I've posted several times that track names need to be revisited as to "labeling". It's great that now the instrument name displays on the tracks; however, there are still a number of features that require you to know the legacy track names to use them properly (Bass, Drums, Piano, Guitar, and Strings, plus Melody, Soloist, Thru, and Audio).
My new suggestion is (assuming a more comprehensive redo is not forthcoming) is that tracks be labeled by their existing lettered named. So wherever you see a track reference on the screen, you would see its corresponding letter.
That way, the legacy Drum track could just be labeled track "D". Piano would be "P", Bass would be "B", Strings would be "S", and Guitar would be "G". I suppose since the others don't participate in things like rests, shots, holds, stylemaker track references, etc), they could just be labeled "Mel", "Sol", "Thru", and "Audio", pretty much as they are now.
That way you would see on the screen at all times the letters associated with the tracks, and then when you wanted to "Hold" all tracks except the tenor sax soloist which happens to be on the legacy Guitar track, you would already see a "G" next to that track and would now to enter Cmaj7...G.
That makes it visible and easy to work with. Relabel the track names in StyleMaker and other places they are referenced by just the letter designation (and I don't think it matters it's not A, B, C, D, E, etc), and that completely disassociates the former track instrument name from the instrument that is actually on the track. And that would remove the confusion of why the trumpet is on the piano track.
I would suspect that this would take a little work, but I imagine most of those designations are implemented as constants anyway.
Just a thought, and again, this is a bridge until some of the other track issues are more comprehensively addressed (such as why do RealTracks need to overlay MIDI tracks - why not keep all the MIDI tracks and just include some number of RealTracks (which ultimately could get their own designations).
I have provided mockups below. I realize this is probably a stopgap, but it seems to provide a bridge until something else is done.
I hope that made sense.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA
I'm just trying to get away from the whole "the sax is on the Piano track, the guitar is on the Strings track, the organ is on the B[*****] track, and the xylophone is on the Guitar track". Now remember that for when you want shots, holds, or rests, or when you need to select instruments or VSTi's (in which case the instrument is the name of the VSTi not even the instrument assigned - depending upon the VSTi, of course).
Instead, put the sax on the P track, the Guitar on the S track, the organ on the B track, and the xylophone on the G track.
NOTE: The reason "Bass" track is asterisked, is because when you bold the first letter of Bass, the forum considers the remaining three letters inappropriate.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA
There was, of course, an extensive discussion of this with lots of good suggestions (though I think this good one is new). I kind of favor numbering the tracks, so no matter what else might be in the track name, you can deal with it by its relative position. But whatever works. John is correct that we are in limbo at the moment, unless you turn off the new feature as Noel did. And I feel for a new user who is reading the manual and not seeing anything resembling what's there.
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.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
I think the change needs to be more comprehensive than what we have now, but my idea was to work within the framework of how things currently work until such time as a new solution is implemented.
When you do a hold, for example, you enter C7...G, to hold everything except the legacy guitar track. Well, where did that G come from, and if it's the guitar track, how come I am allowed to put a trombone on it?
By displaying the tracks using the legacy letter names (multiple S's, as Matt pointed out being the exception), at least for the tracks that get regenerated or are considered parts of a style, then you can see on the screen what they are.
If you change it to ABCDE or something, then would you have to enter C7...D to exclude the "D" (formerly Guitar) track? Well what happens when you load an old file that has C7...G in it?
That's all I was trying to get at.
Hope that made sense.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA
Emphatic +1. The way track names work one way in the mixer (adapt the name of the instrument used in the track) and different with commands (use legacy names) can make using anything that uses track names confusing. John's suggestion offers a solution that eliminates much of the confusion.
For what it is worth, I strongly supported the idea of changing track names to match instrument names. However I never envisioned the change working the way it was implemented. To me this implementation is a missed opportunity for PG Music.
I've changed the default settings so track names reflect the legacy track names for the same reasons Noel96 cited.
jford, You asked a great question and included a terrific suggestion in your initial post, " ... (W)hy do RealTracks need to overlay MIDI tracks(?) - (W)hy not keep all the MIDI tracks and just include some (extra tracks for) number of RealTracks(?) (which ultimately could get their own designations). I would support this as a wishlist request.
jford, You asked a great question and included a terrific suggestion in your initial post, " ... (W)hy do RealTracks need to overlay MIDI tracks(?) - (W)hy not keep all the MIDI tracks and just include some (extra tracks for) number of RealTracks(?) (which ultimately could get their own designations). I would support this as a wishlist request.
Absolutely, add this to the Wishlist as a separate item maybe?
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
jford, You asked a great question and included a terrific suggestion in your initial post, " ... (W)hy do RealTracks need to overlay MIDI tracks(?) - (W)hy not keep all the MIDI tracks and just include some (extra tracks for) number of RealTracks(?) (which ultimately could get their own designations). I would support this as a wishlist request.
Absolutely, get over to the Wishlist with this one as a separate item maybe?
I have been suggesting for a number of years now that PGMusic open all 16 channels/tracks so we can add as many instruments as we want. An A/B switch so those that want it to stay as is can have that option.
I'm in a fitness protection program. I'm been hiding from exercise.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
While possibly doable, I think at some point they're going to have to bite the bullet and sever the backwards compatibility so they can move forward. While there are still XP users, it isn't supported anymore and Windows 7 dies in a few more years. 64-bit isn't going away. We have to get away from 8.5 file names (it's been 20 years since long file names came on the scene!)
We don't know what PGMusic future plans are, but I suspect file formats may have to be considered as part of preparing for the future. At some point (probably to the chagrin of many), they may have to get away from not using the registry (and for some things, they just have to). Some apps do it, but also offer a portable version that deosn't, which may be the way to go, don't know.
Just some rambling thoughts.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA
I concur, John; that's the future. By the way, there are a few mentions of BIAB in the Registry, for fonts and the last ten songs loaded, but those are not substantial.
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.
This may be slightly off-topic but I have a question about something you mentioned in the initial post. You said "I suppose since the others don't participate in things like rests, shots, holds, stylemaker track references, etc), they could just be labeled "Mel", "Sol", "Thru", and "Audio", pretty much as they are now."
I may be misunderstanding what you meant, but I noticed that if I generate a solo in the soloist track into measures that have holds, then the solo will in fact have holds in those bars. I actually wanted to generate the solo over the top of some held instruments and couldn't figure out a way to add the soloist track as an exception using the C... method. "bpdgs" are the only tracks that seem to allow an exception. The only way I could do it was to generate the solo without the holds in place, freeze the soloist track and then add the holds back in to those bars.
So I was wondering if the soloist track is in fact NOT supposed to adhere to shots and holds. If not, is there a way to add the soloist track (or melody track) as an exception with the C... method or is the freeze method the only option?
I haven't looked in a while, and it may have changed, but it used to be that soloists did not adhere to rests, shots, etc (well, on the soloist track, as you can actually have RealTrack Soloists on any track). Otherwise, how could you let the soloist "take it" while the rest of the band was "holding"?
Likewise for the melody track, since the melody certainly can continue while the rest of the band holds or rests.
And you certainly can't exclude the soloist track from rests, holds, and shots in the chord settings dialog (or by explicitly excluding instruments.
EDIT: Okay, I just tried this and apparently RealTracks soloists honor the rests/holds/shots, but a MIDI soloist does not.
This should be consistent, and since you can specify the specific measures to create a solo, then I believe it should "not" honor the rests setting (oftentimes you want the soloist to keep playing while the band doesn't).
I'll report this as a bug.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA
Okay, I just tried this and apparently RealTracks soloists honor the rests/holds/shots, but a MIDI soloist does not.
Hmmm.
Assuming this isn't an April Fool post, I agree, that's a surprise. I don't use those soloist tracks, so I didn't know this, but it's good info for us to have when answering questions.
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.
Yes, correct workaround. If the holds do in fact 'hold' in the Soloist, and you don't want them to, you can do this:
1: Freeze all the tracks (esp. if you have a generation that you like). 2: Unfreeze the Soloist. 3: Remove the Hold from the chord sheet and generate. 4: Freeze the Soloist that now plays through the holds. 5: Add the Holds back to the chord sheet.
Now, back to Track Names...
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active 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.
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
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!
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)
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:
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)
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!
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 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.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean