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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11 |
Hi all,
New here. I have been writing songs for a lot of years and want to record some. I am hoping that the $129 pro version will have enough bells n whistles to do some simple folk/rock/blues type stuff?
I have not bought yet. Also...if you upgrade eventually to the next level do you pay full price or less the amount of the lower version?
I'm a so so guitar strummer, songwriter, in a worship band for church, Love most music. Love my 12 string guitar too...lol.
Have a good day everybody!
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 393
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 393 |
Welcome, GildfordMusician. The basic program is the same in all the versions, the difference is the amount of included styles and real tracks. BIAB can produce midi or audio tracks - the ability to produce audio tracks is dependent on having the real tracks (including the so-called real drums). The higher packages include more real tracks and real styles. The Pro version is kind of a bare bones package without many styles or real tracks. You're probably better off to get the highest level package you can possibly afford. PG Music does generally offer upgrade prices, but you'll end up spending less if you buy higher level package to start with generally. They do also I believe still offer 30 day money back policy, if you'd like to try the program for 30 days.
good luck
Macbook Pro 2018
2.6 GHz 6-core Intel Core i7, 16 GB RAM
OS Monterey
BIAB for Mac 2022
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Joined: May 2000
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There are upgrade prices, so upgrading to a higher version is not 'full price'. PGMusic is known to accommodate upgrades very fairly. However, many of us here (who learned the hard way) suggest getting the highest level you can afford initially as it saves more $$ in the long run. Yes, you could create 'simple folk/rock/blues type stuff' with Pro, but once you have Ultra you realize how nice it is to have all the extra realtracks for variety. Pro will get you hooked enough to want more.  /I see babarton posted much the same right ahead of me, so I guess I'm just confirming his advice.
Last edited by rharv; 07/04/19 05:54 AM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,312
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,312 |
To hear demos of the RealTracks & RealDrums that are included with the Pro version, visit https://www.pgmusic.com/bbwin.packages.pro.htm#procombos - you may find that these are exactly what you're looking for!
Callie
Marketing Representative
PG Music Inc.
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Welcome to the forum. The Pro version will definitely get you started and it's a great place to start if you have no prior experience with Band-in-a-Box because of the 30 day money back guarantee if you find it's not for you. For guitar players and songwriters, unless you also use midi a lot, you'll quickly find you'll want to upgrade to another package. All of the versions have the same core program but differ in additional content and other add-ons. Several of the add-ons are programs for learning and practicing guitar. For songwriting, the more styles you have, the more ideas you can generate and compose demos of.
Future upgrades are discounted for either staying with the same version or upgrading to a higher version.
For many years, BIAB was a midi only program and many thousands of songs have been written and performed using the program. As a songwriter and if you prepare demos only as demos that will be used to take your song into a studio and it will be rerecorded from scratch, the Pro version is all you will ever need. Midi files are easily created in several different ways and there are also tens of thousands of free and commercially created midi files available for you to use or to create a huge data base of BIAB midi Styles as templates for your songwriting. Money you might spend on upgrading to a more featured version of BIAB may be better spent on a high quality external synth or a software VST program to provide high quality, better sounds for your midi files.
Using RealTracks offer many benefits you will find useful. RealTracks are real musicians playing music that will play over any chord progression, in any key and at most tempos. PG Music has bundled many of these instruments together to create RealStyles which are Styles the instruments function well together as a band. There are literally thousands of hours of recorded audio of these musicians playing their instruments at a studio quality level of performance.
The three ways I think RealTracks will help you:
1. You can't play a particular instrument.
2. You can play a particular instrument but a BIAB session player can play it better.
3. You can play a particular instrument but it's inconvenient for a reason you prefer not to play.
At some point you may realize you can create your own backing tracks, demos or even a commercial release using BIAB with quality midi sounds and Realtracks. When that happens, you should upgrade to the highest version of the program you can afford.
Hope you decide to get the program and maybe post some of your originals here on the forum for us to enjoy.
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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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Jul 2019
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Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11 |
Thanks for the feedback guys!
I'm a so so guitar strummer, songwriter, in a worship band for church, Love most music. Love my 12 string guitar too...lol.
Have a good day everybody!
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11 |
Callie...Thank you! I think there is quite a bit of variety there for a newbie! Not being such a quick learner on techie stuff like this...it'll be more than enough to get me going.
I'm a so so guitar strummer, songwriter, in a worship band for church, Love most music. Love my 12 string guitar too...lol.
Have a good day everybody!
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,867
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Yeah... I recall one time I bought one of the versions of BB and realized it wasn't the version I thought I had ordered. I called support and they confirmed that the things I needed were in the next version up the ladder. They suggested that if I would pay the difference between the one I bought and the one I really needed, they could get the upgraded version out the door to me that very day.
And that's exactly what I did. The upgraded version came on a hard drive and the cost difference was about $25 if I remember that right.
I've always found their support and customer care to be exemplary and well above what was expected. They know how to take care of their customers.
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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Newbie
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Downloading now....uhhh...this is a Loooooonnnnnng download...lol.
So...they do payments that start in a month and no interest charged for the payment program....super easy to do! 4 payments...and the wife was balking till she saw that...lol.
I'm a so so guitar strummer, songwriter, in a worship band for church, Love most music. Love my 12 string guitar too...lol.
Have a good day everybody!
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,147
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Good advice above. When I first upgraded to 2018 I didn't buy the 'full' package but soon realised I would really benefit from the wider choice of RealTracks. PG allowed me to upgrade by simply paying the difference which was great.
My only whinge is that although I buy everything I never use jazz styles or things like Klezmer - just rock, pop, bluegrass, country and folk but you can't really pick and choose upgrades by genre.
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You can buy by genre, sort-of, but i think it’s not economical to do so. Much better to upgrade by package.
Several here including me have been astounded by some of the PG Music styles, especially the newer style paks, when a RealTrack is successfully used from a genre we would never have thought to try. It’s not obvious at all. Having all the genres is a huge advantage. And i never know who is going to hire me to work on a song outside of my normal genres.
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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Journeyman
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Journeyman
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My take has always been to ignore the styles names. Just consider then as 3/4, 4/4, or 12/8; swing or even; 1/8 or 1/16.
Then based on the tempo, audition for yourself. Often tempo isn't even a factor - sometimes it is great to drop the tempo and see if it works. I have also moved straight rock to a latin style with a lot of success.
Unless you are really insistent on creating a realistic cover version, experiment - you'll be surprised at the results
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643)
Windows 10 (1909)
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One of the things I always try to remember to do, is try RTs that were NOT part of the original style. I have some cool stuff (to me anyway) that combines things like Grunge and Bluegrass and Funk. Chances are few have used that particular combination, but doing so taught me to make the effort to experiment with RTs I normally may have ignored. Grunge drums, bluegrass banjo/mandolin, and Funk bass .. I still play it once in a while to reinforce the message. I think it may even have Mason guitar solo RT for a section .. point is, experimenting often makes you realize stuff you didn't think you will use is suddenly seen in a whole different light. I'll see if I can find the link to the reference above; may not fit your taste (which is why I haven't found a real life use yet, I suspect a pretty limited taste palate would enjoy this like I do) but it shows how the many seemingly unrelated RTs can indeed play together nice. found it http://masteringmatters.com/stuff/UrbnM1bc.mp3Sure it's weird, but they all play together
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Downloading now....uhhh...this is a Loooooonnnnnng download...lol.
So...they do payments that start in a month and no interest charged for the payment program....super easy to do! 4 payments...and the wife was balking till she saw that...lol. And that right there is why I'm willing to wait on FedEx to deliver the package. It's a 2 day wait. And at the internet speeds I have the package would get here long before the DL ever finished.
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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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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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!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
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.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
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