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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1 |
BiaB is a fantastic product - but its graphical user interface is so disappointing that it is actually irritating me! Please come up with a GUI that is at least less ugly and more intuitiv! Thank you in advance!
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 886
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 886 |
I am now so use to it I would be lost if it changed! 
i5 3.20GHz, 32gb RAM, 1tb SSD OS, 12tb HDD, 4gb gForce vid card, 32" monitor, Audient id44, Win10 x64, BiaB/RB 2023, Reaper 6,IK Multimedia Total Studio 3.5 MAX, Waves 10
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,610
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,610 |
Quote:
I am now so use to it I would be lost if it changed!
+1 Most of the icons can be hidden. Later, Ray
Asus Q500A i7 Win 10 64 bit 8GB ram 750 HD 15.5" touch screen, BIAB 2017, Casio PX 5s, Xw P1, Center Point Stereo SS V3 and EWI 4000s.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 60
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 60 |
The GUI can have some tweakings to look cleaner like pgmusic website. The menu and submenu windows need revamping and regrouping.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 904
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 904 |
I have to say, although *I* do not care about the GUI, it IS areal turnaoo for a lot of my jazz students. You know, they are young folks, I guess the older ones like me (I`m 39, LOL) can live with that, but the youngsters are used so much to the hip styles of Apple and Co.
Jussayin`
Sandra
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
39 eh Sandra, you look 18 in the picture. Way to go. Should be way more women here, it moderates the behaviour for some reason. I have vowed to return to Vienna, Saltzburg, and Straussburg. The only place I did not like was Berlin. I can only describe my dealings with their banhoff as insulting.
As far as the gui I think that there should be a play mode. I don't want anything else if I'm just playing files. When I need to Edit them I could click on edit mode.
I just thought about being 39 and I had the world by the 'backside'. Now it seems I'm the backside of the world.
John Conley Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 733
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 733 |
Quote:
I have to say, although *I* do not care about the GUI, it IS areal turnaoo for a lot of my jazz students. You know, they are young folks, I guess the older ones like me (I`m 39, LOL) can live with that, but the youngsters are used so much to the hip styles of Apple and Co.
Discussion about the GUI usually ends up with the BIAB gurus saying basically "it's a great program so just hunker down and learn it" Mastering the GUI has become a right of passage. I'm a long term user and like everyone else I have learned to use the program inspite of the GUI. However the comment quoted above is the key to PG's long term success. Unfortunately, it's not just how good the program is that matters in the long run, but how up-to-date it looks.
PG are lucky in that there is no immediate competitor to BIAB. When another program appears (and it certainly will) that has a similar functionality you can bet it will have a much sharper GUI than BIAB and PG's sales will drop drastically. You just have to look at Apple's success to see how today's public value a "hip style" It may be a daunting task but I hope PG are already working on a completely new GUI, not just minor adjustments of the existing.
Tony
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1 |
Imho Band-In-A-Box needs to change from "engineer design 1975" to "designer design 2012". Otherwise I agree with Tony Wright, that the first serious competitor will wipe out biab. That would be a shame, 'cause the program is excellent in so many ways, particularly real tracks, which were the main reason for my purchase.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 385
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 385 |
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,624
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,624 |
Well, we haven't had one of these discussions in a few months, so I guess it is time again.
One can learn to be extremely productive in BIAB, but I sometimes wonder if it is despite the interface. I believe it has been demonstrated that none of the users, however experienced, know the whole program. After twenty years, I certainly do not. It has also been my practice to spend time every so often just looking at each menu option, where I invariably discover something I had no clue was there (especially with those "More" buttons from feature creep).
Yes, the user interface could be improved. It could have its look modernized, and the menu system with all the sub-sub-menu dialogs could be reorganized. John's suggestion, that the look of a Play mode could be different from that of an Edit mode, is good too.
However, what do I want PG Music to do? Improve those things, or continue to innovate and deliver product features? I will accept the interface as it is, if it means we get even more fabulous music tools. It just means this Forum will continue to get more comments and questions, but that seems to be an effective education tool.
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 Wishlist
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,598
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,598 |
Biab is a great program that deserves a much better interface, IMO. There are many great suggestion on this forum, John's Play / Edit mode is a good example.
Latest BIAB version, latest build.
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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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Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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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)!
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- 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)
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- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
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