I am finding that this feature, whilst much appreciated in concept, very rarely leads me to any styles that seem appropriate.
I think this is because the box is simply used to set the filters, rather than through any kind of song-matching exercise carried out by a human. This is perhaps fair enough, given there are over 21,000 songs in the list, but it means that I pretty much never use it. I also find that it sometimes sets the parameters too narrowly, so it will actually filter out some styles that might have been appropriate.
I've seen people asking on these forums for particular RealStyles to match [x] song, and the replies to these requests tend to be helpful with good approximations. I wondered if there is any kind of database keeping track of these?
Your Ear is the best tool, I think you just end up picking individual instruments and drums to to create it yourself. With most instruments and drums now having RealCharts midi notation they should be able to create beat finders like EZDrummer and EZBass have where you can key in the pattern or drop a midi file in. This could be done with Biab as I have suggested in the wishlist before. If you download the midi file of the song style you need and drop the midi drums into the RealDrum picker window it will show you comparable RealDrums. Also a GUI where you can enter particular beats for each drum/cymbal on a grid then Biab will search it's RealDrumChart database for a comparable RD. You could do the same in the RealTrack instrument picker window.
I agree fully that your ears are the best tool, and the method you describe would ultimately be the best way to get as close as possible to matching an existing song's style! But it can be very time consuming and it'd be great if there was a place where we could pool together our efforts on this front. I keep track of what styles/realtracks I think sound like particular songs and I'm sure many other users do too.
It'd be a real time-saver if I could see what someone else has done to match, say, "Isn't She Lovely?" (just the first example I could think of) rather than going through dozens of trial and errors.
I don't have EZ Drummer or EZ bass, though I do have EZ Keys.
It would be great if you could drop a MIDI file of a pop song into BIAB and then have it find styles that are genuinely close to it and therefore useful.
Like others who have posted on this point in various places, the principle of using song titles to find suitable styles is great in theory but, in my experience so far, it has never worked.
The more thousands of styles I have, the harder it is to find a needle in a haystack, the more time I waste... the less I end up using BIAB and end up turning to other programs instead that are more focused on my genre and make it quicker and easier to find a style to work with.
Lazarus. youve peaked my curiosity. what "other programs" are you referring to ? reason i ask is, ive found no software for song creation that can lure me away from the biab/realband/reaper software combo i use.
my opinion is, haveing done slews of my original songs in big studios/small studios/my own project studio rigs over the years; "songs are a ton of work" is my mantra. hours and days upon days of work, and i'm still learning. no matter ones "music tools" each song is a load of work imho. (and i'm not saying i'm any good at it, i struggle like everyone else. its at the core of myself to create songs, good or bad.)
it helps of course if a songwriter has a big team behind him/her. like a team of pro audio engineers/session musicians etc etc like some big recording studios used to have in the old days. no software can replicate such a support team imho.
as an example of what can accomplished with a big support team, listen to the famous big hit ; "cant get used to losing you" with the magnificent andy williams on vocals with a full blown orchestra recorded live years ago. no software can replicate that imho.
regarding going through all the styles. thats exactly what i do. once ive laid out my song arrangement in biab, i go through EVERY of the thousands of styles, because what ive found is "happy sound picture" accidents occur. that i can use in the song. i do mainly rock plus a few crooners/ballads, occasionally a country song. but lets say i'm doing a down n dirty rock song i still try styles from other genres with my song chord set in the hope that added "magic" might occur from another style. and sometimes biab "does" deliver the little "nugget" via its session musicians that make it all worthwhile. as i said a songs loads of work.
i look upon biab/rb/reaper as my support team. but i still ditch more song ideas than i keep. so what "other software" are you referring to ?
thanks. oldmuso
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 03/23/2103:06 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.)
There is no need to spend time searching styles. The stylemaker allows you to do exactly what was suggested. The stylemaker can create a style from any midi file using the stylemaker "Wizard".
Styles have just been made up by PG by combining certain RTs & RDs. RTs & RDs all have the midi notation now so with all that in a database it could just search for similar RD,T from a midi file song you drop in, same way EZ bass, drums, keys does, Biab could create a Real style that is near the same to your midi target song. This way you are not limited to a style PG made with particular instruments. With so many styles, RealTrack and RealDrums to look through this way would be quicker. Also to have Tap2Find, like I said if I saved a small sample all the RealChart midi from all the RT Basses and put it in EZbass I could find the RT bass I need very quick, same with the RealDrumCharts I would find the RealDrums I need with Tap2Find:
Sorry for opening an old thread, but I agree 100% with Mike. I started with BIAB in the early '90s and for a while 'twas a fascinating toy to play with. But it proved unsatisfactory for performances.
Now these days I'm interested in basically replacing my aging drum machine for gigs, with a little enhancement of some sequenced material that makes songs recognizable. I thought about using BIAB to do the drumming and, while it's at it, help with filling in some missing parts for the band.
So I bought 2022 Mega and really like the new stuff, but the Song Title Style Picker really caught my eye! That is, until I used it. Almost every song I entered came up with hundreds of "matching" styles, most of them insanely unlike the title I entered. So while BIAB has taken many enjoyable hours of my time, I find it really is not an expeditious way to build a backing library for my band.
Back in the '90s there were websites (and pre-internet "bulletin boards") that held libraries of SGU songs to download. Some of these actually still exist, but with catalogs of songs using obsolete capabilities. When I bought 2022, I thought surely there'd be sources where musicians could easily share their SGU files. Or at least a better way to not have to reinvent the wheel of picking styles for a song. Is there a better way?
One of the issues with using style demo songs is a demo song can not reflect a specific song, particularly whatever song you currently have in mind.
What may work better is to enable the 4 bar preview using your chord chart. If you take four bars from your song that highlight the song you have in mind and copy them to the front of the chord chart then you can get a better feel if s style will work with your song.
Jim. thats a good work round for auditioning different parts of a song, so simple but this old brain of mine never thought to do this. i have been wanting an option to audition various bars of a song whilst in the style picker for a long time. thanks for the info 10/10.
rebuilt styles,songs and real tracks. win 10...amd a10 radeon r6 4c+6g 1.8ghz 64 bit hp envy biab 2023 with 1004 build. styles 1 to 429 plus extras 1,2,3,4 and 6. running as admin,cleaned up returned to factory settings.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed 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 transcribe 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, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac 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)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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)
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
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 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
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.
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 as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
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