Hey, I don’t know if it is just me, but I think the BIAB manual could use one simple overhaul for something that seems to be missing in almost any query or content search—THE BUTTON IS HERE, and it looks like THIS. Here is a RED CIRCLE around the button, and HERE IS WHERE YOU WILL FIND IT.
I will give one example of something simple that made me want to smash myself in the head with a hammer, but I have seen many, many more.
I wanted to transpose a midi melody in the melody track—just that, down an octave.
So, I look at the screen, my eyes get crossed, and I go to manual. There is page after page of text telling you all the things you can do with references to submenus, but nothing with a picture of the button and how you get to it from the main dashboard. As in WHERE IS IT??? And WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE????
Oh wait, it's not a button, it is actually on the main screen, I think, is that it, under "melody," in 6 pt. type? Should I have guessed???? Hmmmmm. Should someone have said "Main screen, across the top, look for drop down menu, before you get to the rows of buttons?" Should that have been intuitive???
Ok, maybe being goofy, but it is very easy to go blind looking for stuff, and the wording of the manual is not super user friendly at times.
Just one example, but I have found in the majority of major function searches, I just want to know what the button looks like (or, which menu are you talking about and WHERE IS THAT???) and where you access it, and I can take it from there. That instant specificity really seems to be missing most of the time and it drives me nuts.
Am I being the cranky old guy who just needs to shut up or does anyone else go nuts trying to use the manual???
But, I love me some Band-in-a-Box though!!!! Don’t want to be a whiner!!!
If I am being unreasonable, just let me know…
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
When I first bought BIAB in 2012 I was thrilled to find it had a HUGE PDF manual. I am old school. I LOVE big, thick software manuals.
But I quickly soured on the BIAB manual because 1) I could never find what I was looking for and 2) I would find plenty of things referencing obscure functions that no longer seem applicable to the modern versions.
I finally gave up and now I have a 3-pronged approach to using BIAB,
1) try to muddle through and figure it out
2) ask in the forum
3) give up, settle for some great RealTracks and do the heavy lifting in my DAW
If anyone at our beloved PG Music is tuning in, please consider pictures under every major topic.
Like, TRANSPOSING in music, or TRANSPOSING MELODY is one of the top 5 things done in music.
SO--give us a picture or two, show us the dashboard, how you go from Button A to Button Z, circle the knob in red with an arrow.
This applies to most major topics. There is a TON of text, but at the end of super long sections you are often left without the answer to this question:
SO WHERE IS THAT BUTTON, EXACTLY???
Help us PG Music! Please help us!!!!!
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
Like this. This is what I'm talking about. This is not a button, and it isn't clear where you go, until you guess. Oh yeah, the little main menu across the top. Oh Doh. Now I get it, and I'm squintin'.
I KNOW IT MAKES ME LOOK STUPID WHEN I FINALLY FIND IT, but it is easy for eyes to get crossed, and this might be a bad example, I dunno.
However, some little pictures with an arrow or two pointing to where you go, on any given top would be very helpful, as things can get real confusing real fast. More visuals.
A simple picture with drop downs would help. This is the case throughout the manual. It seems like such an easy/fix.
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
I think the problem may have to do with things moving every year. Every year people want a GUI makeover .. so stuff moves. And yes it can be frustrating sometimes.
I remember one year I was looking for the millisecond clock in RB where I expected it to be, and emailed dev telling them it was missing .. and their reply was 'you don't see it in the tiny bar just above the Taskbar?'
Well not until you told me where you hid it! The option used to be by the from:thru, now it's a tiny clock way down in bottom left corner .. almost looks like it is somewhere between RB and the Taskbar.. dang near on the Start button for Windows <grin> I got used to it eventually, but I agree the unclear changes every year can be frustrating at times
Last edited by rharv; 06/07/2101:19 PM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
Am I being the cranky old guy who just needs to shut up or does anyone else go nuts trying to use the manual???
Hold it...., you say there is a manual??
BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).
There is page after page of text telling you all the things you can do with references to submenus, but nothing with a picture of the button and how you get to it from the main dashboard. As in WHERE IS IT??? And WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE????
Great dragons above, David, you're singing the song of my people!!!! The manual makes my eyes cross and I never do find what I'm looking for. SO much easier (and faster!) to ask here in the forums.
Love is always worth the risk.
HP laptop; Windows 10 Home 64 bit; core i5; 2.40 Ghz; 8 GB RAM; 256 GB hard drive; BIAB 2021 Build 835.
> Like, TRANSPOSING in music, or TRANSPOSING MELODY is one of the top 5 things done in music. SO--give us a picture or two, show us the dashboard, how you go from Button A to Button Z, circle the knob in red with an arrow. This applies to most major topics. There is a TON of text, but at the end of super long sections you are often left without the answer to this question: SO WHERE IS THAT BUTTON, EXACTLY???
David, You don't need the manual to get answers to questions like this. Use the Feature Browser. Inside the program, from a screen that you type chords, instead type '/' and hit <ENTER> (or press the (?) Feature Browser button on the main toolbar), and you will enter a world where you can find out where/how to use a feature by typing word(s) that describe the feature.
For example, start to type the word "transpose" and you'll get shown how to do it.This will list the menu items, hot keys etc. to help you transpose the melody. For example, it will tell you that there are hot keys to transpose the melody up down an octave (Ctrl-Alt-1) or up an octave (Ctrl-Alt-2).
But wait.... there's more!
For many of the items, in addition to telling you how to do it, there is a Do-It button. And there is for the transpose, so you just press that "Do-It" button.
The Feature Browser is also available from the main screen toolbar, with the word "Browser" on it and a "?" icon, and a tooltip that tells you the same information I'm providing in this post. To see this graphic, click on "featurebrowser1.jpg" below.
SO much easier (and faster!) to ask here in the forums.
Agreed!
BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).
Thanks Peter!!! Ha ha ha, I didn't mean to bother such a high level authority with my boneheaded question, but I will check that out!!! Maybe by tomorrow I will be a true expert.
On a happy note, BIAB 2021 is smokin'! There is some CRAZY cool stuff in this addition soundwise and I am loving it!!!
You guys and gals have really outdone yourself with 2021.
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
Every four or five years I'll order a hard copy of the BiaB user manual. You get one with your initial PG Music order but upgrades do not include a hard copy.
The last few times I've ordered a manual the cost is about $15 US including shipping.
I checked this out and I think it is a really cool feature. Thanks!
For the future an idea or two:
If you see the links below I still think it would be helpful in the online manual (and the print too I guess, if people still use it) to see a picture similar to what I pasted in one of my post replies above (the one with the attachment) as a refresher. From these links, you now know what you CAN do, but if you are trying to remember a lot of BIAB functions, you would not necessarily remember that "melody menu" refers to the tiny type at the top of the GUI. Know what I mean?
For every major function, I think a small simple orienting screenshot back to the dashboard would be helpful.
Also, if you click the "Do It" button on transpose, it gives you one option I can see, but not the myriad, which you would see if you were to go to the drop down menu on the melody menu, which you need to be reminded of. Make sense?
I have no idea how you would address all of this though, with all of your major functions--the program is now so deep and rich and does so many cool things, it might actually take another staff to describe it all in a way that mortal human beings can absorb.
There are A LOT of tools now!!!
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
Use the Feature Browser. Inside the program, from a screen that you type chords, instead type '/' and hit <ENTER> (or press the (?) Feature Browser button on the main toolbar), and you will enter a world where you can find out where/how to use a feature by typing word(s) that describe the feature.
Oh my gosh!! Thank you, Peter!
Love is always worth the risk.
HP laptop; Windows 10 Home 64 bit; core i5; 2.40 Ghz; 8 GB RAM; 256 GB hard drive; BIAB 2021 Build 835.
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
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