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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 184
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 184 |
For me personally, BIAB is the most amazingly good, and also the most infuriating piece of software, all bundled in one package. Its uniqueness and usefulness is what makes me put up with all of the flaws and bad design. I have moaned quite a few times on this forum about some of the crazy design, so it's only fair that if, IMO, PG do something right then I also say something about that. Last year I did not upgrade and had decided I am probably done with future versions of BIAB. The 2026 version looked like it might be worth one last punt. Lots of changes to deal with, including a lot I don't like, but I can deal with that if the overall usability is improved. Honestly I think my faith has been restored with PG. Clearly they have listened to many users but I'm more impressed with the way updates have been handled so far. Only a few of us moaned about the "edit phrases" being removed. A few other threads where a few users have been disgruntled about some changes or things missing - but all coming together, users being listened to and things fixed or restored quite quickly with new updates. There is a ton of stuff I still hate, probably loads that others still hate, but I feel things might be finally moving in the right direction. I can put up with a lot of annoyances if the overall workflow is being improved. You won't hear me say it often but, well done PG team! Please keep it up 
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,216
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,216 |
"but I feel things might be finally moving in the right direction."
Lee, you are tough one to please, but I am glad you've appreciated real progress that was made!
I will repeat bits of what I've said in another thread:
It's great that finally we have VST3, options for Chord Track, single Library and a good progress was made on UI.
However, now is the right time for PGM to tighten up a lot of things that relate to workflow. Complete unfinished features, consistency of navigation, zoom, transport, cursor, known bugs etc. So BIAB becomes a fully modular piece of composing software that feels premium.
The most productive leap since I started using BIAB was 2025, when PGM created and curated several pinned topics on UI in wishlist. They made known that they are open to particular change, gathered focused opinions and it turned out better than expected. Vast majority of people liked new UI. I feel that rather than just throwing ideas into wishlist well, PGM has to step up and set the tone for 2027 release, just as it did in 2025 (for 2026).
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 184
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 184 |
Lee, you are tough one to please. Yeah, you could say that! 
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,891
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,891 |
Lee, you are tough one to please. Yeah, you could say that! BIAB has benefited greatly from customers who are "tough to please"!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,071
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,071 |
...
BIAB has benefited greatly from customers who are "tough to please"! It's hard to argue anything against that. Yes, a lot of pushing from the audience has helped improve the program enormously  .
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 for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,549
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,549 |
...
BIAB has benefited greatly from customers who are "tough to please"! It's hard to argue anything against that. Yes, a lot of pushing from the audience has helped improve the program enormously . So true. Here's a thought: The challenge for growing and/or sustaining any business is figuring out how to attract new customers. That is, enticing those who don't currently provide feedback. Not hard to imagine that the predominant demographic here is a 50-80 year old male who has been using BiaB for over a decade. Since time eventually retires all musicians there's a finite future in listening to the current voices. A long term strategy (if desired) will require calibration to new voices and new ideas. (That being said, I have enough BiaB content to last the rest of my life. So I'm better than good.) Just my two cents. You get what you pay for around here...
DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
Presonus Studio One
ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM
Presonus Faderport 16
Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,891
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,891 |
...
BIAB has benefited greatly from customers who are "tough to please"! It's hard to argue anything against that. Yes, a lot of pushing from the audience has helped improve the program enormously . A long term strategy (if desired) will require calibration to new voices and new ideas. Agree 100%!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,515
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,515 |
...
BIAB has benefited greatly from customers who are "tough to please"! It's hard to argue anything against that. Yes, a lot of pushing from the audience has helped improve the program enormously . A long term strategy (if desired) will require calibration to new voices and new ideas. Agree 100%! As do I.
The bumper sticker said "I'm a veterinarian, therefore I can drive like an animal".
Suddenly I realized how many proctologists are on the road.
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 for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,489
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,489 |
I've been playing with BiaB since it was on the Atari computer, and like it's PC-DOS counterpart, had only 3 instruments, only 24 built-in styles, no intros or endings, not shots or holds, no notation, a set, quantized drum set, and a lot of potential.
Partly due to Peter Gannon, his employees, and both the hard and easy to please users, it has grown to the state it is today.
I've watched it grow, seen both baby and giant steps, a few minor missteps that have been jettisoned, and am amazed at both what it has become, and how PG Music has kept it relevant and useful all these years.
It's grown from a simple practice tool, which is why I bought it in the first place, to a fantastic music creation tool.
And I'm also amazed that the styles and songs I and others wrote in the early 1990s still work in BiaB today.
Well done!
And keep up the good work.
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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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® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
Order now!
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!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 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 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®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
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
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