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Joined: Feb 2016
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Hello to Biab users. I have the BaiB 2010 edition, and I must admit I Really haven't used it much, being not a real skilled computer person, or particularly gifted musician.
However, I have been working diligently on sight reading and can play and read classical music (guitar) up to a grade 4 level, although I do struggle with some pieces.
After all this time I really want to learn Band in a Box as this program has so much to offer, it's a shame that I can't utilize it to it's full potential. Initially I bought this as a tool to use as accompaniment as I don't have other musicians to play with
on a regular basis. I have played in several bands through the years, usually as Bass guitarist in country dance bands.
Any advice on how to get up and running with my BiaB, gratefully appreciated.
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Joined: Jan 2013
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Joined: Jan 2013
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Well....I'm no BIAB aficionado so I'd say start here: http://www.pgmusic.com/videos.bbwin.htmDig in and others will chime in to assist. Carry on....
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chulaivet1966 nailed it!
First off, a hardy and sincere Welcome!
I'm not a great book-learner so I offer similar advice. Just jump in with both feet and know that you are among the most wonderful, knowledgeable, musicians on the planet who hang their egos at the door.
First step: acquaint yourself with the GUI (Graphical User Interface) to learn the buttons and controls and what each one does.
Step 2: Enter some favo(u)rite (Canadian spelling) chords.
Step 3: Hit PLAY (or Space-bar) to start/stop.
Step 4: Experiment with different Styles from the Style Picker dialogue menu.
Wahoo! You're a composer!
If you hit a wall, shout out and someone will throw out a lifeline.
We've all been in your shoes at square #1 and won't flame you. That's something that sets these forums miles apart from others I frequent.
Again, welcome!
"Have fun!" - Dr. Peter Gannon
Don
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Welcome to the forum. You may want to try this.
If you have trouble deciding on chord progressions, keys and tempos, rather than worry with that, choose a style you enjoy and load the demo for the style. It will load the chord progression, key and tempo as well as choose your 'band'.
You can mute the instrument that you play live if it is included in the band - and begin playing along immediately.
You can also woodshed the song. There is a tutorial for this in the PGMusic news feed dated 2/16/16.
PGMusic explains it as follows:
"Woodshedding (defined as Slang; to practice a musical instrument assiduously and with a specific goal in mind) is easy with Band-in-a-Box!"
"The idea is that you start off with a slow tempo, playing the part perfectly, and keep this up as the song tempo increases - what a great way to learn!"
BIAB 2026:RB 2026, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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Joined: Feb 2016
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Joined: Feb 2016
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Thanks for the response everyone. I have figured out a few simple things so far. As an example I put in the chords I want for a song like Minor Swing, then pick the style, Django swing, then play this in a loop while practicing how to improvise over the chord changes. I generally pick a tune that has few chord changes as it gives me a bit more time to work in an arpeggio or scale into the melody. One thing I was wondering about was creating my own score using the tools in Real Band. My music writing ability as per notation is weak, very slow at best. My understanding is that BaiB, can create a musical score if you input via midi. I don't have a midi keyboard and I don't play keyboard anyway, so I am wondering how to adapt this to guitar. In effect turning a guitar into a midi device? The Godin Multiac guitar comes with builtin midi, but does that mean you can plug directly to the computer or do you need to go through another interface, such as Roland synthesizer? Does anyone have experience with this? By the way, I only found there was a BIAB forum today. Only then because I registered my product after a re-install, and noticed the forum box on the homepage. (6 years late) Thanks for this link. It's great. http://www.pgmusic.com/videos.bbwin.htm
Last edited by offgridguy; 02/24/16 02:18 PM.
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I have very little experience with MIDI but have done several soundtracks to accompany slideshows for friends. Version 2016 has several beautiful soundtracks to chose from. Is this similar to your goal? https://youtu.be/sfSRdG7Xc_Mhttps://youtu.be/r0e_VGQPT7cDon
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Thanks for the reply. I realize now I probably didn't clarify my post very well, my apologies.
My situation is this; I write a lot of songs, both instrumental and with lyrics. Because of my lack of proficiency in writing musical notation it is a struggle to get it onto paper in the proper format. I believe there are some musical notation software programs that will take an audio file and transpose it to a musical score for you. I believe Forte 7 will do this, though I could be wrong. I don't know if BIAB has this function,
however I was told that if you played a piece on a keyboard that was midi compatible and connected to BIAB then it would indeed transpose it to a written musical score as midi recognizes the piano keystrokes as a note and attaches the proper note value to it. I am not sure what equipment is required to accomplish the same thing with a guitar. I am certainly intrigued with the Godin Multiac though as it's the only guitar I know that comes wired with midi outlet.
If this worked it would mean I could play one of my tunes and have BIAB transpose it to a musical score.
I hope it's possible, even if I need some additional equipment
to make it work.
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Yes, you can use any midi controller to input midi information. Many people use a midi keyboard but there are a number of forum members that use a guitar midi controller such as the You Rock controller or Roland 13 pin system. There are a few people that use wind controllers.
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Welcome OffGridGuy
BiaB became my other 'Band To Have' because whenever we had scheduled a jam in the real world, the bass player never couldn't make it at the last minute, and the drummer never had to cancel because his sister's mother-in-law had a hairdresser appointment and no one else could drive her there. Are you with me?
And everyone could read the charts, and they could keep time. You still with me?
You'll love this. Stay patient. Lots to do in the future... Small steps, stay patient. This program has an enormous amount to offer, and can take you to where you might never have thought possible.
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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BB is the absolute BEST BAND I've ever had the pleasure to play with.
They say if you want to get better, you have to play with folks who are better then you. BB is all the best players in the musical world.
Take your time and learn the program. Post songs, ask questions, and participate in the forums and you will learn.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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I do exactly what you want to do with a MIDI guitar controller, a wind controller and a keyboard controller. The process is simple just input the chords into BiaB. Pick your style; I would use MIDI styles to start with as some RTs do not have MIDI transcripts. Then record your MIDI. Then save your file as either a MIDI file or a XML file. If you just want your lead and chord IDs then you can print everything out in BiaB. If you want a full score then get the free Musescore2: https://musescore.org/If you want to input more that one guitar part then you would use a DAW. BiaB come with a DAW called RealBand, as previously mentioned. RTs are audio files and audio can not be directly printed, then must be changed to MIDI. Some RTs do have the MIDI transcripts so these will not be a problem, however some do not have them. You can convert audio to MIDI and the best way to do that is with Melodyne, however the polyphonic version that you would need is expensive. You might not need to buy a MIDI controller. Jam Origin: http://www.jamorigin.com/products/midi-guitar/is a $100 USD program that a lot of people are raving about. It converts your guitar parts to MIDI. I don't own it yet but it is on my must get list. I hope this helps and good luck.
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Thank You to everyone. This is very helpful information, I thought it could be done, but didn't know how.
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Did you realize that you can edit MIDI in BIAB's Piano Roll view?
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Did you realize that you can edit MIDI in BIAB's Piano Roll view? Nope, I've got a lot to learn, thanks.
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I've been browsing through this site. http://www.pgmusic.com/videos.bbwin.htmThe amount of info here is mind boggling, but well presented, clear and concise, I'm off to a good start. Thank you chulaivet1966.
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I have sent you a PM - check mailbox
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Welcome.
Don't overlook Mario's instruction, that you can play guitar and input MIDI that way.
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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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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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!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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.
Holiday Weekend Hours
It's Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada. Our Customer Service hours are:
Saturday, May 16: Closed
Sunday, May 17: Closed
Monday, May 18: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Regular hours resume Tuesday, May 19th!
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
Don't wait - order today!
Check out all the new features in the redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
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®!
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!
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