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Joined: Aug 2021
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Posts: 177 |
Thanks in advance to the community. I have read the user guide and talked with the chat folks. I am still a bit unclear on terminology and how to properly read the BIAB website and their listings of RealTrack combos/instruments/styles etc. Is a RealTrack an audio recorded single instrument? Is a "style" or "RealCombo" simply a collection of RealTrack instruments playing together or is there a difference between the two? One poster here said that he used DORA.sty to create a song. How does this this type of nomenclature mesh with website listed RealTrack and RealCombos? I can't seem to find any type of XXX.sty listing or definition on the BIAB website. Or can you point me to a tutorial specifically on these terms. The user guide is not helping me. Again thank you with your patience in bringing up Junior! 
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A Style "tells" the Band-in-a-Box program what tempo, feel, key signature and instruments to start with. For MIDI instruments a Style also includes MIDI patterns for the MIDI instruments to play. A RealTrack is an audio recording of one or more instruments that Band-in-a-Box and RealBand use as an instrument on a track. An example of a single instrument RealTrack is an acoustic or electric piano. An example of multiple RealTrack instruments is a horn section. PG Music distributes RealTracks in Real Combos or Sets. Sets are groups of RealTracks packaged together. PG Music presently has 375 RealTrack Sets. You can find out more about RealTrack Sets +++ HERE for Windows +++ or +++ HERE for Mac +++. Pro and Mega RealCombos are individual RealTracks PG Music packaged together to create a realistic sounding band. The ProPAK ships with Pro RealCombos that include about 500 RealTracks. You can find out more about ProCombos for Windows +++ HERE +++ The MegaPAK Mega RealCombos include about 800 RealTracks. You can find out more about MegaCombos for Windows +++ HERE +++ For comparison, the 375 RealTrack sets include more than 3,100 RealTracks.
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Aug 2021
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Apprentice
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 177 |
Jim thank you so much for this! I was aware of the links that you gave with all the lists. What I was having trouble with was just the bare definitions that you so clearly described. At least to my reading, the website lists didn't give such straight forward definitions. Thank you for helping me!
So the last part of my question is the bit about a user here stating that he used DORA.sty to create a song. I take it from your comments this might be a "style", but designated by a file name that BIAB uses? The chat folks couldn't tell me where I could find out about a ".sty file" and see how it translated to their published lists of sets of RealTracks
Can you educate me on this type of nomenclature?
You were very clear above - how nice of you!!
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Joined: Oct 2020
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PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 836 |
So the last part of my question is the bit about a user here stating that he used DORA.sty to create a song. I take it from your comments this might be a "style", but designated by a file name that BIAB uses? The chat folks couldn't tell me where I could find out about a ".sty file" and see how it translated to their published lists of sets of RealTracks
An .STY file is the file format that the Styles are saved in and stored to the bb/Styles folder. You do not access the STY files directly from your computer, but instead Band-in-a-Box selects them from the Style Picker. This video goes over how to use the Style Picker. https://youtu.be/g9Ovdul7bi0 After you load a Style, you can change the individual RealTracks if you wish. You can do this in the RealTracks Picker. https://youtu.be/nbf9P496sy0
Best,
Chantelle
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Aug 2021
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Posts: 177 |
Ahhh thanks for that Chantelle. I think I can see now why that poster used that xxx.sty nomenclature. It looks like that name is displayed in the user interface and so he/she just mentioned that name.
But if one is given just that name, can a user then locate the style on your lists on your website to preview it, or locate it in your pickers with only the style file name given by the poster?
Follow up: after watching the videos you suggested it seems to me that I might be able in the styles picker to search by the style file name that was given to me and thus find all the information that about that style. Do I have that right? If so, where do I place that style file name to search for it?
Thanks so much!
Last edited by BackingTrack; 11/10/21 06:12 AM.
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Beginners Forum
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Joined: Oct 2020
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PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
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Posts: 836 |
But if one is given just that name, can a user then locate the style on your lists on your website to preview it, or locate it in your pickers with only the style file name given by the poster?
Follow up: after watching the videos you suggested it seems to me that I might be able in the styles picker to search by the style file name that was given to me and thus find all the information that about that style. Do I have that right? If so, where do I place that style file name to search for it?
Thanks so much!
Yes, type in the Style name as it appears in all caps letters into the Filter String field. If you then cannot find it in the Style Picker it could be that it is not available in your PAK. If you are unsure of whether or not you should have a particular Style, you can contact us directly and we can check for you. To do this, either go to live chat on our website during our open hours, or email sales@pgmusic.com.
Best,
Chantelle
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Beginners Forum
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I am so impressed with your customer service and responses. Class act!
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
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 new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 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 process 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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
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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)
- Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
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)
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
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