In the last few weeks, I discovered that the Bar Settings feature in RB doesn't seem to work the same as it does in BiaB. Though I've done some research on this feature by checking the manual and by searching the forums for the existence of any discussions about this feature, my research didn't produce the answers I was looking for. So, I decided to submit this post.
A new song I was working on recently unexpectedly ended up exceeding the 255 bar limit in BiaB. So, I decided to try opening my song in RB so that I wouldn't have to split it into two sections in order to continue working on it in BiaB. But when I opened my song in RB and then tried to apply the same Bar Settings that I had applied in BiaB, I wasn't able to do so because the names on each track didn't correspond to the instruments for each track that were in the style I had selected. So, I ended up splitting my song into two sections and going back to BiaB to finish the arrangement for my song in two stages. Has anyone else encountered this problem with RB's Bar Settings, or am I missing some steps in my attempt to use this feature?
I think this may be due to Realband using the old legacy track names Whereas BIAB now uses the actual instrument on the track names.
You can set biab to use legacy names but then you will have to remember which instrument is on the default say piano or guitar track. But at least they don’t move around. Mike
Mike is correct. You can change those track names though to the instruments so that they make sense to you so that they are the same as in Man in the Box
Hi Yes as said above, the track names in RB are only text labels, and as such you can call them what you like. They only belong to the track name slot (field) not the loaded instrument. Mike
I think this may be due to Realband using the old legacy track names Whereas BIAB now uses the actual instrument on the track names.
You can set biab to use legacy names but then you will have to remember which instrument is on the default say piano or guitar track. But at least they don’t move around. Mike
That's what was confusing me. The actual instrument names weren't being displayed for each track, so I didn't think it would work the same and wasn't in the frame of mind to try to remember which instrument was in each track. Is there a way to make RB display the actual instrument names for each track? That's what I was expecting when I clicked on the Bar Settings button.
Mike is correct. You can change those track names though to the instruments so that they make sense to you so that they are the same as in Man in the Box
"Man in the Box." LOL! I like that! So, how do I change them? Also, if I change an instrument after changing them, will the name of that instrument change automatically, or will I have to change it manually?
See my last post quote "Yes as said above, the track names in RB are only text labels, and as such you can call them what you like. They only belong to the track name slot (field) not the loaded instrument."
So they will not follow your instrument change. Mike
Okay, Mike, I got that. So, is there a way to change those text labels in order to eliminate the confusion between them and the actual instrument names? I've searched everywhere but couldn't find any options to do that.
Yes and no That is if they are designated as BIAB tracks as they would be by default if the came from a BIAB SONG (the first 8 tracks with blue names then they can not be changed.
If you reset the track to non BIAB right click on track see pic
You can then change the name by double clicking it. If you then save as a Realband .SEQ FILE it should stick if that seq file is required again. Mike
Hi again If my last post above Sivertone reply does not hep. You may like to read my much more detailed description of the Realband instrument names in tracks as opposed to track labels, and how I get then to show the correct info particularly on the play though voice. Its quite long but you need to read it all including the end notes. https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=63093&Number=421946#Post421946
Mike, after reading through your "Fine tuning" post, I realized that I didn't explain my issue clearly enough for either you or Silvertones to understand. Though I was able to figure out how to change the names of the tracks in the Tracks window in RB, the labels I really want to change are those in the Bars dialog box. Unfortunately, it appears that those labels are unchangeable. Below is an image of the Bars dialog box in RB and an image of the same thing in BiaB that should clarify this issue. As you can see, the labels in the BiaB Bars dialog box correspond to the labels on each channel in the chosen style, but the labels in the RB Bars dialog box are merely the default and don't correspond to any of the BB tracks in the chosen style.
Oh dear, I see it all now sorry to have gone off down the track display path. Looks like yet another one for the wish list, It must be possible by pinching some code from BIABs bar options graphics routines I would have thought.
Just the sort of niggle that gripes with me is inconsistency between PGs companion programs and even in the same program in different parts using the same function.
You really should not have to work with fixed default screen labels and make your own notes with a pencil!
Oh dear, I see it all now sorry to have gone off down the track display path. Looks like yet another one for the wish list, It must be possible by pinching some code from BIABs bar options graphics routines I would have thought.
Just the sort of niggle that gripes with me is inconsistency between PGs companion programs and even in the same program in different parts using the same function.
You really should not have to work with fixed default screen labels and make your own notes with a pencil!
Yeah, the inconsistency between RB and BiaB on this one function was an unpleasant surprise to me. And, of course, I didn't want to have to make a list of which instrument is in each track to constantly refer to as I was changing the settings for certain bars throughout the song. It's already enough of a challenge to remember where I wanted those settings to be changed for each instrument.
When I encountered this obstacle, I decided to try using two BiaB plugins in Tracktion (as Pipeline had suggested in another thread) with the intent of being able to use BiaB's Bar Settings feature there instead. But that didn't work out either because the plugins don't have that feature. So, that's when I decided to go back to BiaB with my song and finish working on it there in two sections. If I have another long song to arrange in the future that exceeds the 255 bar limit, I'll probably run two copies of BiaB (per Pipeline's more recent suggestion) so that I can use each copy of BiaB to work on a different section of my song simultaneously. That's about as close as I'll be able to get to an ideal setup for such songs for the time being until something's done about these default labels in RB. Thanks for trying to help!
I have a similar problem when using BiaB MIDI tracks in my DAW, Studio One Pro. BiaB's labels, I call them track names, only apply to certain parts of BiaB. The track names were a good idea but only had a half baked implementation. Luckily I can change the track names in Studio One Pro. Unfortunately I have to write down the BiaB track names so I can remember what they are supposed to be in my DAW.
One would think at least the track names would be consistent in all of BiaB and RB!
The fitness trainer asked me, "What kind of a squat are you accustomed to doing?" I said, "Diddly."
64 bit Win 11 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Mario Yes the problem stems from the fact that there is no parameter or command to save track names / label in midi files in the midi spec. only patch names . The track names you see belong to the applications way of displaying its information And therefore have to be entered the applications way, in each different application as they cant be embed in the midi file, for export and import of that midi in different applications,
Muzikluver
To help with remembering with what you have done in bar settings you can print or view a summery as a text file. Print summery button bottom left of bar settings popup. Great help. Not available in Realband wouldn’t you know so you have to do it before leaving BIAB !
Thanks for that info, Mike. At least there is a way to save the Bar settings info from BiaB. That would be harder to remember than it would be to remember which instrument is on which track, so being able to save it to a text file would be a time saver. Thanks again!
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
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 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
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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.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: 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 because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 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 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 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 20 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.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 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 20 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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