Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457
I'm using BiaB 2017 -- I have 2019 and I doubt there's any difference between the two on this issue.

OK, I'm at a bar in the middle of a piece I'm working on and I want to change the style. I right clicked on the bar (I also tried clicking on the "Bar Settings" icon up where all the icons are) and filled in some info. I indicated a style (which I auditioned first), then selected some instruments to go along with it and that's all I did. I didn't change any of the other parameters because I didn't want or need anything they would have done.

After I clicked on OK, at the very top of the BiaB Window, where it normally shows file information is Bar Settings: Patch changes. Style change etc., instead. This remains in place for that bar only. If I move the edit box to the next bar, this info disappears. Also, a little red line appears under the bar number, but only for that one bar.

So, I played through the piece and nothing is happening when this bar is reached. I'm not clear whether just this bar is the only one affected, or if it is all the bars after it as well. There's no box where I can indicate the number of bars I want this to apply to. So I'm just assuming that, if/when I want to revert back to "normal" I just go through this same process again, resetting everything back. It sure looks like that's what it's set up to do with the "Reset ALL Bars" and "Reset Bar" buttons.

But I can't get to first base. What have I overlooked (that is not at all obvious)?

Last edited by cooltouch; 01/06/20 02:27 PM.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,772
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,772
What style did you start with and what style did you switch to. That might help us troubleshoot.

One issue to be aware of is that you can't mix and match RealTracks and MIDI on the same track.

So if you switched from a RealStyle to a MIDI style, it won't work.


John

Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD
Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA

BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK

http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting and construction)
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,772
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,772
Also, remember to regenerate the arrangement after making the change; also make sure the tracks aren't frozen when you make the change.


John

Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD
Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA

BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK

http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting and construction)
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 112
D
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
D
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 112
Michael, have you thought about just rendering to wav (or other ) files [save special> save song as...] and just dealing with them in a daw?
I also have thought about trying to do style changes in songs in BIAB, but honestly I always prefer a super straightforward dealio, so that's how I approach style changes. And that way, I can "mix" (hyuk) midi and real with no worries...that's just one benefit. And let's say I want a tempo change, too...boom. Just render in that tempo...without worrying about if you are doing it right.


Since my pipeline is always going to daw anyway... it's a no-brainer for me to just do it that way. Way more control over everything in a daw, anyway.

^For what little it may be worth to you, sorry I can't be of more help as to the actual help request. Color me the perpetual newbie.


Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457
John, the style I'm starting with is M_ANSWR1.STY, which is all MIDI, I think. A couple of instruments are blue -- Piano and Strings 2. So the blue tracks are "MIDI Super" tracks. Will that make a difference? The style I want to switch to, which I chose on a whim, is also straight MIDI: ETERNAL.STY.

I have all the instrument tracks frozen. And I was just hitting "Play," not "Generate and Play." So I'm gonna try unfreezing them right now, and then hit the Regen button.

Huh, strange. I had selected different instruments, but the only actual change occurred with the drums. All the other instruments stayed the same. So then I tried it with the box clicked, which sez to send patch change with style change. That didn't make any difference either. Odd that the drums changed, but nothing else did.

So, strike one.

Dioechoto, what you describe is the way I normally operate. I prefer to save my BiaB arrangements in small segments -- individual tracks, that is -- and import them into my DAW so that I can combine them how I want. Trying this "feature" in BiaB is more of a lark, really. I was thinking that, since it was there, I should give it a try and see what happens. Not impressed so far. So I guess I'll go back to the way I was doing things before until or if I can figure out why BiaB doesn't want to cooperate. Absolutely the buggiest software I've ever spent money on.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,772
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,772
Frozen tracks will not allow style changes as they need to be regenerated for any changes to take place, but freezing prevents that.

I'm not sure about the blue tracks (MIDI Supertracks), but it's possible they might also be part of the problem, since they use a different processing engine than standard MIDI style tracks. So they act similarly to RealTracks in that sense. PGMusic would have to answer that one.


John

Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD
Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA

BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK

http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting and construction)
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,592
PG Music Staff
Offline
PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,592


Quote:
After I clicked on OK, at the very top of the BiaB Window, where it normally shows file information is Bar Settings: Patch changes. Style change etc., instead. This remains in place for that bar only. If I move the edit box to the next bar, this info disappears. Also, a little red line appears under the bar number, but only for that one bar.


That is all expected behavior, and indicates a bar settings change at that bar.

Quote:
I'm not clear whether just this bar is the only one affected, or if it is all the bars after it as well. There's no box where I can indicate the number of bars I want this to apply to.


It changes until you change it back.

Quote:
I have all the instrument tracks frozen. And I was just hitting "Play," not "Generate and Play."


You definitely need to unfreeze the track.

MIDI tracks can't change to RealTracks (and vice versa), as someone else mentioned. Style changes work MIDI <--> MIDI, RealTracks/Drums <--> RealTracks/Drums. Currently MIDI SuperTracks style changes are not supported, and I think that is what the main problem is here.


Andrew
PG Music Inc.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457
Thanks for the help and advice, guys. I got it working. Oh, a file with the MIDI Super tracks sorta works. It pays attention to the tempo changes, but not the style changes. Too bad. There's one style that has a beautiful piano part that I would really like to use, but I CAN'T.

Andrew, you guys should do something about that. The Super MIDI tracks should be supported.

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
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.

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®

With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 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 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK: -For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles. -For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles. -For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
  • MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
  • Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
  • Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
  • Playable RealTracks Set 5
  • RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
  • SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
  • Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)

Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:


  • 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
  • FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
  • MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
  • Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
  • Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
  • RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
  • SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)

Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!

Video: New User Interface (GUI)

Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!

Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.

Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 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!

Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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.

Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

Xtra Styles PAK 21 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 Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!

Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 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.

Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!

Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.

Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 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!

Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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.

Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

Xtra Styles PAK 21 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 Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!

Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 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.

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics85,307
Posts790,765
Members39,855
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
gim77, StratMan1965, CPIA2002, janhardo, Minstrel
39,855 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
jpettit 323
MarioD 222
DrDan 211
Noel96 161
DC Ron 145
Rob Helms 127
Today's Birthdays
Country Fever, EddieP.Morrison, Mariothegreat
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5