I've composed an arrangement using BIAB. Ready to play over it and record via Reaper, I opened the BIAB vst plugin (the one I open in Reaper is Biabi Vst3i which I believe is the one to use). Doing that BIAB vst screen opens up. I load my song and generates it.
Issue is when I play it through the BIAB vst plugin it doesn't respect at all my change of styles and drums! Like it keeps a style over what I had decided.
I went back to BIAB stand alone software and checked. I thought that maybe I hadn't saved the song the way I wanted, but no, all is fine there and BIAB on the standalone prog plays the song with all the RT and RD changes that I wanted.
But when I open it in BIAB vst plugin, all is messed up.
I haven't played around with the BIAB plug-in a great deal and so I cannot give definite answer in relation to it.
I do use BIAB and Reaper, though. What I do is to use the normal, standalone version of BIAB. From BIAB, it's possible to drag tracks directly into Reaper. No special knowledge is needed. Just resize the programs so that both Reaper and BIAB take up about half the screen each.
Now drag the, horizontal row of tracks over to Reaper one at a time.
Alternatively, if you drag the MASTER track over, all tracks will be added to Reaper in one go.
Two considerations before dragging...
1. If you want to add reverb and other effects in Reaper as well as adjust panning in Reaper, it would be best to right-click on the Master track and "Set the mix to flat, dry and center" before dragging.
2. If you are happy with the sound of the song in BIAB, with BIAB reverb and panning, just drag the Master track across without setting the mix to flat, dry and center.
Hopefully this will help while someone investigates the VST3 plugin for you.
According to the second option, the bar settings are supposed to be honored. Did you use Bar Settings to make you changes?
#3 The new Band-in-a-Box® styles are great but I'd like to be able to customize them and replace some tracks. Can I do that in the Plugin? The Plugin now supports replacing style tracks just like Band-in-a-Box®. You can customize your style or open a saved song with a customized style in it. For example, if you load a SGU/MGU song saved in Band-in-a-Box®, you'll now see the customized settings that you used in the song, such as custom track settings.
#9 How about bar settings? The Plugin now launches the Band-in-a-Box® Bar Settings dialog and allows you to set bar specific settings. These include things like changes of time signature, tempo, volume changes (mute, un-mute), etc. for instruments.
Of course you could do this old-school like Noel has instructed, but then why would we need the VST?
BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).
Gave it a quick listen in Reaper. Dramatic style and drum change at bar 21 for me. As you stated the bar count got messed up from 8 to 13. Then at the end of the song the style reverted to original at bar 33 and the drums continued for a half dozen bars.
After that it got really messed up as I tried to play it again. Played for a while then stopped for a while... seemed to be lost.
BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).
@Noel : Thanks for the tip. At first it didn't work, freezing my BIAB. But then I realized my song was x3 (repeated 3 times) so this + the master combining all the instruments was the cause. I put the song to only play once and dragged and dropped the drums first then the bass (I don't need the other instruments, it's just to give me an idea of the final products but I'm gonna play all the guitars). Doing so, dragging one instrument at a time only took 1mn or 2 max to display in Reaper. So this solution does the trick. BUT, it's a pain in the butt and I shouldn't have to do that since there is the BIAB vst plugin. So while I can now record this is still disappointing.
@Pipeline : thanks for your help. Yes I made all the changes using F5/bar settings (to my knowledge this is the only way to input RT&RD changes anyway) so I don't understand why it gets messy through the BIAB vst plugin. What happens is that I have a RT A which is played ok, then it switches to RT B as it is supposed to, but this is where it gets messy since the plugin stay within that second RT and doesnt aknowledges any more changes (3 others). I don't understand why the plugin partially gets the arrangement. I will look into what you put to download in your post, didn't have a chance to give it a go so far.
Apparently I'm not the only one having issue with the VST plugin and another member (read here : https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=573356&gonew=1#UNREAD ) had issues as well and he pointed out one of his past thread where others as well did encounter issues. This is something which HAS to be resolved by PG. There can't be a Daw vst plugin not working properly if you have many changes in styles or drums.
Because I don't know the VST BIAB very well, my aim was to give you a workable alternative so that you are not stuck. I'm glad that my suggestion did the job for you.
In relation to the vst, there are others on here who know much much more than I do. Pipeline belongs to that group of people.
Thank you for the feedback Angelo! At this time the plugin does not support all the features included in the main program. Such settings like freezing tracks do not get preserved when opening a saved song through the plugin. Up until recently the plugin also did not support bar settings and style changes. However, the most recent update that is still in pre-release testing (v2.3.11) does include those features and will preserve any bar settings or style changes made in the main program when opening the same song file in the plugin. This version will likely be released sometime next week so keep an eye out for it and report back if you are still experiencing any problems. I appreciate your patience while we work these issues out.
Up until recently the plugin also did not support bar settings and style changes. However, the most recent update that is still in pre-release testing (v2.3.11) does include those features and will preserve any bar settings or style changes made in the main program when opening the same song file in the plugin. This version will likely be released sometime next week so keep an eye out for it and report back if you are still experiencing any problems. I appreciate your patience while we work these issues out.
Sorry, I don't have any patience any more. I have waited over a year for this VST to do what it needs to do. I have bought two versions of the VST and it is still a work in progress! When you have an updated version in pre-release it needs to be made available to those of us who want to and have paid to use it. It is called "open beta testing". I have asked nicely for this in the past and been ignored. Time to start listening to the customer.
BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).
Bugs are very annoying for customers of all software. Sadly reality shows that no software ever shipped will have no bugs at all. Releases that are driven by features have naturally less bugs than ones that are driven by deadlines.
I guess the team responsible for the plugin couldn't make it for the 2020 release. That's the bad side about it. The good is that PGmusic seems to know that and is actively trying to fix stuff for the current release. What really would be outrages if we had to wait another year and to pay to see those fixes. And I have seen this in my early DAW days with Magix. Currently I use Reaper which may be not the best DAW, but i see updates at least once a month. Not because it's so buggy, but small features are added constantly.
We can hope that the plugin team gets more funding (man-power, working hours, etc) for the next release. That is, after they have fixed the bugs of the 2020 release
What could also help if PGmusic invites some of the veterans for a closed beta. I have the impression that the software is only tested in-house. Input from the outside may improve the situation. Though I should add that also some musicians should be invited to test that have no experience with BiaB. The old-timers are used to the tridden pathes. Fresh input is also a good ingredient in an ever changing world/market.
Masi
PS: I hope to see an intermediate release of 2020.1 including new features.
....We can hope that the plugin team gets more funding (man-power, working hours, etc) for the next release. That is, after they have fixed the bugs of the 2020 release ........
It's too much pressure on just one guy, he is at it 24/7 just about. There are so many thing that need doing, the backlogged ToDoList is getting longer and longer...
Up until recently the plugin also did not support bar settings and style changes. However, the most recent update that is still in pre-release testing (v2.3.11) does include those features and will preserve any bar settings or style changes made in the main program when opening the same song file in the plugin. This version will likely be released sometime next week so keep an eye out for it and report back if you are still experiencing any problems. I appreciate your patience while we work these issues out.
Sorry, I don't have any patience any more. I have waited over a year for this VST to do what it needs to do. I have bought two versions of the VST and it is still a work in progress! When you have an updated version in pre-release it needs to be made available to those of us who want to and have paid to use it. It is called "open beta testing". I have asked nicely for this in the past and been ignored. Time to start listening to the customer.
+1 PUT MORE RESOURCES INTO IT It's dragging out too loooooooong, I sit here and haven't been able to use it yet in the real world.
When you have an updated version in pre-release it needs to be made available to those of us who want to and have paid to use it. It is called "open beta testing". I have asked nicely for this in the past and been ignored. Time to start listening to the customer.
You are welcome to join the pre-release testing forum. Send me a PM if you'd like to join.
What could also help if PGmusic invites some of the veterans for a closed beta. I have the impression that the software is only tested in-house. Input from the outside may improve the situation. Though I should add that also some musicians should be invited to test that have no experience with BiaB. The old-timers are used to the tridden pathes. Fresh input is also a good ingredient in an ever changing world/market.
All of this has been going on using veteran as well as nooby testers for as long as I've been on the forum. You've been invited to join the Pre Release Testing Forum so join the fun.
My comments and prediction when the plugin was first released was first, it wasn't ready for prime time and it still isn't and second, people will expect the plugin to basically duplicate the full program and not be Biab Lite. Peter replied the plugin was never intended to have all the Biab functions. It's function is to allow you to create tracks directly inside your DAW not to be the full program as a plugin. This is exactly what the plugin video demonstrates. He took an existing song in his DAW and added some Biab tracks along with some multiriffs. For that it works great.
If someone wants to use a full Biab arrangement as a starting point inside their DAW, they start that in Biab as normal then they can easily drag the whole thing from Biab to the DAW as Noel described. It was then asked if I do that then what do I need the plugin for? My answer to that is exactly, you don't! I asked that same question when the plugin was first released. We already have the Drop Station and if the plugin can't duplicate a major portion of Biab functions then who needs it? Peter's answer was what the vid shows. Add some Biab tracks to an existing song.
I can see the potential but it needs so much to fulfill that potential. The expectation users have is to be able to make their favorite DAW act like Biab by using the plugin and of course they think that means the entire program. Biab as a plugin! How cool is that? I agree, that would be a big deal. To be fair, that's not what PG promised, users just assumed that's what the plugin would do.
The plugin does do what they say it does and it could be this is as far as it goes with the normal bug fixes and such but no major revisions. We'll see.
Bob I agree with you for the most part. People expect to much from a plugin. It was never extended to be BiaB we already have that. Having said that it does have several features that don’t work yet, and as you said fix those bugs and let it rest. Make it capable of reading any BiaB song file and following that file, then able to add RTs/RDs/looped/midi tracks into a DAW. Make sure it syncs and follows tempo properly, can drag the RCs from RDs properly, clean up the mute solo play arrangement and you have a very nice tool.
Pipeline, while I agree with you in part. As far as real world use, I have done several projects with it as it is and it did a great job. It is useable right now. That doesn’t mean there are not limitations in some of its features but there are workarounds till those are fixed. You should know that as you are the one that always finds them. Sometimes you actually amaze me at how many ideas and solutions you work out.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.
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.
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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!
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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
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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!
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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!
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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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