A recent posting of my song Modern Pop Demo used PG Music MultiStyles and to mute tracks that had RealTracks on Mixer Channels in some Styles but those were vacant of RealTracks in other Styles, BIAB muted the Mixer Channels in the Styles that were vacant of RealTracks so the RealTracks that were contained in some styles would not continue to play in the styles that had vacant channels.
In my song description I mentioned that PG Music developers preferred to mute these regions using RT1152:Silence rather than the Bar Settings dialog (F5). I explained that RT1152 is as far as I know, a RealTrack unique to only BIAB. While it can leave a blank area in RealBand, it is not recognized as a RealTrack in RealBand and if it's selected, it doesn't do anything. I believe the same to be true for the VST Plug-in although I've not tested the Plug-in with RT1152.
What is the value of RT1152 over F5 Bar Settings dialog to mute tracks. I've surmised that using RT1152 is related to BIAB's ability to read ahead in the Chord Chart when choosing RealTrack audio to place into the song instead of randomly selecting based on the chord alone.
A main feature in BIAB is when a track is edited or is a Medley Track, BIAB automatically selects audio specifically recorded for transitional bars that result into smooth, natural transitions. Smooth and natural transitions consist of cross fades, fade ins, fade outs, soloist intros, endings and instrument change outs in alternating solos.
I recall only a single instance where this RealTrack has been discussed by PG Music staff and the remarks substantiate that using RT1152 rather than F5 Bar Settings does make a difference in what RealTrack audio is selected when using RT1152 over F5 Bar Settings mute function.
The indication is there's specific audio recordings BIAB can be instructed to look for in specific circumstances on the Chord Chart. The Chords and phrases selected by BIAB from the user inputted chords are not random but come from built in instructions of the program. It's not a random selection from a group of chords recorded onto the RealTrack audio file. This indication is also substantiated when reviewing the UserTrack Development Window found in the Bar Settings Page. UserTracks are made in the image of RealTracks and I don't believe PG Music would provide these programmable instructions for UserTracks if these instructions and others didn't also exist in the BIAB program. I've attached screen shots of the UserTrack Development Page and also edited a screenshot from a post by Pipeline to demonstrate how I think these instructions affect chord selection on a Chord Sheet using known instructions from the UserTrack Development Page.
Another indication that chord selection, audio selection and transitions are programmed are the PG Music RealTrack demos completed as polished and finished high quality mixes done in BIAB.
Here are Andrew with PG Music Staff exact remarks posted in the forum about using RT1152:
"To summarize the two mentioned in this thread (1) using the Bar Settings dialog to mute certain regions of the song, or (2) creating a medley."
"I really like your idea of creating a medley to accomplish this, and it is extremely simple once you know how. Often people would be using different instruments in a medley, but that's certainly not a requirement; you can have a medley that alternates between "silence" and a RealTracks Soloist. The reason I prefer this method over bar settings, is because it will give you more natural transitions between a chorus that doesn't have a solo and one that does. (e.g. muting a chorus might cut off a solo mid-riff)."
"You can definitely use F5 bar settings, but it IS different with a MIDI melody since in that case you are just preventing a "static" MIDI part from playing/repeating during those choruses. With a generated RealTracks, it's possible you would mute a generated riff halfway through the riff which would sound less natural than if you generate the riff so that it has a natural end point prior to the start of the muted bars."
Oh, right. Using RT1152 in a medley sounds like it may have dealt very nicely with the problems I had months ago trying to have soloists on only some choruses by using F5 mute/restore.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
<< Using RT1152 in a medley sounds like it may have dealt very nicely with the problems I had months ago trying to have soloists on only some choruses by using F5 mute/restore. >>
You're right. Andrew's quotes were taken from issues you posted months ago.
You're right. Andrew's quotes were taken from issues you posted months ago.
Probably back then I didn't understand what he was telling me. Straight over the head.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
Fascinating. I appreciate this discussion and the information provided. Silencing a track is not something I need today but I like to learn about the inner workings {Nerd alert?}. I feel that it enables more complete use of the BIAB Tools.
A while ago I investigated RealDrums and the mechanism for Users to make Realdrums. In that exercise I gained an insight to the cleverness underneath BIAB music creation. There is a tutorial in the help titled 'Making RealDrums'
I imagine that RealTracks for other instruments employ a mechanism that is similar although I do not know this. There is no tutorial in the help for making RealTracks.
In the User Showcase post of "Modern Pop Demo", Floyd Jane suggested I post an example that would be a good time to use RT1152 other than the example of its inclusion in mixing Styles in a song project. In another post, a user requested if it was possible to specify a range of measures to regenerate and not regenerate the entire mix. His questioned was answered and had the steps to copy/move his track onto a Utility Track or the Audio Track along with the Audio Editor to generate just a region of a track.
I decided to take both requests and blend them into a demonstration of RT1152 being used instead of F5 Bar Settings Mute during a specified region of audio being regenerated and where the smooth transition created by BIAB during a crossfade allowing two tracks to smoothly crossfade between each other as if it were a 'punch in/out' on a single track.
Here's a link to the thread and video demonstration:
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Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
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No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 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® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 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 22 requires the 2026 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.
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
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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®.
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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!
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