I noticed in the song forums that Many of you post the names of the Realtracks instruments that you are using but not everyone identifies the styles. Isn't the style on the the first step to developing a song and important information to know? I also noticed that some have used a style called blank or something similar. Is it possible to have a song with no style?
You can use a Blank style, and then just add the specific RealTracks you want to use to each track. All a RealStyle is, is a collection of RealTracks that have been identified to work well together and are bundled in a Style file. But you can easily override any one of them. Some people start with a RealStyle, and then substitute out the instruments from the style (maybe keeping some of them, or not). In the end, you may have a screen that shows a specific style being used; however, every instrument in the style may have been replaced by a different RealTrack. I view the style as a starting point and using the Blank style lets you just create your own "band" sound from all available RealTracks, as opposed to starting with a pre-configured "band".
And that being said, even if you use MIDI styles, you can also replace individual parts using the tracks found in other MIDI styles, or even override a MIDI track with a RealTrack. Your screen may show the initial style you selected, but you could potentially replace every instrument with tracks from different MIDI style files.
To me, that's what's so great about BIAB; you can select something close to what you want to get you started and deviate from there. Or you can start with a blank slate and roll your own. And in the latter case, if you like the result, you can save that collection of RealTracks as a User Style to bring up again later.
Hope that made sense.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA
There are four BLANK styles. Two for 3/4 time and two for 4/4 time with each pair having one even tempo and one swing tempo. None of the four have midi or RealTrack instruments assigned. As jford stated that makes them an ideal starting point for creating your own style that includes RealTracks, MIDI SuperTracks or loops.
If you want to create a style that utilizes one or more MIDI instruments you likely are better off starting with a MIDI style and modifying it to meet your needs. That's because MIDI styles include midi patterns that is used to create the midi data generated for each midi instrument.
Another use for blank styles is to modify an existing style used in a song when the style includes an instrument you do not want to use. Just import a blank instrument to replace an existing instrument.
Regarding Styles and individual instruments in constructing a song in BIAB, a very powerful and useful tool is included in the BIAB Stylepicker. When you open the Stylepicker page, notice there are two separate choices to audition Styles (and also the RealTracks, Midi and SuperMidi tracks).
The lower, larger play button with the play triangle, auditions the Styles with a premade Demo SGU file. Sometimes there are two demo files to audition.
The upper Play button plays the Style over the current Chord Chart populating the BIAB project.
Auditioning a Style using each of these options yields dramatically different sounding demos. A Style playing the demo may not suit what you need for your project while hearing the Style using the Chords, tempo and key of your project may be completely satisfactory. The song groove can be totally different between the two.
I use the Demo play to determine how well the instruments work together and the Play over current Chords to see how each particular Style works with my current project.
Also, using these two options together, dozens of Styles and hundreds of instrument tracks can be auditioned in a just a few minutes playing just as they will sound in your project. Many artists rough out their song in BIAB selecting a Style and possibly exchanging or adding instruments and then move their project to RealBand to add additional tracks to the foundation they created in BIAB. Auditioning Realtracks, Midi and SuperMidi tracks from the BIAB Stylepicker is many times faster than auditioning and finding appropriate tracks for your song than can be accomplished in RealBand. The RealBand Stylepicker does not have the Play over current chord chart button.
I have found it surprising when working on covers how effective using the Stylepicker filters in conjunction with the two play buttons are in getting the best and closest RealTrack to properly sound the right voicing of the cover song. This includes rhythms and soloists.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
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!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
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!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
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®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
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