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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 362
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 362 |
I'm feeling really confused about adding a drums track to a song. Maybe its because I'm trying to start from a "clean slate." It seems like you have no choice but to choose a style when creating a song, so I'm starting with a very basic style and then ripping out all the created tracks. In the process, I was trying to add a drum track, and it just seems really convoluted, so I must be doing something wrong. I've read over the documentation pretty carefully. Here are a couple observations:
> When choosing a new track for the Drums using the Drums button at the top, then choosing Select RealTracks, then on the submenu, Select RealTracks again, I get a list of 2000+ entries including Accordion, Piano, and other instruments. There does not seems to be any simple way to filter out drums. If filter by "drum" there are only three choices. The entries to appear to be Rhythm related, but it seems odd.
> If I want to choose from all possible drum tracks, including MIDI, it appears that you must first select "Force Drums to MIDI drums" and then choose "Select a custom MIDI style for this track" then select "Choose from Presets" and that then produces about 100 items, all starting with the word "Drums" and a description and associated style name. There does not appear to be any way to preview the drum track sound before applying it.
> Back to the RealTracks drums, there are so many choices, it is quite difficult to navigate, and there are previews available, but the descriptions of the drum tracks really don't provide a lot of detail. I think I'll have to make my own cheat sheet outside of BIAB to keep track of which drum tracks I like and what they sound like.
I'm thinking I must be doing this wrong - it can't be this hard and convoluted. I can also provide some screenshots if that would help. If I'm missing something that is documented, or already addressed in the forums, I'll be glad to review those.
Ed Z Soundcloud profile https://soundcloud.com/user-415064494BIAB user since 2019 iPad Mini, Garageband for iOS, BIAB for Windows 2020 UltraPAK, Xtra Styles packs 6-9, Windows 10 Lenovo PC, Kontakt Player, SpitFire LABS, SampleTank 4 CS, some Soundfonts
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,816
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,816 |
To choose a different drum track, click the drop-down arrow (far right) in the Drums track in the mixer and then choose "RealDrums" (the first selection). You will get the RealDrums selector screen - with just RealDrums. You can filter that or order it by a number of different columns which can make it easier to narrow in on what you need.
(You can do it the way you are doing it, but don't select "RealTracks" - click on RealDrums - it's the first selection...)
An easy way to audition them:
Put your main chord progression in a few times and then tell that to loop a few time. Like maybe C Am F G in 4 measures then 4 more and 4 more (12 measures) and repeated 5 time (or whatever).
Just add a couple of basic instruments besides the drums (acoustic guitars?) - mute anything else. And turn the drums up louder than the guitars to really be able to hear them....
Them bring up the RealDrums Selection screen.
Highlight a Drum Track to audition and hit the "Play Now" button at the bottom.
You will hear what the drums sound like with your chords at your tempo...
Not what you want? ... Hit the "Stop" button (beside the "Play Now"), highlight a different drums selection and hit the "Play Now" button.... repeat, repeat, repeat...
Once you fins something near what you want, try ordering by Artist - you might find that you like the way a particular Drummer does stuff... OR order by RealDrums Style Name - so you get all the similarly named RealDrums (like all the Rock, or all the Smooth Jazz, etc.)
I've been playing with it... turns out you don't have to hit "Stop". As it is playing, just highlight a different RealDrum and hit "Play Now" button again. It will keep playing, but swap out the drums...
Save that SGU as "Drum Test" - then you can call it up and just need to change the chords and tempo for each new song you start.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,145
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,145 |
A bit of advice about the way you are working - i think the drums issue is dealt with above. If you really want to start from scratch use RealBand not BIAB. You can add tracks as you like and choose midi or real tracks right from the start without erasing everything as you are doing in BIAB. In RB you don't need to start with a style. Just choose a key, time signature and tempo. Then search for the instruments you want.
You start with a clean slate rather than fight the way BIAB works. Mind you, I'd be surprised if you can't get a rough mix almost like the one you eventually want in BIAB. Choose the right style, tempo and key. The stylepicker lets you choose by genre,time signature and tempo and even by song name if you know the feel or sound you are looking for. Generate the track then if you don't like it choose another style till the track is close.
Save the file, open it in RB and then tweak the instruments as you like. Rather than start completely from scratch you'll find a lot of the BIAB generated tracks are fine. I often change guitars but find the bass, piano and drums are often fine as they are if i've chosen the right style.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 362
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 362 |
@floyd jane - Thanks much - I used the method you outlined and that is much better. There's a load of options to demo the drums, mark favorites, add user comments for the drum tracks and so forth, so I'm rockin' and rollin' now.
Ed Z Soundcloud profile https://soundcloud.com/user-415064494BIAB user since 2019 iPad Mini, Garageband for iOS, BIAB for Windows 2020 UltraPAK, Xtra Styles packs 6-9, Windows 10 Lenovo PC, Kontakt Player, SpitFire LABS, SampleTank 4 CS, some Soundfonts
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 362
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 362 |
@Bob Calver - Yep - drums issue is covered. I will definitely give RealBand a spin and see how the workflow differs. I'm starting to get a better feel now for how to use BIAB efficiently. I have to admit, though, I opened RealBand a couple times and it didn't have the immediate appeal that BIAB had, but I'm sure that's just because I've not worked with DAW's very much. But I'm going to take the plunge.
Thanks
Ed Z Soundcloud profile https://soundcloud.com/user-415064494BIAB user since 2019 iPad Mini, Garageband for iOS, BIAB for Windows 2020 UltraPAK, Xtra Styles packs 6-9, Windows 10 Lenovo PC, Kontakt Player, SpitFire LABS, SampleTank 4 CS, some Soundfonts
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 139
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 139 |
thanks for the tip Floyd. I've printed it out and I'm going to tape this to the wall for reference!
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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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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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Happy New Year!
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Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
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You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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.
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You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
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