years is partial regeneration, but this is still implemented badly for drums and still doesn't work on midi - two things that at the very least I was hoping to see for 2025.
The new multipicker is a mess, I rarely use it and wish they would revert to the layout 2023 pickers. Too many things never get addressed. With DAW chord tracks, Toontrack, Ujam etc - I think BIAB is getting closer to having had its day and slowly dropping off the radar. I do wish the company had listened more to users' requests to improve workflow and the user interface. There are so many areas that could have benefited to make this a smart and really 'go to' music software product. I guess time will tell.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 160
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 160 |
Like many, I've been using it since the late 90s. I think time has told 
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 160
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 160 |
Lee,
New picker is not a mess,. In a year I tracked only 3 negative "complaints". One of them is yours. Something to think about. Generally, it's received very well. It's one of very few significant steps toward a better workflow in years. Partial Regeneration is one of them too.
I do agree that in general they did way too little to address workflow, bugs and UI, Which had very strong support among most users. Rusty, you and I have never agreed on this and that's fine, but it's all about opinion and workflow. As I've said before I just want simplicity, speed and few clicks as possible. Without firing it up and reminding myself, just a few things off the top of my head: 1: It's non-jailed. So what? Unless you use two monitors you need to close it to get it out of the way as it's set to always on top. 2: Many items that were a simple click on the old picker are now nested behind yet more menus or settings buttons. 3: Type into the search without looking and find it didn't take what you typed as it tries to refresh with each keypress. 4: Trialing a realtrack writes it to the song instead of demoing it, forcing you to either revert or undo every try to get back to where you were if you don't like the result. 5: More non-intuitive and far more fiddly than the old picker. This has never been PG's strong-suit but it's worse than ever. There's more than that but that's all I can remember at the moment. The bottom line is, for me and my workflow (which is all about getting the job done quickly and easily), I can do what I want a lot faster in the normal pickers. Even quicker in the older pickers 2023 etc - and they were bad enough.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,045
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,045 |
"but it's all about opinion and workflow" But it's also about statistics. Only very few people had something negative to say about it.
1) "It's non-jailed. So what? Unless you use two monitors you need to close it to get it out of the way as it's set to always on top."
"So what" - because you never tried to understand benefits or explore, it will remain "So what".
Before 2024 you could not even do anything unless you exit jailed picker window. So to me, this: "to get it out of the way" doesn't make any sense. If you need a shortcut to close it, ALT+F4 should do it. And yes, I use 2 monitors.
2) I think you identified one or two items that require more than one click and that supposedly ruin the feature for you to the point that you reject it.
3) Mine is superfast. No lag at all. Old computer?
4) Not true. There is an option to have a different behavior for demo audition on double click. Could be better, but option is there.
5) "More non-intuitive and far more fiddly than the old picker."
I disagree entirely as no facts were presented. It is very stable and intuitive compared with bouquet of modal pickers that all looked and felt different like they were bolted on at different times for different reasons.. All content in one place now. More unified look. And yes, non modal. I can have it sitting on another screen and use it as needed.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,285
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,285 |
............................................ With DAW chord tracks, Toontrack, Ujam etc - I think BIAB is getting closer to having had its day and slowly dropping off the radar. That is definitely true on the MIDI side of BiaB. I think they are ahead on the RT side and that is what a lot of customers are using.
Principal: Your child always causes trouble in school.
Me: My child causes trouble at home, do I ever call you?
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 Wishlist
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,446
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,446 |
............................................ With DAW chord tracks, Toontrack, Ujam etc - I think BIAB is getting closer to having had its day and slowly dropping off the radar. That is definitely true on the MIDI side of BiaB. I think they are ahead on the RT side and that is what a lot of customers are using. Although I don’t need to do it, I was impressed how you can now use VST3 plugins with the BIAB chord track. I think it will revive interest in further development of MIDI functions.
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; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,110
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,110 |
If bbw4_64.exe is now using the same engine as bbw64.exe you have the same operation but if it's not having to decompress the wma and write into ram, it's just data like midi data, quick, and then you will find you can go to bar 255 in the plugin and it will play right away before Biab has got to generating it into ram.
Partial Regeneration = Generate Selected Region (Plugin)
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,110
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,110 |
I don't just work on improving one thing like the Plugin, but have worked on and still do, improving Biab that's why you have so many things been added to it through suggestion with examples. How many Biab users are working on improving the Plugin and not just focusing on Biab ??
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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 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 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 process 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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
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Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
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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!
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- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
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- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
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- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
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- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
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- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
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