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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,869
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Expert
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,869 |
Hey folks another thread! Ahh well.  "It is time for Rb and PT to take off and fullfill what folks want. Take Rb to the next level, add volume envelopes, refine midi, and audio editing a bit more, finish the VSTi coding so it uses all VSTis, even the ones with time adjsutment like jamstix, and rework the ASIO implimentation a bit more, so that ASIO is more usable than WDM. Make it so folks think long and hard before draging files to Cubase, Reaper, Sonar, whatever. It really is not that far away." Hey Rob you suprise me (grin) Many will characterise me as wanting a fundamental rethink - well not really its semantics at the end of the day. Here is what I cant do in BAIB and I would want to do in BIAB even if I had real band working 1] Play a VST instrument such as a decent piano 2] Record it (not with the idea of producing some wonderful track but just ot give my ears a bit of feedback when I am practising) 3] Add a decent reverb if i wanted to (convolution) 4]Mix the sound in a rough and ready way WITH visual feedback (yes the tiny spin buttons do a bit of this but in a very old tech way) Until BIAB can do these things its not providing the basics in my view. As for the interface, it looks tired but that OK. You can tweak it quite a lot though which is good. I would like ot see something like Cubase's 'Key Commands' menu so that I can do things like make the copy command into a ctrl click as I am always shoving bars around by mistake. The notation window is buggy and I don't use it at all because the screen breaks up here (through several versions and XP and Win 7). Its obvious that there is something wrong with the way Asio works in BIAB if it cant support VST channels with multiple instruments. Doing so would not make it a sequencer. At present I control the sound of my piano thorugh its standalone window, the overal level of BIAB output via the windows speaker icon, and the level of each instrument via tiny spin buttons (with my poor eyesight). I dream of seeing all these levels in one panel with nice red LEDs bouncing up and down like a conventional mixer If a person calls that a fundamental rethink, or 'turning BIAB into a DAW' then (politely) I suggest they just stay with this version and allow the company to move on. There is nothing to stop a person staying with an old version if suitable for them. None of the above would
Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,610
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Veteran
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,610 |
If any updates include Real Tracks of course I would have to get it. Below are the main reasons many thousands of us bought BIAB in the firstplace.
"Band-in-a-Box is so easy to use! Just type in the chords for any song using standard chord symbols (like C, Fm7, or C13b9), choose the style you'd like, and Band-in-a-Box does the rest… Band-in-a-Box automatically generates a complete professional-quality arrangement of piano, bass, drums, guitar, and strings or horns.
Plus, add REAL accompaniment to your song with RealTracks. These are recordings of top studio musicians that replace the MIDI track with audio instruments. They sound like real musicians, because they ARE real musicians!"
As long as BIAB stays true to the original concept it doesn't matter what changes are made. I have no need for BIAB to function as a DAW since I use BIAB for accompaniment only. I'm pretty sure a good percentage of users are using BIAB the same way that I do. Anything else is gravy! Later, Ray
Asus Q500A i7 Win 10 64 bit 8GB ram 750 HD 15.5" touch screen, BIAB 2017, Casio PX 5s, Xw P1, Center Point Stereo SS V3 and EWI 4000s.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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We need to stay focused on the fact that BIAB can not be everything to everybody. There can not be EVERY style for EVERY song for EVERY user. I am working on something now and listened to close to every style in there and nothing is close, so it's back to programming the drum machine for this one song. And playing all the parts. But it's one song of 11. BIAB has done the job for the other 10. 91% success rate works for me. And given that these are just demos for players to learn songs from anyway it's no big deal.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,629
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,629 |
BiaB is not meant to function as a DAW; that's what Realband is for. Use BiaB for accompaniment and song writing. If you want a DAW (with BiaB features) try RB. It's the middle ground where DAW and BiaB meet. And it's given to you with BiaB for free.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,808
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,808 |
Zero everything you want is in RB. EVERYTHING! Once again Everything. I really do understand wanting to be able to add a good Piano, but you can!!!! Add Sampletank or Kontact, both have some very nice pianos, and will give that feed back you want. After all you want to work things out there and practice, well those will give you what you want.
Then if you want to add a pile of fancy effects, and record those tracks use RB.
Heck i can start the project in RB and never even open BiaB if I want and get the same results, all the styles work there, all the RTs and RDs work there. I can add midi and audio to taste. Best of all i can enter the chords in the chords window, pick a style and generate a real BiaB arrangement just like ... you guessed it BiaB.
Rharv, Zee and myself and a couple others have been rattling around on this subject for a while now. He can't get RB to work, and i offered to help him, even shadow his screen with teamviewer to get it working.
Maybe a couple of us can concentrate on this and help the fellow get his RB working.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 897
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 897 |
Real Band..."The Phoenix" It can do everything as you said: "Best of all i can enter the chords in the chords window, pick a style and generate a real BiaB arrangement just like ... you guessed it BiaB!" And speaking of entering chords from Real Books (the original jazz extended chords)...or even "copping" cool jazz type progressions for "jazzier-sounding" moving-chord additions to tunes and jazz playlists! The electronic Fake Books available today, onlin...and there are many, many of those...(as I mentioned in my post on FB's...they also offer extras features, like Midi Progressions that can be copied into RB, (and even the $8.00 iRealBook at the Apple App Store, can be another source for jazz-oriented chord changes as well as chord melody or chord leading-tone examples)... that can be utilized in composing original and new forms of chords for RB! (Huh??) G-Daddy, have another shot of that "breakfast good stuff" you're sipping on!! 
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
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Veteran
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021 |
I am sure that Peter & Jeff are quite focused!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,168
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,168 |
Quote:
I am sure that Peter & Jeff are quite focused!
I agree so focussed in fact that BIAB 2012 will be released "with 50 new features" as it has done for as long as I can remember.
I can't see any great re-design's either in any of the programs (not that I want to see any re-design I'm happy with the layout of the GUI as it is) just extra features being added.
No company will change its proven winning forumula to please a small number of customers.
musiclover
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697 |
I'll add my voice to the comments about RB. It works fine. Zero, you've said before that you're experienced with other DAW's. That means you know about having to set up your midi input/output drivers along with your audio in/out drivers. Same with RB. Go to Options>preferences/midi then do the same thing but hit "audio". It's all there buddy. If you can't figure it out, either call Support, use the Help file or post exactly what you're problem is.
RB will open Biab song files, midi files, combine them both, it will use multiple synths either DXi or VSTi, multiple effects both DX and VST's, generate Biab tracks, Real Tracks, Real Drums all kinds of stuff. It's a full blown audio/midi editor, has full mastering capabilities. You can use any of the high end mastering suites as a plug in like Ozone, T-Racks, Wave Gold, etc. I use Garritan, Sampletank, and a bunch of different effects plugs. The one thing it won't do is tempo lock so a delay effect that's supposed to match the tempo of the file won't work or using one of the Drum plugin programs that can create their own grooves won't work. Other than that, it does pretty much everything any other DAW will do. Maybe not as pretty or elegant but the functionality is all there. Keep in mind this is a freebie with most Biab packages or it can be bought for $49.95 instead of $2-3-5-or even $700 for Sonar Producer, Cubase, etc.
Again, it works fine you just don't have it set up properly.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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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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Holiday Weekend Hours
It's Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada. Our Customer Service hours are:
Saturday, May 16: Closed
Sunday, May 17: Closed
Monday, May 18: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Regular hours resume Tuesday, May 19th!
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
Don't wait - order today!
Check out all the new features in the redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac 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)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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 PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
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 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available 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 Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
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.
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 as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
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