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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 259
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 259 |
I've got a few bossa nova tunes in the works, and am not that pleased with the RealTrack vibes rhythm bossa nova tracks (1215, 1216). They seem more susceptible to being clipped before natural decay, or just a bit choppy. So I was hoping to find some MIDI styles that had good vibraphone comping styles. I spent time listening to styles with vibes, and bringing some in via the "Select Custom MIDI style for this track" picker, but nothing struck me as particularly useful. So with that background:
1. Does anyone have MIDI style suggestions for bossa nova vibes that they particularly like? With all the options in BiaB it's easy to miss something. I think a basic vibe sound is one that is a bit easier than many to have sound good via MIDI - even the general MIDI vibe sound can fit in a background, and I bought the VibsyM VST from Acoustic Samples, which is a pretty good sounding set for us non-Kontact users.
2. I may take this opportunity to explore the Stylemaker in some depth. I've found a few MIDI files with good vibe comping patterns, and am exploring vibe comping in general, since I'm a keyboard player and could translate the voicings. Has PGMusic ever made creating MIDI Supertracks available to users (since there is the ability for creating RealTracks, albeit with a lot of recording work). I've tried a few of the MIDI Supertrack pianos, but they are a bit too dense for vibes, and not natural voicings for them either.
Any other suggestions around this are welcome. I'm still just 5 months in with BiaB, so don't have the benefit of a lot of the MIDI-only development years.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 259
Apprentice
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 259 |
After several days of experimenting with StyleMaker and importing some jazz comping MIDI files, I think I've stumbled on an approach that will work for my projects. My purpose in going down this path was to find some better vibes tracks, to provide a natural feel for vibe comping on some jazz-oriented tunes. I haven't found that the bossa nova rhythm vibe Realtracks work that well for me, and they don't have MIDI like the soloist ones do. I do seem to be onto something that has promise. I tried out some of the piano and organ MIDI supertracks routed thru my vibraphone plugin (Acoustic Samples' VibSym) and found it sounded pretty good to my ears, just a little dense in places where the range was unnatural or there were more than 3 or 4 notes. So I just pulled the MIDI track into my in progress Cakewalk project, and visually removed the lower range notes via the piano roll view. That took about 10 minutes and left me with interesting comping rhythms and harmonies. I'll see how that approach holds up as I complete a few tunes, but I'm optimistic so far.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,341
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,341 |
After several days of experimenting with StyleMaker and importing some jazz comping MIDI files, I think I've stumbled on an approach that will work for my projects. My purpose in going down this path was to find some better vibes tracks, to provide a natural feel for vibe comping on some jazz-oriented tunes. I haven't found that the bossa nova rhythm vibe Realtracks work that well for me, and they don't have MIDI like the soloist ones do. I do seem to be onto something that has promise. I tried out some of the piano and organ MIDI supertracks routed thru my vibraphone plugin (Acoustic Samples' VibSym) and found it sounded pretty good to my ears, just a little dense in places where the range was unnatural or there were more than 3 or 4 notes. So I just pulled the MIDI track into my in progress Cakewalk project, and visually removed the lower range notes via the piano roll view. That took about 10 minutes and left me with interesting comping rhythms and harmonies. I'll see how that approach holds up as I complete a few tunes, but I'm optimistic so far. I have been doing this also. Also try some guitar and string tracks. Some of these with a little TLC can be turned into great sounding vibraphone, xylophone, and/or Marimba tracks.
I think my wife has started to show the first signs of dementia. She said she can't remember what she ever saw in me!
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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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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Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
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!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
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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)
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- 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®!
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