Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 138
A
Andy123 Offline OP
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
A
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 138
Dear All,

Is it possible to open a 'Blank' style at program bootup?

ie one with Volumes, Reverbs and Panning all set to 0, and preferably, with no RTs or RD's selected.

I've played around with:
- the three Preferences -> 'At Program Bootup' options
- the Styles-> 'Save Current Song as Style' option
- re-saving the MySetup.DK file

But none of them give me a zero-ed mixer at bootup.

I find the 2014 mixer significantly harder to zero than the old one (which had a common slider for all parts), and being able to load a blank, zero'd, start-up screen would be very helpful.

Thanks! Best - Andy

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,058
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,058
I think this is more of a Wishlist item at the moment.

There is a BLANK.STY but at this stage I don't believe any styles zero the mixer. One suggestion we made in beta testing that we hope will be implemented in a future patch is to double-click to zero out controls in the mixer.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Hi Andy,

I can't imagine what the possible realworld use of such would be.

Band in a Box is not a DAW program, which is where I would think a fully zero'd mixer would be the way to go at opening.

But since the Mixer Settings are incorporated into each Songfile, and change according to those Saved Settings with each song, once a song is loaded to play, the desired zero'd out Mixer Settings would just change again immediately anyway.

I keep my BB Prefs set to "Open previously Loaded Song" which I find to be a good thing, when working up a new songfile BB opens that same file again, great for interrupted work sessions, when practicing with BB, same applies, for Live Performance use, I don't care what first happens when the program opens, as I will pick my first song in the set using the SongPicker button anyway.

What would be your reason for wanting this full mixer zero on program opening?


--Mac

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 138
A
Andy123 Offline OP
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
A
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 138
Simple Mac: I never use styles - except to switch to 3/4 or 5/4 occasionally!

I load the RTs, RDs, STs, VSTis & loops I want, and then mix them.

I always want reverb, most volumes & panning on zero.

With the previous mixer it was quick to zero everything with the 'all tracks' slider.

It's much more fiddly with 2014 - I still can't get panning to 0 accurately !

I wish they'd kept the 'all tracks' slider for 2014!

Best - Andy

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,504
R
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
R
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,504
I see what you want andy, but i have to somewhat agree with Mac. I see no real use for this, and BiaB is style based. You can not generate a song without a style involved. SO if you open it and do not change the style you are still using the old style from last time. The volume/panning issue i get, but again that is related to the style.

Why not pick a style you like, and zero everything, and save that style under a new name and see if it comes up like that each time, and maybe that will be a work around.

Another options is to do your work in RB. The style does not come to play there until you ask it to.


HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 138
A
Andy123 Offline OP
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
A
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 138
Hi Rob,

I found that trying to save a style with the Styles-> 'Save Current Song as Style' command doesn't save the mixer settings.

I perhaps should have mentioned the work-around I'm using :

Shift-Ctrl-M launches the old mixer. You can then zero everything quickly with the all-Tracks 'Combo' slider. When you hit 'generate' the new mixer then adopts the old-mixer settings.

It just seems a shame to have to go back to a pre-14 function, for something so basic.

I would have preferred the old Combo-slider to have been retained for 2014, rather than using precious space for the new 'This Song/All Songs' volume-boost slider.

(This was also why I suggested a 'double-click zero's the fader' function on another post.)

Best - Andy

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,058
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,058
If Andy thinks this would help his workflow, let's support his request.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Originally Posted By: Andy123

(This was also why I suggested a 'double-click zero's the fader' function on another post.)


I brought that up during the beta.

We've been promised that in one of the upcoming Updates.

I for one can hardly wait.


--Mac

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
If Andy thinks this would help his workflow, let's support his request.


If implemented, I vote that it be a user-selectable from Prefs somewhere.

You see, having all faders come up at zero could mean that many could start work and not know why they hit Play and see things moving around - but do not hear anything.


--Mac

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,819
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,819
There are four blank styles. Straight and swing 3/4 styles as well as straight and swing 4/4 styles.

They are under the Utility / Miscellaneous category of the StylePicker.

I frequently use one of the four in the beginning of a song if I want to begin with a few blank measures.

They are also handy if you want to delete an instrument in an existing style. Just import a blank instrument from a blank style. Almost sounds inappropriate, doesn't it? blush

The blank styles do not change the initial mixer settings.

You can have a blank style as the default style but you would have to choose from one of the four.



Jim Fogle - 2025 BiaB (Build 1128) RB (Build 5) - Ultra+ PAK
DAWs: Cakewalk Sonar - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8
Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD
Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD
Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 138
A
Andy123 Offline OP
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
A
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 138
Thanks Jim....

But what I was really after was alternatives to having to zero 17 little faders manually before I start!

Using old-mixer is the best way I've found so far. It just feels sort of disrespectful to '14 to go that route each time!

Best - Andy

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,058
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,058
Andy, my suggestion is to put this in the Wishlist. As Mac has pointed out, not everyone wants the same behavior, so it has to be an option. I could see having a checkbox option to "zero all faders upon booting the program", something like that. Would that work for you?


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Originally Posted By: Andy123

But what I was really after was alternatives to having to zero 17 little faders manually before I start!


What is it exactly that you gain from doing that?

As soon as you load any songfile with stylefile, they are gonna change anyway to suit the settings for that song.


--Mac

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 138
A
Andy123 Offline OP
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
A
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 138
Mac: It's just the way I work! As I mentioned, I've never paid any attention to styles. I zero everything; enter the changes; then the STs, RTs, loops, f5's etc; and then start mixing and testing.


Matt: Any or all of the three options we've discussed would be great imho:

a) Re-instate the old-mixer Combo/All-Tracks fader (tricky, for space-reasons, I realise)
b) Double-click zeros/centres the fader (no space required)
c) Your check-box zeros-all-faders idea (presumably somewhere in Pref's, so no space demands on the mixer)

Rather than expressing a preference, I'd be inclined to ask PG which is the easiest for them to code-up, I think.

All Thanks to both of you for your support as ever.

Best - Andy

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,058
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,058
I often work the same way, Andy. I rarely start with a style. More often, when composing, I begin with a blank slate and one idea, and create from there. I too select RealTracks one by one. Your request makes perfect sense to me.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 138
A
Andy123 Offline OP
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
A
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 138
Many Thanks Matt - and Mac.

I'll summarise our discussion for the Wish-List now.

Best - Andy

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Thanks for providing a reasonable explanation, Andy, makes sense to me now.

Originally Posted By: Andy123


a) Re-instate the old-mixer Combo/All-Tracks fader (tricky, for space-reasons, I realise)


BB2014 Development isn't done. We've been promised some more ways to deal with the onscreen GUI, customization, ctrl-t toggles, etc. Stay tuned and watch the Updates as they are issued.

Quote:
b) Double-click zeros/centres the fader (no space required)


I requested the DoubleClick Centering of PAN during the beta and PG stated that would be added to the list of things to come in updates.

Didn't think of the DoubleClick also Zeroing the VOL faders - am going to pass that idea on to Development Team.

You should also add it as a request on the Wishlist Forum as well.

Quote:
c) Your check-box zeros-all-faders idea (presumably somewhere in Pref's, so no space demands on the mixer)


I would think that this one would serve you and others who work as you do better than having to DoubleClick on all the Mixer Faders each time you open BB to go to work. This is a good idea, then. A User Preference to open the program with Mixer sero'd out.

I should think also that there should be a way to return the mixer to that zero'd status in the case where you are done with one songfile and wish to start another, perhaps that Prefs Toggle could also be made to apply as well when "New" Comnmand is hit.

Quote:
Rather than expressing a preference, I'd be inclined to ask PG which is the easiest for them to code-up, I think.


Now there's a great attitude that I wish would catch on around these parts!


--Mac

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!

We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!

Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!

Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.

Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles

Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)

And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.

You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.

Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!

The 2025 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2025 49-PAK!

Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac!

With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 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 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK: -For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles. -For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles. -For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
  • Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
  • Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
  • Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
  • Playable RealTracks Set 4
  • RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
  • SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
  • 128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.

Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:

  • 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
  • FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
  • Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
  • Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
  • Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
  • RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe

Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!

New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!

Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 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.

New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!

We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!

If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!

Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

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.

New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!

Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 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.

New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!

We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!

If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!

Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

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.

Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support

Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins

Join the conversation on our forum.

Forum Statistics
Forums58
Topics84,392
Posts778,628
Members39,644
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
daveg68, snares33, The Jam Shop, Hyke, bestbushcraft
39,644 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 134
WaoBand 116
DC Ron 111
rsdean 83
dcuny 82
Today's Birthdays
rockin
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5