|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
|
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,402
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,402 |
There so many great ideas voiced that my head spins. I can only imagine what PGM crew thinks  Realistically speaking, I expect between 20-30% of the items proposed done next year. Which would be great if they are done right. Looking into future, not just something to say: "you asked, we did it". Besides obvious things like proper wording and sorting of some menus - which is more of text correction and re-organizing rather than something new, there had been a few big items proposed that in my view should be considered first. #1 Panels. If these will be the building blocks for future tools & actions, very special attention should be given to design. I can't stress enough how important is to make them tabbed, and so these "tabs" could be separated and individual tools used as own entity. Resizable. Ideally "magnetic", so they could be docked left or right and minimized to thin strip. Done right, so there are no regrets down the road. When tools are transplanted they should be visually arranged to conform design, not just cutandpasted from existing pop ups. #2 Mixer redo. I think this discussion goes back a decade or so back? Many great suggestions had been made. I will only add something that likely wasn't mentioned. If it's in plans, it should be (mainly) vector, so it's not blurry on most of modern screens. #3 Preference menu. Something inline of what RobertW offered. His mock drawing speaks for itself. #4 More work completing Track view. Especially simple way for basic audio recording: Source select> Arm>Record no silly additional popups, questions, etc. This will take BIAB to another level, suitable for those who don't want to learn several software titles and would be able to make arrangement and record a few of their own tracks the easy way. #5 Chord View - Resolution. Microchords just don't work right. Concept has to be reimagined and integrated into Chord View input. I agree with Jeff, that 1/8 chord resolution should be enough. This should satisfy needs of ~ 90%+ of music makers (At least that is what AI says ) and if to narrow down to BIAB world, likely in 95% range. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------It's unlikely somebody will entirely agree with my "priority" list, but I wonder what would be 5 specific things that you think PGM should start with. For example, my #1 i s mainly about panel design. There are approximately 12+ Tools and actions that could potentially be used as Panels. I would be perfectly happy if for 2026 they will transfer only 2 to get foot in the door. No matter which ones. This will give general idea of UI/Workflow. How well PGM understood the concept. How users will react.
Last edited by Rustyspoon#; 02/05/25 08:38 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
|
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 617
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 617 |
It looks fine/+1.
(But at some point they also need to fix an efficient search
concept, otherwise I would have nothing to work with in the new GUI/workflows)
BIAB 2026, Studio Pro 8, 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
|
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,706
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,706 |
Besides obvious things like proper wording and sorting of some menus - which is more of text correction and re-organizing rather than something new, there had been a few big items proposed that in my view should be considered first. Even though it's obvious, that must be in the list, otherwise people focus on the numbers and the obvious loses precedence. I'd like to see the consistent context-specific right-click menus of every object. Personally I'd put that first or second. YMMV.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 25,059
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 25,059 |
OK I'll say it, rewrite the entire program and do it all. Now that that is out of my system I would rank your suggestions in this order:
"Besides obvious things like proper wording and sorting of some menus - which is more of text correction and re-organizing rather than something new, there had been a few big items proposed that in my view should be considered first." I would put this on the top of the list followed by
#1 - Panels - Which goes along with the above
#5 - Chord View
#3 - Preference menu
#4 - Track View
#2 - Mixer
Just my opinions and YMMV
A good summary Misha.
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,858
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,858 |
Good List Misha. The editing capability of the Tracks view is my favorite idea. Recording as always seemed ticklish to me in BiaB. making it a bit more intuitive will really help. In line with panels having each scalable and as you mentioned magnetic would make for a more simplified workflow. The mixer has long needed a better setup. All this makes sense, but i still think that one of the most important things is fixing old issues and not getting too far ahead with 50 new things. How about 5 or 6 really cool things like being discussed in this thread and fixing a dozen or so. 255, time signatures, and a few more. Just my thoughts. One thing is that some of the upgrades being discussed here could potentially help some of the odler issues as well.
Side note the microchords to me as mentioned has never quite worked for me. every time i try them in a song project they just do not seem to fit right. (of course that may be me)
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Zoom Livetrack L-8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
|
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 4,680
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 4,680 |
My UX/UI list: (from over 250 UX/UI inputs, not a bug, gap or reliability list)
1) Consistency (Cursor behavior, Timeline clicks, Mouse Modifiers, Snap, Loop, Pan, Zoom, Scroll, Menu word choice) across ALL VIEWS.
2) Dock-able Panels, (Replace 90% of Dialog Windows).
3) Chords, Higher resolution in all views. editable Chord Track in Tracks View, consistently loop-able in ALL VIEWS
4) Menus: (Context Menus, pure next steps. Options: standard gear button next to all views, Smart last used, Consistent wording across ENTIRE APP)
5) Vector Graphics (Improved resolution, resizable)
Studio One (latest version), Win 11 23H2 , i9 -10940X 3.3 GHz, 32GB Mem, a 4K 40" monitor, PreSonus Studio Live III Console as interface/controller. secondarily test on Reaper, Cakewalk, and S1 on Surface Pro 3 Win 10 (latest versions).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,606
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,606 |
#1 Menu / GUI Reorganization and Simplification
I don't think this is obvious at all. Doing this job well would likely require a complete redesign of the user interface, as well as a serious rethink of how old and new features integrate with each other and can be displayed in a single, cohesive interface. It would also probably mean removing outdated features that no longer make sense in newer versions or simply don't work anymore—something programmers have historically resisted. Additionally, it would involve conducting extensive usability tests with newcomers who have a fresh perspective, rather than relying on feedback from long-time users who have grown accustomed to the program's quirks.
Simply put, the current GUI and menus are so bloated that even the most basic tasks (for example, loading the latest Realtrack you've tried) can become a nightmare if you don't use the program regularly. Try it for yourself!
#2 A Modern and Efficient Search Algorithm
Last edited by Cerio; 02/07/25 12:55 PM.
Latest BIAB version, latest build.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
|
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 617
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 617 |
#1 Menu / GUI Reorganization and Simplification
I don't think this is obvious at all. Doing this job well would likely require a complete redesign of the user interface, as well as a serious rethink of how old and new features integrate with each other and can be displayed in a single, cohesive interface. It would also probably mean removing outdated features that no longer make sense in newer versions or simply don't work anymore—something programmers have historically resisted. Additionally, it would involve conducting extensive usability tests with newcomers who have a fresh perspective, rather than relying on feedback from long-time users who have grown accustomed to the program's quirks.
Simply put, the current GUI and menus are so bloated that even the most basic tasks (for example, loading the latest Realtrack you've tried) can become a nightmare if you don't use the program regularly. Try it for yourself!
#2 A Modern and Efficient Search Algorithm *1.
BIAB 2026, Studio Pro 8, 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 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!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 11 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 22.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 22 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 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 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 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!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 11 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 22.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 22 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 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.
Peter Gannon Talks Band-in-a-Box with zplane
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
Check out the full interview here: https://products.zplane.de/blog/peter-gannon-interview-pg-music
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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 amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Mac® to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,630
Posts807,721
Members40,178
| |
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There are no members with birthdays on this day. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean