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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 185
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 185 |
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: 7,263
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,263 |
"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: 185
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 185 |
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: 3,912
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,912 |
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: 21,094
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,094 |
...
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: 3,699
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,699 |
...
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: 3,912
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,912 |
...
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: 24,703
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,703 |
...
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.
OK, a random thought;
Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?
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: 6,504
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,504 |
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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XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
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 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
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.
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 as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac 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 100 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
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
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 Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
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.
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