Hi, I did some entry of notes using Editable Notation Mode. Upon play back there is quite a delay from the normal time the note should occur. You can see if very clearly on the piano roll I attached. Sounds pretty bad. Is there a cause and solution to this. Its BIAB 2018.
In Options > MIDI/Audio Drivers setup, check the Latency value.
From the help: "Software synthesizers have some inherent latency, which is the delay between the time a note is played and it is processed by the computer. Older softsynths had noticeable latency, whereas a VSTi/DXi synth using ASIO drivers has very little. This setting is used to synchronize the visual display (notation, chords, virtual piano etc.) with the sound you hear.
Band-in-a-Box automatically sets the latency for VSTi/DXi and some other softsynths.
The [Latency Adjust…] button in the MIDI/Audio Drivers Setup dialog opens the SoftSynth Latency Adjust dialog where you can manually adjust the latency."
There's a video that might help, here:
Search help for 'Quantize', also.
BIAB & RB2025 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
I watched the video. I suspect that is not the issue because my latency reading is 30 but it is a theory :-) I attached the "Midi/Audio Drivers Setup" screen.
I did the quantize at 100% and it fixed the piano roll. Now that is a huge time saver over what I have done with manual snapping. Thanks so much VideoTrack! It was the 100% that did it. I attached the screen. I am helping a vocalist in our jam group. Here are the instructions I gave him.
To quantize to 100%, Click Melody on the menu. Click Edit melody track, Quantize time adjust, choose Quantize Melody, then set the % strength to 100 so it forces perfect on the beat timing (choose quantize start times only because you need a bit of a gap between notes if they are the same note such as the "One Note Samba" Song). I also left the Resolution per bar at 16.
But ideally it would be better if the delay did not exist. Here is the interesting part. The lead in bar and the 1st bar were entered a long time ago and the delay was not noticeable with my ear. The 2nd and 3rd bar were entered recently and the delay is a lot larger as you can see on the Piano-roll. I am wondering if I may have been running another software at the time and if it is better to have nothing running but BIAB when entering notation. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Regarding latency it would be nice to have a latency analysis software that can give a report. Does this exist? I tried google "computer latency analysis software". Its a deep dive :-)
John every time I work with BiaB or my DAW I always disable anything that can work in the background (anti-virus, anti-malware, ccleaner, etc) as well as disabling my Ethernet card.
The fitness trainer asked me, "What kind of a squat are you accustomed to doing?" I said, "Diddly."
64 bit Win 11 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Wow MarioD and thanks. I should try that. I need to be sure I get get all that back :-) Caution is the word :-) I guess the software would come back with a restart. Not sure about the card :-) I often have 2 computers running on my home network. Turning the other one off may help.
The way I see it latency should have zero impact on this issue because it is where we click on the screen that determines the time allocation for the note (not when we click and how much time it takes to get to the disk drive). Since PianoRoll mode has a snap mode this should have a snap mode (click behind the line - to the right - and it places it perfectly at the location the line suggests). It seems very strange to me that this idea could have been missed. So maybe there is a snap mode.
Hi Noel, great minds think alike :-) I actually did something similar (see prior post and picture).
I checked for a snap mode. Nothing found. I will probably create a feature request for it. I am not sure why anyone would not want this so it seems more like a bug fix to me.
... snip ... Regarding latency it would be nice to have a latency analysis software that can give a report. Does this exist? ... snip
John,
If you using a non DXi soft synth, try the Latency Test. It's a style that runs audio on one side of the stereo channel and the midi soft synth on the other side of the stereo channel
Thanks Jim. According to the video I watched my Synth is a DXi. The popup on my BIAB shows CoyoteWT. My understanding is this overrides the "MS GS Wavetable Synth". Is this not correct?
But again as per my last post the entry of notes should default to snap and not be effected by latency at all. The only latency should be on playback if any. Here is an analogy. Would you like going to a banking machine and finding you had less money deposited because the machine was slow one day. No. If it takes longer to get there you should still get the same deposit amount. I think like a programmer because am a programmer :-)
Wow MarioD and thanks. I should try that. I need to be sure I get get all that back :-) Caution is the word :-) I guess the software would come back with a restart. Not sure about the card :-) I often have 2 computers running on my home network. Turning the other one off may help.
You're right, every thing will come back except the Ethernet card. Disable the Ethernet card via the Device Manager then minimize the Device Manger window and it will place it on the taskbar. Prior to either powering down or doing something else other than music just click on the minimized window and activate the Ethernet card. Easy-prezzie!
The fitness trainer asked me, "What kind of a squat are you accustomed to doing?" I said, "Diddly."
64 bit Win 11 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Thanks MarioD. Maybe I will do some speed tests to see if I can actually cause a very large delay by running a boatload of software in loops. Fifteen MS-Access programs all in an infinite loop. This would be handy because it would prove that latency is in fact the problem.
Yes, I used the piano roll snap mode. So in total what I did was this. The song style is Latin giving 1/16ths in the editable notation mode. I entered the straight 1/8ths only for the first chorus using editable notation mode. I then quantized the melody in 1/16th at 100% to get those to perfectly line up. I tested this by listening and it worked. I then went back to editable notation mode and used this jump to video method to enter the first set of triplets. I then went to piano roll mode using the triplet snap to fix the triplets. I then copied the triplets out to other parts of the 1st chorus to complete the chorus. ----Again the editable notation mode needs a snap to fix to avoid the extra piano roll steps. ----It may have been too tricky for them to program the reading of the screen to do the snap to. ----At least the visual notation snaps to the vertical lines in editable notation mode. I then used the copy special process to copy the 1st chorus to the 2nd chorus then again to the 3rd chorus. (see the attached copy special dialog box settings I used).
In the copy special dialog box it shows something I can not figure out. The only other way I have figured out to copy to the other choruses is to set the choruses to one then set the choruses to a higher value and enter yes to copy the melody.
For swing tunes to quantize you need to humanize to swing feel. This fixes it except it is a tiny bit late. After you have fixed it this way, if you want to make the start times to start exactly on the triplet go to the Quantize melody dialog box, choose a Resolution of 12 to get you 4 beats of triplets per bar and choose 100% and only quantize the start times so that songs like "One Note Samba" do not get screwed up such that the rhythmic same notes do not sound like one long note. See the attached picture.
That's very impressive problem solving! As I read it through, I picked up a few things about BIAB that I didn't know. Thanks for taking the time to write it up so clearly.
Recently I have been reminding myself on a daily basis to see every frustration as not a challenge but rather a fun game. There are in fact no exceptions to this including both the game of trying to maximize the length of life and the game of minimizing or even eliminating the pain of death itself. This approach to thinking makes everything easier and more fun. I don't always play the game(s) well but it gets better with practice. Even loosing a game can be treated as a fun mental game it itself. This was just another fun game for me. It made finding the best solution I could find easier.
Interesting. I just entered the notes to another swing song using the editable notation mode. I checked the piano roll and it literally entered the start of every single one perfectly (just as if I was using snap mode). The end times could be better but they are often dead on and even when not dead on not a problem. I as usual have a lot of other programs running. Might this be a random bug? Did my quantize work on the prior song do something?
Like you, I get caught up in the problem solving because it's fun for me.
Over the years, I've noticed with BIAB that a couple of settings don't seem to kick in until the second use. I'm not sure why that is and I can never remember which ones are involved. I've come across this phenomenon with other programs too (not just PG Music ones).
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
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 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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 Windows or for Mac.
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.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: 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 because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 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 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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!
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.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean