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Hey community..., my first post here. Been a devout user of BiaB-Win since 1999, so I'm actually quite surprised that I've only just run into this issue yesterday (currently using BiaB 2009 Ultra on a 32 bit WinXP Pro machine). I'm up againsts a deadline for an Off-Broadway show that starts final tech rehearsal (when you add the music, etc.) on Wednesday July 21, and I've already searched the forum & read the Help file ad nauseum, so here goes: As the subject says, this has to do with using rests in combination with exempted instruments..., you know..., like "E.bdp". I've never had any problem with this in the past, but I guess I just never ran into this particular situation. What I have found is, that if the chord in question is one that has a specific note designated as the Bass Root note (like: "E/F#") and I try to create a rest with exempted instruments (like: "E/F#.bdp") then I run into problems. Specifically, for example: In a regular 4/4 song, if the chord is one with a designated Bass Root like that, and is entered once for two (2) beats, say beats 1 & 2, everything works fine..., however..., if I enter one of those types of chords along with another second chord, say on beats 3 & 4 (you know..., 2 chords in one chord block area separated by a comma like: "E/F#.bdp,E/B.bdp", or even "E/F#.bdp,E.bdp"), then BiaB refuses to accept the entry and instead gives me "E/F#.bdp,E/B.bd", or "E/F#.bdp,E.bd". **Note the missing exempted instrument from the second chord.** It wouldn't be so much of an issue (albeit, still wierd) if this was only a display/max-charachters anomaly but, unfortunately, what also happens is that the instruments which are not exempted from the rest in the manner that BiaB was willing to accept the chord entry (the Piano in the above example) drop out and do not play for the beat(s) in question. I'm attempting to attach a graphic to illustrate the issue below (I'm not sure if it will work or not). Here:  Like I said, I'm up against a deadline so can some "BiaB guru" help a girl out?? Thanks in advance. Ciao, Rina <3
"When the going gets weird..., the weird turn pro."
-- Hunter S. Thompson
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi Rina,
1st things first -- Have you visited the PGMusic Support page, located and downloaded the last Update to your version of BiaB? (Help-About will tell you the actual version update you are running, but if in doubt, just download and install the latest update, which will install all available fixes up to that point) always a good idea.
2nd, it may just be that your Chord Grid does not have enough room to show the full series of letters after the dot. You can confirm that by RightClicking on the Bar and choosing "Chord Settings" and see what the upper window slot says for each chord. If still truncated, try entering the entire string from there, just to see what happens.
HTH,
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Mac...
Thanks for your reply.
I probably should have been more specific about the version I'm running. It is Biab Ultra 2009.5(Build 287), which I think is about as up-to-date as BiaB 2009 can get.
I also should have mentioned that (as crazy as it sounds) I even tried changing my chord sheet font preference to a *really* tiny fontsize in a desperate attempt to get this to work.
I just tried the "Chord Settings" thing and, strangely, if I do that on beats 3 & 4 described above only the first chord of the two(2) chords is shown in the pop-up window no matter where I click. Also, entering the whole chord text string (both chords) from that window, with or without a comma, effects no change to the chord text on the chord grid.
Hmmmmm..., confusing.....
Any other ideas , anyone??
Rina
xo
Last edited by jestlykme; 07/18/10 03:29 PM.
"When the going gets weird..., the weird turn pro."
-- Hunter S. Thompson
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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It appears Rina has ruled out a "visible characters" anomaly for the dropping instruments. Quote:
It wouldn't be so much of an issue (albeit, still wierd) if this was only a display/max-charachters anomaly but, unfortunately, what also happens is that the instruments which are not exempted from the rest in the manner that BiaB was willing to accept the chord entry (the Piano in the above example) drop out and do not play for the beat(s) in question.
<3
I'm afraid I can only suggest some trouble shooting ideas since I can't offer a immediate solution. If you move the entire arrangement to RB you can than actually see what you say you are hearing. This is one reason I use RB for more complex "worked-out" arrangements where I want instruments coming and going for selected bars (I know if is supposed to be doable in BIAB, but I also have seen these issues where the instruments don't always completely behave).
Good Luck.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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...-------------------- "The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." -- Hunter S. Thompson Boy, that NYC off broard-way scene must be one tough place... 
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hello Rina. Great avatar with graphics; didn't know the PG site accepted that.
I was able to duplicate your problem, but I think there is a work-around.
Try using right-click, Chord Settings. You can see in the dialog that Rest Only, All Except shows all the right instruments checked in the first chord, and only some in the second, BUT you can check them yourself in the second chord and it appears to hold. Note that I'm using version 2010,5, and it works here on that version. Try it on yours.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Quote:
Boy, that NYC off broard-way scene must be one tough place...
LOL.
Actually, the theatre scene is pretty gratifying. It's the TV/Cable & Commercial Jingle gigs that always make me feel **really-slutty**. One of my Prof's @ Berklee once told me: "Once you graduate just bend-over, spread-'em, and hold that position until you die, but at least make sure you get paid well while you do it...."
Truth is..., I just like Hunter Thompson.
R.
<3
"When the going gets weird..., the weird turn pro."
-- Hunter S. Thompson
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Try using right-click, Chord Settings. You can see in the dialog that Rest Only, All Except shows all the right instruments checked in the first chord, and only some in the second, BUT you can check them yourself in the second chord and it appears to hold. Note that I'm using version 2010,5, and it works here on that version. Try it on yours.
Thanks for the feedback Matt....
However..., wierd but true..., as I said in the Post: [Re: Mac] #282208 above:
Quote:
I just tried the "Chord Settings" thing and, strangely, if I do that on beats 3 & 4 described above only the first chord of the two(2) chords is shown in the pop-up window no matter where I click. Also, entering the whole chord text string (both chords) from that window, with or without a comma, effects no change to the chord text on the chord grid.
For reasons that I don't understand, "Chord Settings" just refuses to display/access the second chord in the pair.
Still baffled,
R.
"When the going gets weird..., the weird turn pro."
-- Hunter S. Thompson
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Try a Return to Factory Settings under the Opts menu, it may be that something in one of BB's volatile files has become courrupted. That's always a good thing to try when BB doesn't do something it is supposed to do.
You may also have to hit New and start the songfile over from scratch, too, after the Return to Factory, -- if the songfile became corrupted.
I don't think this is a program bug or we surely would have found it or heard about it by now.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Try a Return to Factory Settings under the Opts menu, it may be that something in one of BB's volatile files has become courrupted. That's always a good thing to try when BB doesn't do something it is supposed to do.
I didn't try that, but what I **did** do is get out my laptop (I have BiaB installed on it also for rehearsals, etc.). I had the identical experience trying it there, and the laptop would not likely have the exact same 'corruption' problem as my destop computer.
Quote:
I don't think this is a program bug or we surely would have found it or heard about it by now.
I'm pretty sure now that this is a program 'limitation' rather than a 'bug'.
By virtue of a lot of trial and error I have determined that there is a fifteen(15) character limit in any given chord entry box (16 including the comma). Not a problem by and large, until you have a combination of two(2) complex, multi-character chords both of which need rests with instrument exemptions. Then you run out of space very quickly.
It would be really nice if there were some way to override this limitation by manually editing one of the many "*.ini" or other BiaB config files (with Notepad++ or the like), or even the Windows Registry (Regedit), but I'm sure that is probably not possible.
Oh well..., I guess this is something for the BiaB 'Suggestion Box' (Hear that, Mr. Gannon?).
If it is fixed in future versions, a patch for us Non-2010 users would be a very cool thing to do (**hint-hint...**).
Thanks for everyone's suggestions.
Rina
xo
"When the going gets weird..., the weird turn pro."
-- Hunter S. Thompson
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Trying it out on the laptop was a good move.
Unfortunately, though, I'm fresh out of ideas to try now...
Maybe contacting pgmusic support directly may shed light in time for you.
Or maybe you can do with some sort of workaround.
At any rate, BREAK A LEG,
--Mac
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Been on the road, and am just getting back to this thread.
Rina, I did not see that you had tried the Chord Settings dialog, as I was experimenting to verify your problem before I replied and we cross-posted.
As the Chord Settings dialog does provide a work-around on my system, perhaps a short-term fix is to upgrade to version 2010.5. If you do not have too many occurrences of this problem (i.e., the same chord lots of places) it would not be too difficult to fix them manually.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Are you trying to enter the chords directly into the bar or using right click/Edit current chord?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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PG Music Staff
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Hi Rina,
>> E/F#...bdp,E/B...bdp
You can probably get around that problem (a really long chord entry getting truncated) as follows:
1. Enter chord edit mode (this is done by right click and choose "Edit Current Chord" (or Ctrl-F2). Then type the chord that you want and it accepts longer entries than the regular chord mode.
BTW, that mode supports copy and paste, so it might be useful to repeat big chord names like "E/F#...bdp,E/B...bdp" in other bars.
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
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Quote:
Hi Rina,
>> E/F#.bdp,E/B.bdp
You can probably get around that problem (a really long chord entry getting truncated) as follows:
1. Enter chord edit mode (this is done by right click and choose "Edit Current Chord" (or Ctrl-F2). Then type the chord that you want and it accepts longer entries than the regular chord mode.
BTW, that mode supports copy and paste, so it might be useful to repeat big chord names like "E/F#.bdp,E/B.bdp" in other bars.
There you go Rina, straight from the horses mouth  . However, I do believe Matt gets the prize for first response. 
Now let us know how it works for you.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi Rina, I too love your avatar. It totally got me while I was reading your post. I saw movement out of the corner of my eye and looked at the picture and thought, that's not the same picture and then it changed! Nice one.
Can't help you with your problem, just making a comment about the Hunter Thompson quote. It's great, everybody uses it in every music forum in the world now and I get emails from musician friends who put it in their sigs. The thing is he never said it. This is the actual quote:
"The TV business is uglier than most things. It is normally perceived as some kind of cruel and shallow money trench through the heart of the journalism industry, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs, for no good reason."
Somewhere along the line someone decided to use some literary license and modify it for the music business, it made it's way onto the web and that's it.
Here's my favorite actual music related quote from him found on brainyquote.com
"I feel the same way about disco as I do about herpes." Right on.
The internet is a wonderful thing, you just can't believe everything you read. My experience is if some quote or article you see on the net happens to be exactly, perfectly on point for your favorite subject du jour, it's fake.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Wow!! I never dreamed I would get a response from **the** PeterGannon..., the ultimate BiaB Sensei !!!! Now that I know you occasionally read these posts let me just say that, since its inception, BiaB has been the **greatest app ever**..., especially for people like me who (in order to get paid) need to churn-out a large number of compositions in a never-ending variety of styles and, usually, within a really tight schedule/time-frame. My usual "workflow" (mostly out of habit since 1999 -- before the RealBand days) is to use BiaB to create/generate the initial composition and then export/import it into SonarPE to edit and record additional final (more human) tracks. As BiaB has evolved over the years I find myself having to edit/record in Sonar **less and less** since, **more and more**, the original BiaB tracks are turning out to be "keepers". Kudos to you and the Biab team!! All that being said, back to the issue at hand: Quote:
1. Enter chord edit mode (this is done by right click and choose "Edit Current Chord" (or Ctrl-F2). Then type the chord that you want and it accepts longer entries than the regular chord mode.
So actually, "Edit Current Chord" is the method that I have consistently been using to make the entries and, while it is true that there does not seem to be any character-length limitation when I am typing in the entry that way, once I hit "Enter" the entry then gets truncated resulting in what I have described above. Basically, the "Edit Current Chord" entry/blank accepts all of the characters but, ultimately, BiaB itself does not.
Therein lies my problem.
Thanks again to all respondents.
Rina
<3
"When the going gets weird..., the weird turn pro."
-- Hunter S. Thompson
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
The thing is he never said it. This is the actual quote:
"The TV business is uglier than most things. It is normally perceived as some kind of cruel and shallow money trench through the heart of the journalism industry, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs, for no good reason." ....
....The internet is a wonderful thing, you just can't believe everything you read. My experience is if some quote or article you see on the net happens to be exactly, perfectly on point for your favorite subject du jour, it's fake.
Being a big HT fan, I have his whole anthology in hardback. Actually I got the sig quote along with many others from a short paperback book of Hunter Thompson quotables in which the quote was identical to my sig, except that it actually said: "The *entertainment* business is a cruel...." etc.. And here I thought that I was being original and clever by changing it to: "The *music* business....". Oh well....
Quote:
Here's my favorite actual music related quote from him....
...."I feel the same way about disco as I do about herpes."
How true..., how true.... That one's in the paperback, too, and is also one of my favs. I think that my real personal favorite is:
"When the going gets wierd, the wierd turn pro."
Gee, I *love* thinking I'm **sooooo esoteric**...., LOL.
Ciao,
Rina
xo
"When the going gets weird..., the weird turn pro."
-- Hunter S. Thompson
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I realize there is truncation when you are in the Edit Current Chord mode, but did you try this method that I suggested earlier? Use the checkboxes? I didn't care what showed when typing, only what the checkboxes showed.
Try using right-click, Chord Settings. You can see in the dialog that Rest Only, All Except shows all the right instruments checked in the first chord, and only some in the second, BUT you can check them yourself in the second chord and it appears to hold. Note that I'm using version 2010,5, and it works here on that version. Try it on yours.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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PG Music Staff
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On my tests, using BB 2010, you can use the "Edit Current Chord" to enter those large chords (more than 16 characters in a single cell), and it works. You should enter them on the notation window, so you can see them better (set it to 2 bars per screen in notation options).
** Re-visiting ** the "Edit Current Chord" will truncate it to 16, so you shouldn't revisit those long chords after you enter them, unless you want to edit them again, and add the missing characters.
BTW, another approach to this, that would likely be faster, is to just type the chords that you want without the rests..
ie)
E/B,E/F# E/D,E,G# E/B,E/F# E/D,E,G#
then, in a different bar (eg. bar 1 beat 1) , type one chord with the rests like this E...bdpg
Then choose Edit-Copy Rests, and copy from bar 1, beat 1 to the area that you want to have the rests applied to all chords. That would likely save you some typing!
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
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With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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