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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,608
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,608 |
now done several songs.
i couldnt do any better if i used a big studio ;like i used to.
wowser !!!!!!!
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs(90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,004
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,004 |
justanoldmuso,
Welcome to the forum and to the program!
Glad you are enjoying the program. It's easy to lose sight of how amazing the program capability is once you get use to using it. It never hurts to have a refresher course from someone new to the program.
Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm with us. Your post made me smile.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 83
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 83 |
now done several songs.
i couldnt do any better if i used a big studio ;like i used to.
wowser !!!!!!! Couldn't agree more!!!!!! Have fun.
Focusrite 2i2 2nd Gen
Windows 10 pro 1709 16299.125
Intel core i7 6700k CPU @ 4.00GHz 4.01 GHz
16 gig memory
BIAB UltraPak version is 2025 (Latest)
Cubase pro 9
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,055
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,055 |
I'm really glad that this is working out for you. You are not far wrong to compare the quality of the delivery to that of a studio and session musicians. That's exactly what the system can provide.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,608
Veteran
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OP
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,608 |
i'll share , cos newbies might find it interesting.
as follows.
1. make sure bpm in daw eg reaps/cub/cake/tools
matches bpm in biab.
2. have a unique folder for each new song that
contains all your biab files and your daw
recorded tracks.
ie a central repository for the song.
instead of spreading traks across many folders.
makes back ups a breeze.
i back up to ssd's and pen drives also stored
offsite.
BUT THE BIGGEST THING IS.
3.THERE IS A FEATURE IN BIAB THAT I CALL
"THE WORLDS BEST SONGWRITING FEATURE".
let me illustrate.
youve transferred your basic bed tracks from biab to your daw
for the first time.
i bet a lot of people stop there and continue in the daw.
but N OOOOO !! go back into the stylepicker, click on a different
style USEING YOUR CURRENT CHORDS YOU ARE USEING,
now !! NOTICE THE STYLEPICKER BUTTON THAT IS ABOVE THE
GREEN PLAY BUTTON ?? it just says "play". but i think should be called
the best darn songwriting feature EVER.
this simple button will now play any new style youve selected
USEING YOUR CURRENT SONG CHORD STRUCTURE.
thus you can obtain a slew / zillions of new feels and instruments etc
and thus transfer over to the daw the ones you like for your song.
you must be patient of course. i spend several hours finding those
sound pictures i like from the zillions of styles and auditioning
to find what fits.
thus that little play button should be called the darn tooting best
feature for creating songs. wowser.
pg should include this as a huge block print note with each
item shipped to a user imho. cos a new user might not
notice it , and do the basic one pass of bed traks into the daw.
peace out.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs(90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,250
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,250 |
0 i'll share , cos newbies might find it interesting.
as follows.
1. make sure bpm in daw eg reaps/cub/cake/tools
matches bpm in biab.
2. have a unique folder for each new song that
contains all your biab files and your daw
recorded tracks.
ie a central repository for the song.
instead of spreading traks across many folders.
makes back ups a breeze.
i back up to ssd's and pen drives also stored
offsite.
BUT THE BIGGEST THING IS.
3.THERE IS A FEATURE IN BIAB THAT I CALL
"THE WORLDS BEST SONGWRITING FEATURE".
let me illustrate.
youve transferred your basic bed tracks from biab to your daw
for the first time.
i bet a lot of people stop there and continue in the daw.
but N OOOOO !! go back into the stylepicker, click on a different
style USEING YOUR CURRENT CHORDS YOU ARE USEING,
now !! NOTICE THE STYLEPICKER BUTTON THAT IS ABOVE THE
GREEN PLAY BUTTON ?? it just says "play". but i think should be called
the best darn songwriting feature EVER.
this simple button will now play any new style youve selected
USEING YOUR CURRENT SONG CHORD STRUCTURE.
thus you can obtain a slew / zillions of new feels and instruments etc
and thus transfer over to the daw the ones you like for your song.
you must be patient of course. i spend several hours finding those
sound pictures i like from the zillions of styles and auditioning
to find what fits.
thus that little play button should be called the darn tooting best
feature for creating songs. wowser.
pg should include this as a huge block print note with each
item shipped to a user imho. cos a new user might not
notice it , and do the basic one pass of bed traks into the daw.
peace out.
Yep! Some of the best arrangements for backings for my solo guitar have come from using Style picker and wondering "what will my chords sound like with this Style".
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,608
Veteran
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OP
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,608 |
haveing a howl with 2020.
now done 5 songs.
went thru all 5 thousand styles.
the stylepicker je taime.
if i want bells or strumming or rock
whatever i get those styles just put the word
in stylepicker. yowser.
so i can embellish a song and add overdubs after
transferring bed tracks to reaps.
a question where can i upload the songs to
where i wont get charged so as i can post the links
on the appropo pg user showcase songs forum so people
can tell me if junk ideas or not. lol.
the one thing i would like to see is more choir/
female back up singers in the pop/rock styles.
also ive never been a jazzer (rock songwriter maniac here lol)
but ive started to really dig some of the more poppier
jazz styles.
wowser. happy song makeing.
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 03/25/20 03:51 AM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs(90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,834
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,834 |
Now that you have the basics out of the way...
Search the Stylepicker and filter for Medleys
Medleys are PG Music Styles that feature multiple instruments on a track that change every 2,4,8 bars or with every part marker change if you set them to.
Audition a few to get a feel for what this feature can do.
You can easily make your own Medley Tracks and manually program them to either change instruments as the PG Music Styles do or they can be programmed to play simultaneously.
Each Channel in the BIAB Chord Page Mixer can accommodate up to 10 instruments.
This literally means a single BIAB song with 7 channels can contain up to 70 instruments programmed so some tracks play interchangeably and other channels play the instruments simultaneously all in a single generation to a rendered audio file.
BIAB 2025:RB 2025, 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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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,608
Veteran
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OP
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,608 |
i'm posting this follow up to help anyone new.
its a ton of work , but i feel very usefull in
organising ones approach to each new song.
step 1. i use a lined excercise pad to analyse
with comments on every different instrument in
biab. with its id.
step 2. each pad page has a seperate instrument.
eg flute or piano or whatever.
(in some cases eg pianos or guitars you will need
multiple pages whereas washboard just a couple
of lines. so maybe a misc page for washboard
and others like koto etc.).
please note the real tracks library shows all the
various instrument names.
anyhoo back to the lined pad.
step 3. for each page of instruments i draw a vertical
line down the middle with two headings.
instrument id (eg 763 clarinet) and comments.
(eg ok /vnice/wowser/standout whatever noting the
tempo. i DO NOT observe ONLY biab recommendations
from pickers, cos ive found this my own method.)
so you end up with a ton of pages of instruments
with comments. laborious but highly worth it
listening to each instrument/id and commenting
both in solo and with band example.
step 4. thusly lol, when i approach a new song i get out
the trusty lined pad and flip through it to help me consider
my approach to the song.
lol its sorta like interviewing a lot of session musicians.
to see which ones can i use to make this song the very best ??.
some might say well thats a TON OF WORK. phht !
i'm sorry but songs ARE WORK. a ton of work.
hours and hours of trying different things.
ya gotta put in the creative time.
thats how breakthroughs work.
i urge everyone to try this method cos this way i dont miss
usefull instruments unlike useing just the pickers.
and i get lots of ideas like hmm what is a charango ?
and what can i do with it ??
hope this helps someone.
create your own lined pad of "song backing musicians".
its also a great learning excercise for example ,
wow could that flugelhorn be usefull as an intro to my new
metal rock song lol. or that harp be a nice intro before
the whole rock band blasts into action ?
i'm haveing a ball.
toodles and peace.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs(90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,055
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,055 |
That's a very methodical and practical way to operate.
Yes, as you have stated, it involves some background work, but the results of being able to find exactly what you need every time you need them are quite beneficial.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,732
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,732 |
Nice detail on your workflow. I detail most of my processes similarly but use an Excel spreadsheet to keep all my notes and settings in per each song I've worked. I just add a new tab to the spreadsheet for each new category of crap I need to add.
 Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,944
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,944 |
>bowled over by 2020
now done several songs.
i couldnt do any better if i used a big studio ;like i used to.
wowser !!!!!!!
Thanks, and much appreciated!
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,608
Veteran
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OP
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,608 |
just one critique.
i find i am spoilt for certain real traks like
pianos/organs/geetars/sax etc etc but would like more
real traks for other reeds and orchestral instruments.
its nice to see harps for example. loverly.
ie need more orchestral instruments like this.
so dont have to fork out for pricey orchestral libs
to augment RT's.
i'm just a poor muso lol.
ps.thnks mr pg.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs(90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,427
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,427 |
just one critique.
i find i am spoilt for certain real traks like
pianos/organs/geetars/sax etc etc but would like more
real traks for other reeds and orchestral instruments.
its nice to see harps for example. loverly.
ie need more orchestral instruments like this.
so dont have to fork out for pricey orchestral libs
to augment RT's.
i'm just a poor muso lol.
ps.thnks mr pg.
You should put this in the wish list forum.
Love is grand.
Divorce is twenty grand!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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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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PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
Order now!
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!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
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Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
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
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Watch the video.
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.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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