When I purchased BIAB around ~2000, it changed my songwriting. Here's how ...
I started writing again, and prolifically! *
It gave me a way to express my ideas, when previously it was just me and my guitar
It exposed me to a full band, and most know that playing with others is inspiring
It exposed me to genres I didn't normally work in, and thus broadened my options and inspiration
It gave me ideas in the demos and tracks that turned into songs
It motivated me to break out of my four-chord / four-bar trap to think of longer and more complex musical phrases
It helped me develop vocal harmonies using the Harmony track
It broadened my knowledge of chords and chord extensions
It introduced me to arrangement and production - initially using PowerTracks
Is your story similar or different?
* See my attached chart showing when I wrote each song or song part. I documented this a few years ago because, while I have many completed songs, I also have many verses, choruses, bridges or riffs still looking for a partner, so I listed each song with its attributes (genre, tempo, key sig, Style) in the hope I can one day mix'n'match. Fortunately, I kept original SGU and MGU files or MID output, or had hand-written notes that tied a song to the date written.
Andrew, interesting use of BiaB, and completely understandable. I use BiaB to bring a fuller backing track to the songs I write with my brother's lyrics. I'm not using the inspirational or educational aspects of BiaB much except by occasional accident. BiaB is certainly a Swiss Army knife with a dizzying array of blades...
DC Ron BiaB Audiophile Presonus Studio One ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM Presonus Faderport 16 Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
I had several notebooks with songs and song ideas and no real way to record them to a professional sounding level. I was using cakewalk as a DAW and either having to play all the parts or build tracks using midi. Results weren't bad, but weren't pro either. Of course I was also in the process of figuring things out as well, so a lot of mistakes were being made.
BB opened the door to the creation of pro sounding tracks . I was using them to build the songs while still playing the piano and guitars, which are my main instruments.
I'm still using BB in this manner in the creative process of writing and recording.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
Hi Andrew, my story is very similar to yours. Like Herb I started writing songs and doing covers in MIDI. I started back in the late 1980's using an Atari computer and Dr. T's sequencer. I used a number of sequencers when I started using a PC, then DAWs when they became available. MIDI is still my main way of making music. The rest of my story is virtually identical to yours. Other than generating great backing tracks the main thing about BiaB for me it allows me to play in genres I generally wouldn't use. Without BiaB I doubt that I would be playing today.
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
Just thought I'd quickly chime in here to also say without BIAB, I would still be a completely frustrated vocalist with no expressive musical outlet. It's been awesome and not just in terms of being able to accompany myself and bring tunes to fruition. It's also been a very appreciated forum experience. When I think of other "environments" and how people treat one another, it deserves to be acknowledged how the culture here is so supportive and cordial. I've learned so much from the folks here. And if it were just that it would have been more than enough, but I also love hearing the original music of others instead of that stuff that all sounds alike out there. So Andrew, I'm really glad it's done so much for you and that we all get to see and hear your progress.
Like Herb I started writing songs and doing covers in MIDI.
Mornin' Mario....and all others.
The above is my story also. I had a 5' tall rack full of MIDI and signal processing modules.
I currently have 50 originals finished/recorded which averages out to (1) song a year since I started song writing back in 1974. I only have about 35 or so uploaded to Soundclick/Soundcloud. I can honestly say that 20 of those (all done with my collaborator-in-chief guitarist Ken Lasaine) 50 would have likely never been written if it weren't for such a stellar program to flesh out my song writing efforts. As like Herb, I started with Cakewalk 3.0 and still use today as Sonar X3 Producer. I love BIAB and am always impressed with it's abilities. Any "STYLE" I select to listen to in my genre of preference can always stimulate a song topic to flesh out. The vast majority of mine have lyrics and only 1/2 dozen + - are instrumentals.
Admittedly, even though I have a few topic titles written down, I've been in a creative deficit lately.
For me, the most important change was that I changed from a instruments-first person to a lyrics-first person. With BIAB, it's totally easy to find an arrangement that fits the lyrics.
We played in traditional bluegrass bands for many, many years (Bud on upright bass and Janice on guitar and mandolin). But unlike our bandmates we also listened to multiple genres including rock, country, big band, jazz and blues.
Bud had mixed since the mid 60's and discovering BiaB and the forum in 2011 allowed us to explore and create productions in the aforementioned genres ... something we never dreamed of. So to the topic, it certainly forced huge changes in our song writing!
And we met folks who have become true friends as mentors, partners and both. Our production time is more limited nowadays but the fun continues.
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
... I'm not using the inspirational or educational aspects of BiaB much except by occasional accident. BiaB is certainly a Swiss Army knife with a dizzying array of blades...
Thanks Ron - yes, I love the occasional accidents that occur with BIAB - as if you’re playing in a band and a band mate does something unexpected “Hey, what did you do there?”
Originally Posted by Guitarhacker
I had several notebooks with songs and song ideas and no real way to record them to a professional sounding level. ...
Hi Herb - I hope you still have those notebooks - I occasionally look through my own as a reminder of where I’ve come from.
Originally Posted by MarioD
... The rest of my story is virtually identical to yours. Other than generating great backing tracks the main thing about BiaB for me it allows me to play in genres I generally wouldn't use. Without BiaB I doubt that I would be playing today.
Thanks Mario! I honestly say I didn’t think consciously about genres until BIAB - I was in my own little world.
Originally Posted by BYOBand
Just thought I'd quickly chime in here to also say without BIAB, I would still be a completely frustrated vocalist with no expressive musical outlet. It's been awesome and not just in terms of being able to accompany myself and bring tunes to fruition. It's also been a very appreciated forum experience. When I think of other "environments" and how people treat one another, it deserves to be acknowledged how the culture here is so supportive and cordial. I've learned so much from the folks here. And if it were just that it would have been more than enough, but I also love hearing the original music of others instead of that stuff that all sounds alike out there. So Andrew, I'm really glad it's done so much for you and that we all get to see and hear your progress.
Hi Beth! I wholeheartedly agree about this encouraging and inspiring forum. I’m so glad you found BIAB and are able to put shape and form around your ideas so we can hear them.
Originally Posted by chulaivet1966
…I currently have 50 originals finished/recorded which averages out to (1) song a year since I started song writing back in 1974. I only have about 35 or so uploaded to Soundclick/Soundcloud. I can honestly say that 20 of those (all done with my collaborator-in-chief guitarist Ken Lasaine) 50 would have likely never been written if it weren't for such a stellar program to flesh out my song writing efforts. … Admittedly, even though I have a few topic titles written down, I've been in a creative deficit lately. …
Thanks Wayne! Hoping you find your spark of inspiration soon. It was good to hear that BIAB helped your collaborative efforts also.
Originally Posted by B.D.Thomas
For me, the most important change was that I changed from a instrumental-first person to a lyrics-first person. With BIAB, it's totally easy to find an arrangement that fits the lyrics.
Thanks B.D.! I tend to be music-first, but when I have gone lyrics-first, BIAB has been very helpful - but not enough to break me out of my stubborn ways! Your approach has certainly led to some impressive results!
Originally Posted by Janice & Bud
... But unlike our bandmates we also listened to multiple genres including rock, country, big band, jazz and blues.
Bud had mixed since the mid 60's and discovering BiaB and the forum in 2011 allowed us to explore and create productions in the aforementioned genres ... something we never dreamed of. So to the topic, it certainly forced huge changes in our song writing!
And we met folks who have become true friends as mentors, partners and both.
Hi J&B! I didn’t know about your bluegrass background, so good to hear BIAB opened up your horizons. I love hearing about the friendships through the forum. If ever the forum arranged a Zoom meet of members, I’d be there to meet people ‘face-to-face’ - but probably hard when we are all around the globe.
Thank you all for your comments and sharing your own stories!
I think band in a box has some paradoxical elements.
I think the more you know about music and learn about music and study music, the more band in a box starts to blow your mind as you begin to consider how much more you can learn from it, if you want to understand the power of complex chord progressions and how other people get the sound that they do.
It's literally a bottomless pit in that regard. You simply don't have enough lifetimes to live if you had ten or 20 or even 100 to learn all of the things that can be taught by studying band in a box solos, chord progressions, demos styles, instrumental approaches and variations, etc etc etc.
Because I've written songs and played songs and produced songs all by myself playing most of the instruments for decades before I even came into contact with band in a box, I definitely don't lean on band in a box to help me because I don't know how to do anything else. It's quite the opposite.
First, band in the box is more powerful than any music school I can conceive of and I took plenty of music classes from private tutors and as electives in college and stuff like that. If you want to learn a certain jazz soloing technique or comping technique or anything else from any genre, you can simply pull up a band in the box demo and play along with the notation sheet music right in front of your face and see how people do the things that they do. That's mind-boggling.
It's like being able to take guitar soloing lessons from Carlos Santana in your bedroom.
What's not to love.
On top of that the technology efficiencies that are created by band in a box and real band are astronomical.
Say I have written a song in the key of G and I want to record it and make the production process as efficient as possible.
I simply pick the tempo, find a style that is reasonably close, and create a G chord drone backing track for the entire song at that tempo.
Then I sit down in real band with my working lyrics and chords and play along and record with my acoustic and sing along as well to that G chord drone.
When I'm done, I start over from the beginning and just start typing in the right chords measure for measure along with the scratch vocal because I can tell what I'm doing now and I know what the chords should be.
4 minutes later I have a complete demo mocked up.
I can then start adding in as many of my own guitar tracks as I want til Kingdom come, lay down more vocals backing vocals, electric tracks, percussion, use the band in a box tracks, what have you.
But it cuts the whole production cycle grunt work down to about 10% of what you would have used otherwise.
That's only about 1% of what band in a box can help you with.
It just goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on.
So in the end, band in a box is not for people who can't play, band in a box is absolutely for people who can play, and who want to up their game and explore infinitely new horizons.
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
… It's [BIAB] literally a bottomless pit in that regard. …
Hi David - thanks for sharing what BIAB means to you and also a small insight into your workflow - I’m assuming at least one of your workflows.
I think one of the beauties of BIAB is that one can approach it and use it from so many angles and/or for so many purposes. Like my own story, it is good to hear how BIAB has helped people to higher levels of creativity and musicality.
Writing in BIAB helped get me away from the muscle memory chord changes that saw me endless recycling ideas. Working in the key of A for example forced me to learn a couple of chords as well as changing my perspective.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
I always find it so fascinating to see how other people use Band-in-a-Box, or what about it they have found the most transformative for their personal workflow. I've seen so many creative uses of Band-in-a-Box here during my time on the forums that I may not have considered otherwise, and I look forward to reading more from people who feel like chiming in about the ways the program has been a positive impact for them.
Writing in BIAB helped get me away from the muscle memory chord changes that saw me endless recycling ideas. Working in the key of A for example forced me to learn a couple of chords as well as changing my perspective.
I always find it so fascinating to see how other people use Band-in-a-Box, or what about it they have found the most transformative for their personal workflow. I've seen so many creative uses of Band-in-a-Box here during my time on the forums that I may not have considered otherwise, and I look forward to reading more from people who feel like chiming in about the ways the program has been a positive impact for them.
Thanks Ember! Like you, I've been given some new ideas about how to use BIAB that I otherwise wouldn't have considered. Andrew
Without BiaB, I would not be able to busk. I write the songs and then play them back with the Jukebox feature. What a great tool BiaB is for my music career. Donny
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!
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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!
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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.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 60 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
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2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49. Browse the full contents of each package and listen to demos here.
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
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 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
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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.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: 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 because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
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