PLEASE HELP ...TALKING TO BIAB PEOPLE HAS BEEN USELESS ...
MY QUESTION IS ... CAN ANYONE POINT ME TO A FEW SIMPLE JAZZ BALLAD STYLES WITH SIMPLE 1/4 NOTE BASS LINES, AND SPARSE PIANO COMPING ... I HAVE GIVEN UP SEARCHING AFTER DOZENS AND DOZENS OF WASTED HOURS ... AND YES I HAVE TRIED ALL THE FILTERS, SIMPLE ARRANGEMENT, NO EMBELLISHMENT, AND, AND, AND OTHER TECHNIQUES.
I have been using BIAB on and off for over 25 years, and i am back at it, but EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED. They add thousands of similar styles for every upgrade which add nothing but more difficulty finding anything.
When I try to find a slow jazz ballad style (Midi, SuperMidi, or Real Tracks), the piano is always way too busy (plays like a chord based solo), and the bass is way too busy for any ballad (plays like a soloist with all kinds of frills). All of this drowns me out.
I feel like I have to play accompaniment and let them do all the soloing.
I'm especially sick and tired of editing bass accompaniments. If I am playing a slow, sad ballad, the bass is all over the place (despite the 1/4 note setting) ... playing approach notes, scalar, arpeggiated fills, 1/8ths, 1/8 triplets, and anything but a simple chord outline on 1/4 notes. I might as well write my own bass lines in Finale (easier than editing in BIAB)
If I sound frustrated, and a little hostile, my sincere apologies ... but wasting so much time is maddening.
This is an interesting post and view, and I am glad that I am not the only person who shares it.
As I mentioned, my use of BIAB is fairly limited, mainly jazz/blues/rock backing tracks to play along to, to learn songs, licks, arpeggios etc. Despite having 1000s of styles available, finding something "basic" to play along to is always a struggle, and I tend to use the same 2 Blues, 2 Jazz and 3 Rock Styles... Occasionally I choose different drums.
They are indeed busy (in my opinion). From time to time I venture out to look at the guitar lead sheet with the hope to perhaps play along to it, or learn from it, but pretty much all the ones I have looked at are impossible to play (well, at my level anyway). I have often thought if anybody would actually play this.... but then I am sure that they do, the RT did get recorded.
About the bass - I am often turning it down because I find it distracting, too much going on :-)
I am happy with what I have, but I often now use iRealPro on my iPad to play along to, basic but serves its purpose....
This is all just my personal view, I love BIAB and wouldn't want to make music without it. Best software I've ever bought :-)
Nirvana is a place of perfect peace and happiness, the highest state that someone can attain, a state of enlightenment, whereby a person's individual desires and suffering go away. Achieving nirvana is to make earthly feelings like suffering and desire disappear.
Unfortunately, the more you search for it, the less likely you will find it. Which brings me to this threads topic.
I have also spent years looking for that perfect musical sound from an accompaniment/backing track - BIAB (RTs, midi, SMTs, RDs), ToonTrack (EZkeys, EZDrummer), Scaler, as well as countless VSTi instruments and loop libraries. I can tell you from experience what we are searching for is not in any of those sources. There is only one place where that elusive sound can be found. When you discover that place, the weaknesses and limitation of all these products will no longer matter. Time for my meditation and yoga exercises.
Nirvana is a place of perfect peace and happiness, the highest state that someone can attain, a state of enlightenment, whereby a person's individual desires and suffering go away. Achieving nirvana is to make earthly feelings like suffering and desire disappear.
Unfortunately, the more you search for it, the less likely you will find it. Which brings me to this threads topic.
I have also spent years looking for that perfect musical sound from an accompaniment/backing track - BIAB (RTs, midi, SMTs, RDs), ToonTrack (EZkeys, EZDrummer), Scaler, as well as countless VSTi instruments and loop libraries. I can tell you from experience what we are searching for is not in any of those sources. There is only one place where that elusive sound can be found. When you discover that place, the weaknesses and limitation of all these products will no longer matter. Time for my meditation and yoga exercises.
looks like that place might be "Within Thyself" after 10k hours practice on your chosen instrument.
Windows 10 (64bit) M-Audio Fast Track Pro, Band in a Box 2025, Cubase 14, Cakewalk and far too many VST plugins that I probably don't need or will ever use
Chances are that most of the styles in the same category share the exact same bass and drum patterns. Or at least a limited number of different patterns for a whole bunch of so-called different styles.
My first solution was to drop the velocity of bass and drums in the midi styles (piano too, if you like) by 30. All patterns were in the 85+ range (velocity from 1-127) and that sounds awful, even with the best VST. Don’t forget to save them under a new name, cause with every new version, your tweaks will be deleted and replaced.
But after being fed up with too much repetition, I decided to make my own styles. That’s a difficult, but ultimately rewarding path to take.
Some people would make a midi file for each song they play. This is were Biab shines: you can use this midi you made to make a new style and apply it to other songs as well.
I almost made it sound easy, though I know making styles is a really hard and long process. (Even after this much practice, making one style with just drums and bass, takes me more than 20 hours on average. Even a simple bunch of patterns takes hours and hours to get it just right) but, as I said, it is much more to your own liking.
With Realtracks it’s not always possible.
Biab, Kontakt, Sampletank and lots of nice libraries, from Fluffy audio to Abbey Road drums. Check out these great contemporary Jazz Styles: www.jazzstylezz.com
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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 amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Mac® to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
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)
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Time for my meditation and yoga exercises. 
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