New to BIAB, thought I'd enter a "simple" song - Margaritaville. Has anyone been able to code this song?
I entered a 7 bar intro.
I entered a 16 bar verse and 16 bar chorus.
I made the verse/chorus repeat 4 times (2 vocal / 1 instrumental / 1 vocal).
I added a 4 bar tag ending.
Now I need help: I'd like the 3rd repeat to use a fuller style than the others. Any way to indicate that?
But my major issue is that on the 4th repeat, I want to eliminate the last 2 bars of the chorus, and jump to the tag ending. This would be like a DS al Coda but only on the last repeat. I've watched the Youtube tutorial on DS coda but I can't figure out how to make it work on this song with 4 repeats.
Instead of using repeats, I strong encourage you to lay your song out in a once-through format. Doing it this way, makes it very easy to control every section. By copying and pasting, it's also very quick to layout a song from start to finish.
The below song I wrote is a video of BIAB's chordsheet that will show you how I laid out the song from start to finish. I have used the blue and green part markers to define each section. The song is in the AABA format. Blue part markers introduce an accompaniment that has less movement than green part markers. Part markers are set by repeatedly clicking on bar numbers (1 click = blue, 2 clicks = green, 3 clicks = no part marker).
Similar to Noel's advice to do the song in a linear format, I begin the song with a 7 bar intro and I use 1st/2nd ending for the first verse/chorus and 2nd verse/chorus and then for a verse of instrumental, I change the style and at the following chorus I change the style back to the original style. At the end of that chorus, I repeat the last two lines "some people claim..." and then use a style change back to the second style and the instrumental plays out to the end of the song.
By using the 1st/2nd ending rather than a single linear format causes BIAB to play a more interesting 2nd verse and chorus without having to use Part Markers to generate different variations of the style. Then by changing the Style to a completely different style adds even more variation and dynamics that continues to build the song arrangement and the song still has the more active B style arrangement on the last chorus and builds again for the two line last repeat and instrumental ending.
Here's a link to the m4a audio of the attached SGU file with no melody or vocals added. I made no attempt to actually recreate a performance of the song Margaritaville but used two styles found using a filtered search for the song in the StylePicker. The styles used are a/b ISLANDP.STY and c/d CTRYPSS.STY
Fantastic production Charlie. Pretty close to the original. Great job, no question.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Repeats, 1st and 2nd endings, codas and fines are print functions. If you build your song in a linear form, as per Noel, your printed output can look fine
The DO NOT change the underlying music in any way. If you built it wrong it will play wrong and repeats and codas will not fix it
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643) Windows 10 (1909)
UNFOLD that thing. Working linear is the only way to work. Forget the musical roadsigns. I was classically trained and started by trying to use the repeats and DC al codas.... and what a pain. I happened to stumble across the UNFOLD to one Chorus feature and life was instantly changed. You can do so much with the song unfolded. Want to do a rit ending.....???? Yep, easy to do in the unfolded form.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
On the subject of Folded/Unfolded, I hardly ever unfold. I can always get the layout and repeats I want to work with a folded song. Some input might be easier if Unfolded, but I really don't find much that can't be achieved with a standard chorus repeats, tags etc when using the standard multiple chorus layout. Most important for me, the printed score doesn't have to be multiple pages long when I use the folded method.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
I like to use the folded version because I play with sheet music and BiaB chord charts side by side on a laptop screen, and it is easier to follow the progress of the music visually when the layout is similar. But trying to set up the chord chart with multiple repeats, and say a DS al a Fine that is in the middle of the piece (typical AABA) I find impossible in BiaB (I am using the 2024 version). The 1st/2nd ending set up works ok, but then when I open up the drop down box to add a DS or DC al Coda or Fine, the action button is greyed out and there is always a message claiming a conflict with an earlier ending - presumably the 1st/2nd that I have already put in and which I need to maintain. It is only by removing the latter that I can make the action button operable. So then I have lost the first part of the programming I need.
I fully realise that a linear (unfolded) approach provides a way of avoiding these problems, but then I have two screens which look quite different in layout, which negates my major objective. Why can't the BiaB process be made less clunky? It's a breeze in iReal Pro, which I use for other purposes.
I presume you are a keyboard player and want to 'follow the dots'. as a guitarist i used to play margaritaville live and the chords are so easy winging it is straightforward. it's really quite a simple song and folded/unfolded - either way is fine on my BIAB version.
In Song Settings ( <Ctrl>N ), do your ending values look similar to this (bar numbers will change of course):
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Also, the song will jump to the Tag bar on the last repeat of the chorus.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
some tunes allow you to use the folded version quite well to your advantage. a lot of jazz tunes that follow a simple format (e.g. aaba) are a good example. "vary middle choruses" is a great switch that allows for some variety to play your solos over.
Other tunes I just unfold. Its just easier.
So, as usual, it depends.
biab2025(Mac) Latest Build Mac OS (Latest) Apple Mac Mini M2 pro 32GB Ram Logic Pro (latest or pretty close) Heddon Super Spook XT (Mullet)
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!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 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 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.
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.
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.
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows 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)
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)
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.
![[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]](https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=download&Number=27714&filename=2024-03-28_9-37-17.jpg)
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean