Why are some tracks in some styles panned left or right as supplied by BIAB? Wouldn't most performers want to start from zero panning and adjust to suite their circumstances? Whenever the panning is noticeable I usually remove it.
Since you mentioning 'starting' in BIAB, just checking, are you aware of the setting in BIAB to export tracks dry and centered? It makes a clean start possible in the DAW.
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; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
There are default pan settings (which you can change) to give the BIAB arrangement stereo separation (remember, a lot of folks like to enter the chords and just hit play).
If you want everything centered and flat, just click on the "Master" radio button and select "set flat and centered" (or something like that). It will adjust it accordingly.
There is also a panning setting under MIDI options, which allows the style definition to set the panning (or not), and in the "Channels" screen, you'll see the default panning settings (which you can change.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA
Thanks for the replies but I'm asking WHY are the basic styles panned, I know how to change the panning.
How can the person who wrote the style know if, or how much the user wants the different instruments panned left or right. Surely stereo separation depends on how the style will be used and performed etc. Why not just leave all panning at zero and leave it up to the user.
I always set the panning to zero if it is at all distracting.
I find the panning settings provided in a style to be helpful input from a knowledgeable source -- to me they usually sound pretty good. When I import audio tracks from BIAB unto Sonar Platinum, one of the first things I do is approximate the original BIAB pan settings (BIAB is a figure; Sonar is a percentage), which I use as a starting point, to then be varied from as appropriate based on preferences, as other tracks are added, etc. More info better than less, IMHO.
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There are a lot of customers who don't touch the mixer at all, and just want to enter chords, pick a style, hit Play, and start practicing. For those users, some stereo separation by panning is applied automatically, so the style sounds pretty good right off the bat.
The controls are still available so that someone who wants to adjust them to their needs can do so as well.
The program does generate music automatically for the user, it makes sense to me that it would also do some basic mixing automatically as well.
Perhaps my question shows my ignorance in understanding the benefit of arbitrary stereo separation when performing with BIAB. Why is the sound better just because the guitar seems to come from the left or the trumpet from the right etc. If you are listening to a live band and you can see the lead guitar player standing on the left then perhaps it adds to the experience but when everything is generated electronically and the sound appears "out of nowhere" I cannot see the need for stereo separation. This is especially true when using a mono PA system.
Also when using BIAB at home through stereo speakers or phones I find the panning very distracting so usually get rid of it anyway.
BTW separation for a stereo piano played from a keyboard is different and is essential for a good quality piano sound but that isn't part of the BIAB style. I have my mixer piano input set permanently with left panned fully left and right panned fully right and keep the separation through stereo PAs.
I guess it must be a matter of personal preference. When I listen at home on my stereo speakers, I want the music to be in, well, stereo. Pretty much every recording I have has the instruments spread out across the stereo field.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA
The bass is almost always in the center because those low frequencies are hard to locate directionally. The lead vocal or instrument is also typically centered. Other instruments are spread gently across the stereo field to give the music some depth, and bring out certain instuments in the mix.
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; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
I guess it must be a matter of personal preference. When I listen at home on my stereo speakers, I want the music to be in, well, stereo. Pretty much every recording I have has the instruments spread out across the stereo field.
Same here. Stereo playback is the default, and most popular, music playback these days. I rarely encounter mono playbck when I listen to music from my favourite artists.
Well yes, if you are going to end up playing it through a MONO PA, you might as well use MONO from the beginning.
However, as touched on, the stereo field adds a spacious depth to resemble more of the visual setting you mentioned. Rhythm guitar is on the left, lead on the right, etc. to help distinguish them like you would see them visually. When I do a mix, that's one way I judge it; does it sound like how a band would set up and perform it?
To reverse your logic about sound spread across a sound stage .. MONO causes things to sound like the band is all standing in the exact same spot.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
Tony, now you're getting into the whole history of stereo music starting in the 40's I guess and evolving into surround sound now. Your question is basically asking "What good is stereo?".
The answer is simply personal taste. Don't like it, turn it off but the vast majority do like stereo.
When you mentioned live gigging of course then stereo is completely lost in most cases. But when I was using Biab live some years ago I panned the bass and drums left and everything else right and used a stereo splitter coming out of my laptop headphone jack. Why? It gave me some control over the mix on the gig even with a mono PA because I used two separate channels using that L and R feed from the laptop.
It's very hard to mix your tracks at home and have that mix still work at different venues because of vastly different acoustics. Having individual tracks go into their own channel would be ideal and it can be done but it's expensive and complicated. My simple two track panning worked well enough.
Bob raises a good point. I sometimes perform to a backing track I create and am stuck with the house mono PA. So, I have a Mono button on my Presonus Central Station (speaker controller) to test my mix in mono. If you do the wrong thing in mixing, it's possible to have a signal on the left and right cancel each other and disappear in mono. You would never know it by testing the mix with regular stereo monitors or especially headphones.
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; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
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With your version 2026 for Windows 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!
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-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
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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)
Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
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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)
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
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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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 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 Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 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.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 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!
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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 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 Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 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.
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