Hi, I have installed the 2018 version as an upgrade and there is a problem in the practice window. The 101 Riffs and the Master Solos Columns are not displayed in BOLD and it shows as N/A.
Before the upgrade the two columns were all linking to the files but no longer.
I have spent 2 solid days trying to sort this out, including trying to Chat online to the PG Staff (that was disappointing as I was left waiting between questions, for up to 30 minutes!) but that didn't work.
I have tried to revert back to the older version and then to retry the upgrade, several time and I am now exhausted. I think that it may be to do with the new filing system though.
I also had other problems with the audio and the download manager but I managed to solve that.
This is a known issue, the Practice Window is looking in the BB folder for that material, rather than in BB\Songs and Lessons.
It'll be fixed with an update patch, and in the meantime, you can access that material by hitting File - Open, navigating to the Songs and Lessons Folder, and opening the files manually.
I tried following the steps in Support FAQ #166 ("Can I store the RealTracks and RealDrums on a different hard drive than the Band-in-a-Box® and RealBand program?") and now can't get past error messages. What a mess. I'll try uninstalling everything and re-installing to default on the root of C: (bad programming), but that means I'll have to be very careful about limited free space on C:. Meanwhile, my D: drive has 700+GB free.
You can store RealTracks and RealDrums at another location, on a different drive if required. Many of us do. In fact virtually all Audiophile users do this.
Just install BiaB in the \bb\ folder.
Then in BiaB, Options > Preferences > RealDrums and nominate the Custom Folder where your RealDrums are stored. Repeat for RealTracks.
Also, the default of the program being installed in the root of your selected drive is not bad programming.
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.
Yeah, this release has given me headaches and at one point I had give up...
For some reason, the download manager showed that some files were not available for download, as if they were already on my computer. I had to download them directly from my account. There were realtrack, mega pak realtrack, bonus pak and video realtrack files to download that were not on my computer.
The instrument files for sforzando were also missing, hence it wouldn't work. Then Coyote plugin was a real pain in the butt... I could see the .dll file but the plugin refused to load. Tried reinstalling it from within biab without success. And when I was closing biab 2018, I was getting "This program stopped working..." message, crashing. I accidentally stumbled on the fix while I was exploring the help menu... were it let you read all the pop up messages that appear at the lower-right of the monitor (the yellow box).
It turns out that link opens up a Notepad txt file, displaying a log of what's been happening during a session in biab. THERE IT WAS!
Basically the message was suggesting to the user to rename a BIAB configuration .txt file within the c:\bb folder and then to restart the program.
Then I was able to use coyote and getting sound from midi tracks, and on closing the program it behaved as it should, no crashing.
Now I am having another problem... I can't seem to be able to load HELIX NATIVE vst plugin, not sure if it is supported.
Is the HELIX Native plug-in 32 or 64 bit? Band-in-a-Box and RealBand are 32 bit applications so 64 bit plug-ins are not naturally supported by the programs.
jBridge is a wrapper utility program that allows 32 bit programs to use 64 bit plug-ins and vice versa for 64 bit to 32 bit.
PG Music worked with the developer of jBridge to develop a version of the program that works with BiaB and RB. You can find out more about jbridge +++ HERE +++
...in the meantime, you can access that material by hitting File - Open, navigating to the Songs and Lessons Folder, and opening the files manually....
Did that, got to the files, and they now open, but when I try to run them, nothing, no riffs, no sound, no music, nothing. Otherwise BIAB works for me.
When do you expect this program update to occur, and in the meantime how do I get my riffs to play?
When you loaded the song, did you load the MGU file? I notice that the STY files are also in the same directory. It is the MGU files that contain the riffs.
...They work fine for me. ... When you loaded the song, did you load the MGU file? I notice that the STY files are also in the same directory. It is the MGU files that contain the riffs....
Noel: Thanks for your quick post, and yes, I loaded the MGU file.
Wow, with all the problems being reported with BIAB 2018, I may decide not to install it. I’ve got 2018 on order, but may put it on the shelf and just look at it. 2017 is working just fine on Windows 7. However, if I had the problems being reported, I haven’t the slightest notion where to start looking. Musician here, with zero computer skills.
Wow, with all the problems being reported with BIAB 2018, I may decide not to install it. I’ve got 2018 on order, but may put it on the shelf and just look at it. 2017 is working just fine on Windows 7. However, if I had the problems being reported, I haven’t the slightest notion where to start looking. Musician here, with zero computer skills.
The only thing I did when I installed BIAB 2018 was to change the the MS Windows WAS audio driver to MME because WAS sometimes took control of the soundcard and other applications were unable to access it. Since there, everything has been working fine for me.
As I see it, there are two possible reasons that you're not hearing the sound. 1. Midi styles are automatically being replaced by Realstyles. 2. Your midi sound setup needs adjusting. Does this help? ...
Yes it does! I went with your 2nd suggestion, and now it's all working beautifully, many thanks!
And if I understand things correctly, you're not a PG Music employee but rather a helpful volunteer on this site, correct? I'm simply overwhelmed with your helpful efforts, again thanks!
As I see it, there are two possible reasons that you're not hearing the sound. 1. Midi styles are automatically being replaced by Realstyles. 2. Your midi sound setup needs adjusting. Does this help? ...
Yes it does! I went with your 2nd suggestion, and now it's all working beautifully, many thanks!
And if I understand things correctly, you're not a PG Music employee but rather a helpful volunteer on this site, correct? I'm simply overwhelmed with your helpful efforts, again thanks!
Glad you're up an running!
And yes. I'm just a BIAB/RB user like you. If I read a problem that I think I have a solution for, I always try to help (just like others helped me when I first started using BIAB). These forums are a vibrant community!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
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Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 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 process 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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
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)
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