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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I am using the Jazz Swing styles with Real Drums. All of them use brushes. Is there a way to change to sticks on the snare drum? Or is there somewhere I can buy loops of real drum recordings for BIAB that I can use on swing tunes?
Also, if I find this, can I change to sticks in the middle of a song?
As usual, thanks for your help.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Actually it is not true that they all use brushes but you just need to swap the RealDrums Style for one with sticks. Right click on the drums button and select 'RealDrums in Style'. Then choose a RealDrums Style with sticks that you like. You can swap any instrument in the rhythm section for another style at the same tempo.
Some of the styles even allow a swap from brushes to sticks based on the 'a' 'b' etc substyles. e.g. "In addition, the style cycles between substyles within a song, switching to a more intense Brushes pattern at the first A part marker, then to Sticks at a B part marker." Look at the 'memo' on the top right of the RealDrums picker.
Last edited by Graham Martin; 11/03/10 03:36 PM.
Grah Jive Talk "Don't worry baby, they'll swing their arses off."
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Check out JazzBrushesSticks and JazzBrushesSticks#1. Both use sticks during the 'B' part. There are others once you explore them.
R
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thanks. I will try your suggestions.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Another advantage of MIDI styles over RealTracks. You can change the drum kit in MIDI so you can have the rhythm you want and the drum kit you want. It's one reason why most professional musicians that I know choose MIDI styles with a good sounding synth module (instead of the lame synth on your computer's sound card).
So you might want to make a hybrid style with the other tracks you like and some MIDI drums with sticks.
Notes ♫
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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Go to options/prefs/RealDrums and in the "favor brushes/sticks" choose sticks.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I tried the early suggestion about Jazz Sticks. At first, the screen said I didn't have that. Then it started playing the song with a snare drum. The way the Drums indicator was lit in yellow, I figured it was Midi. I stopped the song and started it again and the Drums indicator turned green, the way it does with Real Drums. The whole thing was weird.
The good news is that I got something that is working and that will be OK for a while.
Thanks again.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Another advantage of MIDI styles over RealTracks. You can change the drum kit in MIDI so you can have the rhythm you want and the drum kit you want. It's one reason why most professional musicians that I know choose MIDI styles with a good sounding synth module (instead of the lame synth on your computer's sound card).
So you might want to make a hybrid style with the other tracks you like and some MIDI drums with sticks.
Notes ♫
Who said anything about MIDI styles? As far as I read this post, it is about RealDrums and jazz. I also think your statement about 'most professional musicians' might be an exaggeration, probably from someone who has a stake in perpetuating MIDI. Most professional musicians I know who have heard the real swing in RealTracks, have not returned to non-swinging midi. In addition, I do not agree with your statement about lame synths. It depends what you are using as a soundcard. Moreover, there are some very lame synth modules around.
At least RealTracks have an authentic human feel about them when you use them as accompaniment. Not so with midi.
The weakness in Band-in-a-Box and other computer-generated music has nothing to do with whether you use midi or RealTracks. The real weakness is that none of the rhythm section instruments are reacting to the lead line (melody, if you like) in the way they are supposed to, and do, with a real group of musicians. This is particularly important when you are playing jazz, although it applies maybe to a lesser degree with other types of music. I can tell you that I play with Band-in-a-Box RealTracks and with real musicians every day of the week. Yes, it is much more fun playing with other musicians. However, it is also much, much more fun playing with RealTracks than it is playing with midi. This from someone who was a bit sceptical to start with when RealTracks first came out. 
Grah Jive Talk "Don't worry baby, they'll swing their arses off."
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I'm ambidextrous, both have a place. I favour RealDrums and Realtracks and most of my play along stuff has migrated to just those. That's the jazz end.
If I'm doing my once a month country foray, or weekly 60's and 70's thing I uses a fakebook and Norton's stuff.
John Conley Musica est vita
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"Ambidextrous" -- exactly.
Don't throw out one in favor of the other, both represent very good tools for your song development.
Make new friends, but keep the old ones...
--Mac
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Exactly. Why not mix and match? Which was the point of the hybrid suggestion.
Notes ♫
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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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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It is very nice to see people trying to be so helpful.
If anyone knows of any software programs that work with Real Band that allow programming using real drum sounds, would you let me know? In the meantime, thanks again.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Graham Martin Who said anything about MIDI styles? As far as I read this post, it is about RealDrums and jazz. I also think your statement about 'most professional musicians' might be an exaggeration, probably from someone who has a stake in perpetuating MIDI.
... it is also much, much more fun playing with RealTracks than it is playing with midi.

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Here's a related question for those of you who are ambidextrous, drums-wise:
Before the development of so many Real Drums and Real Tracks, BIAB was just getting to the point of developing many styles with multiple sub-styles. [By that, I mean that you can have more than just blue and green part markers.] Does anyone know if there are any Real Drums that react to more than two substyles?
[Yes, I know I can go into RealBand or another sequencer to accomplish this, but I figure those of you who use both MIDI Drums and RealDrums in BIAB might already know. Thanks!]
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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Matt,
I'm not sure I'm reading your question correctly.
I've never seen any reference to where there is more than A/B in RDs. Some of them have essentially what is AA/BB where the 'AA' may be something like Brushes/Busy Brushes and 'BB' Ride/Loud Ride. BIAB would cycle through the first set of AB and move to the second when the part markers repeated. For example, in a song structured AABA AABA the first AABA would be Brushes/Ride where the second would be Busy Brushes/Loud Ride.
Now if you're talking about multistyles, I've found that BIAB treats a C/D marker the same as A/B. Most of my customized styles have at least one multistyle where I have defined A/B with brushes and C/D with sticks. I even have some with E/F. In all cases, BIAB uses the related RD A/B instruction for those multistyles.
Did I read you correctly?
R
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Rachael, yes, your second paragraph about multistyles answers what I was asking. Thank you.
Wouldn't it be nice if, for example, the JazzTerryClarke Real Drums, which has 8 variations, could play those variations under the control of multiple substyles?
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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I am disappointed to find that is not the case because I thought that was the whole idea. I admit I had not been able to make it happen but I thought it was something I was doing wrong. I suppose one could create modified styles and have them cut in at different points through the tune? But that is a bit time consuming.
Grah Jive Talk "Don't worry baby, they'll swing their arses off."
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It really is not that difficult. In my case, I have 4 styles that I use for most of my songs. Each style has one or two multistyles that essentially is the same as the 'parent' style but with different drum kits. For example, for my swings the main (parent) style is SWING. SWING has JazzTerryClarke^02-Brushes as the drums and two multistyles (substyles), SWING1 and SWING2. SWING1 is a copy of SWING with JazzTerryClarke^03-Ride,RideLd drums. SWING2 with JazzTerryClarke^04-CrStk,CrStTm.
Now SWING has 6 part markers defined as follows: A/B - JazzTerryClarke^02-Brushes C/D - JazzTerryClarke^03-Ride,RideLd E/F - JazzTerryClarke^04-CrStk,CrStTm.
They can be used anywhere in the song. Of course, you can make any number of multistyles with the RD of your choice. If you are somewhat familiar with the StyleMaker, the process should take a matter of minutes.
If you have a lot of songs that uses the same style(s), it sure saves time over defining drum changes using Bar Settings. I've done similar styles for Bossa, 12/8 and Waltzes. That covers 99% of my songs. If you're wondering why I did this, it was mostly because I wanted some phrases to have a walking bass ('B' marker). Some drums go to the ride cymbal at the 'B' which I did not always want. In my swing examples, brushes are always A/B and sticks C/D. The E/F markers are used for special needs such as Bossa with percussion or Swing with CrackSticks.
R
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Ok, aside from all the answers above given, to answer your question about drum synths or samplers; there's quite a few of them (if still you want to use the midi drums), which one to use is also a matter of how much you want to spend. Right now Cakewalk is offering the Session drummer 2 sampler as a download for $10.00 (they came up with version 3 bundled with Sonar), also you can get from them the "Studio Instruments" sampler which includes electric base, electric piano, strings, and yes drums(pretty decent sound), offering a whole bunch of kits, patches and so on for $20.00 (normally $50.00). You also have the Toontracks EZDrummer family with also have different ad-ons that you buy separate, but also costs more. So the choice is yours, check them out, I think you won't be disappointed. I hope this helps.
Mike B.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thanks to all. I will check out the Cakewalk software.
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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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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!
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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!
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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!
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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.
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